Explore every episode of the podcast Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions for Canadian and American Nonprofits
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Earned Revenue for Nonprofits: Social Enterprise, Fee-for-Service, and Sliding Scale Models | 10 nov. 2026 | 00:22:51 | |
Funding freezes. Anti-advocacy clauses. Funders who walk away when things get hard. Earned revenue, or money from selling a product or service, gives you cash that no funder can take away. Some nonprofits we've spotlighted on the podcast bring in over $2 million a year, on top of fundraising revenue. In this episode, you’ll learn how to spot revenue opportunities that's already hiding in your work . You’ll also learn how to start by naming your buyer, pitching a sale instead of a donation, and starting with one offer. ABOUT THE GUEST Caitlin McBride is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with nearly 15 years of fundraising experience. She works with Maria at Further Together, helping small nonprofits make fundraising feel more doable and less chaotic. Caitlin and Maria share:
Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinmcbride/ Maria’s CCF Hub article on funding yourself: https://communitycentricfundraising.org/2025/03/17/tired-of-fair-weather-funders/ Watch the episode with Chicago Eco-House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q_q2NmHRq0 Watch the episode with The Seed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irRp3cDJ6zA | |||
| Nonprofit Mission Statements: Cut the Jargon So Donors Actually Get It | 03 nov. 2026 | 00:20:45 | |
A potential donor scrolling LinkedIn gives your post about three seconds. If they have to reread a sentence, you’ve lost them. In this episode, we talk about why nonprofit jargon pushes away the people you most want to reach. You’ll learn which words turn donors off, and how even familiar terms like “food insecurity” may mean different things to different people. We also cover how a clear mission helps you write stronger grant applications and turn down funding that pulls you off course. Plus, you’ll get a simple test to see how well your own team can explain what you do. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Maura Fitzpatrick. Maura is a senior strategist at PushTen, a creative agency that does branding, web design, and strategy for mission-driven organizations and nonprofits. She also worked as a communications manager at a legal aid nonprofit. Maura shares:
If your nonprofit needs more hands on deck to get more dollars and donors, book a call with the Further Together team and we can see if we can help: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/discoverycall Maria shares more cool and innovative fundraising tips on LinkedIn. If you want to connect with us, send her a message here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-rio-ethical-fundraising/
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| Nonprofit Storytelling: Sharing Lived Experience Without Re-Harming Yourself | 28 oct. 2026 | 00:25:51 | |
Most of us walk into a networking event or donor meeting and lead with our job title. It’s safe. It’s also forgettable. In this episode, you’ll learn a different way in: start with questions. You’ll hear how one simple opener gets people talking about who they are, beyond what they do. You’ll learn how to choose which parts of your story to share, based on who’s in front of you. And you’ll hear what it sounds like to talk with donors as a peer, instead of inspiring their pity. ABOUT THE GUEST Frank Velasquez Jr. is the founder of 4 Da Hood, where he helps organizations and leaders reclaim their stories. His goal is to help people lead with more authenticity, courage, and joy. Frank has spent about nine years in fundraising. He’s also a speaker who calls himself an “extroverted introvert.” He runs Ascending Leaders in Color, a cohort program for leaders of color. Each group has no more than 10 people, so leaders can be real, reconnect with each other, and reclaim every part of their story. Frank shares:
Listen to Frank's previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/episodes/18654392 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE HOST Maria Rio is the founder and CEO of Further Together, a fractional fundraising firm that specializes in Community-Centric Fundraising. She arrived in Canada as a refugee when she was young, and her early experience with charitable services is what drew her to nonprofit work. She started fundraising in 2011 as a face-to-face fundraiser, then led development and communications at small and mid-sized nonprofits. Maria has spoken at AFP ICON, AFP Congress, APRA, Xlerate, and Imagine Canada, appeared on TVO's The Agenda and CityNews, and spoken at the Ontario Parliament. Her writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the book Against the People: How Ford Nation is Dismantling Ontario. She was a finalist for the 2022 Charity Village Best Individual Fundraiser Award, received the 2025 Young Alumni Impact Award from St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, and was one of ten Canadian entrepreneurs selected for the ELLA Accelerator Altitude program at York University's YSpace. Maria pushes the sector to stop fundraising in a way that caters to donors instead of community, and start sharing power with those that our nonprofits exist to serve. Connect with Maria on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-rio-ethical-fundraising/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Small Nonprofit Podcast is produced by Further Together, a Toronto-based fractional fundraising firm serving social justice nonprofits across Canada and the United States. Every engagement is built entirely on a Community-Centric Fundraising methodology. Further Together is dedicated to driving systemic change, both inside and outside the nonprofit sector. Fundraising has the power to do more than keep the lights on. Done well, and done ethically, it can shift power. Build movements. Change who gets a seat at the table. That's our north star: creating real change inside the sector and beyond it. Book a no-pressure chat with us: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/discoverycall | |||
| Fundraising Events: Building Donor Relationships Through Mission-Aligned Events | 20 oct. 2026 | 00:22:47 | |
If you've ever put months of work into a gala, only to have most of the guests disappear until next year's event, this episode is for you. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio talks with Amy Milne, CEO and founder of Beyond Fundraising Inc. Amy has spent her career helping nonprofits raise more money through events: runs, walks, rides, you name it. Amy explains why your event should be part of a year-round relationship with your supporters and how staying in touch between events can turn guests and volunteers into committee members, sponsors, and even major donors. You'll also hear how a kids' cancer charity replaced its tired gala with an adult pajama party, complete with chicken and waffles and a Twister dance floor.
