Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Nonprofit SnapCast

Our second episode with Erin Straza turns to the practical mechanics of donor management—highlighting the importance of clean CRM data, consistent tagging, and documenting every donor interaction to track passion, advocacy, and giving habits over time. She rejects binder-thick academic segmentation models in favor of practical, usable systems that a nonprofit staff can realistically maintain.

Key takeaways include:

• You cannot engage donors well without a functioning CRM

• Passion is measured through behavior (attendance, volunteering, giving consistency, social engagement), not surveys

• High-end donors require highly personalized, strategic touchpoints throughout their annual cycle

• Maintaining clean data today prevents massive organizational pain later.

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

In this conversation, Community Cats Podcast host Stacy LeBaron unpacks her decades of nonprofit leadership, using the lens of animal welfare to illustrate how organizations evolve from scrappy, all-hands-on-deck startups into strategically focused, governance-driven institutions. Drawing on her experience mentoring 80+ organizations and running a successful feline rescue nonprofit, Stacy explains the realities of cat overpopulation, the challenge of transitioning boards from operational to governance roles, the complications of hiring an executive director, and the tensions that arise when long-time board members struggle to relinquish hands-on duties. She highlights the importance of clear communication, strong leadership structures, and succession planning as nonprofits mature, and underscores how internal dynamics, not funding alone, ultimately determine organizational stability.

Key Takeaways

• The Community Cats Podcast focuses on turning passion for cats into community action, with an emphasis on reducing cat overpopulation and improving access to affordable spay/neuter services.

• Stacy created the Catmobile, a mobile spay/neuter clinic, as a scalable solution that transformed Massachusetts’ cat population management.

• An “adolescent nonprofit” is one shifting from reactive habits to strategic planning, typically when boards begin moving from operational involvement toward governance.

• Operational boards often mix volunteer duties with oversight, creating confusion—especially when staff are hired for roles board members still want to perform.

• Transitioning to a true governance board requires clarity, transparency, and sometimes a dramatic reshaping of board membership; Stacy’s board shrank from 22 to 11 in one day.

• Healthy board–executive director relationships depend on communication structures that prevent bottlenecks while preserving accountability.

• Hiring a first executive director often raises questions about financial sustainability and fundraising responsibilities; expectations must be explicitly discussed during recruitment.

• It can take three to five years for a new executive director to fully hit stride and begin delivering significant programmatic and fundraising growth.

• Mature boards come in different forms—some are ED-led, some are institutionalized—but all require succession planning to prevent stagnation or collapse.

• Organizational maturity is defined less by funding levels and more by leadership stability, role clarity, and the ability to function smoothly despite staff or board turnover.

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Erin Straza explains the difference between basic fundraising tactics and a true donor-engagement strategy, emphasizing that nonprofits often exhaust themselves with endless low-ROI tasks—especially social media—without first defining their “why” or mapping donor journeys. She stresses that strategic messaging, clarity of purpose, and relationship-building yield far stronger returns than disconnected tactical scrambles. Key takeaways include:

• Shift staff time away from low-impact busywork, build a donor-journey framework that can be used year after year

• Focus on personalized communication especially for high-capacity and high-passion donors

• Use strategy to reduce burnout and turnover by creating clarity and coherence in development work.

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

In this conversation, fractional CFO Stephen Newland joins to break down what financial leadership actually looks like inside a nonprofit—and why it doesn’t need to be complicated. Stephen explains that his core role is acting as a financial translator: turning dense, intimidating financial reports into meaningful insights that help leaders make informed decisions.

He emphasizes the critical role of forecasting, calling it one of the most underused yet most powerful tools available to nonprofits. While budgets are static snapshots, forecasts are “living, breathing documents” that give leaders visibility into the next 6–12 months. Without a forecast, executive directors are making decisions “in the dark,” relying on gut feelings instead of useful financial data.

The conversation also tackles the cultural components of financial leadership—modeling curiosity, encouraging teams and boards to engage with the numbers, and demystifying the jargon-heavy language of finance. When leaders show interest in numbers, the rest of the organization follows.

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Gustavo Zilberberg, CEO of Vitalcy, visits the SnapCast to introduce the company as a web-based platform that helps nonprofits build long-term financial stability by re-engaging and maintaining relationships with their community of supporters, including former members, staff, volunteers, and donors.

