Welcome to The Nonprofit Nook — the podcast for nonprofit leaders, board members, staff, and community champions who want to strengthen their organizations and make a bigger impact... without burning out in the process.
I’m Wendy Kidd—business owner for over 20 years and nonprofit leader for just as long. I created this show because I know how overwhelming it can be to lead a nonprofit. Most of us didn’t get into this work thinking we’d be running a business—we just wanted to help people. But the truth is, running a nonprofit *is* running a business, and I’m here to help make that part easier.
Each week on The Nonprofit Nook, you’ll get real talk and real tools.
We’ll dive into the nuts and bolts of nonprofit management—strategic planning, budgeting, board engagement, donor communication, volunteer recruitment, and more. No fluff—just practical advice and conversations that help you work smarter and lead with confidence.
You’ll also hear:
- Stories from inspiring North Texas nonprofits and the local heroes behind them
- Tips from experts on marketing, digital tools, DEI, nonprofit culture, and sustainable leadership
- Real conversations about burnout, boundaries, time management, and self-care—because leadership shouldn’t feel lonely
Whether you're leading a nonprofit, supporting one, or just passionate about the mission, The Nonprofit Nook will give you the tools, encouragement, and inspiration you need to thrive.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review to support the show, and follow us on social media @thenonprofitnook for more nonprofit insights, stories, and resources.
Let’s make nonprofit life a little easier—and a lot more impactful.
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Données mises à jour le 26/09/2026
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Is Your Nonprofit Ready for More Money? with Sharmon Lebby
Épisode 50
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 27:09
What happens when the big check finally arrives and your organization isn't ready to hold it?
Sharmon Lebby has seen it up close. She's the Founder and CEO of Blessed Designs Consulting, a nonprofit strategist with more than 20 years of experience, and she's currently serving as an interim executive director while running her own business. Ask her why more money doesn't automatically make an organization healthier and her answer is direct: most often, everything just sort of falls apart.
Sharmon is also a former neuroscience research associate, so she thinks a lot about how our brains work. She points to research showing that when we want to make something better, our instinct is to add. More money means more people served, more programs, more of everything. We pile it on without asking whether the foundation we built can carry the weight.
Money is a tool, and a tool only helps when you know what you're going to do with it. A hammer is great for hanging a picture. Use it for everything and you'll end up tearing down some walls.
In this episode of Nonprofit Nook, Sharmon joins Wendy to share the signs that an organization is growing faster than its infrastructure can support. Everything depends on one or two people. Nobody can take a week of vacation without things slipping. The team is already worn out. There's no reliable way to track what's coming in and going out. Larger funding also brings more compliance, and the IRS and your state will want more from you.
They also talk about what ready looks like. Your processes are written down, including how you do things and why you make the decisions you make. Your board can talk about the organization with confidence and clarity. Everybody is rowing in the same direction. And you could leave on vacation tomorrow and come back to an organization that's still going strong.
From there the conversation turns to governance. Wendy and Sharmon dig into why the strategic plan should drive the fundraising, what happens when the person or donor who brings in the money starts steering the mission, and why saying no to funding is sometimes the right call. Sharmon also has a lot of empathy for development directors, who by one estimate she heard last an average of 18 months, often because they're asked to raise money nobody has explained to them.
Beyond the checklists, this is a conversation about moving out of a scarcity mindset. It's hard to hear "money is just a tool" when you're trying to survive. Sharmon's encouragement is to build slow and build solid, and to start with whatever made you cringe a little while you were listening.
If you lead, volunteer with, support, or dream of starting a nonprofit, this conversation is a reminder that the work you put into your foundation is what lets the next dollar do its job.
In This Episode
You'll hear Wendy and Sharmon talk about:
Resources + Links
Connect with Sharmon Lebby + Blessed Designs Consulting
When the Shelter Is Full: Spotlight on Families to Freedom
Épisode 49
mardi 15 septembre 2026 • Durée 48:16
What happens when a victim of abuse finally makes the call, gets accepted into a shelter, and then can't get there?
