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Explore every episode of the podcast Connected Philanthropy

Dive into the complete episode list for Connected Philanthropy. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Leadership and Innovation in Nonprofit Work29 Jul 202400:31:12

In this episode of Connected Philanthropy, we welcome Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. Lynn shares her inspiring journey from business consulting to the Clinton White House, and eventually founding a nonprofit that provides essential items to children in need. We dive into topics such as leadership, volunteer engagement, and measuring the impact of nonprofit work. Lynn discusses the power of community in driving change.

Lynn Margherio | Founder/CEO, Cradles to Crayons

Johnna is the CEO, head writer and consultant of J.M. Lacey Communications, LLC, which focuses on writing and brand storytelling, training and coaching. J.M. Lacey Communications empowers business owners to effectively communicate their purpose by teaching them how to find and tell their unique story to impact the world through a systematic process. Built on empathy and the desire to eliminate frustration for business owners, leaders and nonprofits, J.M. Lacey Communications seeks ways to simplify what has been unnecessarily complicated using proven systems to achieve results.

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Unveiling Brand Stories: A Journey to Trust and Connection29 Apr 202400:31:53

Discover how authentic storytelling can build trust, loyalty, and a genuine connection with audiences, forging a path towards meaningful engagement in today's busy world.

Johnna Lacey | CEO, J.M. Lacey Communications

Johnna is the CEO, head writer and consultant of J.M. Lacey Communications, LLC, which focuses on writing and brand storytelling, training and coaching. J.M. Lacey Communications empowers business owners to effectively communicate their purpose by teaching them how to find and tell their unique story to impact the world through a systematic process. Built on empathy and the desire to eliminate frustration for business owners, leaders and nonprofits, J.M. Lacey Communications seeks ways to simplify what has been unnecessarily complicated using proven systems to achieve results.

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How Community Foundations Are Managing Change25 Sep 202300:21:17

Hear community foundations discuss which systems and processes they are using to create space for the essential, impactful work supporting they do.

Topics:

  • fund minimums
  • how to deal with inactive fundholders
  • grant catalog feature
  • tribute donors
  • individual giving is trending down in the us
  • engaging young people
  • how to balance learning and daily work

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COVID-19 Concerns In Scholarship Management (Session 1)24 Jun 202000:36:58

Hear how scholarship providers are responding to the COVID-19 Crisis

Topics Covered:

  • Adjusting deadlines and required materials
  • Online evaluation
  • Committee meetings and selection

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

COVID-19 Concerns In Grantmaking (Session 2)22 Jun 202000:35:13

Episode 2 in a series where Grantmakers discuss how they're adjusting to COVID-19.

Topics Covered:

  • Unexpected needs
  • Different ways funders are supporting grantees
  • What the future of grantmaking looks like

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

COVID-19 Concerns in Donor Management (Session 1)19 Jun 202000:38:02

How has donor management changed in the wake of COVID-19?

In this episode of Community Foundation Coffee Talks; we discuss donor care through social distancing, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Connected Philanthropy Trailer07 Jun 202000:01:49

Introducing Connected Philanthropy - A Podcast for the Philanthropic Community

Listen to discussions with experts from funding organizations, nonprofits, and more to learn about out-of-the-box programs and initiatives that are successfully tackling today’s biggest challenges.

New episodes every other Monday!

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Join Foundant's online community at: community.foundant.com

COVID-19 Concerns In Grantmaking28 Apr 202000:49:19

How are funders adjusting to help their Grantees during the COVID-19 crisis?

In this episode of Grantmaker Coffee talks, we hear from 12 different funders about how their work has changed and the resources, and creative solutions that are helping them maximize their impact.

Topics Covered:

  • Virtual meetings
  • Funding cycles and deadlines
  • Grantee needs

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Strategic Insights: How Funders Leverage GLM/SLM for Optimal Results11 Sep 202300:13:01

Hear new granting strategies, and hear from other GLM/SLM users on some of the processes and tactics they are using to get maximum value out of their Foundant solutions.

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What Are Affinity Programs For Nonprofits? | Foundant Technologies28 Aug 202300:25:45

Join us as we explore the world of affinity programs and how this innovative approach can facilitate stronger connections with donors and save nonprofits time.

Jenni Craig, President | Affinity Makers

Jenni is a skilled fundraiser with 16 years of experience in higher education. Throughout her career, she has successfully raised millions for institutions through strategic, affinity-based programs that focus on donor belonging and retention. Jenni recently launched her own company, Affinity Makers, to share her fundraising strategies and expertise with nonprofits around the country. Together, with her husband Jeremy, Jenni is the co-founder and co-owner of Copper Bottom Craft Distillery, producing award-winning rum and vodka in the Daytona Beach area. They have three daughters: Carmen (8), Mason (6), and Brooklyn (1).

