Nonprofits are being urged to adopt AI quickly, often with the same playbook used for past technology shifts: select tools, train staff, and adapt over time. This episode explores why that approach breaks down under AI—and why the risks aren't about staff readiness or technical skill.

The conversation examines how AI alters decision-making, accountability, and oversight inside nonprofit organizations. Rather than behaving like traditional software, AI reshapes who makes judgments, how consistency is maintained, and where responsibility ultimately sits. When these changes go unaddressed, governance legitimacy, operational coherence, and mission alignment quietly erode.

This episode is for executive directors, board members, and nonprofit leaders responsible for outcomes who are sensing that AI adoption feels different—but haven't yet had a clear framework for understanding why. It focuses on governance as the starting point, not tools or training.

> If you want to hear the full explanation delivered directly, you can watch the original video here:

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/0ka9hVA3jP8

Note: This podcast episode is an AI-generated conversation created by Bright Nonprofit. The source material is a real YouTube video featuring a real person, Steve Vick, speaking in his own words on the Bright Nonprofit YouTube channel. The AI format is used to reflect on and discuss that original video content. No new ideas, arguments, or claims are introduced beyond what appears in the original video.

Nonprofits are feeling intense pressure to "do something" about AI - often before there's clarity about what that action is meant to accomplish or protect.

In this episode, we examine where that urgency comes from, why it feels so pervasive inside nonprofits, and how speed is often mistaken for readiness. We unpack how AI accelerates decision pressure before accountability, governance, and responsibility are fully oriented — and why that sequencing problem creates unnecessary risk.

Rather than framing caution as resistance or delay, this conversation reframes restraint as judgment. For nonprofits operating under real constraints, learning often has to happen before implementation, not after. When urgency gets ahead of clarity, the result isn't innovation — it's quiet erosion through staff burden, hidden work, and fragile trust.

This episode is not about tools or adoption tactics. It's about pacing, stewardship, and why orientation comes before action when accountability actually matters.

Watch the original video:
https://youtu.be/FTDGzSB5Kjk

Note: This podcast episode is an AI-generated conversation created by Bright Nonprofit. The source material is a real YouTube video featuring a real person, Steve Vick, speaking in his own words on the Bright Nonprofit YouTube channel. The AI format is used to reflect on and discuss that original video content. No new ideas, arguments, or claims are introduced beyond what appears in the original video

In this episode, I talk with Kate Hayes from Echoing Green. We talk about the importance of creating diversity on your board as well as how to help your board work better as a team.

According to a survey by BoardSource, a research and support organization for nonprofit boards, 25 percent of boards are all white, and only 20% of board members are people of color. Yet, most nonprofit leaders and board chairs desire to have boards that are more diverse--not only racially, but in terms of gender, socioeconomic status, age, experience, and so on. In order to reconcile this desire with reality, creating intentional plans for diversifying nonprofit boards is essential. Further, we know that boards - and teams - that are more diverse actually perform better.

About Kate

Kate oversees programming for a dynamic group of emerging business leaders who are dedicated to realizing their full potential as agents of social change. Prior to joining Echoing Green, she worked as Director of Evaluation and Program Impact in the national office of Minds Matter, where she developed new systems and methods for evaluating organizational success. While at Minds Matter, she led several new initiatives for engaging alumni, scaling the organization, and training 1,700 skills-based volunteers across the United States. Kate currently sits on the Executive Committee at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she also serves as Chair of the Young Alumni Committee. She holds a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University.

Website: https://www.echoinggreen.org/

Email: kate@echoinggreen.org

In this podcast I talk about what you need to have prepared before you start crowdfunding. I also talk about why we only got five new likes on our page after being featured on a page with 15,000+ followers.

Here is an outline of the crowdfunding portion of this podcast.

PLANNING

Here are the questions you will want to answer when you meet with your fundraising team.

WHY are we fundraising?

HOW much money do we need to raise?

WHAT kind of fundraiser are we going to have?

• Peer to peer, crowd funding, event?
• What is our budget?

WHEN:

• Will we kick off the fundraiser?
• When does the fundraiser end?

WHO is going to:

• Create content on the campaign page
• Send thank yous
• Post to social media
• Deposit check in the bank
• Post posters/flyers
• Make phone calls
• Track donors

WHO are you going to ask?

• Demographics
• Who will contact who and when

CREATE CAMPAIGN CONTENT

Make a campaign page (your fundraiser home page) – don’t expect people to click through your site to find your website. Include details on:

• What you need the money for
• Why you need it
• How much it will cost

Use a visual at the top of the page:

• Video are all the rage now
• At least picture or slideshow. Preferably with a person or animal in it

MARKETING AND OUTREACH MATERIAL

Much of you campaign marketing/outreach material can be pre-made.

• “Asking” emails and letters
• Premade postcards, rackcards, business cards and brochures
• Social media campaign content
• Benchmark materials (e.g. email announcing you have reach 30% of your goal)
• Incentives/perks

PTAT - Facebook Engagement

Fundly Crowdfunding Overview

Nonprofit Elevator Pitch

The Mini Facebook Campaign

In this podcast I talk with Brock Warner who is the fundraising manager at War Child. Brock just finished a big fundraising campaign and he fills us in on some of the strategies he used that helped them realize a 30% increase in donations. We also discuss ways to increase donor retention from year to year.