Key takeaways:

• Nonprofits Are Leaving Support on the Table Vitalcy’s mission is to help organizations reconnect with the huge pool of former staff, volunteers, donors, and program participants who often fall out of touch simply because teams don’t have the bandwidth to engage them consistently.

• Bandwidth, Not Intent, Is the Problem Gustavo stresses that nonprofits want to steward these relationships, but day-to-day pressures keep them focused on immediate needs. Vitalcy automates the re-engagement process so this important work doesn’t get deprioritized.

• The Sector Has Become Too Transactional Fundraising often centers on asking for money rather than building lasting relationships. Vitalcy flips that model by cultivating community, mission alignment, and long-term loyalty—ultimately driving more predictable, recurring revenue.

• AI-Powered Content Keeps Supporters Connected The platform scrapes publicly available material, digitizes historical content, and uses AI (with nonprofit approval) to generate ongoing stories and updates that make supporters feel seen, remembered, and part of the mission.

• Subscription Pricing with Strong ROI Vitalcy charges a monthly subscription fee scaled to organizational size. One client—a summer camp—tripled its annual donations after using Vitalcy to re-engage its broader alumni community.

• Built for Long-Term Stability, Not Quick Wins Gustavo frames Vitalcy as infrastructure: a way for nonprofits to build durable financial health through consistent stewardship and relationship-building. He invites organizations to reach out and explore what the platform can do for them.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Daniel Gordani, founder of Global Health Shift, joins Mickey to discuss his nonprofit’s mission to close healthcare gaps by bringing permanent, free primary-care clinics to communities—especially U.S. “healthcare deserts” where 75 million people lack basic access. Unlike temporary relief models, his organization aims to build lasting clinics near universities, staffed by medical and nursing students supervised by licensed physicians. These sites would provide early detection, preventive care, and referrals through partnerships with hospitals and specialists, reducing both community health burdens and hospital system strain. Still in early stages and run entirely by volunteers, Global Health Shift faces major challenges: fundraising for multimillion-dollar clinic builds, navigating state-by-state regulations, and working within (or around) entrenched insurance systems. Gordani outlines an ambitious funding model centered on corporate philanthropy and PR visibility, and he invites collaborators to join the effort at globalhealthshift.org.

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Mickey gets to visit with Amanda ReCupido to talk strategic plans, board and staff buy-in, and impact. Key topics discussed:- The importance of operationalizing a strategic plan, not just creating a document

• Strategies for getting board and staff buy-in and engagement with the strategic plan
• How a strategic planning process can expose issues and identify solutions across an organization (fundraising, communications, programs, etc.)
• Amanda's work with a local library foundation, helping them expand their advocacy role and identity beyond just supporting the library
• Tips for nonprofits, especially volunteer-run organizations, to maximize their impact and resources

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Mickey reconnects with Gung Wong, CEO and co-founder of Civic Champs, for a look at the state of volunteerism as nonprofits head into 2026. Gung reflects on how volunteer engagement has shifted since Civic Champs launched in 2019 (through pre-pandemic growth, the collapse of in-person volunteering during COVID, and the slow climb back). Some key takeaways:

• Volunteerism has rebounded since COVID, with individual volunteers returning in 2023 and corporate engagement resurging in 2024
• Adoption of volunteer management tech has increased from ~25% in 2019 to ~50% in 2025
• Experienced volunteers boost new volunteer retention by 10%, but COVID caused an exodus of experienced talent
• Civic Champs learned to stay focused on core product development, avoiding distractions from tangential opportunities

The conversation also covers the rise of volunteer management technology, with adoption of platforms and digital tools rising from about 25% in 2019 to roughly 50% today. Gung speaks candidly about Civic Champs’ own lessons, especially the importance of staying focused amid waves of “shiny object” opportunities during COVID.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Mickey learns about the Four Freedoms Fund, a national funder collaborative supporting immigrant justice, with its director Rini Chakraborty.

• Four Freedoms Fund is a national funder collaborative that pools resources to support immigrant-led organizations across 48 states
• Collaborative funds offer more nimble, flexible funding and break funders out of silos for greater collective impact
• FFF focuses on equity, justice, and trust-based philanthropy, with a team of BIPOC immigrants with field expertise
• The fund has mobilized over $300 million in 20+ years to support grassroots immigrant-led organizations

• National funder collaborative committed to building power/capacity of immigrant justice movement
• Pools resources from foundations, individual donors, donor-advised funds around shared vision
• Allows for more nimble, flexible, timely grantmaking than traditional philanthropy
• Acts as bridge between funders and community groups, finding/funding orgs often off national funders' radar
• Focuses on equity, justice, diverse teams closer to communities

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Mickey talks with Kate Viana about her new venture, Viana Communications, and its four brands supporting nonprofits.