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| Donor Stewardship Strategies for Small Nonprofits: 5 Low-Lift Ways to Keep Donors Coming Back | 13 oct. 2026 | 00:26:24 | |
Most stewardship advice assumes you have a team, a budget, and time to hand-deliver flowers to every donor. This episode is for fundraisers who have none of those. You'll learn five stewardship strategies that work for small teams and hear how a $100 donor became a $10,000 donor after receiving a short impact email every other month. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive, used these strategies as a one-person fundraising department to nearly double her individual giving campaign in two years. If stewardship keeps sliding to the bottom of your list, start here. | |||
| Volunteers Aren't Free Labour: Ethical Volunteer Stewardship for Executive Directors | 06 oct. 2026 | 00:25:00 | |
What does your annual report say about your volunteers? If it's a headcount, a total of hours, and a dollar figure for how much they "saved" you, Jessica Pang-Parks has some thoughts. Most EDs don't set out to treat volunteers as free labour. The systems we've inherited make it easy, especially when funding won't cover the staff you actually need. This week, Maria is joined by Jessica. They talk about where volunteer engagement goes wrong, and what it looks like when it's done right. Jessica Pang-Parks helps nonprofits create impact and inspire belonging through ethical volunteer engagement frameworks. Her work is grounded in Community-Centric Fundraising, and it starts from one idea: volunteers are whole people. If your organization works with volunteers and you suspect they deserve better stewardship than they're getting, this one's for you. Visit Jessica's website: https://www.learnwithjpp.com/ | |||
| Bold, Sustainable Leadership for Social Impact Leaders in a Time of Crisis | 29 sept. 2026 | 00:24:27 | |
Perfectionism doesn't feel like fear. It feels like caring. But underneath the reviewed-a-hundred-times email is usually one thing: fear. In this episode, Maria talks with leadership coach Tessa Bridge about why leaders mistake control for competence and what it actually takes to lead from a grounded place instead of a scared one. Tessa Bridge is the founder of Tessa Bridge Coaching and author of Do Your Part: Bold, Sustainable Leadership for Social Impact Leaders in a Time of Crisis.
Tessa is running a live book club on October 28, November 4, November 18, and December 2, based on her book, Do Your Part, with four sessions of peer discussion and group coaching. This offering is for high-achieving, deeply committed leaders looking for a way to lead that is both bold and sustainable.
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| Great Donor Stewardship: The 4 Step Donor Retention System Your Small Nonprofit Needs | 22 sept. 2026 | 00:20:07 | |
Most nonprofits lose more than half their donors after that very first gift, and it's rarely because those donors stopped caring. In this episode, Maria breaks down a simple, repeatable framework for keeping donors engaged long after they hit "donate." She walks through the five stages every donor moves through, why skipping even one of them kills retention, and how to weave stats and stories together so your messaging actually sticks. Then she digs into the psychology behind giving decisions, from anchoring to loss aversion to social proof, including the real story behind a $400,000 donor who ended up giving a million. This is Part 2 of Maria Rio's workshop, "How to Get More Donors, Retain Your Base, and Deepen Their Connection."
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| The ED Burnout Crisis: New Data and How to Protect Yourself | 15 sept. 2026 | 00:23:41 | |
Nearly half of nonprofit Executive Directors are reporting burnout as a serious concern, and that number is climbing fast. In this episode, we dig into the Center for Effective Philanthropy's 2026 report and unpack what's actually driving the crisis: rising service demand, shrinking budgets, and boards and staff who often can't be the safe space EDs need. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with close to 15 years in the sector, to talk honestly about burnout and what small nonprofit leaders can actually do about it, starting today. | |||
| Family Foundations & Private Philanthropy: Why Spend-Down Foundations Are Different | 08 sept. 2026 | 00:24:35 | |
Most nonprofits ask foundations for what they think a funder is comfortable giving, not what the mission actually needs to succeed. That gap is costing the sector real impact. This episode pulls back the curtain on how private philanthropy really operates: why 95% of foundation assets sit invested with zero connection to mission, why "private" family foundations are actually funded with public money, and why the polite, small ask has become the norm even when it guarantees failure. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Glenn Galaich, CEO of the Stupski Foundation and author of Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short, to talk about what happens when a foundation commits to spending down its entire endowment instead of sitting on it. | |||
| Fundraising Strategy for Small Nonprofits: Building Acquisition and Retention Systems | 01 sept. 2026 | 00:35:57 | |
Throwing spaghetti at the wall can't fix broken fundraising systems. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio, a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience, shares what it actually takes to turn acquisition and retention into a repeatable system instead of a scramble. You'll learn how to move donors through each stage of the funnel, from total stranger to lifelong supporter, and why retention deserves more of your attention. This episode is Part 1 of Maria's live workshop, "How to Get More Donors, Retain Your Base, and Deepen Their Connection," recorded for a cohort of nonprofit leaders. | |||
| Nonprofit Collaboration Tips For Growing a Small Nonprofit | 25 août 2026 | 00:22:36 | |
Small nonprofits are constantly told to do more with less. More fundraising, more reporting, more services, same tiny team. This episode flips that pressure on its head. Instead of asking "how do we do more ourselves," our guest makes the case for asking "who could we build this with together?" You'll hear real examples of what collaboration actually looks like on the ground, from a food bank that partnered with mental health organizations to a youth coalition that hit real growing pains. We break down why duplicated efforts hold small nonprofits back and how the right partnerships create capacity instead of just more work. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Daniel Francavilla, a marketing strategist and capacity-building consultant who works with nonprofits through The Good Growth Company, Daniel Does, and Clarity Content. Daniel has spent years helping nonprofits and social purpose organizations tell their stories and build the kind of partnerships that expand reach. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with a clearer sense of what collaboration can look like beyond the usual program partnership and why capacity-sharing might be the missing piece in their strategy.