Brock Warneris a fundraiser at War Child and a blogger at iamafundraiser.com. You can also follow him on Twitter as @BrockWarner.

• Website: www.warchild.ca
• Blog: www.iamafundraiser.com
• Twitter: @BrockWarner

In this episode I talk with Kay Clements who help found a new radio station in northern California (KWMR). She became the general manager and after 12 years started expereincing the full effects of founders syndrome. 

In this episode I speak with Cecily Stern from Word Craft Consulting. Cecily is an expert in nonprofit board development and stategic planning. We discuss how to build a strong board of directors and plan for the future. Topics include:

• Board Development
• Board Recruitment
• Board Member Responsibilities
• Strategic Planning

Also in this episode I talk about the FaceBook PTAT... that is "People Talking About This" and why it is more important than "likes".

Cecily Stern
Word Craft Consulting
Website: www.myrenandstern.com

Social Media Minute
nonprofitally.com/ptat

In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally podcast I talk with Shannon Donohue who is the Executive Director of the Great Bear Foundation. Their organization is expanding into a new state and we discuss how to implement such a transition as well as how to reach out to a new community. Topics include:

• Community Outreach
• Board and Member Communication
• Becoming a Foreign Entity
• IRS Group Exemption
• Forming a Local Chapter

Also in the episode, I introduce a free online accounting app for nonprofits as well as tips on "when" to post to your social media page.

Shannon Donohue
Website: GreatBear.org
Social Media: Facebook Page

Nonprofit Accounting Resource: WaveApp

Note: This is a pre-release podcast. This episode has not been published on itunes just yet. Nonprofit Ally is still in launch phase. I am excited to be sharing all this initial content with you early. Thanks for visiting and please feel free to leave comments.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast, I talk with Autumn Berstein about how she built a statewide nonprofit coalition, with nearly 60 members, in California. I also go over some Facebook tips that will help you get more "likes" at on your page.

In this episode I speak with Rosenna Bakari from Talking Trees. It is a nonprofit she started back in 2010 and just recently devoted full-time hours to help the organization become sustainable.

We talk about her journey starting the nonprofit, where she is now and her plans to grow her organization. We also, talk about her new book and how that new book is helping raise awareness about Talking Trees.

Here is more info on Rosenna:

Rosenna Bakari is a scholar, motivational speaker, and social advocate. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2000. She earned her Master's degree in Counseling from the State University of New York and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University.

Dr. Bakari is the founder and executive director of Talking Trees, an empowerment organization for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She is also launching a new "We2" movement to bring survivor and listeners together to break the silence of sexual abuse.

In addition to her organization work, she hosts a monthly open mic to share her transformational poetry and offer a platform for community members to share their passion and pain.

Her new book - Too Much Love is Not Enough

Website - rosennabakari.com

Website - talkingtreessurvivors.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/1roguescholar

Twitter - twitter.com/RosennaBakari

YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel

The reason most people hate fundraising is because they hate asking people for money. But this assumes that "asking" is all we do when we fundraising. And this is where the problem lies. It's not so much that we hate asking for money... it is that we think that asking for money is what funding raising is about. And this is just not true.

In fact, if you want to be a really good fundraiser, then "asking" for money should only be 10% of what you do. Hmmm... gotcha you thinking yet?

Successful fundraising requires strategy, timing, planning, data and relationship building. Here is how our guest, Laurie Wolf, lays it out. Fundraising is:

• 30% internal work and research
• 30% relationship building
• 10% asking for money
• 30% recognition

This podcast goes into detail on how to be successful at fundraising without having to always be asking for money.

ABOUT LAURIE

Laurie Wolf, MNPL, CFRE is the President and CEO of The Foraker Group. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years and with Foraker for 17 years. She has been instrumental in creating many of Foraker's services and philosophy. Laurie holds a BA in English from Scripps College and an Executive Master's degree in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2003. She has served on a variety of boards and worked as a volunteer in arts, environmental and human services organizations.

Gift Chart Download

Example Gift Chart for $25K

Website: forakergroup.org

Awesome Article: Where's the Magic Wand for Fundraising

Getting found in Google doesn't happen by accident. Your website doesn't magically appear in the search engines for the right search terms. Well... that isn't totally accurate. It sorta does. But it may not rank well and the search results may not be accurate or consistent.

But there is a way to get your website ranked for the correct terms and that is by using SEO (search engine optimization). SEO has become a sophisticated field that is separate from your typical web design practices.

In this episode, I talk with Kris Reid from Ardor SEO. Kris talks about what it takes to get your website indexed in the search engines and how to rank higher than your competition.

Kris began doing SEO work after he developed an online game called Mob Warrior. Like many people with new products, he needed to get it found in Google. This is when he started researching and practising SEO. And ultimately lead him to found Ardor SEO.

