Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit Leadership and The "PolyCrisis" | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:32:57 | |
The nonprofit sector is facing a “polycrisis”. In this candid conversation, we unpack how simultaneous shocks (policy shifts, funder chill, shrinking donor pools) are reshaping civil society and what small nonprofits can do to adapt. We talk about building durable strategies instead of episodic crisis responses, and how to make decisions that protect mission over ego. Just as importantly, we get real about leadership wellbeing: navigating fear, staying in productive tension, and knowing when to step back. You’ll hear concrete ways to hold both urgency and care without burning yourself out or your team. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with consultant and movement leader Rachel D'Souza, founder and principal of Gladiator Consulting and a member of the Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council. Together, they explore how nonprofit leaders can stay grounded, collaborative, and courageous in uncertain times, and what this moment asks of all of us. The Highlights:
Actionable Tips for Nonprofits:
Resources and Links:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Grant Writing: Getting to YES! with DeaRonda Harrison | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:19:45 | |
If you’re tired of chasing dead-end applications or hearing “we don’t accept unsolicited proposals,” this episode is for you. We dig into how to build a smarter pipeline by prioritizing funders that welcome new grantees. Then we tackle the myth of “hard-to-fund” programs (arts, advocacy, civic education, etc.) and show you how reframing your work to match donor priorities can unlock dollars without changing your programming. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, grant expert DeaRonda Harrison shares practical ways small and mid-sized nonprofits can sharpen their prospecting and reposition “tough” programs, especially in shifting political climates. You’ll learn how to identify real opportunities, speak to funder focus areas, and package your outcomes in ways that resonate. The Highlights
Actionable Tips for Nonprofits
Resources and Links
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| Donor Stewardship: Community-Centric Segmentation and Practices | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:30:25 | |
Your top donors don’t just write big cheques; they could be folding newsletters in your conference room every Tuesday or serving on your board for the third consecutive year. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, we're exploring on what it means to steward supporters through a Community-Centric Fundraising lens. We're sharing ways we’ve shown gratitude to people who show up for your mission with time, talent, advocacy, and yes, dollars too. We challenge the traditional approach of stewarding people based solely on gift amounts and explore who really deserves your high-touch attention (spoiler: it's not just your $1,000+ donors). 1. Volunteers Are Major Donors in Disguise Your regular volunteers are often contributing the equivalent of $15,000-$60,000 in staff time, yet most organizations don't steward them like major donors. That volunteer who designed your website for free? That's a $15,000 gift that deserves the same recognition as a financial contribution of that size. 2. Monthly Donors Deserve VIP Treatment Even a $5 monthly donor should be in your major giving category. These supporters show incredible commitment and loyalty, and research shows they're likely to increase their giving over time. Plus, they're your best candidates for additional campaign gifts and planned giving opportunities. 3. Your Staff Are Subsidizing Your Mission Every nonprofit staff member is essentially making a $20,000-$30,000 gift by accepting below-market wages. During the current hiring and retention crisis, treating staff with the same stewardship approach you'd use for major donors isn't just nice. It's smart business. 4. Longevity Matters More Than Single-Year Giving A donor who's given $100 for five consecutive years is more valuable than someone who gave $500 once. Length of relationship and consistency of support are stronger indicators of future giving potential than one-time gift amounts. 5. Meaningful Stewardship Is About Connection, Not Cost The most impactful stewardship often costs very little. A quick, personal email sharing a story you just heard can be more meaningful than an expensive branded gift. Authenticity trumps fancy materials every time. Resources and Links o Connect with our host, Maria Rio o Connect with our cohost, Caitlin McBride o Support our show. We are fully self-funded! o Watch this episode on YouTube o Need help with your fundraising? o Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :) If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Asking for unrestricted funds with Aimee Lindenberger | 09 May 2023 | 00:26:47 | |
Today we'll tackle a common challenge faced by small nonprofits – obtaining unrestricted funds. It's no secret that while many organizations excel at securing grants and program funding, the quest for those vital, unrestricted annual operating funds can be an uphill battle. In this episode, we’re joined by Aimee Lindenberger, the founder of Refocused Fundraising, an expert in fundraising communications, key messages, annual appeals, and legacy giving. Listen in as we discuss the importance of unrestricted funds and how to effectively communicate their value to your supporters.