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| First-Time EDs: The Messes, the Fear, and What Actually Helps | 18 août 2026 | 00:20:30 | |
Most leaders don't talk about what actually happens the day you walk into an ED role. They talk about the vision and the strategy, not the fact that your admin manager just quit, the reserves are empty, and you're going to have to let people go before you've even found the bathroom. This episode is about that first year as an ED, unfiltered. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, I sit down with Lenny Sweeney, Executive Director at SHORE Centre and a fundraiser of nearly 20 years across community services, gender-based violence, disability, and reproductive justice work. If you're a first-time ED, considering becoming one, or currently in the middle of a challenge, this episode will make you feel a lot less alone.
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| Donors Can't Find You. Here's How to Fix That. | 11 août 2026 | 00:25:16 | |
Search engines were never built with equity in mind. The organizations that show up first are the ones with money for ads, not necessarily the ones doing the most impactful work. For small and grassroots nonprofits, that means decades of good work can go unseen by the donors, program officers, and advisors who'd want to support it if they only knew it existed. It's clear the playing field was uneven long before AI entered the picture. But AI is also changing who gets found, and not always in the direction people assume. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Brandolon Barnett, Chief Innovation and Philanthropy Officer at Giving Compass, to unpack why small nonprofits struggle to be discovered and what it actually takes for donors to find you in a AI-first digital landscape. Nonprofit leaders will walk away understanding why "just post more on social media" isn't the fix it used to be and what steps they can take instead without needing a tech team or a big budget.
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| Values Alignment 101: The Fundraiser's Guide to Picking Funders | 04 août 2026 | 00:22:24 | |
Ever felt pressure to chase every funding opportunity that crosses your desk just because the deadline lines up and the dollar amount looks good? This episode is your permission to slow down. You'll learn why "does this person have money" is the wrong first question, and what to actually look for before you sink hours into an application or a pitch. You'll hear the real cost of chasing misaligned funders (hint: it's not just your time), and get a practical framework for spotting values alignment before you're locked into a partnership. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, a certified fundraising executive with close to 15 years of experience helping small nonprofit leaders make fundraising feel easy, ethical, and less chaotic. Together, they unpack how experienced fundraisers actually assess whether a funding opportunity is worth pursuing, and nonprofit leaders will walk away with a clear-eyed way to evaluate funders before committing time, energy, or their organization's reputation. Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/caitlinmcbride-ethical-fundraising/ The Unbearable Hypocrisy: Fundraising in a World of Compromised Integrity: Read here CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Not Every Funder Is Worth Chasing | |||
| Taking Care of the Caretakers: Compassion Fatigue Is Real and Here's How To Fight It | 28 juil. 2026 | 00:21:27 | |
Most nonprofits pour everything into the people and causes they serve, and forget the staff doing that work every single day. This episode flips the script. We're talking about what it actually looks like to take care of the caretakers, especially when your team is dealing with trauma, grief, or emotional burnout as part of the job. You'll hear how one nonprofit built a staff wellness program from the ground up, fueled almost entirely through community donations, not big budget line items. We also get into what happens when a founder hits her own breaking point, and what she changed because of it. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Laurie Hood, founder and CEO of Alaqua Animal Refuge, a 20-year-old organization that rescues and rehabilitates animals from cruelty and neglect cases. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with a real framework for supporting staff wellbeing without needing a bigger budget, and a reminder that modeling rest starts at the top. Visit their website: https://alaqua.org/ | |||
| You Don't Have to Love Donor-Advised Funds to Have a Strategy for Them | 21 juil. 2026 | 00:20:50 | |
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are the fastest-growing way to give in Canada, the US, and the UK, and most nonprofits still don't have the words "donor-advised fund" anywhere on their website. This episode isn't a case for DAFs. It's a case for having a strategy for them anyway, so that money moves toward community instead of sitting in an advisor's spreadsheet. In this episode, Mike Todd (Transform Philanthropy) breaks down what's actually happening when a DAF gift lands in your mailbox, why "anonymous" almost never means what you think it means, and how to stop losing gifts you didn't even know you were being considered for.
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| Plain Language, Real Impact: How to Communicate So Donors Actually Listen | 14 juil. 2026 | 00:21:39 | |
Posting on social media and hoping donations follow? You might be setting yourself up for disappointment. In this episode, we get into why social media is often a top-of-funnel tool, not a direct-response one, and why that's not a bad thing once you understand how to use it right. We talk about the algorithm problem nobody wants to admit: that even your own followers might never see your posts. We also dig into what actually makes content land, from ditching jargon to using strength-based framing that invites people in instead of guilt-tripping them. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Farra Trompeter, co-director and worker-owner at Big Duck, who has spent over 30 years helping nonprofits use communications to build brands, run campaigns, and grow sustainably. If you've ever wondered whether your org "should" be on every platform, or worried your content isn't landing the way you hoped, this conversation gives you a clearer way to think about both.