If you want to learn a bit about the inner workings of search engines and get some tips on how to rank your website better, then this is a great listen.

RESOURCES

Website: https://ardorseo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ardorseocom/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ardorfactory

In this podcast, I talk with Jenna Benn Shersher. She shares with us her story on overcoming a rare form of cancer and how it inspired her to start a nonprofit.

Jenna is the Founder and Executive Director of Twist Out Cancer, a non-profit organization she founded after surviving Grey Zone Lymphoma in 2011. Jenna saw firsthand how young adults with cancer have a unique set of needs that are not being addressed or talked about. She found that one way of fulfilling this need is through creative arts, which could be used as a mechanism for coping and healing. Twist Out Cancer was founded on the principle that when you share, the world opens up.

Since Twist Out Cancer was founded in 2011, over 100,000 people worldwide have been touched by its programs and events. Over 700 people attended the fifth annual Brushes With Cancer Gala and Exhibition in Chicago on September 9, 2017. Other upcoming events are planned in Philadelphia, Montreal, and Tel Aviv.

Brushes With Cancer is a unique celebration of survivorship and hope that pairs those touched by cancer (previvors, survivors and caregivers) with talented artists working in a variety of mediums. Those touched by cancer share their 'twist on cancer' – their stories, feelings and experiences – with the artist, which serves as the inspiration for a unique piece of artwork created in their honor. The program culminates with a celebratory annual event and fundraiser in which the pairs connect in person and the artwork is revealed for the first time.

RESOURCES

Website: http://twistoutcancer.org/

Have you wondered what is the best way to get information in front of your followers and supporters? Most people think social media is the end-all/be-all of communication. But I want to assure you - it is not.

In this podcast, I talk with Kathryn Calhoun from kathryncalhouncoaching.com. Kathryn discusses some of the myths about social media, what it should be used for and how to maximize its effective reach.

But most importantly, Kathyrn shares with us some of her best tips on using your mailing list to reach your audience.

I, personally, have been very frustrated lately with the number of nonprofits I follow, who rely on Facebook to communicate with their followers. Here is the issue:

• Facebook is not a website and should not replace your website.
• Facebook has limited reach with barely 5% of your followers ever seeing a post.
• Facebook displays post chronologically forcing people to scroll through your timeline to find information.
• Facebook does not - let me repeat - DOES NOT show all your posts. 
• Facebook is losing popularity. Not many millennials are using Facebook on a daily basis.

So please, STOP using Facebook to communicate important events and information with your followers. Sure, put a post about your upcoming spring Gala on there, but be sure you announce it in your mailing list and have a page on your website about it.

OK, enough of me ranting about Facebook.

Let's talk about the solution. Grow, nurture and use your mailing list. Listing to this awesome podcast to learn how.

 Free Gift: http://kathryncalhouncoaching.com/gift

Risks can be unsettling. It is easier to focus on what's urgent while ignoring what's necessary and important. But if you can create ways to make it easier to see and address threats and opportunities, you can:

• Increase clarity
• Reduce costs
• Simplify tasks
  Streamline processes
• Develop new initiatives, and;
• Increase sustainability and resilience

Knowing your risks can help you increase your awareness of the threats and opportunities faced by your organization. You can identify unnecessary costs and find fixes to unlock additional resources.

"Too much of our knowledge is stuck in the minds of our key personnel. If we lose any of them, we're sunk."
"If we're honest, we move from crisis to crisis and can't get ahead of the curve."
"We want to grow, but we need a repeatable model that doesn't require constant supervision."
"We are on the cusp of great things, but we need to make sure we look and act professional to the outside world. More than that, we actually need to be professional."

Then listen to this podcast and learn how knowing your risks can give you your best insight.

Before founding Risk Alternatives LLC, Ted was a Distinguished Visiting Professor from Practice at Georgetown University Law Center. At Georgetown, his research focused on dispute resolution, complex litigation, preventive law, legal training, risk management, governance, and compliance.

Prior to fulltime teaching, Ted served for more than 20 years in the Washington DC office of the international law firm of Jones Day. At Jones Day, Ted represented clients in successful high-profile lawsuits and investigations and worked closely with parties with divergent interests to craft workable settlements involving businesses, consumers, and government agencies. While at Jones Day, Ted taught at Georgetown for many years as an adjunct professor.

Ted's website is at, https://risk-alternatives.com

In this episode I talk witth Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew about building socail capital and developing asset based based community relationships. Let's start with some definitions.

• Social Capital is a network of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively.
• Asset Based Community Development is a methodology for the sustainable development of communities based on their strengths and potentials.

In a nutshell, we talk about how to use existing networks within a comminuty that enables that society to function effectively and thus help communities develop based on their strengths and potentials.

Here's more about our guest.

Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew has an extensive background in nonprofit management, partnership development, training and education. She is currently serving as a catalyst, partnership broker, and capacity builder of an international NGO partners' around the U.S.  This entails facilitating the emergence and strengthening of community-led initiatives to improve and sustain the well-being of children and their families.  She also assists a number of organizations as a consultant, board member, trainer or adviser.  She is the co-host of the web talk show, Social Issues Time.  Froswa' earned her PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University with a focus on relational leadership and social capital.