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Technology Planning for Nonprofits14 Aug 202300:29:08

What is technology planning and why is it important? Learn why this is one of the most neglected aspects of operating a nonprofit and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Karen GrahamKaren Graham Consulting

Karen is a speaker, trainer, writer, and consultant with expertise in technology leadership and innovation, nonprofit software, and digital strategy. Her consulting work includes strategic technology roadmaps, development of knowledge resources, and leadership coaching. Karen was the Executive Director of the national nonprofit Idealware, and has held leadership roles in capacity building, arts, and human service organizations as well as a software startup. She holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of St. Thomas.

Email: karen@karengrahamconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karentgraham

Assessment Links:


●      Specific blogs/webinars on the topic:



Dispelling 5 Common Fundraising Myths31 Jul 202300:33:11

Thanks to many studies and research, we have much more information about giving trends, donor behaviors, and motivations that can inform how we best engage with our donors. This episode dispels common fundraising myths around recent trends in fundraising, donor motivations, ways donors give, and changing donor demographics.

Barbara O'Reilly, Founder and Principal | Windmill Hill Consulting

Barbara O’Reilly, CFRE understands that fundraising is much more than just raising money. It’s about enabling donors to realize their philanthropic dreams for issues that are most important to them and to be part of the change they want to see in the world. She brings to her clients nearly thirty years of major gifts, annual fund, and campaign fundraising experience at major non-profit organizations including Harvard University, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Oxford University in England, and the American Red Cross. She is an AFP Master Trainer and a frequent guest presenter on various webinars. Her consulting firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, helps non-profit organizations of all sizes cut through the noise and develop a profitable fundraising strategy that focuses on the resources, skills and tactics they need to build more effective donor relationships and catapult their revenue.

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Embracing Change17 Jul 202300:33:59

Change is the only constant in life. How do you decide which change to embrace and which to dismiss as a fad? Which changes—whether systems or processes—will create space for the essential, impactful work supporting your mission? Tune in to this episode to learn how to identify, prioritize, and embrace it.

Brad Ward, Regional Director, Community Foundations | Foundant Technologies

Brad joined the Foundant team after years at the Council on Foundations as the Lead Strategist for Community Philanthropy, with a keen focus on Community Foundations. Brad is also a former community foundation CEO who led the merger of two community foundations in Indiana and has firsthand experienced with the complexity of big change at a community foundation. With over 2,500 volunteer service hours across Europe, United States, and South America, Brad cares deeply about place, the connections and commitment of the people within their communities, and how important place and belonging matters. Brad resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, two children and rescue dog, and is eager to support community foundations with innovative technological solutions to advance the field.

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Strategic Planning: Unlocking Success for Your Organization03 Jul 202300:34:36

Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant | Funding for Good

Marie is an expert facilitator, certified by The Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA, in evidence-based facilitation practices known as the ToP Method. She combines proven facilitation methods and her passion for community to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Marie enjoys facilitating community organizing, advocacy, consensus building, and action planning workshops for diverse organizations across the nation. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the nonprofit world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant. Her nonprofit specialties include strategic planning facilitation, program design, board development, grant writing, and messaging. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access services for businesses and local government sectors, teach Spanish for Professional Courses, and coordinate missions in Latin America through her consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and three children.

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Connecting Beyond The Check: Building Grantor/Grantee Trust19 Jun 202300:50:00

Building grantor/grantee trust is a process that goes far beyond writing a check. It takes intention and thoughtful connection. A panel of private funders share stories about unique ways they are bringing community members into the grantmaking process and building better relationships with their nonprofit partners.

From community involvement to focus groups to centering racial equity in their granting work, these funders are tackling difficult challenges with small changes while working within the constraints of their “traditional” funder role. Instead of saying, “we can’t change because we have to answer to our board,” they’re saying, “we can make small, creative changes when we are patient and focus on the outcomes the board expects instead of the things we’ve always done.”

Speakers:

Danyelle O’Hara | Community Relationship Officer, Mortenson Family Foundation

Ambar Hanson | Community Relationship Officer – Philanthropy, Mortenson Family Foundation

Karyn McKelvey | Grants and Program Manager, Laird Norton Family Foundation

Topics:

  • Doing away with written applications in favor of a video call to reduce the applicant burden
  • Implementing declination grants of up to $2,500 for applicants who don’t receive funding
  • Bringing community members onto grant committees to represent populations served
  • Understanding how to move slowly but with intention

Links:




Effective Internal Communication05 Jun 202300:38:30

Learn from your peers how they have created communication practices across departments and job types at their organizations. This webinar was originally recorded on 5/11/2023 and was moderated by Alyse Braaten

In this coffee talk, we hear grantmakers, scholarship providers, and community foundations share challenges they've faced with internal communication and strategies they use to overcome them.

