Could your nonprofit offer staff benefits they couldn't even get working for a Fortune 500 employer?

Curt Ellis, co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps, joins Dolph Goldenburg to share the secret sauce behind FoodCorps' jaw-dropping benefits package. From a $3,000 401(k) match to 16 weeks of paid parental leave to sabbaticals, FoodCorps is setting new standards in the nonprofit sector. Ellis explains why offering these benefits isn't just about employee satisfaction—it's a business strategy that strengthens FoodCorps' mission to connect children to nourishing food.

Discover how FoodCorps' approach to sabbaticals, half-day Fridays, and family planning support boosts morale and retains talent in the high-turnover nonprofit workforce. Whether you're tackling employee burnout or seeking donor buy-in for better benefits, this episode is your blueprint for success.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I implement competitive benefits at my nonprofit?
• Why are sabbaticals a game-changer for retention?
• How can I approach funders about improving staff benefits?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• FoodCorps

Looking for More?

Check out these amazing episodes:

• Our Unlimited PTO Experiment with Dolph & Lexie on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes.
• Beyond Money: Incentives That Work with Uri Gneezy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes.

As the rest of the world counts down the last weeks of the year, this is the perfect time for leaders like you to harness your donors' holiday-giving spirit to generate more dollars, retain more donors, and cultivate even larger gifts for next year.  

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I engage my nonprofit's Board in fundraising at the end of the year? 
• What strategies can I use in the last week or month of the year to boost donations? 
• What are LYBUNT donors and how do I approach them? 
• What are some easy ways to raise $10,000 or more in a month? 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Blog Post: 5 Digital Fundraising Challenges and Their Solutions
• Blog Post: 31 Ideas for Board Member Fundraising

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• 11 Donor-Tested Ways to Say "Thank You" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes
  
• Podcast: Volunteer Fundraisers Unleashed with Maura McDaniel  on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Have you ever delayed a difficult conversation, hoping the issue would resolve itself? You're not alone! In this episode, Tucker Miller, executive coach and author of The First Four Words, shares her fresh approach to starting challenging conversations with ease and confidence. Drawing from her experience as a lawyer and HR professional, Tucker dives into why those first four words matter and how they can lead to more effective, empathetic discussions. 

If you've ever procrastinated on addressing sensitive topics with your team, board, or even donors, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you take the leap. From navigating performance feedback to addressing organizational concerns, Tucker's techniques are designed to transform conversations into opportunities for clarity and growth.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How do I start a difficult conversation?
• What techniques can I use to set clear expectations?
• How do l model effective behavior in challenging discussions?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Onward Leadership coaching services.
• J Tucker Miller information on J Tucker Miller's book and speaking engagements.

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• Ep 208: The Magic of "Thank You" with Sandy Rees 
  Apple Podcasts | Spotify | or our website with show notes
• Ep 311: The Power of Words with Erica Barnhart
  Apple Podcasts | Spotify | or our website with show notes

Dolph answers questions about staff recruitment, remote onboarding, becoming a consulting, and cultivating event sponsors. 

Pareen discusses the strategies she and her nonprofit used to build out a strong, efficient back office that supports their operations, mission, and office culture.

Dolph, Colleen, and Christina continue their panel discussion on practical tips and strategies to make your nonprofit more efficient, effective, and impactful.

Dolph joins Colleen Carroll and Christina Edwards on an NXUnite panel to discuss practical tips and strategies to make your nonprofit more effective, efficient, and impactful.

Elana discusses her journey to becoming an effective and authentic leader.

Dolph and Lexie discuss how Successful Nonprofits® transitioned to offering unlimited PTO and their lessons learned.

Krista shares tips to craft your pitch, prepare for a successful interview, and cultivate relationships with reporters.

Rick discusses the value of handwritten notes and how handwriting robots can help you scale your mail campaigns.

Marie discusses tips for running effective team and one-on-one meetings with your direct reports.

Emily and Rasheeda discuss ways you can attract and retain top fundraising talent at your nonprofit.

Are you tired of choosing between your personal well-being and performance in leadership? In this episode, Mohan Sivaloganathan, founder of Harmonious Leadership and former nonprofit chief executive, shares his vision for reimagining leadership to fuel bold social impact ideas. Known as the "Batman of Social Impact," Mohan blends his expertise in nonprofit leadership, coaching, and even hip-hop artistry to challenge the status quo. Discover how to break the cycle of burnout, foster a culture of growth, and inspire your team to thrive. 