Froswa's website: froswasrules.com

Froswa's latest book: Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last

Podcast show notes written by Alexandra Black-Paulick. Thank you Alex!

You'd be surprised at how many people adamantly believe that under no circumstances can nonprofits earn revenue. The reality is that the term "nonprofit" has nothing to do with whether an organization can make a profit and everything to do with what they do with that profit. In the instance of a nonprofit, they cannot distribute profits to shareholders like a for-profit company. Instead, the revenue stays within the organization to be used to achieve the nonprofit's mission.

In truth, there are a lot of different rules and regulations around income. The most important one is whether the income is "related" or "unrelated" to their mission.  NOLO dives deeper into the potential tax implications on that here.

But diving into the tax code isn't what today's episode is about.

In today's show, I connect with Alexandra Black-Paulick from Positive Impact Media and co-creator of Nonprofits for the Future on ways that nonprofits are generating revenue. We not only break down some of the ways you can discover opportunities in your organization but we also go through two separate case studies.

Between grants gaining competition and donors starting to disappear after the economic crash of 2008, nonprofits across the nation started funneling their efforts into earned income solutions that aligned with their mission. Below, you'll find a brief synopsis of the two case studies we talk about in the episode as well as tips to help you discover opportunities in your organization.

Our goal with this episode is to help you come up with ideas that align with your mission and opportunities that are viable to implement in your organization.

Enjoy!

Resources Mentioned in the Show

• FREE DOWNLOAD: Three Case Studies on Increasing Nonprofit Funding
• Nonprofits for the Future: Roadmap to New Funding Sources
• NPA 076: Do You Believe these Nonprofit Myths? Let's Bust Them!

Method for Discovering Opportunities in Your Organization

On the episode, Alexandra highlights the strategy that she walks organizations through in her upcoming course. It's really important to use your mission as a metric throughout this process so you develop a related income stream and don't pull resources away from your main goals.

Start with an organizational asset list to find things of value in your organization. This could include everything from curriculum to technology to communities advocating on your behalf. Then you need to look at different needs in the communities you serve or groups near to your cause.

 The Denver Food Rescue realized that they had a valuable technology asset with their software running Fresh Food Connect. Additionally, they realized other hubs or organizations running a similar food program would benefit from it.

This led them to license the app. They charge a nominal annual fee, which then covers all the required maintenance costs.

In the episode, we dive in deeper to how you can use a similar thought pattern to make sure the endeavors you're doing add to your mission. Some of the suggestions both Alex and I recommend to expand could fall into mission creep, which we talk about ways to avoid.

Bikes Together needed a way to sustain their incredibly generous bike giveaway programs, which has given away over 6,000 bikes to date. They also had a complete bicycle workshop and ample volunteers ready and willing to work on bikes.

This led them to start refurbishing bikes to sell.

Tune in to hear how we talk about another really innovative way they built in value to create memberships, and how members love it!

If you want a structured approach and a step by step roadmap to develop earned income solutions for your organization, then check out Alex's new course: Roadmap to New Funding Sources.

This four-week course walks you through everything from exploring different business models, discovering opportunities within your organization, how to vet ideas, and mission-driven marketing strategies to take it to market. To ensure that every organization going through the class comes away with tangible ideas to implement, she and her co-creator are hosting office hours twice a week.

You can check out all the details here.

Hurry though - this course closes on January 30th.

If you listened until the end of the episode, you know that we're giving away one FREE course for Nonprofits for the Future: Roadmap to New Funding Sources.  To enter, you need to comment on the show notes. To really make this powerful, we'd love to hear what you think about earned income for nonprofits, different takeaways you want to apply to your organization, or potential earned income solutions you want to implement.

Comment by January 28th to enter.

After the giveaway, we can move to a different CTA at the bottom.

 Download the Slides from Today's Presentation H-2

Do you want to have the slides from today's presentation? They succinctly go through the two different case studies from mission to asset breakdown to opportunity to earned income solution.

You can snag that presentation here.

In this podcast I talk with Kathleen Kelly-Janus, author of Social Startup Success. In this interview we talk about the different factors involved in building a nonprofit into a sustainable, profitable (yes, you can make money) and affective organization.

Kathleen is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at Stanford University. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Tech Crunch and the San Francisco Chronicle.

In this podcast (and in her book) Kathleen gives real life examples of how successful nonprofits went from start up to sustainable. Examples of this include:

1. Testing ideas by engaging stakeholders and reframing failure as learning, like Aspire Public Schools did to
   devise a creative solution to ineffective preschool education in low-income communities.
2. Measuring impact as you track the positive outcomes of your organization and maximize that data, like At the
   Crossroads did to create stages of progress as they reached out to homeless youth in San Francisco.
3. Funding experimentation to find a funding model true to your goals and effective at raising money, like Hot
   Bread Kitchen did when they both raised money and sold bread to sustain their training program for low-income
   women to find jobs in the food industry.
4. Leading collaboratively by building a team and creating an environment where people feel empowered and
   appreciated, like the crowdfunding platform Kiva did by allowing employees to manage their own success
   metrics.
5. Telling compelling stories to share the work you're doing, like founder of the Center for Youth Wellness
   Nadine Burke Harris did in a TED talk that's been viewed over 2.5 million times.