Alyse Braaten, Manager of Client Success | Foundant Technologies

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Alyse has deep roots and strong connections to the nonprofit sector. Having worked in the field of college access and scholarships for over 10 years, with a focus on students residing in California’s Central Valley, she believes in the power of scholarships to uplift students, families, and communities. Before joining Foundant, Alyse spent three years with the Kern Community Foundation managing their grant and scholarship giving, as well as nonprofit relationships. Alyse joined the Foundant team in 2017 as a Client Success Manager (trainer, consultant, and emergency support provider) for Grants and Scholarships. After training and advising hundreds of clients, she led the Community Foundation Grant/Scholarship Client Services Team. Her passion for community building, professional development, and real-world impact has helped form the service philosophy for Foundant’s Client Success team. Areas of expertise: scholarship and grant process best practices, team building, remote work, and demystifying complex systems to foster accessibility.

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Getting Buy-In For a New Software Tool22 May 202300:20:36

Calculating and communicating the return on investment for a large software purchase is no easy task. This episode explores some useful marketing and selling strategies that can be applied to internal purchasing decisions.

Lori Finch, Director for Nonprofit Sales and Sales Enablement | Foundant Technologies

Lori is a dynamic and creative executive, strategist, and builder with an entrepreneurial spirit and skilled in sales, coaching, partner development, relationship/account management, and communications View her LinkedIn here

Links:  


Grantee Perspectives: Maximizing Funders' Impact26 Feb 202400:21:57

In this episode, our speakers discuss how funders can maximize their impact and improve their processes, all from the perspective of grant professionals. 

Laura Cochran, GPC | Senior Development Associate, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) 

Laura is the Grants Manager for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has been a grant professional for nearly 20 years, a member of the Grants Professional Association (GPA) for 13 years, and a Grant Professional Certified (GPC) for 12 years. For the last 13 years, while working at INHP, Laura’s work in grants has focused on raising programs and lending dollars to support affordable housing access. She lives in a suburb of Indianapolis with her husband, son, daughter, and dog. 

Brendan McCormick | Associate Director, Exponent Philanthropy 

Brendan is the Associate Director, Research and Publications for Exponent Philanthropy. In this role, Brendan works with staff, members, and partners to develop resources grounded in research. He leads our efforts to learn more about our community of lean funders. Brendan focuses his research on how foundations approach impact and evaluation, investments, operations, demographics, and equity practices. Brendan has worked in philanthropy and grantmaking with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. He earned his master’s degree in public policy at the University of Maryland, where he focused on nonprofit management and social policy. In his free time, he enjoys cooking new recipes and finding a quiet place to read a good book. 

Links:


How To Write For Good: Tips From a Copywriter08 May 202300:20:53

Hear expert insights from Foundant's copywriter on how to craft compelling copy. In this episode we cover the importance of considering your audience, writing for different mediums, where to find inspiration, adding personality when you are writing for an organization, and the power of stepping away.

Katie Sproles, Marketing Copywriter | Foundant Technologies

Throughout her 30-year career in marketing and communications, Katie feels fortunate to have been able to dedicate her skills to writing compelling copy about organizations that serve others or enable the work of those who do. Before joining Foundant’s team in 2021, she focused her efforts on writing about the programs and services offered by a public university art museum, a customer-owned utility, and local government in Eugene, Oregon—all of which make a difference in the lives of those they serve. That’s what brought Katie to Foundant.

She is energized every day by the work its clients are doing to make the world a better place. A mountain girl at heart, Katie is happy to have finally planted her roots in the city of Foundant’s headquarters, Bozeman, Montana. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Katie outside, looking for different ways to explore the local trails, rivers, and lakes. It’s hard to say whether she has more photos of Bozeman’s breathtaking sunrises and sunsets or her beloved dogs, Moby and Max. One thing is sure—she has fewer photos of her husband and two teenage daughters whom she loves deeply but are far less willing subjects.

Links:  


Grant Trends: What Data Uncovers About the Future of Philanthropy24 Apr 202300:39:23

In this episode, we dive into the numbers and data behind grants, uncovering some interesting philanthropic trends.

Holly Rustick , CEO & Bestselling Author | Grant Writing & Funding

Holly has been writing grants for 15+ years, immersing herself in the grant world and securing millions of dollars for nonprofits around the world! Holly is also an Amazon bestselling author, podcast host of Grant Writing & Funding, and world-renowned grant writing expert.

Holly has been on both sides of the grant writing coin – writing them and winning grants as well as managing and reviewing them on behalf of numerous organizations. Using this experience, she has created an extensive database of grant writing and funding-related online courses. she also offers workshops and provides coaching for people who want to transition into freelance grant writing to earn a full-time income.