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| Getting Off the Grants Hamster Wheel: The Skills You Already Have to Diversify Your Funding | 07 juil. 2026 | 00:21:16 | |
If your fundraising calendar is back-to-back grant deadlines and event planning, you might be stuck on a treadmill that's working against you. Grants and events share something that doesn't get talked about enough: they're two of the highest time investment portfolios in the fundraising world. The good news? If you're good at grants, you're already sitting on a foundation of skills that translate directly into individual giving, corporate, and social enterprise. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, CFRE, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience who is on a mission to make fundraising feel less chaotic and more doable for small nonprofits. | |||
| What to Do When Your Fundraiser Quits to Maintain Momentum and Find the Right Candidate | 30 juin 2026 | 00:27:07 | |
Your fundraiser just handed in their notice. Now what? Before you dust off that three-year-old job description and blast it out, there are a few things you need to know. Fundraiser turnover is one of the most disruptive events a small nonprofit can face. Donor relationships go quiet, grant deadlines get missed, and someone who already has a full plate suddenly inherits a whole new set of responsibilities. If the hiring process that follows is reactive rather than intentional, you risk losing good candidates, burning out your team further, and making an expensive hire that doesn't stick. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Brittny Wilson, CEO and founder of Rooted Hire, an executive search firm built specifically for nonprofits. With over 20 years of in-house fundraising experience and six years running her own search and interim services firm, Brittny knows this terrain from every angle. In this episode, she walks Executive Directors through the real cost of skipping the assessment stage, why the "starry-eyed" hire from a big shop usually doesn't work out, and what you can do differently starting today.
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| Burnt-Out EDs (And What to Do Before You Reach Your Limit) | 23 juin 2026 | 00:23:34 | |
A burnt-out Executive Director doesn't just affect themselves. The team feels it. The culture shifts. The bold, brave decisions that your community depends on? They stop happening. And yet, so many EDs stay well past their limit because the tools, staffing, or board support to do anything differently simply don't exist. If you're an ED who's been running on fumes, or a board member wondering why your leader seems like a different person than the one you hired, this conversation is for you. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Jocelyn Helland, a nonprofit leadership consultant with over 20 years of Executive Director experience. Jocelyn now works with small and medium-sized organizations through coaching, fractional fundraising, and interim ED leadership helping them solve the sticky problems that keep great leaders stuck.
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| Sorry Isn't Enough: A 5-Step Framework for Nonprofit Accountability That Actually Repairs Harm | 16 juin 2026 | 00:27:38 | |
Most nonprofits are good at issuing apologies, but terrible at actually changing. There's a difference between saying "I'm sorry" and doing the work of repair, and that gap is exactly where trust goes to die. In this episode, we get into what accountability actually means, why so few organizations do it well, and what it looks like when it's done right. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Chris Talbot (they/them), Communications Lead for Community-Centric Fundraising, and a queer, transmasc, non-binary, mixed race, autistic advocate who has spent years working to make spaces genuinely safe for marginalized people. Nonprofit leaders listening to this episode will walk away with a concrete framework for taking accountability, a clearer picture of why changed behavior, and not apologies, is the actual measure of accountability, and a harder look at the double standard of who gets held to account in our sector.
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| Donor-Centric Fundraising: The Real Price of Keeping Donors Comfortable | 09 juin 2026 | 00:31:42 | |
You've been told that keeping donors happy is how you protect your revenue. What if that's actually the thing bleeding your organization dry? In this episode, Maria Rio makes the case that donor-centric fundraising isn't just a values problem, but also financial one. She breaks down exactly how centering donor comfort drives away your most aligned supporters, tanks staff morale, and keeps your organization stuck addressing symptoms instead of causes. Maria introduces the ACT framework, a concrete three-step roadmap that any fundraiser can start using without board approval, a strategic planning retreat, or organizational consensus. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio draws on over a decade of fundraising experience, her personal history as a service user, and real results from organizations like The Stop Community Food Centre and Out on Screen to show nonprofit leaders what Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) actually looks like in practice, and how to start shifting toward it, starting tomorrow. This episode is a re-recording of the keynote Maria gave at ENCC 2026. Learn more about CCF here: https://communitycentricfundraising.org/ | |||
| Why Hiring a Fundraiser Too Soon Is Costing You More Than You Think | 02 juin 2026 | 00:21:21 | |
Hiring a fundraiser feels like the obvious solution when revenue is tight and the need is growing, but doing it before you're ready can set everyone up to fail, including the person you just hired. Before you draft that job description, there are real systems, mindsets, and infrastructure pieces that need to be in place. And if you don't have them yet, there's a smarter path forward that most small nonprofits haven't considered. This episode breaks down what "ready" actually looks like, what supports might be the bridge your organization needs, and how to stop the costly cycle of hiring, struggling, and starting over. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience helping organizations raise money with less chaos. | |||
| Living Wages: How Nonprofits Can Adopt Dignified Work Practices | 26 mai 2026 | 00:22:01 | |
The Changemaker Wellbeing Index reports that 31% of nonprofit workers experience food insecurity — and for frontline staff, that rises to 48%. The very sector working to end poverty is, in many cases, perpetuating it through its own payroll. The good news? There's a practical, achievable path forward, and it is easy to get started. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Anne Coleman, newly-appointed Executive Director at the Ontario Living Wage Network. Anne has been doing this work since 2014, supporting employers across Ontario, including a significant number of nonprofits, to calculate, commit to, and get certified for paying living wages. This episode tackles one of the most uncomfortable truths in the nonprofit world: we can't claim to believe in economic justice if we're not paying our own people enough to live on. You'll hear what a living wage actually is, how it's calculated, why it's so different from minimum wage, and what it looks like to make the commitment as an organization. You'll also get the real business case for paying better so you can make the pitch to your board with confidence. Connect with Anne at anne@ontariolivingwage.ca | |||
| Volunteer Engagement: Getting and maintaining large commitments | 19 mai 2026 | 00:20:10 | |
Your volunteers are giving something money can't buy, and most nonprofits are treating that gift like an afterthought. When you start seeing volunteers through the same lens as major donors, the way you recruit, steward, and engage them completely changes. And when you connect volunteerism to your broader fundraising and governance pipeline, you stop treating it as a nice-to-have and start building something that actually lasts. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Karen Leies, President and CEO of The Seeing Eye, the world's oldest guide dog school, to talk about what it really means to run a volunteer program well. With 500+ puppy raisers a year, a robust volunteer program, and a board of directors that often wears multiple hats, Karen brings hard-won insight on how nonprofits can stop leaving volunteer potential on the table. If you've ever struggled to keep volunteers engaged, convert their involvement into deeper commitment, or get your board to actually show up — this one's for you.