Get the book, Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference

Her website is at, www.kathleenjanus.com

Nonprofit leaders are being told they need to start using AI.

That it will save time, increase efficiency, and reduce workload. At the same time, many leaders feel confused, anxious, and unsure where to begin. This episode explores why that contradiction exists and why urgency is showing up before clarity.

The conversation unpacks a core idea: AI is not a technology problem first. It is a thinking and governance problem. Before choosing tools or taking action, nonprofits need orientation around how AI-driven change affects systems, decisions, accountability, and responsibility.

Rather than pushing adoption or resisting change, this episode focuses on what it means to respond with judgment. It examines why orientation needs to come before action, how pressure can distort decision-making, and why clarity is a leadership responsibility in moments of structural change.

This episode is for executive directors, operations and development leaders, board members, and anyone responsible for outcomes in a nonprofit organization. It is also for those who want to understand how AI is reshaping the nonprofit landscape without chasing trends or shortcuts.

If you want to hear the full explanation delivered directly, you can watch the original video here:

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/UVodIx_fEAo

Bright Nonprofit exists to help nonprofit leaders think clearly, understand tradeoffs, and act with confidence when the time is right.

Note: This podcast episode is an AI-generated conversation created by Bright Nonprofit. The source material is a real YouTube video featuring a real person, Steve Vick, speaking in his own words on the Bright Nonprofit YouTube channel. The AI format is used to reflect on and discuss that original video content. No new ideas, arguments, or claims are introduced beyond what appears in the original video.

In this podcast we talk with Zoot Velasco (501c3BS), Jeremy Grandstaff (SGendeavors) and Nicolette Holferty (XOXOHats).

This is a panel discussion about how to grow your nonprofit, build capacity and create a strategic plan. In particular we talk about:

• How to get your first grant.
• When and how to hire your first staff member.
• How to recruit and retain board members.
• The role of your strategic plan in building a sustainable nonprofit.

This podcast is packed full of incredible information for nonprofit experts and those of us with our boots on the ground.

Zoot Velasco
Website: http://www.zootvelasco.com/
Podcast: 501(c)(3)BS

Jeremy Grandstaff
Website: http://sgendeavors.com/
Youtube: http://www.sgeconnections.tv/

Nicolette Holferty
Website: http://xoxohats.org/

The term "emerging nonprofit" is thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? Does mean anything? Well, that is actually not the topic we discuss in this podcast. But, if you want to "emerge", then pay close attention. It's time to build your capacity.

In this podcast I talk with Jeremy Grandstaff from SGEndeavors.com. We talk about building your nonprofit team and helping them define their roles within the organization. This of course leads us into a discussion about holding a better meeting. We then move on to discuss strategic planning and board retreats.

This is a great podcast if you are looking to build your nonprofits capacity. Here are links to what is mentioned in the show.

1. DVF Model: http://www.sgendeavors.com/the-dvf-change-formula/
2. Five Disfunctions of a team: http://www.sgendeavors.com/client-resource-the-five-disfunctions-of-a-team-great-read-and-very-helpful/
3. Engaged Change: http://www.sgendeavors.com/engaged-change-engaging-people-doesnt-have-to-cost-you-travel/

Wanna run a better board meeting? Here is the language Jeremy suggest goes at the top of every agenda. 

To be best prepared, and to help us best use your time, please make sure you have read the attached reports and reviewed the agenda below.

Jeremy's website: http://www.sgendeavors.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/sgendeavors

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sgendeavors

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the most listened to podcast of all time. It features Ann Myren. The podcast title is, "Grant Writing from Preparation to Submission".

Hear the whole episode at, https://nonprofitally.com/podcast-nonprofit-grant-writing/

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the second most listened to podcast. It features Chris Ferdinandi. The podcast title is, "Secrets to Getting more Website Visits".

Hear the whole episode at, https://nonprofitally.com/secrets-to-getting-more-visitors-to-you-website/

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the third most listened to podcast. It features Laurie Wolf. The podcast title is, "Sustainability is Not the Destination".

Hear the whole episode at, https://nonprofitally.com/sustainability-is-not-destination/

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fourth most listened to podcast. It features Nick Loper. The podcast title is, "Creating a Nonprofit Coalition - Building Relationships with other Nonprofits".

Hear the whole episode at, https://nonprofitally.com/nonprofit-coalition-building-podcast/

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fifth most listened to podcast. It features Nick Loper. The podcast title is, "Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job".

Hear the whole episode at, https://nonprofitally.com/start-a-nonprofit-as-a-side-job-nick-loper-side-hustle-nation/

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the
top 5 episodes of 2017.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the most popular podcast or 2017. It features Carolyn Appleton. The podcast is title is "Insider Tips from a Professional Grant Writer".

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the second most popular podcast. It features John Haydon. The podcast is title is "How to Build Relationships with Everyone".

