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Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Changemaker Conversations: The Podcast for Nonprofit Leaders

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TitreDateDurée
Trailer: Changemaker Conversations - The Podcast for Nonprofit Leaders06 May 202500:02:55

Prosper Strategies principals Alyssa Conrady and Lindsay Mullen introduce their podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking to build better organizations.

Learn how to transform plans into action, improve board relationships,  center constituents, and lead with less friction, and more joy.

Visit changemakerconversations.com and prosper-strategies.com for more.

The Shared Power Philosophy: Your Key to Running a More Inclusive and Effective Nonprofit07 Aug 202500:39:52

What if your nonprofit's most effective strategy decisions weren't made in a boardroom, but in partnership with the very people you serve? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving deep into the Shared Power Philosophy™—the belief that nonprofits develop their most impactful and equitable strategies by deeply involving all stakeholders, especially the people and communities they serve, in shaping their work.

In this episode, Alyssa and Lindsay share why centering constituents isn't just good practice—it's the secret sauce to nonprofit effectiveness. From California Rural Legal Assistance's multilingual strategic planning process to the Muhammad Ali Center's community-led response during social justice upheaval, you'll hear real examples of Shared Power™ in action.

Then, you'll learn simple frameworks you can begin implementing today to transform your organization into a Shared Power™ Nonprofit.

If you're ready to move beyond one-time stakeholder surveys and build genuine feedback loops that transform how your organization operates, this episode is your roadmap.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • The four core tenets every shared power nonprofit exhibits (commitment, engagement, respect, and action)
  • How to use the Shared Power™ Spectrum to map and expand your current stakeholder engagement
  • Real-world examples of how organizations like Feeding America, CRLA, and the Muhammad Ali Center are sharing power with their constituents
  • Practical strategies for respectful constituent engagement, including compensation guidelines and ideas about trauma-informed facilitation
  • Why relationship-building must come before input-gathering
  • How to create dignified engagement opportunities that avoid retraumatization

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Building Campaigns That Last: Marketing + Fundraising with Kelly Mattox22 Jul 202500:35:39

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we sit down with Kelly Mattox, Vice President of Campaign and Principal Gifts at Connecticut Children’s Foundation, to explore what it really takes to align marketing and fundraising for greater impact.

Drawing on her decades of nonprofit experience—including 14 years at Horizons National—Kelly shares insights on running major campaigns, building sustainable fundraising strategies, and creating lasting partnerships between marketing and development teams.

Whether you’re navigating a campaign, trying to improve internal collaboration, or just need a dose of inspiration, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas and renewed purpose.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

  • How to foster a healthy, collaborative relationship between marketing and fundraising

  • Why role clarity matters—and how to get it right

  • Lessons from creating a national Giving Day that raised millions

  • What makes a campaign truly sustainable beyond its launch

  • How to stay mission-connected in challenging fundraising climates

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How to Build an Engaged Board14 May 202500:42:16

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving deep into board leadership and transformation with a unique perspective from co-host Lindsay Mullen. As a former board chair herself, Lindsay shares invaluable insights about building an engaged nonprofit board that can truly drive your mission forward.

If you're navigating the complex dance between board and staff roles or looking to transform your board from a working model to a strategic powerhouse, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who's been on both sides of the table.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • The journey of transforming a nonprofit board from a "friends and family" working board to a strategic leadership team
  • How to create effective board recruitment strategies that fill crucial skill gaps
  • Practical ways to connect board members authentically with the people you serve
  • The critical relationship between board chair and CEO, and how to nurture it
  • Navigating the appropriate division of responsibilities between board and staff

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Strategic Planning Secrets Revealed13 May 202500:35:11

Should your nonprofit be strategic planning right now? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Prosper Strategies co-founders Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen say yes—but only if you’re doing it the right way.

