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No Nonsense Nonprofit

No Nonsense Nonprofit provides actionable tools and information so you can get the mission results you dream of – and have fun doing it.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 15: Love Languages of Fiscal Sponsorship with Andrew Schulman Jun 29, 2017

Fiscal Sponsorship is a great way to get nonprofit projects started, running, and changing the world without going to the trouble, time, and expense of starting a whole new organization. Join Andrew Schulman of Schulman Consulting (http://www.schulmanconsulting.com/) as he discusses the ins and outs of Fiscal Sponsorship with your hosts Sarai Johnson and Jerrica Becken.

Schulman Consulting is the only consulting firm in the US that focuses exclusively on Fiscal Sponsorship. With years of experience on all sides of Fiscal Sponsorship, Andrew has a wealth of knowledge, which he shares on this episode of No Nonsense Nonprofit.

Jerrica and Sarai also brainstorm several book ideas with him about Love Languages, which they hope is not a trademarked term, because now Andrew has at least three different books to write featuring it. Finally, get a bonus round of advice about how to "stop sucking" at email.

Episode 14: Applying Empathy in Nonprofit Relationships with Carrie Rice Jun 15, 2017

Host Sarai Johnson talks with Carrie Rice about how to approach our relationships within nonprofits - among staff, board, volunteers, funders, and partners - with empathy and genuine concern. Carrie Rice is the brilliant consultant behind Carrie Rice Consulting, where she helps nonprofits solve their problems.

**Episode 13: The Frenzy of the Activist with Mazarine Treyz** Jun 08, 2017
This episode was originally going to be called something like Fundraiser Turnover or some such thing...but once we got to talking, Mazarine and my conversation soared far beyond just this one issue and touched on a multitude of things.
One of the most powerful statements, I thought, and what I picked to lead the titling of this episode, was a quote by Thomas Merton that Mazarine shared on the podcast, in part.
“There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence to which the idealist most easily succumbs: activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence. The frenzy of our activism neutralizes our work for peace. It destroys our own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”
― Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
The frenzy of our activism neutralizes our work for peace.
And so it is. The nonprofit world is a powerful force for good - and, sadly, can also be a powerful force in the undoing and misuse of the people who make it run. But it doesn't have to be that way. Listen to today's episode to see how you can make a contribution toward the change we'd like to see in the nonprofit sector. Whether it's learning how to stop avoiding conflict, or how to ask the right questions to see if an organization is a good fit for you, or how to support your employees as they advance their careers, or how pay parity would change the world for those of us who make it our business to change the world...well. There's a lot here.

We mentioned many things in the show today! Here are a few good links for you to explore:
From Mazarine
Mazarine's Amazing Blog (Read Them ALL! and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter - because it has incredible content and also jokes).
Mazarine's Wild Woman Fundraising Store where you can find the book, "Get the Job," mentioned in the podcast - and so much more good stuff, you won't be able to handle how awesome it is.
Books
Apparently, Mazarine and I should start a book club, because we mentioned about a jillion books to read. You should read all of them, so get started now:
Donor-Centered Leadership By Burk Penelope Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead $7.58 By Tara Mohr Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence $21.19 By Amy Jen Su, Muriel Maignan Wilkins

Episode 12: Events - What Are They Good For? Jun 02, 2017

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Welcome to Season 2 of No Nonsense Nonprofit! We (yes there are two of us now...) are so excited to be back with 12 brand new episodes of goodness for you. We're kicking off with a conversation about how to be strategic, realistic and thoughtful about events.

Join your host, Sarai Johnson, and your brand new super awesome additional host, Jerrica Becken, both of Lean Nonprofit, to talk events.

Episode 11: Engaging Influencers for Your Organization with Kylie Travers Aug 23, 2016

Social media is a massive opportunity for nonprofits, and some have been very successful in harnessing the potential of this media for campaigns. One of the keys to getting traction on social media is connecting with influencers who already have large, engaged followings. Today, Kylie Travers CEO of Occasio Enterprises, and super-hero domestic violence survivor shares her brilliant wisdom and experience in helping nonprofits make a huge splash with their campaigns – and how you can do it too.

Use her amazing resources to really take off – find them here: http://www.occasioenterprises.com.au/resources/

For more good stuff from Lean Nonprofit, go to http://www.leannonprofit.com.

Kylie Travers talks about how to leverage influencers for your cause by developing strong, long term relationships with them, being specific about what you want and need in that relationship, setting up agreements to work together, and speaking the truth and sharing your stories. Along the way, you’ll learn about Tall Poppy Syndrome, and be exposed to a good lot of Australianisms, which will make your heart soar. And you’ll be smarter for it.

Episode 10: Creating Safe Space Through Communications With David Betke Aug 09, 2016

As nonprofits, we aim to change the world – and we do it through changing one mind at a time. What if we could learn to create conversations that offered greater solutions? What if we could find ways to get to both/and solutions instead of making either/or choices? David Betke of Avatar Brand Management does exactly that, and has for a quarter century. Join him and your host, Sarai Johnson, today as they talk about how to create safe space through communications.