On the nerdy side, she holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She is also a professor at the University of Guam, Past President of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and editor of the Storyboard journal.

Links:  

Going Beyond Scarcity10 Apr 202300:33:50

Learn how an abundance mindset can help reduce burnout, underinvestment, and high turnover within your nonprofit organization.

Brittny Wilson and Nia Wassink | The Nonprofit Reframe

Between them, Brittny and Nia have over 30 years of working in nonprofits. They’ve worked on the program side, the business side, fundraising, and even sat on Boards of Directors. Their vast experience, primarily with local and regional organizations, gives them an authentic voice on behalf of the sector.

Brittny and Nia are able to bring forward topics and discussions that are often hidden or not discussed within the sector.

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Communicate for Good27 Mar 202300:38:39

Whether you work with a nonprofit organization, community foundation, grantmaker, or scholarship provider, the key to maximizing your impact is the same: building meaningful relationships through successful communications.  

Learn tangible tips and resources to help you better serve your mission by communicating in ways that are good for yourself, your team, your organization, and the world.

Erica Mills Barnhart, Founder & CEO | Claxon Communication

Erica Mills Barnhart is a communication expert, speaker, author, and coach. She is Founder & CEO of Claxon, a company focused on teaching companies and leaders how to use words to change workplaces and the world. Erica also serves as an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington. She now calls Seattle, Washington home, but a piece of her heart will always be in Vancouver, Canada, where she was born.

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do-si-do

/ˌdōsēˈdō/

noun

(in square dancing, and other country dancing) a figure in which two dancers pass around each other back to back and return to their original positions.

Getting Work Done13 Mar 202300:30:57

How can you rapidly deliver value to your clients/community? In this episode, Aarron Szalacinski, Director of Engineering, describes how Foundant Technologies uses the Agile framework - and how this methodology could be valuable for the philanthropic sector.

Aarron Szalacinski, Director of Engineering | Foundant Technologies

Aarron is proficient in Domain Driven Design principles, Software Documentation, Web Applications, Micro Service Architecture and Agile Methodologies. An extroverted people person who is always looking for the opportunity to coach and manage team members to maximize their potential and bring value to an organization.

He is a detail-oriented software engineer and leader who is an expert in collaborating with companies to architect full-stack applications and the teams that build them. Aarron's job is to help maximize revenue potential and deliver business value.

Topics:

  1. Agile work methodologies
  2. Value mindset
  3. Daily standups
  4. Monotasking

Links:


Having Great Meetings27 Feb 202300:31:10

How can we plan and facilitate effective and engaging meetings? In this episode, we explore strategies for getting the most out of the time spent together with your teams.

Rachel Myers, Founder | RM + Company

Rachel has over 23 years of experience working on all sides of philanthropy. She served for 12 years as an Executive Director for two nonprofit organizations and has worked for the past 9 years on the funder side at her local community foundation. Along the way, she's also served as a trustee for 11 years for her local public library board. The experience of working both as a staff member, and as a volunteer board member has provided her with unique insights on how boards and staff can effectively work together to make more good things happen.

As a consultant and collaborator, she offers expertise in strategic assessment, board training, communications strategy, fund development, planned giving, meeting facilitation and more.

3 things that need to happen for an effective meeting:

  1. The purpose of the meeting is clearly defined, and we achieve that purpose during our time together
  2. The meeting time is valuable (and enjoyable/energizing/bonding) for all the participants
  3. All the meeting attendees are engaged and contribute to the work and outcomes of the meeting. Researchers have found that the strongest predictor of meeting success is active involvement by the participants!

4 P's:

  1. Purpose - Why are we meeting? What problem are we trying to solve and could we accomplish this in another way? (Loom, shared doc, online collab tool like Miro, etc.)
  2. Product - What will we produce together? What outcomes will we have from this meeting? Specific decisions, direction, strategy, choice, etc
  3. People - Who needs to be present to make this happen? What’s in it for each of them? What is their role and how will they contribute? Do they need to participate, or can we update them in notes or Loom?
  4. Process - How will we spend our time to meet our purpose and outcomes? AKA: the agenda. Here’s a mind-blowing tip – challenge yourself to never send out a meeting request without including an agenda – or at a minimum a clear summary of the meeting purpose. Another important part of this step is to think through what tools you are going to need for the meeting – if it is virtual, will you need a whiteboard like Jamboard or Miro, do you need to poll the group, or collect notes in some shared format during the meeting? Make sure you have all of the tools you need to be successful. Add a “purpose” column to your agenda – Time, Agenda Item, Presenter/Lead, PURPOSE, Outcome.