They pull back the curtain on what makes a strategic plan actually work (and what makes it flop), drawing on lessons from their work with organizations like Feeding America and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

You'll learn:

  • The three critical stumbling blocks that cause most nonprofit strategic plans to fail
  • Why constituent and stakeholder involvement transforms strategic planning outcomes
  • How to make your strategic plan a living, breathing document rather than a shelf decoration
  • The precise roles board and staff should play throughout the planning process
  • Practical strategies for building agility into your plan during uncertain times

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What’s Keeping Nonprofit Leaders Up at Night Right Now?13 May 202500:45:23

In this inaugural episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving into what's keeping nonprofit leaders up at night in 2025. From sudden federal funding freezes to market volatility affecting donor confidence, we break down the four biggest challenges facing nonprofit leaders today—and more importantly, share practical solutions to address them.

If you're feeling the weight of leading in today's nonprofit landscape and looking for actionable strategies to navigate these unprecedented times, this episode is for you!

 

Here's what you'll learn in this episode: 

  • The four biggest challenges keeping nonprofit leaders awake at night in 2025
  • How to diversify your funding streams in response to growing uncertainty 
  • Practical strategies for boosting staff morale and retention during turbulent times 
  • Ways to avoid "strategic whiplash" when constantly adapting to change 
  • How organizations are navigating anti-DEI pressures while staying true to their values

 

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Join us every other week as we pull you out of the day-to-day grind and refocus your attention on the big picture through candid conversations about building more impactful nonprofits with less friction and more joy.

 

Strength-Based Communication: What it Is, Why it Matters and How to Do it Well (Yes, Even In Today's Political Climate)02 Oct 202500:34:58

In today's challenging political climate, many nonprofit leaders are focused on what they can't say—but what if we shifted our attention to what we can say? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're exploring strength-based communication and why it's more relevant than ever for nonprofits navigating anti-DEI pressures and funding restrictions.

Alyssa and Lindsay share their decade-plus journey developing strength-based communication frameworks with organizations like Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the McCormick Foundation—and the data proves it works. From increased donor engagement to stronger brand metrics, organizations taking this approach are seeing real results without sacrificing their values or their fundraising goals.

If you're struggling to stay true to your mission while adapting to new federal regulations and "off-limits language", or if you're simply ready to communicate about the people you serve in more empowering ways, this episode will show you how.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • What strength-based communication is and how it differs from stereotype-based and need-based communication
  • Why leading with opportunity instead of deficit doesn't hurt fundraising (and often improves it)
  • How to navigate current federal word restrictions while staying true to your values
  • Real examples from major nonprofits that have successfully made this shift
  • Practical first steps for moving your organization toward strength-based communication
  • Common misconceptions holding boards and leadership back from adopting this approach

Episode Blog Post and Transcript --> 

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  • ChangemakerConversations.com for show notes and additional resources
  • Prosper-Strategies.com to learn more about strength-based communication consulting
  • Hello@ChangemakerConversations.com with questions or to discuss strength-based communication for your organization
  • On LinkedIn with Alyssa Conrardy, Lindsay Mullen and Prosper Strategies
 
Marketing as a Mission Driver: Why Nonprofits Need to Think Bigger19 Sep 202500:28:54

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa and Lindsay tackle one of the biggest things that holds nonprofits back: thinking too small about marketing. Moving far beyond the traditional view of marketing as just a fundraising tool, they make the case for marketing as a true mission driver that can advance every aspect of your strategic plan.

Drawing from their groundbreaking Nonprofit Marketing Manifesto, they share the 10 commitments that transform how organizations approach brand, messaging, and stakeholder engagement. From eliminating poverty porn to ensuring marketing is overseen at the executive level, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what's possible when marketing becomes a strategic lever for social change.

If you're ready to stop playing small with your marketing efforts and start treating marketing as the mission-critical work it should be, this episode is packed with practical insights to get you started!

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • Why nonprofits need to stop viewing marketing as solely a fundraising tool
  • The 10 commitments from the Nonprofit Marketing Manifesto that can transform your approach
  • How to make the case for marketing budget and executive-level leadership
  • Why strength-based communication is both more ethical AND more effective than traditional approaches
  • How to engage stakeholders across your organization in marketing planning and execution
  • Ways to use marketing as a strategic lever that can "meet the moment" while staying true to your mission
  • Practical steps for getting started, whether you're a one-person marketing shop or leading a team

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The Four Roles That Make—or Break—Your Strategic Planning Process04 Nov 202500:36:14

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa and Lindsay break down one of the most overlooked yet mission-critical elements of strategic planning: defining clear roles for everyone involved. From staff and board members to constituents and facilitators, they unpack how each group contributes—and what happens when those roles blur.

