The Smart Communications Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 220: How can you accelerate planned giving? Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Planned giving can feel intimidating, especially if your team is small and your days are already full. But you don’t need dedicated staff, or expensive resources. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Tony Martignetti, evangelist for planned giving and author of Planned Giving Accelerated, about why planned giving is easy, accessible, and affordable for organizations of any size. They explore Tony's three-step launch framework, and discuss why donors who include you in their will actually increase their annual giving. You’ll also learn how to reframe planned giving from a "death conversation" to a joyful legacy conversation and practical low-lift marketing tactics. Get actionable advice for launching a planned giving program this month—with no additional staff.

Episode 219: How can nonprofits make videos sustainably? Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Video is increasingly how people connect with nonprofits today, but many communications teams feel stuck: they lack time, budget, and skills. Ally Dommu, director of service development, talks with Ben Nathan, filmmaker and founder of All of Us Films, about making accessible, authentic video storytelling a regular part of your nonprofit's communications strategy. They explore why authenticity resonates more than polished content, how to ethically capture stories from clients and donors, and the right and wrong ways to use AI in nonprofit video. They also talk about Impact Reel, Ben’s scalable model designed for nonprofit budgets. Get practical advice on starting with what you have, interviewing techniques that feel natural, and one simple challenge to get your video practice started this month.

Episode 218: How can you update a brand across a federated network? Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Updating a brand across connected, yet independent organizations is no small feat. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Omoiye Kinney, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for United Way Worldwide, about managing a global brand refresh across 1,000 local United Ways in 30+ countries. They explore how United Way conducted an 18-month data-driven process that centered trust and listening with network leaders and balanced brand consistency with local autonomy. Omoiye shares lessons on phasing brand rollout, empowering brand ambassadors, connecting brand to fundraising, and why your brand is more fragile than you think. Get practical strategies for any organization managing a nonprofit brand.

Episode 217: What do leaders need to make difficult decisions? Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

When tasked with charting a course forward, Dr. Traci Lester, the final president of The Opportunity Agenda (TOA), chose to lead the organization through a deliberate dissolution rather than let it persist in a weakened state. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Dr. Lester about what leaders need to make difficult decisions, from embracing ambiguity to building collaborative decision-making processes. They explore how Traci communicated internally and externally through the crisis, the importance of vulnerability and support systems, and why emerging leaders should still lean into this work. Get honest insight into leadership, change management, and what it really takes to thrive.

Episode 216: How can you get staff to feel seen in your communications? Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Staff engagement starts with a simple principle: in order for staff to feel seen, they have to see you. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Raine Martin, chief advancement officer at Brooklyn Community Services, about building internal communications that work. They explore practical tools to boost staff morale and recruitment and strengthen external messaging. Get actionable steps to make your staff feel heard and connected to your mission.

Episode 215: Does your nonprofit really need a new name? Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ryan Gerhardt, copy director at Big Duck, discuss when a name change makes sense and when the real problem is something else. They cover how to conduct a brand audit, the power of consistency, where taglines fit in, and the hidden financial costs of solving the wrong problem. Get practical tools to assess your brand before making an expensive decision.

Episode 214: Why can’t more fundraising fix your fundraising? Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Kevin L. Brown, CEO of Mighty Ally and author of Fundable & Findable, about why so many nonprofits get stuck in the starvation cycle and how brand strategy offers a way out. They explore the power of vision, the importance of clarity and brand personality, and the action steps nonprofits can take to become both fundable and findable. Get practical tools to help your organization rethink its approach to fundraising.

Episode 213: How can you get your board to fundraise? Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

How can nonprofits get their board to fundraise without relying on rigid or stressful demands? In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Amber Hamilton, founder of Fig Leaf Development, to unpack practical strategies for turning anxious or novice board members into confident fundraisers. They explore how to shift from transactional requests to strengths-based engagement and five entry points for board participation—investor, cultivator, connector, fundraiser, and advisor—giving every board member a valuable role to play. Amber also shares how to celebrate small wins, foster deeper board connections, and thoughtfully navigate the complex power and racial dynamics that can arise in philanthropy.

Episode 212: How can we be brave and embrace conflict? May 27, 2026

Show notes

What if conflict could strengthen your relationships and drive meaningful change? Farra Trompeter, co-director, interviews Altagracia Montilla, founder of A.M. Consulting and creator of the Conflict BraveryTM masterclass. They discuss why avoiding conflict often holds us back. Altagracia shares how healing our relationship to conflict can build stronger teams and save us time. Get practical tips for becoming braver by reframing conflict as a positive force at work.

Episode 211: Why do communicators need a seat at the table? May 13, 2026

Show notes

Why are nonprofit communicators so often brought in at the end of a project and treated more like an order-taker than a strategic partner? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Ally Dommu, director of service development, about why communications staff deserve a seat at the table and what changes when they get it. They explore the organizational habits and assumptions that keep communications stuck in a tactical role, and share practical steps communicators can take to shift the culture, build stronger cross-team relationships, and demonstrate their strategic value.

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