The Smart Communications Podcast

Big Duck

The Smart Communications Podcast helps busy nonprofit leaders build their communications skills and develop their organization’s voice. Every episode shares insights and practical tips to help you leverage strategic communications to advance your nonprofit’s mission.

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215 episodes
Updated July 22

Episodes215

Newest first

Dec 9, 2020 · 22 min
Episode 76: How do you convert crisis donors into regular givers?
Sarah Durham and Farra Trompeter chat about the best ways to engage first-time donors who responded during a moment of crisis and transform them into regular givers.
Nov 25, 2020 · 18 min
Episode 75: Do robots make bad fundraisers?
Do robots make bad fundraisers? This episode of the Smart Communications Podcast examines ways to apply time-tested principles of philanthropy to the modern technology available to fundraisers- while keeping it human and effective.
Nov 11, 2020 · 17 min
Episode 74: What tagline works??
A good tagline can inspire you to think, feel, maybe even react. This episode breaks down the three structures to follow that can strengthen your organization’s brand strategy.
Oct 28, 2020 · 11 min
Episode 73: How do you tackle a daunting project?
How do you tackle a daunting project? This episode of the Smart Communications Podcast offers a roadmap for how you can approach big initiatives and tips on how to get started.
Oct 14, 2020 · 13 min
Episode 72: What is strategy? A refresher.
This rerun of the Smart Communications podcast offers useful insights to help you get a sense of the terms: goals, objectives, strategy, and tactics from a nonprofit communications perspective.
Sep 28, 2020 · 13 min
Episode 71: What are the barriers to effective communications?
In this episode, Sarah Durham examines the common obstacles that make it harder for nonprofits to communicate.
Sep 16, 2020 · 14 min
Episode 70: Are events and galas still effective? Let’s revisit.
To gala or not to gala. In this podcast replay, Stephanie Thomas, founder of Stetwin Consulting, discusses the value of galas as a fundraising vehicle.
Sep 2, 2020 · 21 min
Episode 69: Where do nonprofits go wrong with communications?
Thought leader and host of the “Nonprofits are Messy” podcast, Joan Garry, discusses how to make nonprofit communications strategy passionate and impactful.
Aug 19, 2020 · 17 min
Episode 67: How do you build sustainable momentum into your communications?
Sarah Durham discusses common challenges to nonprofits generating sustainable momentum in their communications and offers ways to address them using six key brand elements.
Aug 5, 2020 · 15 min
Episode 54: How do you ask for a really, really, really big donation?
Sarah Durham and Eric Javier tell us the best way to get that transformational donation for your nonprofit.
Jul 22, 2020 · 15 min
Episode 68: Why is a clear voice important for nonprofits?
Is your nonprofit a best-kept-secret? Learn how developing a clear, credible, and consistent voice can help you build and maintain deeper mindshare and engagement with your audiences.
Jul 8, 2020 · 11 min
Episode 56: How can you make your website friendlier and more accessible?
Sarah Durham and Amanda Luker discuss how your website can benefit from becoming more user-friendly.
Jun 24, 2020 · 7 min
Episode 66: How can you communicate better via Zoom?
Stay-at-home orders across the country have increased the amount of daily interaction that occurs over video calls. Discover ways to maximize the effectiveness of each call while reducing burnout.
Jun 10, 2020 · 12 min
Episode 62: How can you disrupt power dynamics and bring a DEI lens to your major donor relationships?
What roles and power do your donors have? Learn how to center your participants while maintaining donor relationships by applying a DEI lens with Sarah Durham and Hannah Thomas.
May 27, 2020 · 20 min
Episode 65: What happens when people think they know your organization but they don’t?
Sarah Durham and Teresa Younger discuss shifting brand perceptions.
May 13, 2020 · 6 min
Episode 61: What are the six elements your communications need to thrive?
Sarah Durham’s new book, The Nonprofit Communications Engine, explains the six elements your communications need to succeed.
Apr 29, 2020 · 17 min
Episode 60: Why should your Executive Director prioritize communications?
Farra Trompeter and Sarah Durham discuss the many flavors of communications teams and how to help leaders understand what communications can—and can’t—do to advance the mission.
Apr 15, 2020 · 12 min
Episode 59: Should your logo stand out or fit in?
Sarah Durham and Sandy Zimmerman discuss the sweet spot for your organization’s logo.
Apr 1, 2020 · 4 min
Episode 63: How should your organization navigate communications during COVID-19?
Here are some quick tips and resources to support nonprofits during the COVID-19 crisis.
Mar 18, 2020 · 24 min
Episode 58: Interviews, focus groups, or surveys: which should you use?
How does your brand resonate with your participants? Learn how you can conduct your own research using interviews, focus groups, and surveys with Sarah Durham and Laura Fisher.

The Smart Communications Podcast

Episode 76: How do you convert crisis donors into regular givers?

Episode 75: Do robots make bad fundraisers?

Episode 74: What tagline works??

Episode 73: How do you tackle a daunting project?

Episode 72: What is strategy? A refresher.

Episode 71: What are the barriers to effective communications?

Episode 70: Are events and galas still effective? Let’s revisit.

Episode 69: Where do nonprofits go wrong with communications?

Episode 67: How do you build sustainable momentum into your communications?

Episode 54: How do you ask for a really, really, really big donation?

Episode 68: Why is a clear voice important for nonprofits?

Episode 56: How can you make your website friendlier and more accessible?

Episode 66: How can you communicate better via Zoom?

Episode 62: How can you disrupt power dynamics and bring a DEI lens to your major donor relationships?

Episode 65: What happens when people think they know your organization but they don’t?

Episode 61: What are the six elements your communications need to thrive?

Episode 60: Why should your Executive Director prioritize communications?

Episode 59: Should your logo stand out or fit in?

Episode 63: How should your organization navigate communications during COVID-19?

Episode 58: Interviews, focus groups, or surveys: which should you use?