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| Succession Planning for Executive Directors: When to start, and how to do it right | 12 mai 2026 | 00:21:20 | |
Most nonprofits don't have a succession plan for their Executive Director because the whole thing feels risky to bring up. What if the board thinks you're already halfway out the door? What if there's no time, no budget, or no one ready to take over? Learn what a real succession plan actually contains, how to start the conversation without putting yourself on the chopping block, and why waiting until someone retires (or worse, dies suddenly) is not a strategy. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Dr. Keena Mosley, CEO and Chief Transformation Officer of Momentum Leadership Group, with over 20 years of experience in leadership development across the nonprofit and education sectors. We dig into what happens after a role transition, what that person does before they walk in on day one, and how they navigate those first few weeks. | |||
| Vu Le's Equitable Grant Making Continuum: Stop Wasting Time on the Wrong Funders | 05 mai 2026 | 00:22:43 | |
Some funders are quietly draining your organization's capacity before they even decide whether to fund you. This episode breaks down the difference between funders who treat nonprofits as true partners and those who bury you in 140-page applications with a 3% chance of success. You'll learn how to identify where a funder falls on the spectrum, what equitable grantmaking actually looks like in practice, and why your time is worth protecting as a strategic resource. We also get into the nuts and bolts of building a smarter grant strategy so you can make better decisions about where to spend your energy. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience in the sector on a mission to make fundraising feel less chaotic for small nonprofits. Together, they dig into Vu Le's Equitable Grantmaking Continuum, share their own experiences with A+ and not-so-A+ funders, and give nonprofit leaders a practical lens for evaluating grant opportunities before spending hours on an application that was never really winnable. The Equitable Grantmaking Continuum: https://legalfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Equitable-Grantmaking-Continuum-Full-Version-Updated-March-2021-2.pdf | |||
| Digital Fundraising: Finding and Converting Supporters into Donors | 28 avr. 2026 | 00:23:57 | |
If your nonprofit is still pouring most of its energy into grants and social media, this episode is your wake-up call. Email marketing is one of the most underutilized and highest-return fundraising tools available to small nonprofits. When it's paired with a smooth, friction-free donation experience, it can transform how your organization generates unrestricted revenue. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Christina Edwards, founder of Splendid Consulting and host of the Purpose and Profit Club podcast. You'll learn why your email list is one of your most valuable owned assets, how to build a sustainable email strategy without burning out, and what it actually means to make giving easy for your donors. You'll also hear a story about a nonprofit that raised $1,000 in seven minutes using email alone — and why that's more possible than you think. Connect with Christina: https://www.splendidatl.com/ Ten email subject lines that you can use: https://www.splendidcourses.com/10 | |||
| Beyond Survival: How Nonprofit Mergers and Collaborations Can Move Your Mission Forward | 21 avr. 2026 | 00:21:23 | |
The word "merger" makes a lot of nonprofit leaders flinch — and honestly, that's understandable. When you've poured years of your life into building an organization, considering a structural change can feel like waving the white flag. But here's the reframe: a merger isn't the end of your mission, it might actually be the most powerful way to advance it. In this episode, we dig into what it really looks like when nonprofits explore collaboration, formal partnerships, and mergers — and why the leaders who avoid these conversations entirely may actually be putting their organizations at greater risk. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Jon Hoffmann, Director of Elevate NP of Southwestern Pennsylvania, a capacity building initiative supporting small and midsize nonprofits. Jon brings a rich background spanning human services, executive leadership, fundraising, and consulting, and has guided many organizations through partnership and merger processes. Whether you're an ED who's quietly wondering if a merger might make sense, or a leader who just wants to understand the full spectrum of collaboration options, this episode will help you get clear, get strategic, and get moving. | |||
| The Great Wealth Transfer Is Here — Is Your Nonprofit Ready? | 14 avr. 2026 | 00:22:34 | |
Planned giving is one of those things that lives permanently on the "we'll get to it someday" list, and that someday keeps getting pushed back. But the Great Wealth Transfer is already happening, and nonprofits that aren't at least laying the groundwork are going to miss out on one of the biggest funding opportunities of our generation. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria is joined by Tess Conrad, CFRE, a planned giving specialist. We're breaking down the four core components you need to get started, why "planned giving" is actually the wrong term to use with donors, and how to start having legacy conversations without it feeling awkward or morbid.