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Moving people with words with Jordana Merkin | 02 May 2023 | 00:25:43 | |
Are you struggling to connect with your audience and make an impact with your organization's messaging? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I speak with Jordana Merkin, founder and CEO of Voice for Good, about the power of words in moving people to action. Join us as we dive into the world of nonprofit messaging and show you how to make a lasting impact with your words. Key Highlights:
Connect with Jordana: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jordana-merkin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voiceforgood/ Website: https://www.voiceforgoodmarketing.com/ Freebie: https://www.voiceforgoodmarketing.com/prompts (download a free guide to building your messaging guide) If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Can we agree to stop exploiting our staff? with Nicole Gagliardi | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:25:51 | |
Are you tired of watching your nonprofit's most passionate and dedicated employees leave due to burnout and exhaustion? It's time to address the elephant in the room - the exploitation of nonprofit staff. In this episode, we're joined by Nicole Gagliardi, an innovator and changemaker in the nonprofit sector with over 10 years of experience leading small nonprofits. Join us as we discuss the pervasive issue of staff exploitation in the nonprofit sector and explore practical solutions to create a healthier workplace culture. Key Highlights:
Connect with Nicole: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolegagliardi1/ If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Stop gatekeeping nonprofit knowledge with Tiffany Allen | 18 Apr 2023 | 00:25:19 | |
Our sector has a clear response when someone asks about starting a nonprofit - “please don’t”. I’ve seen this in Facebook groups and discussions. But what if starting a nonprofit is an act of equity and justice? Tune in to hear from our guest, Tiffany Allen, CEO of Boss On A Budget, as she shares her experience and expertise in the world of nonprofit startups. Key Highlights:
Connect with Tiffany: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BossonaBudget Website: www.bossonabudget.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bossonab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bossonab If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Uncover the truth about status quo bias with Veronica LaFemina | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:27:42 | |
Are you struggling to turn your organization's strategic plan into a reality? Do you feel like your efforts to create change within your nonprofit are falling flat? Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Veronica LaFemina, a strategic advisor to nonprofit leaders with over 20 years of experience in change management. In this episode, Veronica shares her insights on why change often fails in organizations and what you can do to set yourself up for success. Key Highlights:
Connect with Veronica: Website: https://lafemina.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlafemina If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| get those elusive event sponsors with Mariah Monique | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:34:20 | |
Have you ever considered hosting an event for your nonprofit organization? Do you know how to incorporate sponsorship into the profitability of your event? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit podcast, Mariah Monique, founder of The Sponsorship Catalyst, shares some insightful tips on how to leverage strategic partnerships and potential sponsors to make your event a success. Key Highlights:
Connect with Mariah: Website: https://www.thesponsorshipcatalyst.com/ Free resource: What to offer sponsors https://colossal-hustler-635.ck.page/104885a769 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesponsorshipcatalyst/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesponsorshipcatalyst/ If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| behind the scenes of the Fractional Fundraising Movement | 28 Mar 2023 | 00:10:51 | |
In today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I'm introducing you to the Fractional Fundraising movement and our new private podcast series that will give you an inside look at how we do this revolutionary approach to fundraising that has helped many small nonprofits thrive. Key Highlights:
If you're interested in learning more, visit thegoodpartnership.com/pod to get exclusive access to our limited-time private podcast series. Don't miss out on the opportunity to change the fundraising game for your small nonprofit. | |||
| Overcoming isolation at work with Sean Kosofsky | 21 Mar 2023 | 00:29:09 | |
In this episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, I’m joined by Sean Kosofsky, aka the Nonprofit Fixer, to discuss the impact of isolation on small nonprofit organizations in a post-pandemic world. Working remotely or changing jobs can leave nonprofit professionals feeling disconnected and lonely, but Sean offers practical advice for breaking through the isolation. Key Highlights:
Connect with Sean: Website: www.NonprofitFixer.com 4 Day Workweek: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/the-complete-guide-to-implementing-the-four-day-workweek FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Older audience? Find the next generation of donors with Emily Taylor | 14 Mar 2023 | 00:33:40 | |