Sarah Nejdl asked herself that question in 2014. She was working a corporate job in technology and currency trading, scrolling social media one night, when she landed on a national survey showing that more than 14,000 victims were turned away from emergency shelters on a single day because the shelters were full. In Texas alone, that number was more than 1,000 unmet requests in one day.
Sarah is not a survivor herself. She's a Texan, a pilot, and, in her words, a Virgo who doesn't respond well to "you can't." So when an FAA examiner told her she couldn't fly victims to safety unless it was on behalf of a nonprofit, she walked outside, called a friend who is now her board chair, and started one. She took a layoff package, spent six months telling anyone who would listen about the gap she'd found, and opened services in October 2015, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, on purpose.
Families to Freedom does one specific thing that nobody else in Texas was doing: it gives victims of domestic abuse, family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking a free, confidential ride to safety. Sometimes that's across town to a shelter. Sometimes it's a five-day drive to a sister's house on the other side of the country. About half of the adults they transport have children with them, and they transport pets too, because leaving a pet behind is a real barrier to leaving at all.
In this episode of Nonprofit Nook, Sarah and Eric join Wendy to share how the organization works, who it serves, and how a volunteer model built on "choose your own adventure" road trips keeps drivers coming back. Eric, known around North Texas as the Connector, found Families to Freedom through his own family's wake-up call and now spends his days building the partnerships and volunteer base the mission runs on.
The two of them are also clear about measurement. Families to Freedom publishes its metrics on its website in real time: how many people were transported, how many children, how many pets, and exactly what was spent on bus tickets, flights, fuel cards, and hotels. And Eric points to one number that matters most: the Texas Council on Family Violence publishes an annual report of Texans killed by intimate partners, and
More Than a Meal: Serving with Dignity at Community Garden Kitchen
Épisode 48
mercredi 9 septembre 2026 • Durée 32:20
What happens when a conversation among friends uncovers a need in your community that’s far bigger than anyone realized?
For Angela Poen, Chair of Community Garden Kitchen, that moment came in 2014. Angela and a group of friends were talking about hunger when they learned just how many children and families in Collin County were experiencing food insecurity. They also discovered a gap: while food pantries were doing important work, there were people who couldn’t access them during operating hours or didn’t have a place to store and prepare food.
Their response was ambitious: build a place where anyone who needs a meal can sit down and enjoy one with dignity — no questions asked.
In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook, Angela joins Wendy to share how that idea became Community Garden Kitchen, a nonprofit that describes itself not as a soup kitchen, but as a free meal restaurant.
Angela takes us behind the scenes of the organization’s journey — from securing land and raising the money for a permanent building to navigating the pandemic before they could even open their doors. When Community Garden Kitchen finally opened in 2022, they did so debt-free.
Today, the organization has served approximately 160,000 meals through its dining room and sack lunch program, supported by an incredible volunteer community of roughly 180 volunteers each week.
But the heart of this conversation goes beyond the number of meals served. Angela and Wendy talk about what it means to build dignity into the way you serve, why volunteers are essential to Community Garden Kitchen’s model, and how nonprofits can stay focused on the people behind the numbers.
If you lead, volunteer with, support, or dream of starting a nonprofit, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that sometimes meaningful change starts when a few people recognize a need and decide,
How Nonprofits Can Use AI Without Losing the Human Touch with Rachael Leventhal Garnett of EAAS AI
Épisode 47
mercredi 2 septembre 2026 • Durée 42:42
AI can save your nonprofit time—but where do you start without sacrificing the human relationships at the heart of your mission?
In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook, Wendy Kidd sits down with Rachael Leventhal Garnett of EAAS AI to make AI feel practical, approachable, and useful for nonprofit leaders.
They unpack the difference between AI and automation, how to identify repetitive tasks worth streamlining, and why your organization needs clear AI guardrails—even if you haven't officially adopted AI yet.