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| How to Build Culture of Innovation at Your Nonprofit, Even When Times Are Hard | 07 avr. 2026 | 00:25:44 | |
We found the cure for your organizations' "we've always done it this way", and we are sharing it with you today. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Andrea Silverstone (CEO of Sagesse) and Carrie McManus (Director of Innovation and Programs at Sagesse). Sagesse is a nonprofit working to disrupt the structures of abuse and eradicate domestic violence. Together, they share what it looks like to lead strategically during lean times, how to build psychological safety, and why the path forward, even through a brutal year, is almost always innovation.
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| Fractional Executives: Your Secret Weapon? | 31 mars 2026 | 00:23:55 | |
If you've been hearing the word "fractional" thrown around and nodding along like you totally know what it means, this episode is for you. Fractional work is one of the fastest-growing models in the nonprofit sector, and it's not just for fundraising anymore. From HR to finance to communications, fractional executives are stepping in to give small organizations access to high-level expertise they could never afford full-time. But there are a LOT of myths floating around about what fractional is and isn't, and this episode sets the record straight. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by co-host Caitlin McBride. Together, they break down the fractional model, dispel common misconceptions, and make the case for why embracing fractional leadership could be one of the smartest moves small nonprofits can make right now. | |||
| Donor Relations: Overcoming Fundraising Anxiety and Building Real Relationships | 24 mars 2026 | 00:21:09 | |
Fundraising fear is real and it's holding a lot of nonprofit leaders back from doing their best work. Whether it's the dread of being seen as pushy, the worry that donors don't want to hear from you, or the nagging feeling that you're just not "polished" enough, these limiting beliefs are more common than you think. The good news? They're also completely workable. This episode unpacks where fundraising fear actually comes from, why it makes total sense that so many EDs feel this way, and — more importantly — what you can do about it. You'll walk away with concrete strategies for shifting your mindset, showing up more authentically, and building the kinds of donor relationships that actually generate generosity. Spoiler: it has a lot less to do with PowerPoint decks than you'd think. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Vanessa Baker Rodriguez, a fundraising consultant and coach based in Northern California with a career-long dedication to the sector. Vanessa's work centers on helping nonprofit leaders fundraise with more ease, authenticity, and values alignment — and this conversation is packed with the kind of practical wisdom that executive directors and development staff at any stage can put to work right away.
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| Dignified Storytelling: Stop Treating Clients Like Props | 17 mars 2026 | 00:23:49 | |
What if the storytelling practices you're using are actually harming the people you're trying to serve? Many nonprofits believe that sharing clients' most traumatic moments is the only way to raise funds, but what's the real cost of this approach? The way we tell stories has consequences far beyond the donation page, like re-traumatizing vulnerable community members, or conditioning donors to expect exploitation, to name a few. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Diana Farias Heinrich, CEO of Habrá Marketing and creator of the Equastory Framework. Diana shares how a storytelling mistake early in her career, one that put a domestic violence survivor at risk, set her on a mission to transform how nonprofits approach client stories. Together, they challenge the sector's donor-centric storytelling norms and explore what it means to truly center dignity, consent, and community in fundraising. If you've ever felt uncomfortable with how your organization tells stories, or if you're ready to build systems that honor all stakeholders, and not just donors, this conversation is for you. Visit their website: www.habramarketing.com Register for the Ethical Nonprofit Summit HERE. | |||
| Major Gifts Fundraising: Getting That First Donor Meeting | 10 mars 2026 | 00:30:27 | |
Getting a first meeting with a prospective donor can feel like one of the biggest hurdles in major gifts fundraising, but it doesn't have to. This episode breaks it all down in a way that's refreshingly practical and zero percent intimidating. You'll learn why warm introductions are worth every awkward board conversation, how to follow up without spiraling into anxiety about being "annoying," and why the best thing you can do in the meeting itself is ask great questions and actually listen to the answers. Real stories, real strategies, and a lot of reassurance. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with over a decade of experience helping small nonprofits make fundraising feel less chaotic and more doable. Together, they walk nonprofit leaders through the full arc of the first donor meeting: from tracking down the right contact to leaving the call with a clear reason to follow up. If major gifts fundraising has ever felt out of reach for your organization, this one's for you. | |||
| Earned Revenue AND Increased Impact? Licensing Your Nonprofit Program | 03 mars 2026 | 00:21:23 | |
What if the program you've spent years perfecting could fund your nonprofit and serve exponentially more people... without you burning out trying to do it all yourself? Most executive directors don't realize that the SOPs, worksheets, and workflows living in their heads are actually valuable intellectual property that other nonprofits would pay to access. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Rebecca Britt, founder of Stable Moments, a mentorship program for foster and adopted youth now operating in over 40 locations across the United States. We're breaking down exactly how you can package your proven program model, license it to other organizations, and create a new revenue stream that keeps giving, all while expanding your mission's reach far beyond your local community. Nonprofit leaders tuning in will walk away with a concrete roadmap for assessing whether their program is ready to scale, how to structure a licensing model, and how to start approaching other organizations about adopting it. | |||
| Executive Director Burnout: Why Finding Your People Is The Most Important Strategy | 24 févr. 2026 | 00:22:04 | |