• Viana Communications launches with four integrated brands: Non-Toxic Nonprofits, Viana Social, Opscale, and Nonprofit Text
• The venture addresses timely nonprofit needs: culture, marketing, infrastructure, and AI-powered communications
• Kate's approach involves comprehensive observation and big-picture analysis to offer tailored, sustainable solutions
• Launch timeline: websites and online infrastructure expected mid-July 2025; subcontractor hiring planned for early 2026

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Mickey gets to interview Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, new ED of the Christie Center, discussing her transition to leadership and today's nonprofit challenges.

• Jocelyn transitioned from clinical work to the executive role role, bringing valuable perspective as a person of color and Spanish speaker.
• Christie Center faces funding challenges but maintains strong community support and programs.
• Nonprofit sector experiencing instability, with some orgs closing/merging due to funding issues.
• Jocelyn emphasizes importance of self-care, team support, and strategic planning for sustainability.

Morgan Teel of Dance Waterloo visits the Snapcast to discuss social media strategies for small nonprofits, focusing on Dance Waterloo's approach.

• Dance Waterloo prioritizes meaningful engagement over frequent social media posting, focusing on word-of-mouth marketing (89% trust from friends/family recommendations).
• Email list growth and strategic, purpose-driven social media use have been successful for the organization.
• Audience engagement through innovative performance formats (e.g., Spelling Bee) has led to increased attendance and community involvement.
• Disengaging from constant social media doesn't mean ignoring it; strategic, intentional use is key for small.
• The difference between audience growth vs. audience depth.
• Alternative ways to engage: Email lists, word of mouth, hotel/apartment collabs, SMS, and print.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

In this episode of The Nonprofit SnapCast, host Mickey Desai visits with Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association (AHA). Fish shares his journey into humanism, his vision for the movement, and the role nonprofits play in safeguarding democracy, empathy, and human dignity in a rapidly shifting cultural and political landscape.

They discuss what humanism means today, the threats posed by rising authoritarianism, the importance of protecting religious freedom, and how nonprofits can step into advocacy without overstepping legal boundaries. Fish also emphasizes the vital role of empathy in civic life and why fostering meaning, purpose, and community is essential for both individuals and the nonprofit sector.

• What Humanism Is: Humanism centers on inherent human worth, potential, and responsibility—valuing progress over tradition and people over dogma.

• Shifts in the Political Landscape: Stark reflects on entering his role before the 2024 election, expecting one trajectory, and now leading the AHA in defending pluralism and constitutional freedoms in a far more hostile climate.

• Nonprofits Under Pressure: From skepticism about NGOs to open attacks on institutions like Sesame Street, Fish explains why nonprofits must resist narratives designed to erode trust in community-based institutions.

• The “War on Empathy”: Efforts to discredit empathy as weakness are not supported by research. In fact, empathy strengthens resilience, emotional regulation, and pro-social behavior—qualities vital for healthy societies.

• Advocacy Within the Law: Nonprofits can (and should) speak out against harmful policies. While 501(c)(3) organizations cannot endorse candidates, they have the right to criticize government actions and advocate for their missions.

• Seeds of Change: Cultural shifts don’t happen overnight. Planting seeds—through storytelling, conversations, and creating community—builds the long-term foundation for transformation.

• Meaning & Leadership in Nonprofits: Stark urges nonprofit leaders to focus on helping people connect their work, giving, and participation to a deeper sense of purpose, especially in a world where loneliness and disconnection fuel extremism.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Adam Olenn, founder of Rustle and Spark branding agency, meets with Mickey to discuss effective storytelling techniques for nonprofits.