As donors get older, it's essential for nonprofits to find new, younger donors to keep their organizations running. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, I talk to Emily Taylor, the founder of Teeny Big, where she helps nonprofit leaders create clear, defined paths to build engagement with people so they can achieve their goals faster. Emily talks about the challenge of engaging younger donors and her insights on how to understand and connect with them. Key Highlights:
Connect with Emily: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-taylor-teenybig/ Free worksheet on biases: https://mailchi.mp/teenybig/beyondbias If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| measuring your impact with Julie Gilbert | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:35:14 | |
Are you struggling to demonstrate your organization's impact? Are you looking for ways to engage your donors and keep them coming back? In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Gilbert, an independent consultant and coach in Julie Gilbert Consulting. She has over 25 years of experience working with public sector and nonprofit organizations, focused on helping organizations measure and communicate their impact. Julie talks about the meaning of impact, strategies and how solid measurement work can benefit organizations in attracting funding, and achieving their mission. Key Highlights:
Connect with Julie: Website: If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Why DEI Fails in Nonprofits (and How to Do It Right) | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:29:06 | |
Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action? Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change? In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being "canceled," the broken board structure, and how small nonprofits can lead with community and strategy at the center. Justice Work in Nonprofits: – The Highlights:
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations! About Jonathan Meagher-Zayas: Jonathan Meagher-Zayas is a global educator, equity strategist, and nonprofit consultant. With 14+ years in fundraising, DEI work, and community organizing, he now empowers nonprofits to assess their internal systems, build more inclusive strategies, and take meaningful action toward equity. Actionable Tips for Nonprofit Leaders to Advance Equity: ➜ Start with an internal assessment: Before jumping into training or committees, assess your org's culture, systems, and staff perspectives to understand where change is most needed. ➜ Engage your community in the process: Talk to your staff, board, and the people you serve. Let their lived experiences guide your equity goals—not just checklists or trends. ➜ Invest in internal capacity: If you're asking people to lead DEI efforts, pay them, redistribute their workload, and give them authority—not just responsibility. Resources and Links
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Confessions with Jess and Cindy: From burnout to being your own boss with Sabrina Walker | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:44:12 | |
In today’s podcast, we’re chatting with Sabrina Walker Hernandez about how she moved from being completely burned out (including how that affected her health) to growing a business that allowed her to still serve nonprofits but in a way that protected herself and her own well-being. Through her company, Supporting World Hope, Sabrina is a trainer, facilitator, and coach who specializes in strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development. Highlights:
Connect with Sabrina:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| practical minimalism in nonprofits with Danielle Russell | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:30:48 | |
When you're a small nonprofit, your work often involves doing more with less—which is why it's so important to know which tasks are essential and which just add up to clutter. Today, we’re talking about one approach that helps streamline our workload while staying focused on the biggest priorities- minimalism. Danielle Russell walks us through minimalism in nonprofits. Danielle S. Russell, CAE is a Canadian Not-for-Profit Industry Leader, Consultant, Author, Speaker, YouTuber, and Artist. She loves connecting ideas and people so that each individual can achieve their greatest potential impact. From keynote podiums, to the boardroom, to YouTube; Danielle leverages her unique strengths to help foster collaboration, empathy and action. Key Highlights:
Connect with Danielle: Website: http://daniellerussell.ca/ Instagram:@Danny_S_Russell Resources: FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Introducing: Missions to Movements with Dana Synder | 14 Feb 2023 | 00:52:34 | |
On today’s podcast, we’re bringing you someone else’s podcast! That’s right, from time to time we’ll be featuring some friends and their podcast episodes that we think are worth a listen. Today it’s Dana Synder’s podcast, Missions to Movements. If there is an organization to watch, Hope for Haiti is it, and today, you’ll meet Community Director of Innovative Philanthropy, Sarah Porter, and CMO Taylor Hebble. Hope for Haiti is pushing the boundaries with incredible creativity and innovation! A new VR experience transports supporters to a partner school in rural Haiti, they created a beautiful NFT collection in partnership with Haitian artists to fund the build of new schools after the earthquake, AND they’re using LinkedIn as an outlet to reach the media and have already more than doubled their following in the process. It’s time to step into the future and imagine the possibilities as we consider VR experiences as a launchpad for deeper social impact. Key Highlights:
Connect with:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| making your tech work for you with Kevin Christopher George | 07 Feb 2023 | 00:35:15 | |