Whether you’re gearing up for your next planning cycle or in the middle of one, this conversation will help you bring clarity, collaboration, and buy-in to your process.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

  • The four essential groups every strategic planning process needs

  • How to effectively engage your constituents from start to finish

  • Common pitfalls—like over-involved or under-involved boards—and how to avoid them

  • How strategic planning serves as a “microcosm” of your organization’s culture

  • Practical ways to balance diverse perspectives and build stronger alignment

| MENTIONED | Changemaker Conversations Episode on the Shared Power philosophy Prosper Strategies’ Strategic Planning Framework Show notes

| CONNECT | ChangemakerConversations.com for show notes and resources Prosper-Strategies.com to learn more about our strategic consulting practice Email Hello@ChangemakerConversations.com with your feedback or topic ideas Connect on LinkedIn with Alyssa Conrardy, Lindsay Mullen, and Prosper Strategies

Fix Your Funding Part 1: Diagnose What’s Really Wrong With Your Nonprofit’s Financial Health10 Dec 202500:37:15

In this first episode of our three-part Fix Your Funding series on Changemaker Conversations, we dig into the financial crisis nonprofits are facing right now—and why “we just need more money” isn’t a clear enough diagnosis. From disappearing federal funds to shrinking corporate support and skyrocketing community need, we walk through how to get brutally honest about your organization’s financial health so you can protect what matters most: your nonprofit’s survival.

If you’re lying awake wondering how many payrolls you can cover, how to explain the situation to your board, or where to even start with the numbers, this episode will give you a simple framework and language to get everyone aligned around reality—and ready for action in parts two and three of this series.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

  • The four essential financial “gauges” every nonprofit should be tracking in a crisis

  • How to calculate and interpret your operating reserves (months of cash on hand)

  • Why your restricted vs. unrestricted revenue mix can quietly put your mission at risk

  • How to spot dangerous overreliance on any single funder or funding stream

  • A practical way to project your year-end surplus or deficit—before it’s too late

  • How to bring your board into the financial truth so they can actually help

*SHOW NOTES *

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| UPCOMING |

  • Fix Your Funding Series – Part 2: Build a Crisis Response Fundraising Strategy 

  • Fix Your Funding Series – Part 3: Prepare for the Future with Scenario Planning

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Fix Your Funding, Part 2: Build Your Nonprofit’s Crisis Response Fundraising Strategy07 Jan 202600:27:31

We’re kicking off 2026 with a topic that’s top of mind for nearly every nonprofit leader right now: funding.

As part two of our three-part Fix Your Funding series, Lindsay and Alyssa walk through how to build a fundraising crisis response plan—so you can stabilize cash flow, close budget gaps, and focus your efforts where they’ll move the needle fastest.

If you're heading into the new year feeling the pressure of financial uncertainty, restricted dollars, or a lack of revenue diversification, this episode is for you.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • How to build a fundraising crisis response plan based on your organization’s most urgent financial health metric

  • Why your board should be your first (and most powerful) lever in a funding crisis

  • High-ROI ways to mobilize board members quickly—without burning them out

  • How to approach current funders with transparency, urgency, and a clear stabilization goal

  • What to do when restricted revenue is limiting your ability to operate effectively

  • How to think about revenue diversification in a crisis (and what not to do)

  • What to prioritize when all four financial gauges are off track

| SHOW NOTES |

Fix Your Funding Part 2: Build Your Nonprofit's Crisis Response Fundraising Strategy

| MENTIONED | Fix Your Funding Series (Part 1: How to Diagnose What’s Wrong) Nonprofit Financial “Gauges”

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How Should Nonprofit Leaders Show Up in Times of Moral Crisis?03 Feb 202600:41:48

In this powerful episode of Changemaker Conversations, we confront what it means for nonprofits and their leaders to show up in times of moral crisis.