• Storytelling is crucial for nonprofits to build trust, create emotional connections, and double donations
• Never lead with data; start with an emotional story about a single protagonist, then provide supporting statistics
• Train all staff and board members to tell authentic stories about the organization's impact
• Avoid naming emotions in stories; instead, use vivid sensory details to evoke feelings

• The Power of Storytelling for Nonprofits
• Storytelling Structure and Techniques
• Internal Benefits of Storytelling
• Storytelling Resources and Training

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Kathy Bremer of Boardwalk Consulting and Dave Paule of Our Fundraising Search visit the SnapCast to discuss career reinventions and job search strategies. We focus on Kathy's new book "Headhunter Confidential" Key Takeaways

• Job seekers should focus on targeted, strategic networking rather than mass applying online
• Successful candidates demonstrate cultural fit and provide specific examples of past achievements
• Career transitions require understanding your strengths/motivations and translating skills to new contexts
• Nonprofits offer meaningful work but may pay less; candidates should align values and demonstrate transferable skills

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Jeff Schreifels of Veritus Group discusses trends and strategies for mid-level and major gift fundraising. Key Takeaways:

• Mid-level giving (typically $1,000-$9,999) is a growing focus, bridging small donors to major gifts
• Nonprofits should diversify revenue streams, especially those reliant on government/corporate funding
• AI can boost efficiency in fundraising, freeing up time for relationship-building
• Restructuring development teams for better alignment with donor needs is crucial

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

This episode of the Snap Cast podcast features an interview with freelance journalist Adrianne Murchison. Murchison discusses her transition to freelance work after being laid off from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the challenges and opportunities of working as a freelance writer covering local and community issues. The conversation explores how national political themes and policy changes under the Trump administration have impacted local nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. Murchison shares insights on the need for greater public and political engagement to address these issues, and the importance of cultivating hope, compassion, and authentic connections during challenging times.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Host Mickey Desai speaks with Beverly Means, founder of Transitions Pet Care, and Jennifer McCormick, a dedicated volunteer with the organization.

About Transitions Pet Care:

• A 100% volunteer-run nonprofit organization that helps pet owners facing health challenges keep their beloved animals
• Services include free dog walking, litter box maintenance, veterinary care cost coverage, and temporary foster care for pets while owners are hospitalized
• Founded in 2020 by Beverly Means after she contemplated who would care for her own pets during a health crisis

Key Insights:

• The organization focuses on addressing a critical need: preventing pet surrenders due to temporary human health challenges
• Beverly balances running the nonprofit with her full-time job as an auto underwriter by intentionally keeping the organization small and manageable
• Jennifer joined as a volunteer after seeing firsthand through her shelter work how many animals are surrendered due to owners' health issues

Volunteer Management Highlights:

• The organization maintains clear boundaries for volunteers while providing support when needed
• Beverly's background as a social worker in healthcare helps her guide volunteers through challenging situations
• Zero tolerance for no-shows, as reliability is essential to the organization's mission

Connect with Transitions Pet Care:

• Email: TransitionsPetCare@gmail.com
• Website: www.transitionspetcare.org
• Instagram: @TransitionsPetCare

Support the Nonprofit SnapCast by finding us on Patreon. Every contribution helps produce more programming that serves the nonprofit sector.

Pat Libby returns to the SnapCast, bringing with her Travis Kemnitz, Executive Director of the San Diego Bird Alliance. Together, we talk about the work they did together, presenting a case study of their methods and results. Among the topics we discuss:

1. Strategic Planning - What did the process look like? - What did you learn along the way? - How did the board respond to what you were learning? Were they resistant to change? - What’s happened since the plan was inked?       

2. Everyone Needs A Jewish Mother - Lessons Learned as a New Executive Director

• How did you two meet? And how did you reconnect? 
• What are some key lessons you have learned since becoming an ED?
• Tips for a new ED or setting a new path for an organization.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Maria Perez is the Cause Marketing Consultant. She specializes in helping organizations grow their sponsor-partner initiatives. Among the questions we tackle:

• Why cause sponsorship is such an important revenue generation element for NPO's to pursue.
• Why do NPO's confuse patronage, corporate partnering and sponsorship? 
• What are the nuances and why are they important?
• Why do brands and companies sponsor?