The cloud is changing the tech game. In fact, it's already changed it. But how can you adapt to this new technology? How can your small nonprofit make sure that you're ready for what's coming next? On this episode, I speak with Kevin Christopher George of Green Merits Consulting, about cloud technology with a grounded, real life, practical perspective on what it means to research, select and adapt cloud technologies. Key Highlights:
Connect with Kevin: Website: https://www.greenmerits.com/ Email: kgeorge@greenmerits.com Resources: FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| equity in data with Meena Das | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:31:06 | |
So many small nonprofits don't know where to start when it comes to managing the data they have. How can we use our data effectively and efficiently? And how do we make sure it’s being used with an equity lens? If you're struggling with this, definitely give this episode a listen! On today’s episode, I’m joined by Meena Das, Founder & Philanthropy Analytics Consultant at NamasteData, and her focus of work is grounding data and analytics solutions for nonprofits in the ideas of equity and inclusion. Key Highlights:
Connect with Meena Das:
Resources: FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| employee volunteering with Heather Nelson | 24 Jan 2023 | 00:38:02 | |
“Everybody pays, nobody pays. Because I think one of the most important principles that we put in place with our clients around corporate is transparency” - Heather Nelson employee volunteering with Heather Nelson Is corporate volunteerism trendy right now? Absolutely! Should you still include it in your corporate giving strategies? Probably. In this episode, I sat down with Heather Nelson of Bridgeraise, and talked about how your nonprofit can benefit from corporate volunteerism and how to get started with building a strong relationship with your corporate partners. Key Highlights:
Connect with Heather: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nelsonheather Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Resources: FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| practicing community centric fundraising with Maria Rio | 17 Jan 2023 | 00:37:26 | |
“Community-Centric Fundraising is about reimagining how we engage our communities, so whether that's our service users or volunteers, our donors, to make everyone feel really valued and invested in the work. - Maria Rio” practicing community centric fundraising with Maria Rio You may have heard of a growing movement called Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) but have lots of questions of how it works and how you might apply it to your organization. Maria Rio, joins me in this conversation today on The Small Nonprofit Podcast. She has been working in nonprofits for ten years, has personal experience as a service user, and has spent the last year and a half testing out various CCF approaches. Maria is going to talk about how community-centric fundraising works—and how it can enable your fundraising program to raise money AND fulfill your mission at the same time. Highlights:
Connect with Maria: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/ Resource: FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| in between asks - with Mike Duerksen | 10 Jan 2023 | 00:48:34 | |
Sometimes fundraising in a small nonprofit can feel start-stop. You put in effort and maybe see results, but then as soon as you slow down, the money stops coming in. But on today’s podcast, guest Mike Duerksen, Founder and CEO of BuildGood, shares with us his “flywheel” method for creating a fundraising program that operates on momentum, so that the longer you fundraise, the less effort it takes to grow. Sounds dreamy, right? Mike covers:
Connect with Mike: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeduerksen Website: https://buildgood.com/ Resources: FREE Fundraising Strategy Guide: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/guide If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| direct mail isn’t dead with John Lepp | 12 Dec 2022 | 00:29:41 | |
And the small charities can slow down a little bit and stop automating. I remind people that direct response, whether it's direct mail or if it's online, I don't care what it is. It is an opportunity for conversation. You are talking to other human beings that we call donors. And that's an opportunity to have something, a meaningful connection with someone who wants to help you achieve your goals. And just like relationships are in real life. - John Lepp direct mail isn’t dead with John LeppIn today’s episode, we are joined by John Lepp, a partner at Agents of Good and the author of Creative Deviations. He has over 25 years of experience in the fundraising and design industry and is an expert in direct-response fundraising. John is breaking down how to raise more money through direct mail using design and authenticity. Highlights:
Connect with John:
Resources: If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| networks for impact with Michelle Shumate | 05 Dec 2022 | 00:29:17 | |
“Your first goal is let's create a win where we can begin to work on these relationships, where we can begin to build some trust, and then we're going to come back and we're going to see what the next step is. ” - Michelle Shumate networks for impact with Michelle ShumateIn today’s episode, we are joined by Michelle Shumate from Northwestern University and the author of Networks for Social Impact. If you’ve ever wondered about working in partnership with other organizations, Michelle shares her experience and framework to help that go smoothly so that everyone benefits.