You'll also hear why Rachael believes the best AI strategy starts with people, not technology, and how keeping a human in the loop can help your organization use AI responsibly while creating more capacity for mission-driven work.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The difference between AI and automation
How to spot repetitive workflows that could be automated
Why AI should support your people rather than replace them
What AI governance means and why your nonprofit needs guardrails
How "shadow AI" can create risks for your organization
Why human review is still essential when using AI
How to start small instead of trying to transform everything at once
Is Your Nonprofit Financially Sustainable? The Numbers You Can’t Ignore with Melanie Kirton
Épisode 46
mercredi 26 août 2026 • Durée 29:25
Is your nonprofit truly financially sustainable—or does everything just look okay because there’s still money in the bank?
For a lot of nonprofit leaders and board members, financial reports can feel confusing, overwhelming, or like something to quickly review before moving on to the “real” work. But your financials are actually telling you a story about the health of your organization—and learning how to read that story can help you make better decisions before problems become crises.
In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook, Wendy sits down with Melanie Kirton, founder of Financial Affairs, an accounting firm dedicated exclusively to nonprofits. Melanie helps mission-driven leaders move beyond basic bookkeeping and use their financial information to make strategic decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
Wendy and Melanie dig into what nonprofit leaders and boards should actually be looking for in their numbers, including the true cost of running programs, whether your revenue is diversified enough, how much cash you should have in reserve, and the warning signs that your organization may be heading toward financial trouble.
They also talk about an important reality: a program can be deeply connected to your history without necessarily being the best use of your resources today. Understanding what each program truly costs—and the impact it creates—can help your organization make thoughtful decisions about where to invest its time, people, and money.
If you’ve ever sat in a board meeting while everyone glossed over the financial reports, wondered whether your nonprofit has enough money in reserve, or worried that your organization is too dependent on one funding source, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why strong financial reporting matters for both nonprofit leaders and boards
More Than a Food Pantry: Serving McKinney with Dignity with Melody Krill
Épisode 45
jeudi 20 août 2026 • Durée 32:22
What does it look like when a food pantry becomes more than a place to pick up groceries—and instead becomes a place where people feel seen, supported, and treated with dignity?
In this Community Spotlight episode of Nonprofit Nook, Wendy sits down with Melody Krill, Executive Director of the Community Food Pantry of McKinney, to talk about the growing reality of food insecurity in North Texas and the incredible work happening right here in the McKinney community.
The Community Food Pantry of McKinney has been serving its neighbors for decades, but the need has grown dramatically. Melody shares how the pantry has grown from serving around 100 individuals a day when she started in 2024 to more than 600 a day, including more than 10,000 individuals in a month.
But this isn't your traditional food pantry. As a choice pantry, the organization gives neighbors a grocery-store-style experience where they can use a shopping cart, walk the aisles, and choose the food their families actually need. Through food rescue partnerships with local grocery stores, the pantry is also helping reduce food waste while getting fresh food into the hands of families who need it.
Melody also shares the deeply personal path that brought her to this work. After she and her husband both experienced job loss, Melody found herself needing assistance for her own family. That experience changed the way she thought about food insecurity—and about the importance of helping people without sacrificing their dignity.
Wendy and Melody also dig into what it really takes to keep a rapidly growing nonprofit running: volunteers, community partnerships, grant funding, unrestricted donations, leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to keep finding creative ways to meet the need.
This conversation is an important reminder that food insecurity doesn't always look the way we imagine it does. Sometimes it's a working family trying to make the numbers add up. Sometimes it's a single mom facing a crisis. Sometimes it's someone choosing between groceries, rent, and an electric bill.
And sometimes, a little help at exactly the right moment can make an enormous difference.
In This EpisodeResources & Links
Stop Treating Social Media Like a Bulletin Board with Sheena Kalso
Épisode 44
mardi 11 août 2026 • Durée 44:10
If social media feels like one more thing on your never-ending nonprofit to-do list, this episode is for you.