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Pat Taggart is the Founder and Chief Creative of SkyBlue Creative, helping many nonprofits effectively use video as part of their communications portfolio. He visits the SnapCast to talk about the right way to create and use video. Among the things we cover:

• The biggest hurdle to promoting a non-profit on video is often the reluctance of leadership to put themselves on camera
• Tell vs. Compel   
• What can you film yourself vs. getting help from a pro 
• How/where to share 
• Video FAQs for non-profits

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Colleen Cook of High Tide returns to the SnapCast to talk about AI. Our conversation covers a wide breadth of knowledge regarding AI, its use and utility to the Nonprofit Sector. Among the things we discuss:

• Why nonprofits may be fearful of AI
• How my team is using AI 
• Considerations to make when selecting and using AI
• Potential of AI for nonprofit capacity building
• Generative AI
• Predictive AI
• Natural Language Query
• Use cases of AI in an organization
• How we're thinking about deep AI integration for the nonprofit sector in HighTide

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Michael Randel makes his second recording with the SnapCast. This time we talk about how to determine if an organization is really prepared for growth. Among the things we cover:

• Insights from studying Mackenzie Scott grant recipients that led to the concept of "the prepared organization."
• Consequences for organizations that are not prepared for growth opportunities.
• The importance of Purpose and Identity as the foundation of the framework.
• The necessity of having a plan for growth.
• The impact of leadership alignment on successful growth strategies.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Michael Randel is the founder and director of Randel Consulting Associates, a consulting firm that leads organizations through change and growth. He visits the SnapCast to talk about how to make organizational change less challenging. In our conversation, we talk about five common problems organizations experience as they navigate change. Among the things we discuss:

• Is it true that 70% of organizational changes fail?
• Emphasizing mistakes that happen early in a change process
• Three Levels Of Resistance
• Advising leaders on how to lead change initiatives that are more likely to be successful

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Paul Morris of Foundry Fundraising visits the SnapCast to talk about your technology and making the right technological investments. Among the things we discuss:

• Technology won't do the work for you and doesn't solve all your problems. No matter how shiny it is
• Nonprofits are woefully underinvesting in the technology tools needed, especially for development
• Nonprofits don't have to invest wildly, they can and should be smart about it
• The right tools supports the work
• The impact of this underinvestment? Wasting a ton of time - staff, stakeholders, volunteers, donors. 
• The risk to not investing has short-term and long-term impacts

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Laura Macdonald visits the SnapCast to talk about endowments, their utility, and why your nonprofit might want to think about adding an endowment to your funding priorities, and how to prepare to do so. Among the things we discuss:

Making the Case for Endowments •      Why are endowments beneficial from an institutional perspective? •      What resonates with donors about endowments? •      How can we help donors see the benefits of endowments versus annual cash donations? •      How do we make a solid case for endowments to skeptical donors?   Stewardship of Endowments •      How do we steward endowments effectively? •      What are common pitfalls in endowment management, and how can they be avoided?

Be sure to check out the Endowment Handbook for more insights into this important topic.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Dimple Dhabalia visits the SnapCast to talk about burnout and vicarious trauma among nonprofit professionals. Among the issues we cover:

• Common occupational traumas in the non-profit sector.
• Causes of vicarious trauma and moral injury, along with healing strategies.
• The relevance of generational trauma in the workplace.
• The connection between self-care, nervous system regulation, and the workplace.
• How organizations, not just individuals, can experience trauma.
• A call to action for mission-driven organizations to provide a more comprehensive duty of care.
• Steps leaders and organizations can take to create a holistic, human-centered duty of care.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Emily visits the SnapCast again to illustrate that nonprofit technology is not a project-based endeavor. We talk about data and technology are integral to defining organizational culture:

Human / data interaction Models of tech hiring Emily's Apprenticeship Program

Be sure to drop Emily a line and ask her about Friday Conversations.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Full disclosure: Rita Sever and Mickey trash talk some HR practices. We know not all HR people/departments do these things. There are many good HR folks who walk their talk and are user friendly. Among the questions we cover:

• What is Rita's history with HR?
• As a consultant, how did Rita support organizations in terms of HR?
• What are some unique challenges of HR – in a nonprofit in particular?
• What if an organization doesn’t have an HR department or person?
• When should an organization designated that role?
• What does a good HR department cover?
• What are some traits of a good HR person?
• When and how does HR not work?
• How does it impact staff when HR is not trusted?
• What do you see as the best possible role of HR?
• What has to be in place to make that role possible?
• What impact does this have on staff, leadership, and mission?