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the third most popular podcast. It features a panel discussion with Mauricio Belgrano, Megan Innes and me. The podcast is title is "Crowdfunding Special Edition".

Keep track of your nonprofits funds can be tricky. Tracking grants, donations, program expenses and other revenue means organizing your dollars into trackable categories. Have you ever wondered if there was a system that made this all easier? What is the "right" way to track grants? Should I track each fundraiser separately? If so, how?

In this podcast, I talk with Chyla Graham from CNRG Accounting Advisory. If you want to learn how to track grants, donations and program revenue then this is the podcast to listen to. Chyla talks about hands-on booking keeping practices that you can start using today.

Check out Chyla's website at: cnrgaccountingadvisory.com

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fourth most popular podcast. It features Robert McGuire from McGuire Editorial. The podcast is title is "Practical Content marketing for Nonprofits".

In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.

In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fifth most popular podcast. It features Amanda Babine from Evaluate for Change. The podcast title is "Building Capacity with the Logic Model".

If you ever second guessed the validity of advice you've been given, then you are not alone. In this podcast we talk with Zoot Velasco from zootvelasco.com. He shares his insights on how to bust the myths we are all told about how to run our nonprofits.

In this podcast he breaks the myths of:

• Holding gala events. Is the money worth the effort?
• The board runs the nonprofit. Uh oh, I hope you know better than this...
• My nonprofit idea should start now! Watch your ego...
• Nonprofits shouldn't make money? Hmmm...
• Strategic planning. Are you following your plan? Or is it just making you feel good because you did it?
• Our mission statement should cover everything we do. OK... tell me your mission... in one sentence.
• We need to have more fundraiser. Do you? What for? Be specific.
• We have more "likes" than you. Ha - we have more supporters.

If you are ready to hear it like it is (instead of how you want it), then tune in to this podcast and get your nonprofit myths busted.

Zoot's website: zootvelasco.com

Zoot's podcast: 501(c)(3)(b)(s)

Social fundraising (sometimes called crowdfunding... but it is more) is becoming more sophicated and more useful. It is more than just a way to raise money. It is a way to connect with supporters, garner new donations, build relationships with your community and increase awareness of your organization.

In this podcast, we talk with Gary Wohlfeill from CrowdRise.com. Gary describes social fundraising as a way to go "beyond the donation". It let's your supporters "share out", via their own networks, the actions they take with your organization. This can be via a donation, the purchase of an event ticket or the simple sharing of a story that moved them. This can help create new donors and raise an incredible amount of awareness.

Gary explains how techology can help you find new opportunities to have your supporters spread the word about your services, mission and/or fundraiser.

This is a great interview that delves into the psychology of our donors combined with the ability to harness their desire to do good.

A must listen.

Check out CrowdRise at www.crowdrise.com

Want to Learn more about Crowdfunding? Get the free ebook, Crowdfunding A to Z

It takes a special kind of person to be a fundraiser. Or at least that is what we tell ourselves. For most people, fundraising is intimidating. After all, who wants to go around asking other people for money. For most of us, fundraising doesn't come naturally. 

And yet, fundraising is an essential part to running a successful nonprofit.

So, here is some good news. Fundraising can be learned. AND it can be enjoyed.

In this podcast I interview Mitchell Linker, author of the book, "Nobody Dreams of Being a Fundraiser". He talks about his evolution of becoming a good fundraiser. And the struggles he went throught that helped him learn his craft.

Mitchell walks us through a start-to-finish scenario of how to approach potential donors to ask for major gifts. Within this scenario he discusses:

• How to identify potential major gift donors
• How to start a major gifts program
• What to say (and ask) during face-to-face visit with potential donors
• And, in the end, how to ask for money

This is a great podcast for anyone interest in raising money for their nonprofit. And especially if you want to start a major gifts program.

Special Gift! Leave a comment below to be automatically entered to win a free copy of Mitchell's Book.

Mitchell's Website: NooneDreamsofBeingaFundraiser.com

Mentioned at beginning of podcast, podcast featuring Steve: Epidemiology Podcast 

If you run a nonprofit then you likely write grants. But it is easy to take grants for granted (pun intended). With competition for grants increasing and available funding decreasing it is now more important than ever to research your grants and target your funding needs.

In this podcast I talk with Holly Rustic from Grant Writing and Funding. Holly is a professional grant writer who offers consulting services, courses, workshops and a podcast.

Holly gives tips on how to work together with other nonprofits to help increase your chances of getting a grant. She also talks about how to use grants to "start up" your programs and projects. Holly then brings this all together and explains the role grants have in building a sustainable nonprofit. (Note - the answer may be surprising.) 

Holly's website: GrantWritingandFunding.com

Free Crowdfunding Course: Crowdfunding A to Z

If you are a growing nonprofit, then you likely have spreadsheets, paypal accounts, book keeping software, volunteer mailing list, etc. It can quickly turn in to mess of documents that are hard to manage.

Eventually, you need a place to put this all. That is where todays guest, Ro Valiao, with Flipcause comes in. 