In this raw and hopeful conversation, you'll hear about the physical and emotional toll of nonprofit leadership and the intentional steps one ED took to not just recover, but to build an entire community dedicated to sector wellness. Laura Istead opens up about recognizing her own burnout, advocating for time off, and discovering the ways that she had normalized her own symptoms of stress. But this isn't just a cautionary tale. It's a blueprint for how nonprofit leaders can break free from the martyr mentality, find their people, and create the joy and connection that makes this work sustainable. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Laura Istead, Executive Director of Two Wheel View and founder of the Social Sector Club. Laura has spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector and 8 years in executive leadership, and she's learned some hard lessons about what it takes to survive and thrive in this work. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with practical strategies for building peer support networks, recognizing the signs of burnout before it's too late, and understanding why treating yourself with the same care you give your community is essential. Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraistead/ | |||
| Moves management: From supporter to donor | 17 févr. 2026 | 00:21:56 | |
What if the biggest challenge facing nonprofits isn't moving donors from $100 to $1,000 gifts, but getting people to make their first charitable donation ever? In this episode, we explore a critical gap in the nonprofit sector: getting people to move from non-donors to donors. While fundraisers are experts at cultivating existing donors, very few organizations are focused on helping people become donors in the first place. We dig into why teaching generosity matters, how to lower barriers to entry in philanthropy, and what role nonprofits should play in building a culture of giving that extends far beyond their own fundraising goals. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with John Bromley, founder and CEO of Charitable Impact, a donor-advised fund in Canada that's rethinking accessibility in philanthropy. John shares how he's teaching his own kids about charitable giving, how to build generosity muscles, and why the sector needs to ensure that there are always enough donors in the ecosystem. You'll will walk away with fresh perspectives on how to cultivate generosity as a learned behavior and practical ways to engage potential donors long before they make their first gift. Connect with John:
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| Nonprofit Leaders Building Community and Finding Joy Through Restorative Circles | 10 févr. 2026 | 00:20:59 | |
Nonprofit leaders are navigating an exceptionally difficult moment. Political uncertainty, financial uncertainty, the weight of leading through crisis, you name it. It's easy to feel isolated, numb, or like you're carrying it all alone. But the path ahead doesn't have to feel lonely. We're talking about finding your people and creating intentional spaces for joy, connection, and authentic dialogue. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Frank Velasquez Jr., founder of 4 Da Hood and the Ascending Leaders in Color leadership program. Frank shares practical strategies for accessing joy during challenging times, building meaningful peer networks, and using restorative circle practices to foster healthy conflict and deeper connection. Frank argues that healthy conflict, grounded in agreements, is essential for building trust, understanding, and authentic collaboration. This conversation offers a roadmap for leading with authenticity, vulnerability, and community. Resources and Links:
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| Nonprofit Storytelling: Showing Impact When Results Aren't Quantifiable | 03 févr. 2026 | 00:18:15 | |
Not every nonprofit mission comes with neat, quantifiable results. If your organization works in mental health, activism, research, or addiction recovery, you know that impact isn't always a tidy before-and-after story. But donors still want to understand the difference you're making... So how do you prove your impact when the work is complex, deeply personal, or still unfolding? On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, hosts Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride tackle one of the biggest challenges small nonprofits face: demonstrating impact without relying solely on statistics. Maria and Caitlin share practical, low-cost strategies to communicate your value to donors, funders, and your community. From candid smartphone videos to emotionally resonant storytelling, you'll learn how to make your impact visible, even when it feels invisible. | |||
| Mission Drift vs. Emergency Supports: The SNAP Benefits Case Study | 27 janv. 2026 | 00:28:31 | |
What do you do when a government shutdown threatens to leave 70% of the families you serve without food? For Growing Up Green Charter Schools in Queens, New York, the answer was clear: respond immediately, mobilize resources fast, and support their community without losing sight of their educational mission. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Caitlin McBride sits down with Erin Acosta, Director of Family Engagement and Communications at Growing Up Green Charter Schools. Erin shares how her team packed over 1,000 bags of groceries in just one month, mobilized volunteers across four school buildings, and secured emergency funding, all while maintaining their core educational programs. This conversation offers a powerful blueprint for any nonprofit facing the question: "Is this mission drift, or is this what our community actually needs right now?" Visit their website: www.gugcs.org | |||
| How Latino Fundraisers Are Fighting Back: Systemic Racism, ICE Raids, and Building Power Through Fundraising | 20 janv. 2026 | 00:23:47 | |
Armando hears the same heartbreaking story over and over: talented Latinas been doing their white boss's job for years, training replacement after replacement, but they're never considered for the promotion because they "lack training." Meanwhile, mainstream fundraising conferences and training programs are designed for wealthy organizations, ignoring the small and medium-sized Latino nonprofits that desperately need support. The result? A sector where Latino leaders are systematically kept out of decision-making roles while being exploited for their labor, passion, and proximity to community. Armando Zumaya, a 40-year fundraising veteran, is the founder of Somos El Poder, the first Latinx fundraising institute in the United States. He doesn't hold back as he exposes the tokenization, invisibility, and structural barriers that Latinx fundraisers face daily. Armando isn't just here to call out the problem. He's building the solution. In this episode, nonprofit leaders will understanding why creating their own infrastructure, being bold, demanding board diversification, and investing in fundraising are acts of resistance and survival. Continue the discussion with Armando:
