The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast discusses important issues facing nonprofit leaders in our community and features real stories from real leaders about what strategies and practices have made them successful. Enjoy the show!
How can you turn a dysfunctional board into a healthy one?
Aug 09, 2021
Show notes
The relationship between a nonprofit’s board and a nonprofit’s staff can often become the demise of many nonprofits. To start a healthy relationship for any nonprofit board, it’s crucial to have a solid and clear relationship between the CEO or Executive Director of a nonprofit, and its board, especially the Board Chair. Rob’s guest addresses how to turn a dysfunctional board into a healthy one.
Rob’s guest today is James Mueller, who’s had extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and is the President of a consulting firm that works with nonprofit boards. James is also the author of a new book entitled Onboarding Champions: The Seven Recruiting Principles of Highly Effective Nonprofit Boards.
James Mueller
James shares what an effective and equitable board looks like and the first step to building one rooted in core values. He believes using criteria like how is one’s decision making, creative thinking, character and openness to a diverse culture as being critical for board selection rather than relying solely on business acumen. James explains why more nonprofits must draw a clear line between governance and management while providing education in board governance, strategic recruitment and robust onboarding. He recommends focused sessions that address a range of issues from diversity, equity and inclusion to fundraising, in order to prevent boards from becoming dysfunctional. Finally, James shares what conversations are really important to have for a healthy board, the core responsibilities of board leadership and why board members must shift their thinking from “you” to “we”.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
What are three key marketing principles that can really help grow your nonprofit?
Aug 04, 2021
Show notesEric Linssen, Demand Generation at Community Boost
Marketing is an area nonprofit leaders tend to underestimate when it comes to the impact effective marketing can have. What is the best model for growing your nonprofit through your marketing, which platforms are best suited for attracting and retaining new donors, and why is the Google Ad Grant such a great way for nonprofits to inexpensively expand their marketing? Rob’s guest is here to answer all of these questions by providing key learnings around nonprofit marketing as well as details about a Marketing Summit specifically designed for nonprofit organizations.
Rob’s guest today is Eric Linssen, who has the role of Demand Generation at Community Boost. Community Boost is a marketing company that works directly with around 200 nonprofits in almost every digital domain and helps them scale online revenue impact by managing Facebook and Instagram ads, providing education and support for Google Ad Grants, and also helps create content, SEO, website design, and building recurring giving programs.
Eric breaks down details around Community Boost’s Nonprofit Marketing Summit and how it’s an excellent resource that provides tactical insights to nonprofit marketing you can implement immediately. He explains how COVID forced the event to move online but ultimately led to exponential growth, increasing their reach from 2500 nonprofits to over 10,000 organizations in just a few months. Eric also discusses why it’s important for nonprofits to measure how they’re enrolling, engaging and empowering stakeholders, and why Facebook and Instagram are the best social media platforms to build your online presence and attract more donors. Finally, he explains what Google Ad Grants are and why it’s worth it to research and prioritize this opportunity for your organization to earn up to $120K in free advertising!
How one nonprofit helped to lead the effort for developing the vaccine in Brazil
Aug 02, 2021
Show notes
Just like the US, Brazil was hit really hard with COVID, and the Lemann Foundation was instrumental in forming a coalition of leaders to figure out how they could develop and distribute, what became the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine that now has been deployed throughout the country. This foundation has been particularly successful at building coalitions of leaders from a wide range of sectors, including the government, for-profit and nonprofit sectors in order to address some of Brazil’s biggest challenges. They were also deeply involved in Brazil’s COVID response.
Lemann Foundation
Rob’s guest today is the first nonprofit leader from the country of Brazil to be on the show. Denis Mizne is the CEO of the Lemann Foundation, which is one of Brazil’s leading nonprofit foundations that led the way in transforming educational opportunities in Brazil. The Lemann Foundation’s mission is to make Brazil a more just and equitable place by guaranteeing access to high quality public education for Brazilians of all backgrounds, while supporting the development of leaders committed to the social transformation of Brazil.
Denis explains how the coalition was built and what led to its success, along with the role of nonprofits when it comes to solving complex problems and why facilitating dialogue is crucial, especially in a polarized political environment. He shares advice for other NGOs and nonprofits to leverage existing resources to tackle big issues by creating a plan, engaging stakeholders and monitoring where support is needed to help shift policies. Finally, Denis sheds light on the emotional and long term impacts of COVID, particularly for Brazil’s school-aged children, why it was vital to establish a national learning standard and the importance of improving school connectivity for the future of Brazil.