Connect with Michelle:
Resources: If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| Social Enterprise: Earned Revenue for Nonprofits | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:21:04 | |
Social enterprises aren't only about earning or diversifying revenue; they’re key to finding creative, sustainable ways to advance your mission while serving your community with dignity. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio chats with Tom Armitage, who has been leading The SEED, a project of the Guelph Community Health Centre, for almost 10 years. The SEED is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to good food, and along the way they have built innovative programming, including a social enterprise, that rethink how nonprofits can deliver impact. Meet the Guest Tom Armitage is the driving force behind The Seed. With a background in agriculture and local food systems, not business, he is proof that passion and persistence matter more than waiting to get an MBA. Over nearly a decade, Tom has helped grow The SEED from a central food distribution idea into a multi-program social enterprise reaching thousands of people. 5 Key Takeaways
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations! 3 Actionable Tips for Small Nonprofits & Fundraisers
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| optimizing your event revenue in surprising ways with Rebecca Alfred | 28 Nov 2022 | 00:30:55 | |
"What are those moments where we can captivate our audience in a different way, because otherwise, they would just be standing around. And how can we use those moments to also encourage donations in giving?” — Rebecca Alfred Optimizing your event revenue in surprising ways with Rebecca Alfred Fundraising events can be hard for small organizations. The time and effort to get it off the ground and make it “profitable” doesn’t often work out. But if you are going to host an event or have a legacy event that is profitable, our guest for this episode will make sure you achieve maximum results. Join Rebecca Alfred, Charity Relationships Lead, Trellis Social Enterprise Inc. to learn how to raise more money and have a bigger impact with your events. Highlights:
Connect with Rebecca Alfred:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| from a plan to implementation with Deborah Gold | 21 Nov 2022 | 00:37:15 | |
There's more fear than there was courage. We had to sort of change into, you know what, we're trying something new. We are not asking the clients to give to their own campaigns or to give to anyone else's campaign. We are asking them to tell their story to their friends and family and invite their friends and family to support us. — Deborah Gold From a plan to implementation with Deborah Gold Planning to change the world might seem daunting. Getting help with your fundraising - maybe even more daunting! Today’s podcast is a conversation with one of our clients about how she made the leap to hiring a fundraising consultant, what she learned along the way, and what’s working for them now. On today’s podcast, join Deborah Gold to dive deep into all things fundraising for BALANCE for Blind Adults. Highlights:
Connect with Deborah Gold:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| get those grants with DeaRonda Harrison | 14 Nov 2022 | 00:30:14 | |
"Grant writing is one of those things that small organizations love and hate. I would say the idea of grant funding, that is, funding programs that feels like large amounts of money coming in and one ask is really a dream for so many small organizations, but they struggle with how to do it.” — DeaRonda Harrison get those grants with DeaRonda Harrison Are you still hesitant to hire a grant writer for your organization? Maybe you’ve had great success with grants and the portfolio has become time-consuming and too large to handle. Or, maybe your sending out applications left, right, and centre and still not having any luck. Join DeaRonda Harrison to deep dive into all things grant writing - from benefits, challenges and the importance of it! Highlights:
Connect with DeaRonda:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| the secrets to successful emails with Ben Johnson | 07 Nov 2022 | 00:32:32 | |
“And number one question I would get usually is how many emails should I send in a year? So if you're starting from that big picture and I was like, oh, great, great, and I want to write a book, how long should it be? And you get why is that an appropriate response? And it's like, well, you shouldn't write bad content. And it turns out you can write seven books about a middle school kid who's a wizard. And it's like, if we do great content that's really engaging, keep going, please.” — Ben Johnson the secrets to successful emails with Ben Johnson Email marketing is the most effective way to engage your supporters. But how do you leverage it for maximum impact? In this episode, we'll discuss how to use email marketing to maximize your nonprofit's fundraising efforts in a way that is aligned with your values and mission. .Join Ben Johnson as he deep dives into the successful ways and strategies to engage community and raise more money for your nonprofit. Highlights:
Connect with Ben:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| tending the seeds that you sew with Patrick Rodriguez | 31 Oct 2022 | 00:27:50 | |