IEEI:

  1. Inform – Ensure that everyone in the meeting understands your objectives and purpose. “When we leave this meeting today, we will ___________” 
  2. Empower – Describe the role the attendees will play and the power they will have (you will have articulated that in the 4Ps above). Make sure they understand why they are there and what contributions you need from them. 
  3. Excite – This is the “What’s in it for them” part.  Share the benefits of the meeting and why it is important to each person – and to the organization as a whole. 
  4. Involve – engage attendees early and often with a question or activity that connects them to each other and the meeting purpose.  

Links:

  • Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at
Time Management13 Feb 202300:29:14

Time is our most valuable asset and we don’t want to give it away without thought. In this episode, we discuss how to use time management strategies to better organize our calendars and make sure we prioritize the work that matters most.

Sammie Holzwarth | Product Manager Grants and Scholarships, Foundant Technologies

In her time with Foundant (since 2011) Sammie Holzwarth has taken on many roles in her path to becoming the Product Manager of Grants & Scholarships. Starting as an intern with Foundant’s Marketing Team, Sammie then moved into a Client Success Manager role - successfully implementing well over 150 clients. Her Foundant adventure next took her to the Sales Team as Foundant’s GLM/SLM Product Implementation Engineer. Her breadth of knowledge and extensive experience working with a plethora of clients and in varying roles at Foundant fuels her passion and excitement to continually improve GLM/SLM, and herself which she now brings to her role as the Product Manager for Grants and Scholarships! Sammie has a passion for youth philanthropy and has spearheaded the Youth Giving Project in Bozeman, MT as well as serving as an Exponent Philanthropy Next Gen Fellow for 2016.

Montana holds a special place in Sammie’s heart as she is a born and raised Montanan; from rolling plains to mountain tops, this is where she feels most at home and takes every opportunity to soak in the outdoors. When traveling beyond the Big Sky State, Sammie loves anywhere with a vibrant culture, and delicious food. Connect with Sammie directly at sammie.holzwarth@foundant.com.

Topics:

  1. The power of the pause
  2. Calendar best practices (blocking off time for tasks and meeting prep/ reflection)
  3. Office hours

Links:


Tool Mentioned:


Prioritization30 Jan 202300:35:45

Say NO to what is not essential, so that you can say YES to the work that matters most. Prioritization is not about getting more things done, it is about getting the RIGHT things done. Learn strategies and frameworks to help you better prioritize in this episode.

Andrea Stevenson | Solutions Engineer, Foundant Technologies

Drea is a dynamic and analytical professional with 15+ years of experience in operations management and marketing/communications across a variety of industries. She has held just about every position one can hold in the nonprofit world including Executive Director. She is a natural leader with a proven history of driving revenue, executing successful projects, and strengthening positioning by navigating the intersection between business strategy development, integrated marketing, and operations.

Drea's Strategy Screen:

  • Does this align with our mission and support our strategic plan?
  • Must leverage our mission advantage
  • Does this communicate our vision?
  • Must engage our key stakeholders
  • Is this accessible/ inclusive?
  • Must support people in reaching their full potential beyond meeting their basic needs
  • Impact must be measureable (both qualitatively and quantitatively)
  • Must be financialy sustainable through earned or contributed revenue
  • Strategic consideration of the allocation of our resources must be determined before a program is added.

Topics:

  1. Saying no
  2. Making time for self-care and letting your mind wander
  3. Email
  4. Trade-offs

Links:


Books Mentioned:


Leveraging Technology16 Jan 202300:22:43

Working smarter, not harder means knowing how to get the most out of technology. Learn strategies for better evaluation, adoption and cohesion of your software tools.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own.

Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support - providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Topics:

  1. Getting the most out of the technology you using
  2. Evaluating new software
  3. Being open to new tools and ways of working

Links:


Tools Mentioned:


Work Smarter, Not Harder02 Jan 202300:18:31

Introducing "Work Smarter, Not Harder" a collaborative content series to help you better serve your mission, and yourself featuring guest host Rachel Myers.

Rachel Myers, Founder | RM + Company

Rachel has over 23 years of experience working on all sides of philanthropy. She served for 12 years as an Executive Director for two nonprofit organizations and has worked for the past 9 years on the funder side at her local community foundation. Along the way, she's also served as a trustee for 11 years for her local public library board. The experience of working both as a staff member, and as a volunteer board member has provided her with unique insights on how boards and staff can effectively work together to make more good things happen.

As a consultant and collaborator, she offers expertise in strategic assessment, board training, communications strategy, fund development, planned giving, meeting facilitation and more.

Topics:

  1. Leveraging Tech
  2. Prioritization
  3. Great Meetings
  4. Time Management
  5. Getting Work Done

Links:


Tools Mentioned:


The Benefits of AI15 Jan 202400:29:20

While AI brings many risks and uncertainties, it also presents opportunities for the philanthropic sector. In this episode, we discuss AI tools, the importance of being open to new technologies, and AI's potential implications on human interactions and responsibilities.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own.

Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support – providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Tools Mentioned:

  1. ChatGPT
  2. Midjourney
  3. Zoom AI Companion
  4. Synthesia
  5. Descript

Links:



Funders Ending The Year In Style19 Dec 202200:13:43

In this Coffee Talk, we hear from Community Foundations across North America on what they are doing to increase year-end donations.

Topics:

  1. Events
  2. Using the Grants Catalogue in CommunitySuite
  3. Year-end initiatives and communications

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

How to Keep Yourself Safe05 Dec 202200:20:51

Learn how to build a cybersecurity plan that will keep you and your organization protected.

Lynn Soeths, Manager of Security Services | Highpoint Networks

Lynn oversees cyber and physical security teams located in North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado but spans the US in the scope of her work. Lynn also enjoys project management and pre-sales engagements.

Links: 

● CIS Controls links: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-list

● Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhdspud

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-soeth-543997bb/

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com


Nonprofits: Test Your Assumptions21 Nov 202200:27:36

Learn how thoughtful questions can help you attract and retain donors of every capacity (small to major).

Chris Barlow, Founder and Customer Happiness Director | Beeline

Chris likes multiplication - what does that mean?

He is grateful to help nonprofits use digital marketing to multiply the reach of their mission and the growth of their donors.

Most of all, he's grateful to be the dad to seven kids, and to try to teach them how to live in a way that multiplies good in others.

Links: 

● Email: team@yourbeeline.com

● Other links: https://yourbeeline.com/finding-donors/

● Website to find volunteers with skills that would be interested in helping your nonprofit organization: Catchafire.org

● Blog: https://yourbeeline.com/586/attract-retain-donors/

● Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beeline_Chris

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beeline-marketing/

● Linkedin (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbarlow-nonprofit-marketing/

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking07 Nov 202200:21:27

Learn about the risks associated with web applications and learn how you can make the right decisions to keep yourself and your organization safe.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own. Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support - providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

October: Cybersecurity Awareness Month24 Oct 202200:23:36

October is a spooky month full of ghosts, goblins and HACKERS TRYING TO STEAL YOUR DATA. Learn how cybersecurity awareness could save you and your organization from a hauntingly bad time.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own. Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support - providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Telling The Story10 Oct 202200:43:08

In this Coffee Talk, we hear from funders across North America on how they tell the stories behind their grantmaking dollars.

Topics:

  1. What stories do you want to tell?
  2. How do you tell your stories?
  3. Why do you want to tell your story in a better way?

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Work-life and tech-life balance: Are you struggling with collaboration overload?26 Sep 202200:37:38

A former software developer, now Founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, shares how to live a more balanced life in a digital world.

Meico Marquette Whitlock | Founder and CEO, Mindful Techie

Meico helps changemakers create work-life and tech-life balance so they can do their best work better while living their best lives. He is the founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, author of the Intention Planner, and a certified trauma-informed mindfulness teacher.

Through speaking, training, and coaching, he facilitates transformative experiences that foster wellbeing in a hyperconnected and distracted world.

He has worked with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cigna, and Greenpeace, and has been a featured speaker on ABC News, Fox 5, and Radio One. He’s a former triathlete, loves salsa dancing, and makes the world’s best vegan chili!

He holds an M.S. in Information Science from the University of Michigan and a B.A. Political Science and Spanish from Morehouse College.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Nonprofit Consulting: A Powerful Option for Organizations12 Sep 202200:34:22

This episode covers important details you should know if you are considering hiring a nonprofit consultant or becoming one.

Amanda Pearce, CFRE

A grant writing expert, executive and development coach, fundraising consultant, and national fundraising trainer, Mandy Pearce, launched Funding for Good, Inc. in 2009 to equip organizations with the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. Mandy has taken her passion and expertise for fundraising to the development field and shared it with individuals and organizations for over 23 years through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, capital campaign planning, seminars, and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style brings thousands of people annually to her presentations at conventions, trainings, and workshops, in person and online. Her business model is centered on her key values: honesty, efficiency, direct communication, and bringing dollars to local communities.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Working With Colleges and Universities29 Aug 202200:30:59

In this Coffee Talk we discuss communication with colleges, who owns scholarship requirements adherence, and tips for working with colleges and universities.

Topics:

  1. Communication with colleges and students about scholarships.
  2. Different colleges rules and systems with scholarships.
  3. Tips for better communication for students and universities.

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Recognizing the Need for Nonprofit Systems and Databases15 Aug 202200:32:00

A nonprofit's productivity, collaboration, and knowledge sharing can all suffer if the right systems aren't in place. This episode explores some of the tools and technologies nonprofits should be aware of.