I’m joined by Sheena Kalso, founder of Behind Your Scenes, a social media and video skills education company that helps established professionals show up on Instagram the way they already show up in real life. And Sheena understands the struggle firsthand: even while working as a social media manager for other people, she once went an entire year without posting on her own Instagram.
So if you’ve ever thought, I’m just not good at social media, you are definitely not alone.
Sheena breaks down how nonprofit leaders can stop overcomplicating content and start using social media for what it’s really good at: building human connection.
We talk about what to do when you hate being on camera, including Sheena’s surprisingly simple advice to start with B-roll. Instead of jumping straight into talking-head videos, film yourself doing the work you’re already doing—typing at your desk, preparing for an event, working with your team, or simply going about your day. You can pair that footage with a strong text hook that teaches your audience something or grabs their attention.
We also get into one of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make on social media: treating their feeds like bulletin boards filled with event announcements, donation requests, and organizational updates.
Sheena encourages nonprofits to put people back into their content. Show the humans behind your mission—from your executive director to your intern—and let your audience get to know your organization's “cast of characters.” As Sheena explains, people want to know who is behind the work they’re supporting.
And then we get into one of my favorite parts of the conversation: Instagram Stories and DMs.
Instead of seeing Instagram solely as a place to broadcast your message, Sheena suggests thinking of it like a networking room. Stories can help you stay top-of-mind with people you’ve recently met, while genuine DMs can turn online connections into real relationships. The key? Stop pitching and start acting like a human.
In this episode, we talk about:Connect with Wendy + Nonprofit NookConnect with Sheena + Behind Your ScenesInstagram Accounts Sheena Recommends for Inspiration
From One Chapter to 400: Luke Mickelson on Scaling a Mission
Épisode 43
jeudi 6 août 2026 • Durée 52:35
From One Chapter to 400: Luke Mickelson on Scaling a Mission
How do you grow a nonprofit from one local project into an international movement without losing the heart behind the mission?
In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook, Wendy Kidd welcomes back Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale a nonprofit.
What started as one person building beds for children who didn't have one has grown into more than 400 chapters across 47 states and four countries, serving hundreds of thousands of children. But rapid growth brings new challenges—leadership, culture, delegation, and protecting your mission.
Luke shares the behind-the-scenes story of SHP's explosive growth, including the unexpected national attention that changed everything, the difficult leadership decisions that came with expansion, and why every growing nonprofit must guard its mission above all else.
Whether you're leading a small nonprofit that's ready to grow or you're managing multiple locations already, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for building an organization that scales without sacrificing its heart.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How Sleep in Heavenly Peace grew from one chapter to more than 400
The story behind Mike Rowe's Returning the Favor and how national exposure changed everything
Why growth requires letting go of control—and how to do it well
The biggest leadership challenges that come with scaling a nonprofit
How to protect your organization's culture while expanding
The importance of keeping your mission crystal clear for every volunteer and leader
Why We Tell People: "Don't Start a Nonprofit" with Anh Nguyen
Épisode 42
mercredi 29 juillet 2026 • Durée 32:56
In this episode of The Nonprofit Nook, Wendy sits down with nonprofit leader and marketing strategist Anh Nguyen to unpack the advice that always gets people's attention: "Don't start another nonprofit."
Before you assume they're against new nonprofits, hear them out. Wendy and Anh explore why passion alone isn't enough to build a sustainable organization, why a 501(c)(3) is a tax designation—not a business model—and how aspiring founders can make a greater impact by doing their homework before filing paperwork.
Together, they discuss common misconceptions about nonprofit startups, the growing challenge of nonprofit saturation, the importance of market research, and why collaboration with existing organizations may create more impact than launching something new. If you've ever dreamed of starting a nonprofit—or know someone who has—this conversation offers the practical questions every founder should ask before taking the leap.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why Anh always says, "Don't start another nonprofit."
The biggest myths about launching a nonprofit.
How to determine whether your idea truly fills a gap.
Why nonprofits should be run like businesses.
When collaboration creates more impact than competition.