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Lisa Dietlin visits the SnapCast and schools Mickey on the Nonprofit Sector. We start with taking in the 30,000 foot view of the sector and break some things down from there. Among the many things we discuss:

• Do you know how the nonprofit/philanthropic sector evolved in the US?
• Did you know the nonprofit sector is the largest employer in the US?
• Did you know that every position that exists in the for-profit world exists in the nonprofit world?
• Did you know that nonprofit does not mean non-revenue?
• In 2023, more than $577 billion was donated to causes in the US with the majority of it coming from individuals. This means that almost $1.6 billion is given away every single day of the year?
• Did you know that 80% of nonprofits receive 50% of their annual budget during the last two months of the calendar year? Yet kids are hungry in April, rivers need to be cleaned up in May, books need to be put on library shelves in July…. In other words, nonprofits work  24/7/365.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Rita Sever and Mickey do a dive into organizational culture to examine the hidden rules that lead to discrimination and toxicity. Among the questions we address:

• Remind us what hidden rules are and how they work?
• Give us an example of a societal hidden rule?
• Give us a few examples of hidden rules in a nonprofit organization?
• How do they tend to undermine inclusion and equity?
• Who tends to benefit from hidden rules?
• How can you recognize hidden rules? Where should we look?
• Then what? What are you supposed to do when you find a hidden rule?
• Who is most likely to recognize hidden rules?
• What is a supervisor’s role in regard to the hidden rules?
• What about the role of HR and/or leadership if there is no HR?
• What about as an individual – what can one person do?
• This sounds like a lot of work. Does it really matter? 

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Colleen Cook is the Chief Business Officer for High Tide. We talk at length about computerwork vs peoplework, and how High Tide's unification of data makes data management universally useful for the entire nonprofit. Among the things we discuss:

• Unified, comprehensive data for nonprofits: Nonprofits deal with a lot of data points, but too often that data is siloed, making it difficult to see the complete picture. Streamlined data allows nonprofits to make fully informed decisions about donor relationships, communication strategies, etc. This is especially important because nonprofits tend to deal with higher levels of employee churn, meaning that data points can be lost when employees leave the organization if streamlined processes are not in place.
• Technology lag in the nonprofit sector: Nonprofits tend to be years behind other industries when it comes to technology development & adoption. Fundraising vs. sales: Fundraising and sales at times use similar strategies and concepts (i.e. digital engagement metrics) - but there are key differences when one asks for a donation for a nonprofit, compared to selling a product or service to a customer. 
• Donor experience: Every touchpoint with a donor is critical for nonprofits in order to maintain positive, lasting relationships within their donor revenue stream. Nonprofits should tailor the donor experience to each individual donor, with unique communication, requests, and touchpoints for each donor. “People give to people.” 
• Changing donor demographics: Nonprofits need to consider and begin establishing relationships with the next generation of donors. Trillions of dollars will be changing hands from current, aging donors to the younger generation (donors of tomorrow), and nonprofits need to establish those relationships well before they begin asking for money. Millennials and Gen-Z also have different expectations on communication, accountability, etc. than Boomers. All of this must be considered & acted upon by nonprofit organizations.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Kate Viana, MA, CNC is the Founder and Principal of Nontoxic Nonprofits. We talk about a number of things related to organizational culture including:

• Intergenerational conflict arises in the nonprofit workplace due to a lack of understanding and connection, and from permissive attitudes toward ageism.
• There are six main types of communications-related pitfalls: generational stereotypes; clashing management styles; fear and distrust; work-life balance expectations; lack of respect; and disparate communication styles.
• Healthy intergenerational communication starts at the top. Leadership is responsible for setting and nurturing the culture and for promoting and rewarding the right behaviors.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Shoshana Grossman-Crist visits the SnapCast to talk about grant-writing. If you think you know about grant writing, you might be wrong. Among the things we cover:

• Why do we need to make grantwriting easier?
• How did you learn to write grants? How can others learn?
• What´s the first step in grant writing?
• Can you walk us through the key components of a successful grant application?

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Sean Littman Founder/CEO GiveSuite.com: "...Everyone uses the term all in one. But GiveSuite literally is an all in one for small and medium sized organizations. You have your Crm, you have your donor management system, you have marketing tools, you have social media, scheduling tools, you have fundraising, crowdfunding everything all in one. So that way you can. You can just maximize your time and go out there and change the world, and the price is extremely nominal, because, as I said, our vertical was small medium organizations. ...All these other systems that were charging arm and a leg. I was just like this is stupid, like, you guys don't have the budgets for this stuff, and you don't have the technology for this stuff. Let's make something that's easy for you to use, and affordable and effective and welcome to GiveSuite."