Amanda Pearce, CFRE

A grant writing expert, executive and development coach, fundraising consultant, and national fundraising trainer, Mandy Pearce, launched Funding for Good, Inc. in 2009 to equip organizations with the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. Mandy has taken her passion and expertise for fundraising to the development field and shared it with individuals and organizations for over 23 years through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, capital campaign planning, seminars, and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style brings thousands of people annually to her presentations at conventions, trainings, and workshops, in person and online. Her business model is centered on her key values: honesty, efficiency, direct communication, and bringing dollars to local communities.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Elevating Fundraising With AI18 Dec 202300:30:51

Move from skepticism to success by harnessing the power of A.I. in fundraising. This episode highlights A.I.'s ability to optimize processes, reduce time constraints, and magnify impact, encouraging fundraising professionals to welcome this advancing technology as a crucial ally in their philanthropic pursuits.

Maria Newhouse, Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations | Kalamazoo College 

Maria brings her extensive expertise to foster partnerships that drive educational advancement. Hailing from Portage, Michigan, she attended Western Michigan University locally, graduating in 2006 with her Bachelor’s Degree (Spanish, Philosophy and Gender and Women’s Studies) before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work (2010) and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (2013). Prior to joining the team at Kalamazoo College, she served for more than five-years as the grant writer and donor relations specialist at the Smithsonian-affiliated Air Zoo. Beyond her professional accomplishments in the fundraising realm, she is the creative force behind Maria Newhouse Photography, intertwining her artistic passion with family experiences, as she navigates life with her husband and four young children. 

Links:












  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-newhouse-73607589/ 

The Great Resignation: Can We Change It To The Great Attraction?01 Aug 202200:32:27

Learn how the "Big Quit" is impacting the nonprofit sector and what can folks do to combat the effects.

Mazarine Treyz

Mazarine is the creator of the Asking for More framework and mastermind, a veteran fundraiser with years of experience going from Development Associate to Development Director, host of the Asking for More podcast, and author of the books The Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising, Get the Job! Your Fundraising Career Empowerment Guide, and 10+ courses on fundraising.

She has helped thousands of people ask for more, whether in their fundraising work or a business that thrives. She is certified in Transformational Leadership from the Racing to Equity Institute and founder of a woman-owned emerging small business with multiple government contracts under her belt.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Grant Consulting: What It Takes To Be Successful18 Jul 202200:39:22

Hear about the opportunities available for freelance grant writers, as well as the "hows" and "whys" behind becoming a grant consultant.

Holly Rustick , CEO & Bestselling Author | Grant Writing & Funding

Holly has been writing grants for 15+ years, immersing herself in the grant world and securing millions of dollars for nonprofits around the world! Holly is also an Amazon bestselling author, podcast host of Grant Writing & Funding, and world-renowned grant writing expert.

Holly has been on both sides of the grant writing coin – writing them and winning grants as well as managing and reviewing them on behalf of numerous organizations. Using this experience, she has created an extensive database of grant writing and funding-related online courses. she also offers workshops and provides coaching for people who want to transition into freelance grant writing to earn a full-time income.

On the nerdy side, she holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She is also a professor at the University of Guam, Past President of the Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce, and editor of the Storyboard journal.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Want to make grant managment easier? Learn how we can help.

Shifting Traditional Power Dynamics: Flexible, Direct Grants to Local Leaders04 Jul 202200:32:49

Move92 is a nonprofit organization that partners with and empowers local leaders to solve problems in their communities through simple yet revolutionary tactics; direct unrestricted grants.

Geneva Pritchard , Executive Director | Move92

Geneva has nearly 20 years of experience working in international development. Her varied experience includes involvement in water and sanitation programs with CARE International in Nicaragua, drug-resistant malaria among migrant communities, vocational incentive projects for people living with HIV and innovative education systems for mobile populations on the Thailand/Myanmar border, and diabetic retinopathy among marginalized populations with The Fred Hollows Foundation in Nepal and the Pacific Islands. Geneva holds a degree in International Studies from Seattle University and a Masters in Public Health from Thammasat University located in Bangkok.

Geneva has a wealth of experience working for large NGOs and grassroots organizations. Relationship building has, and always will be, at the center of how Geneva operates. All of the streams of Geneva’s experience have perfectly converged into her current work with Move92. As a philanthropy advisor, Geneva now gets to put relationship building at the forefront of her work, with the aim of curating relationships between openhearted philanthropists and dynamic local leaders in all corners of the world.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Impact Investing: Expanding your outreach in the Community20 Jun 202200:24:22

In this episode, we discuss loan requirements, tracking, and different loan repayment plans foundations have for their students.

Topics:

  1. What the foundations loan requirements are.
  2. How loans are tracked.
  3. What loan repayments look like for the foundations.