The questions every founder should answer before applying for 501(c)(3) status.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering starting a nonprofit and wanting to build an organization that is both impactful and sustainable.
Unlocking Corporate Support: Strategies for Nonprofits with E Jeff Serrano
Épisode 41
mercredi 22 juillet 2026 • Durée 37:05
Summary
In this conversation, Wendy Kidd and E. Jeff Serrano discusses the nuances of corporate engagement for nonprofits, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful partnerships rather than merely seeking donations. He shares insights on how nonprofits can prepare for corporate partnerships, leverage in-kind contributions, and maintain long-term relationships with corporate sponsors. Jeff also highlights the evolving landscape of corporate philanthropy and offers actionable steps for nonprofits to strengthen their corporate engagement efforts. Throughout the discussion, he stresses the significance of communication, patience, and understanding the corporate giving process.
Takeaways
Engagement is more than just fundraising; it's about building partnerships.
Nonprofits should have a designated person for corporate outreach.
In-kind contributions can be as valuable as cash donations.
Maintaining communication with corporate partners is crucial.
Nonprofits need to understand the corporate giving cycle.
Research potential corporate partners to align missions.
Patience is key in corporate fundraising efforts.
Feedback from corporate partners can improve nonprofit strategies.
Nonprofits should be specific about their needs when approaching corporations.
Building trust with corporate partners takes time and effort.
none of Families to Freedom's clients have ever been on that list.
Beyond the logistics, this is a conversation about paying attention to the problem in front of you instead of looking away, about founders who build with their eventual successor in mind, and about what it means to treat a scared kid in the back seat like this is just a normal ride.
If you lead, volunteer with, support, or dream of starting a nonprofit, this conversation is a reminder that the most valuable thing you can build is the one nobody else is building.
Register for Your Financials Tell a Story — September 24
Join Wendy and Melanie for Your Financials Tell a Story, where they’ll continue the conversation around understanding and using your nonprofit’s financials.
What your board should actually be paying attention to in financial reports
How to calculate and evaluate the true cost of your programs
Why revenue diversification is critical to long-term sustainability
The risks of relying too heavily on one grant, funder, donor, or revenue source
How to think about cash reserves and what’s appropriate for your organization
Financial red flags—including recurring deficits—that leaders shouldn’t ignore
Why your budget, strategic plan, and financial reporting should work together
How better financial understanding can lead to better mission-driven decisions
RESOURCES + LINKS
Register for Your Financials Tell a Story — September 24
Join Wendy and Melanie for Your Financials Tell a Story, where they’ll continue the conversation around understanding and using your nonprofit’s financials.
We also talk about why nonprofit leaders shouldn’t completely hand their voice over to someone else—or an AI-generated version of themselves. Your team can absolutely support your content, but the people who care about your organization want to hear from the real humans behind it.
Most importantly, Sheena reminds us that you don't need to become amazing at video overnight. Being visible is a skill you build through practice. Start small, post the imperfect thing, and keep going.
Because when it comes to social media, done really can be better than perfect.
How to start creating video when you hate being on camera
Why simple B-roll can become great nonprofit content
How to create stronger hooks that stop the scroll
Why nonprofits need to show more human faces in their feeds
How to build a “cast of characters” from your staff
Why Instagram Stories are an underrated networking tool
How to use DMs to build genuine relationships instead of pitching
Why nonprofit leaders shouldn't completely outsource their voice
The problem with AI-generated people and overly manufactured content
How to stop assuming your everyday nonprofit work is “too boring” to share
Why consistency and practice matter more than perfection
Why "humans helping humans" remains the foundation of SHP's success
Practical leadership lessons for founders experiencing rapid growth
How to avoid mission drift as your nonprofit grows
Memorable Quote
"The first and foremost, most important thing when you grow is making sure everybody knows one thing that's crystal clear: What is our mission? We will not add to it or take away from it."
If this conversation encouraged you, be sure to subscribe to The Nonprofit Nook, leave a review, and share this episode with another nonprofit leader who's working to grow their mission without losing what makes it special.