Amidst violent ICE raids and the recent killings of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, nonprofit leaders within and beyond Minnesota are grappling with how they can respond when communities are grieving, afraid, and in urgent need of support.

Against the backdrop of recent events in Minnesota—and with an eye toward future crises—we explore the real risks, responsibilities, and decisions nonprofit leaders face when choosing whether to stay silent or speak out, and how to align their services and actions to meet the moment.

If you’re wrestling with how your organization should show up while protecting its mission and adapt its work during times of moral urgency, this episode offers clarity, practical guidance, and a values-driven framework for action.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

  • How to decide whether—and how—to speak out during a moral crisis like the one taking place in Minnesota right now

  • The risks of silence and the risks of public statements

  • How mission and values should guide crisis decisions

  • How nonprofits are showing up differently now as compared to during the racial justice movement of 2020, and what we can learn from that shift

  • A practical framework for nonprofit crisis response and communications

  • Why taking action - whether by aligning service delivery and programs to emerging community needs or supporting other organizations who can - matters most

| MENTIONED | Minnesota Nonprofits: Acts of Solidarity for Friends and Allies Outside of Minnesota

Minnesota Nonprofits Resources for Supporting Communities During ICE Operations

Nonprofit Rapid Response Communications Framework

| CONNECT | ChangemakerConversations.com for show notes and resources Prosper-Strategies.com to learn more about our strategic consulting practice

Hello@ChangemakerConversations.com with topic ideas or questions On LinkedIn with Alyssa Conrardy, Lindsay Mullen and Prosper Strategies

Fix Your Funding, Part 3: Take On Scenario Planning09 Mar 202600:22:54

Funding uncertainty is top of mind for many nonprofit leaders right now. Between shifting policies, unstable grants, and rising demand for services, organizations are being asked to do more with fewer resources.

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen wrap up their three-part Fix Your Funding series by discussing a practical tool nonprofit leaders can use to prepare for uncertainty: scenario planning.

Scenario planning helps organizations think through potential financial outcomes before a crisis hits — so leaders can make thoughtful decisions instead of reacting under pressure.

In this conversation, Alyssa and Lindsay walk through a simple framework for creating “bad,” “worse,” and “catastrophe” scenarios and tying them to clear decision triggers.

They also discuss how scenario planning can surface hidden organizational challenges and help nonprofit leaders move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • What nonprofit scenario planning is and why it matters right now

  • How to build “bad, worse, and catastrophe” financial scenarios

  • How to set decision triggers tied to financial indicators

  • What scenario planning can reveal about programs, staffing, and expenses

  • How to involve your board without pulling them into operational details

  • Why planning ahead can make crisis leadership easier

Whether you’re already facing financial uncertainty or simply want to strengthen your organization’s resilience, this episode offers practical guidance for planning ahead.

| SHOW NOTES |

Fix Your Funding Part 3: Take On Scenario Planning

 

| MENTIONED |

| CONNECT | • ChangemakerConversations.com for show notes and additional resources • Prosper-Strategies.com to learn more about our strategic consulting practice • Hello@ChangemakerConversations.com with topic suggestions, guest recommendations or questions •On LinkedIn with Alyssa Conrardy, Lindsay Mullen and Prosper Strategies  
What Does a Facilitator Actually Do in Nonprofit Strategic Planning?11 Jun 202600:31:03

Picture your last board retreat. Smart, well-meaning people in a room. An agenda. Everyone fired up. And then, three hours in, you're still relitigating the same two sticking points and the day ends in frustration instead of clarity. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you, because you probably need a facilitator.

