Fundable by Design

Latest Episodes:

The Beliefs That Are Keeping Your Nonprofit Stuck Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

I want to challenge a common belief that many nonprofit leaders hold, because it may be the very thing keeping your organization stuck.

It's not because you don't care, or you're not working hard, or because your mission isn't important.

Often, it's because you've accepted an idea about how nonprofits work that simply isn't true anymore or was never fully true to begin with.

What You're Really Starting When You Launch a Nonprofit Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

Most of you were never told the full truth about what you're actually starting when you launch a nonprofit organization.

You were told about making a difference, serving your community, and even been told about grants and fundraising.

But very few people explained that you're not just starting a mission. You're building an organization. And there's a big difference between the two.

You're Looking at Your Nonprofit's Problems the Wrong Way Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

When funding is tight, the first question most leaders ask is:

"How do we get more money?"

"How do we get more grants?"

"Where are the donors?"

But what if you're asking the wrong question?

If you've been spending all your energy searching for the next grant, this conversation may help you step back and identify what actually needs to be strengthened inside your organization.

The Lack of Money Is Only a Symptom: The Real Problem Is Capacity Jul 04, 2026

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Many leaders believe their biggest problem is a lack of money.

But after nearly 40 years in the nonprofit space, I've learned that the lack of money is often just a symptom.

The real problem is usually a lack of capacity.

Now, when I say capacity, I'm not simply talking about money.

I'm talking about the organization's ability to operate, manage, lead, communicate, fundraise, report, govern, and sustain its work over time.

Why Great Programs Still Struggle to Get Funding Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Today, I want to challenge a belief that many nonprofit leaders have been taught to accept as fact:

The better the program, the easier it will be to get grants, donors, and funding.

It sounds logical.

If the program is effective, impactful, and serving people well, funding should naturally follow.

But after nearly 40 years in the nonprofit space, I can tell you that funding decisions are rarely based on the program alone.

I've seen organizations with incredible programs struggle to secure funding.

And I've seen organizations with average programs receive significant support because they had something else in place.

You Started the Nonprofit... Now How Do You Sustain It? Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Today, I want to talk about a moment that almost every nonprofit leader experiences.

It usually happens after the paperwork has been filed after the nonprofit has been approved.

Everything seems to be moving forward.

And then one day, it hits you: "I have no idea how to sustain this."

I have seen this moment countless times over the last 40 years in the nonprofit space.

It's the moment when leaders realize that running programs and sustaining an organization are two very different things.

Things No One Told You About Starting a Nonprofit Organization Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Today, I want to talk about some things you probably haven't heard about starting a nonprofit organization.

Because when most people think about starting a nonprofit, they hear about the mission.

They hear about making an impact.

They hear about getting grants and raising money.

But there are critical realities that many nonprofit founders are never taught.

And those missing conversations often become the reason leaders feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and stuck a few years later.

Why So Many Nonprofit Startup Leaders Feel Stuck Jun 20, 2026

Show notes

Today, I want to talk about a massive hidden crisis in the nonprofit space that most people don't even realize exists.

It's not a funding crisis.

It's not a grant crisis.

It's a leadership crisis.

Every day, nonprofit startup leaders are launching organizations with passion, commitment, and a genuine desire to serve their communities.

But behind the scenes, many are overwhelmed, confused, and stuck.

They're trying to figure out fundraising, understand compliance, build programs, and manage operations.

And they're doing it all while carrying the weight of the mission on their shoulders.

The Biggest Nonprofit Misunderstanding: Your Program Is Not Your Organization Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Many nonprofit leaders believe their program and their organization are the same thing.

They're not.

And this misunderstanding creates problems with funding, sustainability, leadership, and long-term growth.

If you've ever wondered why your nonprofit is working hard but still feels unstable, this conversation may reveal the misunderstanding that's holding you back.

You Didn't Plan Where the Money Was Going to Come From (And Now Your Nonprofit Is Struggling) Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

I want to have an honest conversation with nonprofit leaders today.

Many people spend months planning their programs, defining their mission, and filing their paperwork.

But they never stop to ask one critical question:

Where is the money going to come from?

If your entire funding strategy is "we'll figure it out later," you're creating problems that will eventually show up as stress, burnout, and financial instability.

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