“Patience is getting beyond yourself. If there's a lack of patience, it's because you're putting yourself as a priority to any situation that there is.” - Patrick Rodriguez tending the seeds that you sew with Patrick Rodriguez In our work in the nonprofit sector, it often feels like things need to happen right away - the needs are, after all, urgent. But today on the podcast we’re talking all about patience - the ability to play the long game to have a greater impact. I’m joined by first-time ED and formerly incarcerated Patrick Rodriguez, from the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison. Patrick’s journey from inmate to ED along with his deep reflections and patience, teaches us how to look beyond the immediate needs to a more strategic long-term vision. Highlights:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect with Patrick:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| leveling up your leadership with Danielle Rocheleau | 24 Oct 2022 | 00:31:53 | |
“I'll talk often to clients about the idea of building a culture of succession so that we know from the get go that when we hire someone into the organization, that our hope is to offer development pathways. It doesn't necessarily mean climbing the ladder, but an opportunity for professional growth and naturally with professional growth, we need to be open and honest around feedback.“ Danielle Rocheleau leveling up your leadership with Danielle Rocheleau Your employees are your BEST asset when it comes to having an impact, yet it’s also one of the most under invested in resources. In today’s episode, we have Danielle Rocheleau from Laridae sharing ways to support your employees in honing their skills and empowering them as leaders. Highlights:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect with Danielle:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| get unstuck with Ashley Fontaine | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:25:53 | |
“We're not changing for the sake of change. We're changing because we wanna do something different or grow or improve.” - Ashley Fontaine get unstuck with Ashley Fontaine We’ll all be there - stuck! In a rut. Bored. Trapped. It feels like this is just part of the nonprofit experience. But this can be hurting our missions. And ourselves. In today’s episode, Ashley Fontaine, founder of Flux AF Consulting shares with us how she is helping nonprofits navigate getting “unstuck” by building skills, improving leadership, and avoiding burnout. Highlights:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect with Ashley:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| testing, testing, 123... with Cherian Koshy | 10 Oct 2022 | 00:29:55 | |
You might have heard about the benefits of testing in your fundraising. Tweaking copy and sending to two different groups to see which performs better. Testing different web pages to see which gets more conversions. Maybe you’ve also tried to survey your donors to see what they like. This can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! On today’s podcast join Cherian Koshy to deep dive into all things testing in a way that’s accessible to small organizations with limited resources. Highlights:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect with Cherian:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| nonprofit sector role models with Jarrett Ransom | 03 Oct 2022 | 00:29:13 | |
“What am I doing in modeling for future leaders? I firmly believe everyone is a leader. Everyone has that ability just innately from birth. And so what are we doing to support the next leaders of the community, of the nonprofit sector in particular? - Jarrett Ransom NONPROFIT SECTOR ROLE MODELS WITH JARRETT RANSOM Join our conversation with Jarrett Ransom, known as The Nonprofit Nerd. We reflect on the legacy that we would want to leave behind in the nonprofit sector, which led to a discussion of the mindsets we don’t want to pass on, and how we can overcome these. HIGHLIGHTS:
CONNECT WITH JARRETT RANSOM:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| indigenous protocols in fundraising with Rowena Veylan | 26 Sep 2022 | 00:26:42 | |
“If you're learning about what indigenous protocols are applicable and relevant to your work? That's a journey. If we're learning how to balance decolonization and philanthropy, that's a journey. And I feel like that's also aligned with what I understand, or the people who I've worked with from the indigenous communities looking at how they've approached just everything. It is a journey.” - Rowena Veylan INDIGENOUS PROTOCOLS IN FUNDRAISING WITH ROWENA VEYLAN In today’s episode, we are joined by Rowena Veylan from New School Of Fundraising to talk about how to meaningfully incorporate Indigenous Protocols in fundraising through an authentic and impactful approach. HIGHLIGHTS:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| The Network Myth: A Hiring Red Flag | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:17:24 | |
Relying on a fundraiser’s personal network isn’t a fundraising strategy; it’s a shortcut that can cost your nonprofit big in the long run. In this episode, Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride unpack why this common hiring question is a major red flag, what it reveals about an organization’s approach to fundraising, and how small nonprofits can shift toward healthier, more sustainable donor relationships. Meet the Hosts
5 Key Takeaways
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations! Key Quote: “Focus on relationships between the mission and the donor, not just between the fundraiser and the donor.” – Caitlin McBride 3 Actionable Tips for EDs & Hiring Managers
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| fundraising through an empathetic lens with Kyle Empringham | 19 Sep 2022 | 00:31:33 | |