Elizabeth Beisel, Three-Time Olympian Swimmer, Shares Her Story.
Jul 28, 2021
Show notes
Every little swimmers’ goal is to stand on that podium at the Olympics, but it all starts with that first jump in the water and someone to show you how.
Elizabeth Beisel, three-time olympian swimmer and 2016 USA swim team captain
Rob’s guest is Elizabeth Beisel, a three-time olympian swimmer and the 2016 USA swim team captain. During her career, she won two Olympic medals and multiple world championships. Jumping into the pool for the first time at the age of five, it only took Elizabeth ten years to become an olympian. Over her grueling career, she learned that once you step on the blocks, it’s all about your mentality when you want to take it to that next level. Since retiring, she has turned her attention towards the nonprofit sector while continuing to keep her focus on swimming. Elizabeth was recently selected to serve on the USA Swimming Foundation board of directors.
The USA Swimming Foundation provides grants to local clubs, and has donated $3 million in the past several years. Their hope is that they can remove the financial barrier that might stand between low-income families and learning how to swim. To do this, they must fundraise, which mostly consists of donors who are in or around the sport. Elizabeth knows that maintaining their donor and volunteer base is vital to maintaining a successful and stable nonprofit.
Hear about some of the latest trends in the nonprofit sector; some may surprise you.
Jul 24, 2021
Show notes
You may have noticed a slow return to normal occurring, and with that return comes the opportunity to reflect back on this past year to see what we’ve learned from it. As you reflect, consider this question: What was one weakness in your organization that the COVID pandemic exposed? Or, on the flip side of that question—what was one strength that really stood out about your organization during the pandemic?
Mark Hrywna, Senior Editor for The NonProfit Times
Rob’s guest today is Mark Hrywna, the Senior Editor for The NonProfit Times, who is constantly researching and writing about all things nonprofit. The NonProfit Times was established in 1987 in response to anything related to the business of running nonprofits, from human resources to fundraising.
Mark understands the challenges so many nonprofits have endured due to COVID, and shares the welcomed trends that developed over the past year such as an increase in online donations and successful online and hybrid events, and whether these trends will continue. However, he also addresses the uncertainty some nonprofits, especially smaller regional organizations, face when it comes to financial stability and survival. Mark breaks down what’s in store for nonprofits if and when COVID subsides, and how the new normal will impact donations, hybrid work environments, and employee relations. He draws attention to how COVID actually highlighted strengths of nonprofits most people aren’t aware of, and why nonprofit leaders must consistently communicate and be visible to remain authentic with employees and keep them engaged. Finally, Mark describes what gives him hope for the nonprofit sector and the surprising impact nonprofits have on the economy.
If you have questions or want to come on the show, email Rob at rob@ccofpc.org To be added to the monthly email update, go to http://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
How is the rise in corporation’s increased focus on social good and philanthropic work impacting nonprofits?
Jul 15, 2021
Show notes
Social enterprises are surging, more B Corps are being formed and many large corporations now have a social impact arm. All of this has had a lot of nonprofits wondering, “What is the long term impact on nonprofits going to be with all this new ‘competition’?” Rob’s guest has started a network of leaders from across sectors that includes for-profit, nonprofit and cultural organizations, all with a perspective that has come from years of working with some of today’s largest companies with the goal of how they together can better collaborate with today’s nonprofits.
Ian Schafer, CEO and co-founder of Kindred
Rob’s guest today is Ian Schafer, the CEO and co-founder of Kindred, which is a membership network that provides opportunities for peer to peer collaboration and access to research data. Kindred also provides experts who can help business leaders make better informed decisions about company policies and actions, and at the end of the day, work with nonprofits better. Members include more than 200 C-suite executives from Fortune 500 companies which include Facebook, Chobani, Nike and well known nonprofit organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Ian explains why he believes more companies are facing accountability like never before and why more leaders need confidence and support to turn their intent to do good, into action. He shares why it’s okay to celebrate incremental small steps when implementing change and the difference between holding leadership responsible versus holding the company responsible. Finally, Ian describes Kindred’s vision for the future and how he hopes to amplify action, build a community of quality connections and scale to have a global impact.
How Can You Future-Proof Your Fundraising?