Maybe you have looked in to getting some type of software platform for you nonprofit, but were turned away by the cost of it - or the sheer enormousness of the product. Flipcause is different. It is geared to help you build relationships in the community, grow your programs and raise more money. And it is targeted for the smaller nonprofits, like you.

Are you ready for software?

Ro gives us a great baseline to start with. He says start with:

• Website (use WordPress - make your own website)
• Paypal (some way to do online transaction)
• Google Suite (email server)
• Mailchimp (or other email marketing client)
• Quickbooks Online

Once you have all this in place you should be good for awhile. If fact, this will likely help you greatly build your capacity. The next step is putting all this all together in its own platform. What you need next is a CRM. 

When do you need to take the next step?

Ro is upfront about the need for Flipcause. If you are making less that $40,000 a year, stick with the above list of baseline apps. But once you reach $50,000 or more, then you should seriously look into getting a software solution that integrates your major software needs.

Ro shares with us how Flipcause integrates community outreach, fundraising and email marketing all in to one affordable and easy to use platform.

If you want to take you nonprofit to the next level, then this podcast is a must listen.

Website: Flipcause

Free Crowdfunding Ebook: Crowdfunding A to Z

How do you use your website? Is it a simple page with basic information about your mission, your services and a contact page? Do you have a blog? Do people comment on your blog? Do you have "landing pages" that encourage visitors to "opt-in" for resource?

How do you use your website?

Most websites are what I call "Brochure" sites. They have basic information about an organization (home, about, services) and a contact page. This is a good start. But if you want visitors to engage with your organization online (sign up for newsletters, volunteer, donate, read advocacy related news) then your website has to be optimized for engagement and conversions.

This is what we talk about with Barbara Carneiro, from wordrevolution.com. Word Revolution is a wed design company that specialized in helping ministries and religious based organizations delivery online messages to new and returning audiences.

Barbara shares her insight about how to engage your audience and then, more importantly, convert your visitors to donors, volunteers and advocates.

If you have a website, and you want to start using it to increase your nonprofits awareness, then this is a great podcast to listing to.

Just visit Barbara's website for more information. www.wordrevolution.com

Advocating for the rights of others is not an easy job. It is difficult to bring awareness of your cause to the general public. There are 100's of ways to get your message out and your audience could be scattered across the country. This is the challenge.

In this episode, I talk about with Jay and Shira Ruderman from the Rudeman Foundation. They are the President and Director of the foundation and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society. They have run advocacy campaigns that have been picked up on national TV and recieved millions of views on social media.

Their Advice on Successful Advocacy

You have to be prepared to produce content. The importance of this can't be underestimated. Take control of your message, don't be afraid to take a position and then disseminated it on as many media platforms (social media, tradition media, flyers, advertisements). It is also be important to produce your content with a variety of mediums (photo's, video, essays, audio).

• Be prepared to do a lot of work. Jay stresses there is no shortcut. Advocacy is work.
• Build relationships with the media. Continually pitch stories
• Build alliances with other organizations and individuals
• Use social media: take a position
• Say it strongly. Have a message. Don't waiver.

And in any campaign it is important to

• Authentic
• Relevent
• Timely

Website: rudermanfoundation.org

Facebook: facebook.com/RudermanFamilyFoundation

Twitter: twitter.com/RudermanFdn

Nathan Runkle started an animal rights advocacy group when he was just 15 years old. Move ahead 18 some years and Mercy for Animals is now a nonprofit with 130 employees and $12M in revenue. How did Nathan do this? Well, it's a long story. And it is a story Nathan shares in this interview.

Nathan talks about the four pillars of his nonprofit and how it has blossomed into an international nonprofit affecting government regulations and corporate policy. During this growth, Nathan worked on building a great team of talented advocates, expanded his infrastructure and nurtured the support of supporters who helped fund the Mercy for Animals mission.

To create a multi-million dollar nonprofit takes strategy, planning, budgeting and goals. Nathan shares with us the road map he used to build his nonprofit.

Website: mercyforanimals.org

Mercy for Animals Book: .mercyforanimals.org/book 

Are you scared of video? No, really... if I told you to make a video for your Facebook page, would you panic?

In this podcast, I talk with Katie Prentiss Onsager from SmallForces.org. They offer professional video services and impact tracking for people and organizations making a difference in their communities at no cost to them.

She walks us through -

1. How to find your story
2. How to tell your story
3. How to use and promote your video

Katie typically produces documentary-style videos that amplify the voices of people working to solve creative problems. These videos are great for gala events, social media platforms and donor meetings.

If you want to tell a better story using video then this podcast is a great listen.

Website: SmallForces.org

In this episode, I talk with Coby Schoffman about how he started a nonprofit in Uganda with volunteers, Google Ads, a few boots on the ground and very little money. This is an inspiring, and educational, story about how to make an impact when resources are low.

If there is one thing nonprofits do a lot, it is look for funding. This funding comes in the form of grants, membership dues, corporate sponsorship, individual donors and, of course, crowndfunding.