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| Nonprofit Advocacy: Playing the Long Game | 13 janv. 2026 | 00:24:53 | |
Feeling overwhelmed by current challenges in the nonprofit sector? In this episode, host Maria Rio sits down with Robyn Schwartz, historian-turned-fundraiser and co-founder of Dumbo Octopus Consulting, to explore how understanding historical patterns can help nonprofit leaders navigate today's uncertainty. Robyn draws striking parallels between our current moment and the 1920s, explaining how cyclical patterns of economic instability, political shifts, and resource scarcity repeat throughout history—and what we can learn from them. She shares the powerful story of Canada's 1970 Abortion Caravan and the 18-year grassroots movement that led to landmark reproductive rights, demonstrating why playing the long game matters. Connect with Robyn here: https://dumbooctopusconsulting.com/ | |||
| The 8 Reasons People Donate (And Why Your Anniversary Campaign Isn't One of Them) | 06 janv. 2026 | 00:25:13 | |
Ever wondered why some donors stick around for decades while others disappear after one gift? Join Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride as they break down the eight psychological and social reasons people actually donate to nonprofits. They tackle everything from the power of peer-to-peer fundraising (hint: 80% are brand new donors) to why guilt-based appeals only work once, why your 50th anniversary isn't a fundraising strategy, and how to diagnose exactly where your donor retention is leaking. If you've ever wondered why people aren't giving to your organization despite doing great work, this episode gives you the framework to stop guessing. | |||
| Dignified Storytelling: Never tell another sob story again | 30 déc. 2025 | 00:26:43 | |
Nonprofits are constantly told to “tell powerful stories” to move donors, but what happens when those stories come at the expense of the people you serve? In this episode, we dive into the messy, important questions behind ethical storytelling: consent, power, and what it really means to honor people’s dignity in your fundraising and communications. Maria and Ceallaigh unpack how photos and personal narratives have historically been used in extractive, colonial ways, and why “we got a signed form” is not enough. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director of Print the Love and Haiti Outreach. Ceallaigh shares how Print the Love has given over 17,000 photos in 27 countries without keeping copies and what that kind of values-driven approach can teach any organization about consent, autonomy, and trust. Nonprofit leaders will walk away with practical ideas on how to audit their current storytelling, start real conversations with their communities, and build policies that center dignity. Resources and Links
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| "Somebody Has to Say It": Standing up for yourself and your sector | 23 déc. 2025 | 00:34:26 | |
Ever wondered how to critique the nonprofit sector while leading an organization within it? Join Maria Rio for a conversation with Amber Hamilton, President and CEO of the Memphis Music Initiative, who went viral for saying what every nonprofit leader thinks but won't say out loud. Amber shares why humor became her weapon of choice; creating satirical videos that called out philanthropy's racist funding practices, absurd application processes, and performative accountability measures. She is simultaneously running a grant-making organization that proves it can all be done differently. She tackles the real price Black women pay for speaking truth to power, why somebody has to be willing to say "the emperor is wearing no clothes," and how telling the truth (even when it's uncomfortable) ultimately works in your favor. Because if one more data sheet or think piece was going to change philanthropy, it would've happened by now. Resources:
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| Writing Emails Donors Actually Want to Read | 16 déc. 2025 | 00:32:37 | |
Ever wondered why your nonprofit's email list is stuck at 400 contacts after decades of work? Join Maria Rio for a conversation with Jess Campbell, founder of Out in the Boons, who shares an uncomfortable truth: your email list is probably shrinking right now, and it's kneecapping your fundraising. Jess shares why email is 9-10 times more effective than social media, creative list-building tactics beyond event sign-ups, and how to shift from boring organizational updates to thought leadership content people actually want to read. She introduces the "loop method" for steady growth, tackles the "won't weekly emails be too much?" fear, and challenges nonprofits to stop staying silent on issues their communities care about. | |||
| How to ACTUALLY change hearts and minds | 09 déc. 2025 | 00:27:15 | |
What's the one thing you wish the public understood better about the problem you're solving? That gap between what people know and what you wish they knew? That's your narrative change work, and it should be driving every communication decision you make. On this week's episode, we break down how small nonprofits can stop reacting to headlines and start shaping the conversation around the issues they care about most. Maria sits down with Dimitrios Kalantzis, a nonprofit strategist, communications expert, and former journalist with 10 years of experience covering public affairs. From the "if only people knew" framework to treating your organization as essential reading, this conversation will help you change hearts and minds with confidence and clarity. Changing Hearts and Minds- The Highlights:
Actionable Tips for Nonprofits to Changing Hearts and Minds:
About Dimitrios Kalantzis (he/him) You can find him at fivefifteenmedia.com. | |||
| Fundraising for “The Perfect Victim” | 02 déc. 2025 | 00:31:31 | |
There's a reason some fundraising stories feel easier to tell than others. Stories about animals, "grateful" clients, and non-political solutions raise money quickly because they tap into what donors already believe about who deserves help. But what happens when those easy stories erase the complexity and humanity of the people you actually serve? On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with Esther Lee, a fundraising and equity strategist who's part of the inaugural Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council and a leader of the Asian Fundraisers in Canada Collective. The Highlights:
Resources and Links:
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