Jul 06, 2021
Show notes
2020 skyrocketed the move to online giving for all donors who give to nonprofits. Organizations who already had a clear and robust process for donors to give online really benefited—those who didn’t, really struggled. They struggled to keep their giving on par with previous years. Now, the question for all nonprofits of how to “future-proof” fundraising is constantly on our collective minds. So how does your organization go about doing that? Rob’s guest shares some fascinating data points gleaned from a recent report on the “state of philanthropy” within the nonprofit sector and why an easy and efficient online giving experience for your donors is absolutely essential for your organization’s future success and sustainability.
Elizabeth Pun, Manager of Content at Classy
Rob’s guest today is Elizabeth Pun, Manager of Content at Classy. Classy is a B-Corp that focuses on closing the gap between nonprofit and for-profit businesses and Elizabeth is the primary editor of Classy’s recent report entitled: The State of Modern Philanthropy 2021.
Elizabeth explains how empowering your event attendees to fundraise can organically increase your donations and provide more engagement. She breaks down why recurring giving, subscription services, and donation matching are excellent strategies to drive more funds and donations to your organization. Finally, Elizabeth shares valuable insight about creating a more robust online giving experience, and a powerful reminder that if you want to maximize donations to help safeguard and scale your organization, you must be able and willing to meet donors where they are.
Ever Wondered Who Makes Sure Your Nonprofit’s Website Works as It Should?
Jun 26, 2021
Show notes
Ever wondered who makes sure your nonprofit’s website works as it should? Or who makes sure that when someone types in your nonprofit’s web address into Google, that they actually make it to your website and not to a site that explains all of the many languages Tolkien used in the original Lord of the Rings?
Public Interest Registry (PIR)
Rob’s guest today is Jon Nevett, President and CEO of the Public Interest Registry or PIR. In short, the PIR is a nonprofit organization created to manage the entire .ORG domain. Their goal is this: “To empower, through the Internet, those who are dedicated to improving our world.”
Jon breaks down what a registry operator does, why every top level domain has one and what it means to manage a domain. He also shares why PIR supports the nonprofit Internet Society and how nonprofits can benefit from .ORG Impact Awards. Similarly, Jon explains why PIR established an online Learning Center for .ORG nonprofits and how nonprofit leaders can benefit from this amazing resource. Finally, Jon encourages everyone to remember the value of the .ORG brand and that the more nonprofits in this space succeed, the better our world will be.
Is It Possible to Achieve a Healthy Balance Between Work and Home?
Jun 20, 2021
Show notes
When you hear the phrase “healthy work-life balance”, what goes through your mind? That it’s impossible or possibly just a myth? Or perhaps you know first hand how the pain of your work has negatively impacted your marriage, your family or your personal life. This topic is certainly not new, and with our new “work from home, zoom-calls, always online world” that we are living in now, the hard edges between work and home have become even more difficult to define.
Megan Hyatt Miller, Author of Win at Work and Succeed at Life
Rob’s guest today is Megan Hyatt Miller, who has written a book about work-life balance. Her new book is entitled: Win at Work and Succeed at Life: 5 Principles to Free Yourself From the Cult of Overwork. Megan believes understanding the impact of work-life balance is a conversation that both nonprofit and for-profit leaders must continue to have.
Megan describes the innovative way her company introduced a 6-hour workday, the surprising results of this change while debunking the myth that overworking improves productivity. She explains why more leaders need to embrace work-life balance as a performance strategy, not just a philosophical discussion. She also defines what a “double-win” means and why getting clear on non-negotiables for self care, relational priorities, and professional results is mission critical. Finally, Megan talks about how COVID has allowed leaders to view their people more holistically.
Why One Nonprofit Is Building Beautiful Websites for Numerous Underfunded Nonprofits
Jun 13, 2021
Show notes
There is no doubt today, especially after this last year, that the first place people find out about your organization is through your website. Unfortunately, many smaller nonprofits often don’t have the budget to create and maintain a quality website which then directly impacts their ability to both fundraise and get more volunteers to support their work. This is where 48in48 comes in.
Sima Parekh of 48in48
Rob’s guest today is Sima Parekh, who currently has a full time job in the for-profit world, while at the same time helps lead the nonprofit organization 48in48. Established in 2015, 48in48’s mission is to provide skilled professionals to help build quality websites for nonprofits that otherwise couldn’t afford one.
Sima shares how 48in48 supports over 1000 nonprofits across the world and helps address gaps in equity, equality, and social justice by bringing volunteers and communities together through education and awareness. She discusses details about the different initiative-based special events 48in48 hosts, and why the goal is always to get volunteers to take action and improve the digital footprint of nonprofits. On the same note, Sima explains the most effective way to recruit volunteers, her vision for the future of 48in48 and how you can get involved today!
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