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Pat Libby and Travis Kemnitz visit the SnapCast. We were all set to talk about strategic planning, but spent our time talking about the 2024 U.S. Election results and what that might mean for nonprofits as we navigate the next several years. We outline a four-step plan that Pat outlines on her blog:

• Be there for your team
• Reaffirm your connections to the greater community
• Hire a lobbyist
• Create your year-end fundraising plan

Please join in this conversation on the SnapCast's Linkedin Page.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website. Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

In this episode, Mickey is on-site at the 13th Annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference, hosted at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens on October 9th, 2024. He speaks with:   Chris Woods, CEO and President of Artportunity Knocks, increasing opportunities in the Arts, Education, Community Service, and Bridging Cultures. Chris says, “I'm a firm believer of rather than talking about the problem, become the solution, and we did that.” What was the solution? Listen to find out.   Joe Arnold, retired SVP at Suntrust Bank, and panel moderator of the conference. Joe notes: “We've got a lot of CEOs who are constantly working in their own vacuum and don't know some of the other CEO leaders across our city, and we thought putting together an annual conference about four and a half hours once a year would be a great way to pull them all together. And I'm just delighted that here in our 13th year that again, we've got to sell out crowd.”   Mindy Binderman, Executive Director of GEEARS, the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students. We talk about issues of the importance of leadership in all of nonprofit work, “because we know that good leadership is essential for getting great outcomes for kids.”   Howie Rosenberg, Executive Director of Gigi's Playhouse Atlanta, a Down syndrome achievement center offering free services to participants and their families with Down syndrome. “I'm very passionate about what I do. I love my job. I love having no barrier for people to be successful and to get services. I can tell you we may have a family that lives at Country Club to the south, and we might have family that lives in their car and they get the same quality service and the same experiences as each other.”   Ron Alston, Senior Vice President at Truist, leading the Not-For-Profit & Government Banking practice. We discuss how nonprofit banking may differ from any other kind of banking: “Nonprofit needs are different. They really revolve around financing solutions they have. So if they are engaged in a capital campaign and they are building infrastructure, they can utilize tax exempt financing vehicles that small businesses don't have access to. If they're doing work in low to moderate income communities, there are tax credit programs that can be used to help them complete projects…”

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Pat Libby visits the Nonprofit SnapCast to talk about her work with the San Diego Bird Alliance and her book, The Empowered Citizens Guide. They discuss the importance of lobbying for non-profits, the legalities involved, and practical steps for organizations to start their lobbying efforts. Key Takeaways:

• All non-profits should be involved in advocacy and lobbying, as these activities are crucial for advancing their missions. For example, a symphony orchestra might lobby for music education to ensure its future.
• To encourage non-profits to engage in lobbying, they should align their activities with their mission, as many missions relate to public policy. Examples include advocating for mandated reporting laws for computer repair technicians and extending housing support for foster youth.
• Mid-sized organizations can gain recognition and influence through lobbying, which enhances their impact. Non-profits inherently deal with political considerations, making it essential for them to engage in policy discussions.
• For non-profits looking to start lobbying, the first step is to educate the board about lobbying rules. Signing the 501H form allows organizations to lobby more freely without complicating their audits.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas visits the SnapCast. Dr. Fábregas is the Executive Director of Con Mi MADRE, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina girls and their loved ones through education and emotional support. We talk about Texas State Bill-Seventeen, which is known informally as “the anti-DEI law,” shutting down diversity, equity and inclusion offices like university LGBTQ+ centers. Among the things we discuss:

• SB-17 is changing the nonprofit landscape, it's important to "SB-17 proof" your organization
• Difficult decisions must be made when you lead a nonprofit and the important thing is looking at the big picture and moving towards the decision that will ensure sustainable growth
• Even during difficult times, the goal is to continue supporting all participants to the best of our ability
• How can an organization that's run for 20 years continue to run for the next two decades?