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Nonprofit Impact Funnels and Avatars06 Jun 202200:27:40

Boris Kievsky discusses how nonprofits can use storytelling, technology, and marketing principles to achieve their missions.

Boris Kievsky, Chief Storyteller and Nerd for Good | dotOrgStrategy

Boris is dedicated to helping nonprofits harness storytelling and technology to create more heroes for their cause and a better world for all of us. Having spent a decade in computer science and over 15 years in theater, TV and film, he now loves to combine his passions for technology, storytelling, and making a positive difference in the world. Over the last 10+ years, Boris has helped hundreds of nonprofits increase their impact locally and globally through effective use of storytelling across digital media including websites, social media, email, video, advertising and crowdfunding; as well as technology that can reach and help more people without over-stretching an organization's resources. In addition to consulting, Boris teaches Developing High-Impact Websites for Nonprofits at NYU, and hosts The Nonprofit Hero Factory podcast. You can learn more about his work at dotOrgStrategy.com

Links: 


 

Contact Info:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Staying Connected with Scholarship Donors23 May 202200:32:24

In this episode, we discuss how to stay connected with your Scholarship Donors, through thank you notes from recipients, donor impact stories, and setting donor expectations. 

Topics:

  1. Having scholarship recipients sending thank you notes to scholarship donors.
  2. Scholarship recipients sharing the impact of scholarships from donors.'
  3. Establishing donor expectations.

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Top 3 Ways Nonprofit Boards Drive Organization Direction09 May 202200:35:22

Mission, vision, and strategy are imperative for nonprofit organizations. Mandy Pearce and Marie Palacios discuss the difference between the three and the ways nonprofit boards should realize these important communications

Mandy Pearce, CFRE | Owner | Funding for Good

In 2009, visionary, Mandy Pearce, founded her flagship company, Funding for Good, to equip organizations with all of the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. She continues to enjoy evolving this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world.

For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities.

Mandy lives in Hickory with her husband, Ricardo, and their two furbabies, Dalli and Max. She and Ricardo also own and operate a successful landscaping and custom woodworking company, Two Green Thumbs and More (twogreenthumbsandmore.com). On her decompression days, she enjoys working in their garden, sipping sweet tea on their porch swing with a good magazine and cooking gourmet meals for their family and friends.

Marie Palacios | Lead Consultant | Funding for Good

Marie is an expert facilitator, certified by The Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA, in evidence-based facilitation practices known as the ToP Method. She combines proven facilitation methods and her passion for community to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Marie enjoys facilitating community organizing, advocacy, consensus building, and action planning workshops for diverse organizations across the nation. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the nonprofit world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant.

Her nonprofit specialties include strategic planning facilitation, program design, board development, grant writing, and messaging. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access services for businesses and local government sectors, teach Spanish for Professional Courses, and coordinate missions in Latin America through her consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Links

Staying Connected With Your Board of Directors25 Apr 202200:34:18

In this episode, we discuss strategies and ideas to keep your Board connected and engaged with your important philanthropic work.

Topics:

  1. What are your policies and procedures for your Board of Directors and Committees?
  2. How do you recruit and bring on new members?
  3. How do you structure committees and what responsibilities come with that membership?
  4. Do you have any events or special things you do to engage your Board Members?

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Values in Trust Based Grantmaking11 Apr 202200:30:48

Diversity and inclusion is an important value in everyday life and in Trust Based Grantmaking. In this episode of Connected Philanthropy, we discuss our values in Grantmaking, and how they help our foundations and their applicants.

Topics:

  1. What does value base grantmaking look like in your practices?
  2. What does this look like for applications?
  3. What changes have you already made based on your values?

Additional links mentioned:


Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Grant Professionals - We are a Community28 Mar 202200:36:27

Johna Rodgers shares the importance of community and communication she has observed in her 25+ years working with nonprofits.

Johna Rodgers, GPC | Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC

Johna Rodgers, GPC, has been there and done that. And almost every step of her divergent path included grants. For nearly 30 years, Johna has helped organizations of all types and sizes address their most critical needs—at the federal, state, corporate, and grassroots levels. In 2015, she opened Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC, a full-service consulting agency. With more than $162 million in grant awards, she has the competitive experience needed to ensure proposals are fundable; as importantly, she has learned to work efficiently with dozens of partners and their conflicting ideas, missions, and concerns. Johna is a Board Member of the Grant Professional Association (GPA), a member of the National Grant Management Association, a national trainer for Grant Writing USA/Grant Management USA, and a GPA Approved Trainer. She is also a former board member and exam administrator for the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Grant Professionals Association (GPA): https://grantprofessionals.org/

GPC (Grant Professional Certified) https://www.grantcredential.org/

Johna’s webinars and blogs with Foundant:


Contact Info:


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Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

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