For more good stuff from Lean Nonprofit, go to http://www.leannonprofit.com.

Episode 9: All in the Family with Sarah Puleo Aug 02, 2016

How can nonprofits lead the way in creating family-friendly workplace policies? What can we do in a nation where there is no paid family leave – and rare occasions when unpaid leave is warranted or allowed? How can we join together to create a world where parents get to raise their awesome kids and contribute to changing the world with a nonprofit?

For more good stuff from Lean Nonprofit, go to http://www.leannonprofit.com.

Nonprofits can lead the way in creating a big change when it comes to supporting family-friendly policies like paid family leave. Or family leave at all. Join Sarai Johnson, your host, and Sarah Puleo as they discuss growing their families and their careers simultaneously, and how nonprofits might join together to create ways to make it easier for everybody to do the same.

Episode 8: How to Make Funders Your Allies Jul 26, 2016

Nonprofits and funders are natural buddies, but we all too often feel like…not quite enemies…frenemies? Today, we’ll talk about ways funders inadvertently distract or block nonprofits from doing their mission work, and how nonprofits can build more effective funder partnerships through communication and honesty.

For more good stuff from Lean Nonprofit, go to http://www.leannonprofit.com.

Want to make the world a better place? Let’s learn how to strategically and effectively invest the charitable dollars we have so we can do so.

Episode 7 : Stop Going for Going’s Sake with Lori Bumgardner Jul 19, 2016

Nonprofits are businesses, too – which means sometimes they go out of business. Join Sarai and the Goddess of Grants, Lori Bumgardner, as they discuss how Lori led a nonprofit through the process of closing. She and her board asked the hard questions and made the tough decisions that allowed an organization to leave a legacy that left other organizations – and the entire community – better off.

For more good stuff from Lean Nonprofit, go to http://www.leannonprofit.com.

Learn more about Lori at www.goddessofgrants.com

It’s the last thing we want to do – but what can we do when we find our organization has worked itself out of a job, or no longer has financial viability to continue? Learn how one organization closed their doors with grace.

Episode 6: Fun with Fraud Prevention and Financial Controls Jul 12, 2016

If you don’t think fraud prevention is fun…you’re probably mostly right. But that doesn’t stop us from trying to make it delightful. Learn how you can protect your nonprofit from financial shenanigans and mayhem. It’s important. You owe it to your donors, board and staff to put on your big kid underoos and do what you gotta do to keep your nonprofit squeaky clean.

It’s not talked about all that often, but fraud can and does happen in nonprofits all too often. If you think “trust” is a financial control, you are sorely mistaken. Learn what to watch out for and how to get your nonprofit to a safer, better place when it comes to fraud.

Episode 5: Network Your Way to Success in Fundraising Jul 07, 2016

Sarah-Kate Sharkey joins your host, Sarai Johnson to discuss how you can start your nonprofit fundraising career off right. Even if you’re mid-career, her advice about what to look for in an employer, how to start a fundraising program, what to do when you’re afraid of job hopping, and how to apply your passion to your work will help you be the nonprofit rock star you know you are.

Fundraisers face a lot of challenges – the least of which is raising huge sums of cash for their organizations. On today’s episode, we’ll explore how you can ensure your success in the development world by making sure you pick the right place to work, build a strong network and think conscientiously about your career.

Episode 4: Aligning Values With Your Work May 31, 2016

In a perfect world, all people who work in nonprofits or other mission-based organizations (public agencies, social enterprises, etc...) should naturally find themselves aligned with their values and work. In reality, sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

Join Sarai Johnson, host of No Nonsense Nonprofit and founder of Lean Nonprofit as she discusses how to navigate the murky waters when you find yourself out of alignment with your work. Michelle Bixler, Economic Development Manager for the town of Strasburg, Virginia, joins with her story of staying true to herself, finding her way back to herself, and negotiating the challenges of finding herself asked to do things that were outside of her values.

Episode 3: 10 Ways to Supercharge Your Career May 23, 2016

Have you ever wondered how to get where you want to go in the nonprofit (or any-profit) world? Listen while Sarai tells you all about how her life got switched turned upside down, she'd like to take a minute, just sit right there, she'll tell you...10 ways you can supercharge your career. We all have dreams and goals - here are some ways you can put yours into action and make it happen!

Episode 2: Addicted to Do-Gooding: Workaholism in Nonprofits May 16, 2016

Even though workaholics are typically depicted in pop-culture as Big Fancy Wall Street Guys and Exhausted Doctors and Super Important Lawyers, it turns out, we, in nonprofits, are just as likely to succumb to work addiction. Learn more about why, and how you can overcome it in this episode of No Nonsense Nonprofit, brought to you by Lean Nonprofit.

Episode 1: Overview May 04, 2016

No Nonsense Nonprofit is a podcast for nonprofit practitioners and admirers the world over. It exists to provide actionable information that you can use right now in order to do your mission work with more focus, more energy and bigger results.

Join Sarai Johnson, of Lean Nonprofit, while she brings you the foremost guests and information to help you be even more amazing.

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