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Our friend Mary Hiland visits the SnapCast again to talk about Board Engagement and her research related to issues in board engagement. We unfold these issues and provide some suggestions on what it means to build connection, strengthen culture, and increase capacity. Among the things we touch on:

• Envisioning the future
• Knowing reality and how to respond
• Engaging and inspiring others to act
• Self reflection & self management

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

In this episode, we chat with Lita Ugarte Pardi, who spearheads the strategy and implementation of PEAK Grantmaking’s initiatives aimed at promoting equitable practices and advancing the Principles for Peak Grantmaking. Lita also serves on the planning committee for Atlanta's Nonprofit Leadership Conference. Join us as we delve into the significance of the conference and its benefits for nonprofit executives and board members.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Mickey talks with Faigy Gilder about how all nonprofits should be applying for Google Ad Grants, and should have a distinct strategy for working with the program. Among the things we discuss:

• How the Google Ad Grant works
• The importance of understanding search intent
• What you can expect while the account ramps up 
• Good use cases for your ads including volunteers, in-kind donations, email list building, and finding clients to fulfill grant requirements 

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Today on the SnapCast, I’m thrilled to be joined by Pat Libby, a prominent expert on nonprofit advocacy and civic engagement. In our conversation, we dive deep into the vital role that nonprofits can play in encouraging voter registration and ensuring that supporters' registrations are up-to-date before the pivotal 2024 Presidential Elections. We discuss:

• Voter Registration Essentials: Pat breaks down the key steps nonprofits should take to help their supporters register to vote.
• Verification Matters: Learn why verifying voter registrations is crucial and how nonprofits can assist their communities in confirming their registration status.
• Tools and Resources: Discover useful tools and resources that can aid in the voter registration process, including online platforms and community outreach strategies.
• Engagement Strategies: Pat shares innovative ideas for engaging supporters in the registration process, from organizing voter registration drives to leveraging social media for outreach.

Be sure to visit https://www.nonprofitvote.org/ for more information.   Pat’s website also provides a variety of resources on the matter.    Thank you for listening to the Nonprofit SnapCast! Be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more episodes focused on empowering nonprofits to drive meaningful change. We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon.

SnapCast listeners will know how much I don't want to hawk books on the show. I make a well-deserved exception here, speaking with Randall Hallet about his book, Vibrant Vulnerability. The book is originally geared towards Healthcare CEOs, but I believe every nonprofit executive should read Vibrant Vulnerability, especially if you're working in any health-care adjacent endeavor.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Ann Cramer is a member of the planning committee for Atlanta's Nonprofit Leadership Conference. We talk at length about the conference and its value to nonprofit executives and board members. It's for everyone. Come enjoy the community.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Sal Alaimo, friend of the SnapCast, is a Professor of Nonprofit Management with the School of Community Leadership and Development at Grand Valley State University. He visits with Mickey to talk about the myth that nonprofits are not allowed to lobby, and to make a case that ALL nonprofits should absolutely be lobbying to the limits of the law. Things we discuss:

• Fewer than 3% of all nonprofits engage in any lobbying.
• The vast majority of E.D.s erroneously think they are not allowed to do any lobbying.
• How to get nonprofits to engage.
• Reasons to get into lobbying now.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Ready, Aim, Reinvent: Career Change Strategies for Entering Nonprofit

Kathy Bremer, Managing Director of Boardwalk Consulting, and Dave Paule, Principal of Our Fundraising Search, record the last of five episodes to talk about engineering a career change strategy. This episode, we reframe the listener to expecting the next gig to not be permanent, but, instead, a next great step. We discuss reasons why you might decline an offer, company culture, toxicity, authenticity, and more.

Ready, Aim, Reinvent: Career Change Strategies for Entering Nonprofit

Kathy Bremer, Managing Director of Boardwalk Consulting, and Dave Paule, Principal of Our Fundraising Search, record the fourth of five episodes to talk about engineering a career change strategy. This episode, we’ll guide the listener how to stand out and win! We discuss bullseye conditions, how to interview, questions you’re always going to be asked, and how not to come in second.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Ready, Aim, Reinvent: Career Change Strategies for Entering Nonprofit

Kathy Bremer, Managing Director of Boardwalk Consulting, and Dave Paule, Principal of Our Fundraising Search, record the third of five episodes to talk about engineering a career change strategy. This episode, we go over the steps to making the change. We’ll discuss goal setting, planning, one’s personal brand, building one’s network, and resume creation.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.

Dave Matthews is a Board Member and Partner of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard; AND also a Founder of Atlanta's Nonprofit Leadership Conference. We talk at length about the conference and its value to nonprofit executives and board members. There is always something to learn.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon. We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit Snapshot website.