In Episode 15 of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa Conrardy interviews Lindsay Mullen on what a strategic planning facilitator actually does, and just as importantly, what they don't do. This episode is a candid look at when bringing in an outside facilitator is worth it, when it isn't, and how to tell the difference.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • What a facilitator actually does day-to-day during strategic planning (and what they don't do)
  • The four roles every planning process needs to understand up front: community, board, leadership and staff, and facilitator
  • The difference between facilitation-only and full-service strategic planning, and which fits which kind of organization
  • Why "have you worked with a nonprofit like ours?" is the wrong first question to ask a facilitator
  • Why DIY-ing your stakeholder engagement (with facilitator templates and guidance) builds the muscle most nonprofits are missing

| MENTIONED | Prosper Strategies Facilitation Services

| CONNECT | ChangemakerConversations.com for show notes and additional resources

Prosper-Strategies.com to learn more about our strategic advising practice. Hello@ChangemakerConversations.com with topic suggestions, guest recommendations or questions.

The 8-Step Shared Power™ Strategic Planning Process: A Real-World Walk-Through21 May 202601:04:26

Most nonprofits approach strategic planning the same way: a small group of senior leaders and board members make the calls, and then the plan gets shared out. Shared Power™ Strategic Planning flips that completely on its head, putting the people a nonprofit serves at the center of the most important decisions. In this episode, Alyssa and Lindsay walk through exactly how it works, step by step.

Using a real client example, an organization navigating a complex multi-stakeholder landscape, they break down all eight steps of the Shared Power Strategic Planning™ process: Prepare, Engage, Research, Retreat, Set OKRs, Listening Sessions, Finalize, and Implement.

You'll hear how the process works whether you're DIY-ing your plan, working with a facilitator, or partnering with a full-service firm, and what happens when you skip any of the steps.

 

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅Why deeply involving your stakeholders in strategic planning (before, during and after) is absolutely critical, and how to do it well

✅ Why preparation is really a readiness and culture check, not a scheduling exercise

✅ How to design stakeholder engagement that works for hard-to-reach populations like people living with serious diseases or youth

✅ What three assessments anchor the research phase and how they come together

✅ How a two-day retreat takes you from hundreds of strategic questions to three or four plan pillars

✅ Why listening sessions (often skipped entirely) can change the entire direction of a plan

✅ The role of OKRs in turning aspirational pillars into measurable, staff-owned work

If you've ever wondered what it actually looks like to build a strategic plan that centers the people and communities your organization serves, how much time it takes, or what will be asked of you in the process, this is your episode. 

🎁 Listener offer: Get $125 off the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox at strategicplanningtoolbox.com with code CHANGEMAKERCONVERSATIONS

Democratizing Nonprofit Strategic Planning: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox29 Apr 202600:27:48

"Are you trying to put yourselves out of business?"

That was the very first question Alyssa got after Prosper Strategies launched its new Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox earlier this month. In this special solo episode of Changemaker Conversations, she answers it head-on — and tackles every other question that's been coming in since launch.

Why would a consulting firm with 12 years of high-touch strategic planning experience release a DIY toolbox? What's actually inside it? Who is it for? And how is it different from the free templates already floating around the nonprofit sector?

If your organization needs a real, stakeholder-driven strategic plan but a near six-figure consulting engagement isn't in the budget right now, this episode lays out exactly how the Toolbox is designed to close that gap.

 

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

  • Whether Prosper Strategies is, in fact, trying to put itself out of business (spoiler: no — but the answer is more interesting than that)
  • What's actually inside the Toolbox — the 70+ page Guidebook, 17 tools across 8 modules, and Strately™  AI
  • How the Shared Power Strategy™ approach embedded in the Toolbox is different from traditional, top-down strategic planning
  • Who the Toolbox is built for — and who it's not for
  • A walk-through of the 8-module process from "Prepare" to "Implement"
  • What real results look like, including a $2.5M deficit reversal, a $1M capital investment, and a 75% program participation jump
  • How Strately™  AI fits in as your strategic planning coach (and where to be careful using it)
  • How long it takes to build your plan with the Toolbox, and what to expect if you've never led a strategic planning process before

| LISTENER OFFER |

🎁 Save $125 (our biggest discount yet) on the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox with the code CHANGEMAKERCONVERSATIONS — exclusive to Changemaker Conversations listeners. Apply at checkout: https://www.strategicplanningtoolbox.com

 

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