In this episode, I talk with Devin Thorpe who is a motivational speaker, writer and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Devin believes that society is becoming more socially aware and that this leads to more opportunity for direct, peer-to-peer, fundraising.

Being able to affectively use email to market your nonprofit is becoming increasely important. And increasingly easy. Todays guest, Carlos Scarpero, talks with us about the basics of setting an email marketing campaign and strategy.

Obviously, this starts with a plan and a goal. It could be as simple as getting people to an upcoming event. Or more involved, like getting people to donate to your nonprofit.

Rick Sleutaris left the security of a well-paying corporate job to work for a small nonprofit that needed help building capacity and reaching sustainability.

Sometimes making a difference is worth sacraficing the security of a for-profit career path. This is his story.

Being the Executive Director (ED) of a nonprofit means different things for different organizations. But it means one thing for the ED. You will wear many hats, use different skills and fulfill a variety of roles.

Let's get a bit more specific. As an ED you may be required to be the bookkeeper, fundraiser, grant writer, program developer, volunteer organizer, event planner, donor outreach coordinator or marketing specialist.

In smaller organizations you may also be the dog walker, custodian, envelope licker, web designer, software updated, printer fixer, supply clerk, etc. I think you get the picture.

It is not an easy job. But our guest, Ann Wrixon, has been doing it for nearly 30 years and she shares with us a wealth of knowledge. She currently is the ED at CASA of Contra Costa County, in Concord, CA. This is a real "boots on the ground" interview with someone who has been there and done that. (And is still doing it).

So, if you are an executive director, thinking about becoming one or are on a board that works with one, this podcast will give you an appreciation and understanding of all the work that goes in to being an ED.

CASA of Contra Costa County, https://cccocasa.org/.

Contact Ann, contact page.

Fundraising for your nonprofit can be time consuming and energy draining. Let's face it, most of us don't like fundraising. But what if you could create a "passive" fundraising system. Does that sound intriguing?

Well, that is just what Jason Granger from Infinity Marketing Group is going to share with you in this podcast. Jason has decades of marketing experience and has developed an innovative way to approach nonprofit fundraising. He takes what is often termed a "sales funnel" and has turned it into a "fundraising funnel".

In this podcast, Jason walks us through the steps you need to take in order to set up your own fundraising funnel for your nonprofit. This is a great hands-on podcast that will help you set up a passive fundraising system.

Jason's Website: Infinity Marketing Group

Free Crowdfunding Ebook (expires August 5, 2017): The Ultimate Guide to Nonprofit Fundraising with Crowdfunding

This podcast is a VIDEO: Watch on YouTube

Starting a nonprofit is not easy. But starting a nonprofit in a foreign country... that shares a war-affect border... well, that is just down-right difficult. But that is what Jason Szolomayer is doing in Jordan.

How can regular people like you and me help tangibly with the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East? In this episode I talk with Jason Szolomayer about how 3D printing and 3D scanning technology can bring the "gift of hearing" to Syrian refugees and low-income individuals in the world's biggest war-torn hotspot.

Jason, the founder of 3DP4ME (3D Printing for Me/Middle East), shares the challenges he and his partner in Jordan are facing to create ear molds for hearing aids. Jason also shares info about the Hearing Express Project, which aims to provide 12,000 hearing aids over the next five years.

"In developing countries less than 3% of people who need a hearing aid are thought to have."
World Health Organization (WHO), 2013

This is an great story that is bound to inspire. I hope you like it.

Learn more at www.3dp4me.org

Adam Walker is the co-founder of a special kind of nonprofit. His nonprofit, 48-in-48, gives free websites to nonprofits. Yup, you heard that right - he makes websites for nonprofits and gives them away for free.

This is how it works. A team of web designers get together and make 48 websites for 48 nonprofits in 48 hours.

OK, so of course that is cool. But this podcast also goes into detail about web design best practices for nonprofits.

Adam shares his expertise about page design, message crafting, website marketing, branding and, of course, donation pages.

So, if you are making your nonprofit website and want to know what pages to include, what content to create or what features you should include, then this is the podcast to listen to.

Make your own nonprofit website. Take the FREE Nonprofit Website Course.

48 in 48 website

Impact Lab Online Conference - July 27, 2017

Adam's business website Sideways 8

In this podcast I talk with Boris Kievsky. He is the founder of dotorgstrategy.com. He is an online marketing strategist that helps nonprofits find new audiences, increase their engagement and raise more awareness. And, of course, this can all help with fundraising.

Boris talks about the basic concepts of a conversion funnel, or what he calls an "impact funnel". The idea is to gradually increase engagement with your supporters and followers to help build relations with your audience. As this audience builds you can lead them down your impact funnel to help them find the best ways to engage with your nonprofit.

A general outline for this is:

• Find your story
• Target your audeince
• Reach out to them via various platforms

Of course there is more to it than that and Boris goes over these details during the podcast.

DotOrgStrategy.com

HotJar.com

SurveyMonkey.com

GoogleForms

TypeForm

Also, don't forget Boris's special offer to Nonprofit Ally listeners.

Sign up for a consultation at DotOrgStrategy.com/bookboris

And here is you discount code for his website: npally