One of the biggest tenets of empathy is just listening and doing an act of deep listening. So understanding where people are at. You know how to be able to engage with them in a way that makes sense. If you have the patience and ability to just be in a moment with people, understand what they do. I think that can, that can work wonders. - Kyle Empringham FUNDRAISING THROUGH AN EMPATHETIC LENS WITH KYLE EMPRINGHAM In today’s episode, we have Kyle Empringham from Starfish Canada to discuss building connections and empathy’s power in making small nonprofits stand out in their fundraising. HIGHLIGHTS:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| broad and deep relationships for fundraising success with Janaiha Bennett | 12 Sep 2022 | 00:29:50 | |
“Sometimes you have to have the courage to say that you are walking away from a potential supporter because it's not missionly aligned.” - Janaiha Bennett
In today’s episode, we are joined by Janaiha Bennett from Youth Leadership Foundation to teach us how to develop relationships with our donors and how to treat them as humans first than people who would just give you money. HIGHLIGHTS:
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| giving Tuesday - hope or hype? | 25 Aug 2022 | 00:46:23 | |
Re-release curated by: Morgan Domijan, Peerfect Fundraising Solutions Myths that Lys wants us to walk away
Lys’ tips on leveraging GivingTuesday
Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode Post your favourite quote on social media to share with us! “People are primed to give. 52% of people say that they want to give on GivingTuesday itself because they're part of something bigger.” “I think one of the biggest myths is that GivingTuesday is just a day. It's more than just a day. The best campaigns start well before.” Resources from this Episode Download toolkit and resources to support your GivingTuesday campaign Learn more about Morgan at Peerfect Fundraising Solutions If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| changing the world through fundraising with David Love | 22 Aug 2022 | 00:35:29 | |
Re-release curated by: Morgan Domijan, Peerfect Fundraising Solutions Myths that David wants us to walk away from
David’s tips on working with donors:
Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode Post your favourite quote on social to share with us! “It’s a fallacy to think that fundraisers raise money. What fundraisers spend their lives doing is creating value. Fundraisers make dreams come true. Small organizations with difficult causes need to find ways to make the values that are at the heart of what they do come alive in a donor’s soul.” “Donors are already on a journey. We as fundraisers didn't actually start that journey. They come to us because they're on a journey and they're actually trying to find out whether the road that we’re showing them is one we want to go down or not.” Resources from this Episode Connect with David on Linkedin David’s new book: Green Green: Reflections on 51 Years of Raising Money for Nature Learn more about Morgan at Peerfect Fundraising Solutions If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| the burnout is real with Sam Laprade | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:41:31 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Lacey Kempinski, Balanced Good These are scary times. The world is in crisis as we work hard to contain the COVID 19 outbreak and minimize its impact. Our organizations are being challenged in ways we could never imagine. For some of us, our clients are at high risk and we are working around the clock to support them. For others, we have been forced to lay off staff because our programs have been cancelled. The emotional toll on each and every one of us is significant, at a time when we are most isolated. We’re also seeing stories of hope, community, and caring. I’ve seen breweries turn the alcohol they have into free hand sanitizer. My neighbours created a mini food drive for a local shelter. Communities coming together in song. While this podcast episode was recorded a little while ago, the content is perhaps even more relevant now. Our guest is Sam Laprade and we are talking about burnout. Sam has been talking about mental health so that we can better take care of ourselves and our colleagues. Now more than ever. Sam joins me in today’s podcast, talking about burnout, mental health and self-care. So, take a breath and take a listen. If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| a feminist COVID recovery with Chi Nguyen | 15 Aug 2022 | 00:32:13 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Lacey Kempinski, Balanced Good How do we recover from the exhaustion and pain of the pandemic? How do we lead our organizations into the post-pandemic world with responsible leadership in service for our communities? On today’s episode, social impact leader Chi Nguyen gives us the real talk on how to approach our leadership and the way we show up with a feminist and inclusive lens. Chi’s tips on approaching leadership from a feminist and inclusive lens:
Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode Post your favourite quote on social to share with us! “When I think about inclusive leadership and feminist leadership, it’s about bringing that whole person and all of the weight of that into decision making, into how we run our organizations with lots of forgiveness and resiliency, and frankly, real humanity.” “The best community programming and best response to community initiatives is a program that is for us by us — fundraised, led, designed, implemented. That is the model for ownership of community solutions, but it is not how our systems have been built. We need to move from a charitable model to collective impact model.” Resources from this Episode If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| working with consultants with Jess Campbell | 11 Aug 2022 | 00:43:08 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Jordana Merkin, Voice for Good In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about working with consultants with Jessica Campbell, Founder and CEO of Out in the Boons and a dear friend of mine. She is a trained nonprofit fundraiser who has worked with big and small organizations and runs a consulting business where she helps organizations to connect with the right consultants to get the help they need. Myths that Jess wants us to walk away from:
Jess’s tips on working with consultants
Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us! “The biggest pet peeve is I see small organizations trying to do it all themselves. Or one person or two person team trying to do it all. And I wish that people realize that there's no trophies for burnout. You don't get a gold star for that. ” Resources from this Episode The Good Partnership If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| leading with "nice" with Mathieu Yuill | 08 Aug 2022 | 00:39:48 | |
To learn more about what makes a great leader, I sat down with Mathieu Yuill, Founder of Leading with a Nice, consultancy that develops leaders. Mathieu has more than 25 years of experience in the field of communication and marketing, as well as a master's degree in management and leadership. Myths that Mathieu wants us to walk away from:
Matthieu’s GET HG: qualities of leaders that inspire
Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode Post your favorite quote on social media to share with us! “So if you have a report who's working on a project often what we do is we'll come by and be like, “Hey, you know, are you done with that yet? Or how far along are you?” That's checking up and that's like a doctor's appointment. Nobody likes it. But instead, check-in and be like, “Hey, how are things going? Is there anything I can help you with?” That's actually showing gratitude and trust cause you're trusting the person they're doing their job and you're also acknowledging that they're working hard and you recognize like, “Hey, can I help you? Like I get this is a job that might need an extra set of hands.” That's a very simple way to show gratitude.” ”We need to understand how to communicate with each other and that's really the first base, the barrier to entry is do you know how to communicate with each other? ” Resources from this Episode The Good Partnership If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| HR made simple with Bruce MacDonald | 04 Aug 2022 | 00:36:38 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: IMAGINE CANADA
Bruce’s thoughts around HR Intervals for Nonprofits
Favorite Quotes for Today’s Episode If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| young and diverse - the new workforce with Tamara Balan and Bareera Sial | 01 Aug 2022 | 00:33:55 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: IMAGINE CANADA If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| 5 Trends Redefining Nonprofits by 2035 | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:30:38 | |
The nonprofit world is changing FAST - and the way we fundraise, build teams, and connect with communities is being rewritten in real time. If you’ve been feeling the tension between keeping your nonprofit afloat today and preparing for tomorrow, this episode is a must-listen. In this solo episode, Maria Rio dives into five powerful forces shaping the future of the nonprofit sector and lays out what organizations might look like by 2035. From workforce shifts and AI adoption to government instability and DEI backlash, Maria doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges but she also shares smart ways small nonprofits can stay resilient, ethical, and effective through it all. The Future of Nonprofit Organizations: The Highlights
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!
3 Actionable Tips for Small Nonprofits:
🎧 Resources + Links
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| your case for support from the ground up with Leah Eustace | 28 Jul 2022 | 00:43:16 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Kim Peterson, Cedar Fundraising Well, today you’re in luck because our podcast guest Leah Eustice is a pro when it comes to writing a Case for Support and she’s going to give you all of her tricks and tips. The best part about it - she shows you how you can write your Case quickly and still make it meaningful. If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| fundraising as community building with David Karvinchuk | 25 Jul 2022 | 00:39:01 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Kim Peterson, Cedar Fundraising If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||
| raise more money with this one simple trick with Cindy Wagman | 21 Jul 2022 | 00:29:53 | |
RE-RELEASE CURATED BY: Sara Hoshooley, Charity Shift
Cindy’s thoughts around fundraising
Favourite Quotes from Today’s Episode “We always get so caught up in elaborate fundraising plans and strategies, and we have to do these big things. It's not fundraising. Success comes from consistency and finding those points of intersection between your organization, its mission, and your donors.” Resources from this Episode: If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure. Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. | |||