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I balance personal well-being and performance?
• How can I, as a nonprofit leader, support the emerging workforce?
• How can my organization sustain transformation and systems change for social impact?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Harmonious Leaders website
• Mohan's TED Talk: The breakthrough power of young leaders
• Sign up for Mohan's newsletter 

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• Ep 335: Thriving as a Nonprofit Leader: Expert Guidance from Russ Finkelstein [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
• Ep 289: Leading Authentically with Elana Frank   [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]

Mariah discusses how incorporating equity into your nonprofit's measuring, evaluation, and learning methods will help you better understand your impact.

In this episode, guests return to share what they are doing to recruit and retain staff at their organizations.

Samantha discusses her techniques to cultivate and retain donors.

Jennifer discusses how nonprofit leaders can prevent burnout by supporting their staff and creating a healthy workplace culture.

Lauren discusses how nonprofits and grant writers can challenge funders to adopt equitable language and practices.

Mary discusses how nonprofit leaders can step back from the daily fires to find the space to think about and plan for the future.

Shanice discusses simple ways you can structure and automate your nonprofit's back office so you can focus on your mission and impact.

In this New Year's episode, we gear up for 2023 with a discussion about New Year's resolutions and likely trends of the coming year.

In this holiday encore, we revisit 2022's most popular episode with Lauren Kent-Delany --- all about finding extraordinary interns, from recruitment to interviews to orientation.

Gorick discusses the unspoken rules and expectations around job performance.

Andrew Cooper, a trailblazer in ethical leadership and author of The Ethical Imperative, joins Dolph for this episode. Andrew shares profound insights on why ethical leadership is crucial for nonprofit organizations to solve seemingly intractable problems. Drawing on his experiences and research, Andrew explains how nonprofits can lead with integrity, invest in their teams, and build stronger communities.

Listen in as Andrew discusses practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to foster trust, enhance board engagement, and create lasting impact in their communities. This episode offers actionable advice to help you navigate these challenges ethically and effectively.

This episode answers the following questions:

• What strategies can nonprofits use to invest in their teams and communities?
• How can nonprofits enhance board engagement through ethical practices?
• What are the key elements of leading with integrity in the nonprofit sector?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Andrew Cooper
• Get his book The Ethical Imperative on Amazon 

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• Episode 272: 17 Leadership Books to Add to Your Reading List 
  [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
• Episode 307: Embrace the Challenge: Empowering Leaders with Luis Velasquez and Kristin Gleitsman 
  [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]

Terrell discusses why it's important to hire formerly incarcerated people and what structural changes your nonprofit can make to be more inclusive and equitable in its recruitment, hiring, and promotion practices.

Jim discusses why it is important to be brave at work and baby steps we can all take to speak up when critical moments arise.

In this montage episode, guests return to share their favorite leadership books.

As we take time to think about who we are grateful for this holiday season, we can't forget our donors. So, this encore episode we revisit our conversation with Sandy Rees all about how you can easily show your donors just how much you appreciate them.

Amy discusses the benefits that collaboration have brought to her nonprofit, the Child Neurology Foundation.

Denise discusses the hidden --- and not so hidden --- benefits of engaging in the strategic planning process.

Kristan discusses her experience starting a podcast and why your nonprofit should start one, too.

Allison discusses her secret ingredient to building a strong, effective senior leadership team.

With the holiday (and giving) season quickly approaching, we decided to revisit one of our favorite fundraising episodes. Join Shantell for a conversation about how to support your team of solicitors as they prepare for and conduct the perfect ask. 

Robyn discusses common signals that indicate it might be time to close your nonprofit's doors.

As nonprofit professionals gear up for their Fall fundraising campaigns, it's the perfect time to revisit one of our most impactful episodes. Join us as we dive into Responsive Fundraising with Gabe Cooper, founder of Virtuous and author of the book by the same name. 

In this encore episode, we explore innovative strategies that help nonprofits treat every donor like a major donor. Gabe shares real-world examples of how to build personal relationships with donors through automation, data-driven strategies, and thoughtful engagement techniques. Whether you're refining your campaign or just starting your planning (we see you!), this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you elevate your fundraising efforts this season.

This episode answers the following questions:

• How can I refresh my stale fall fundraising campaign?
• What is responsive fundraising?
• What are donor personas? How can I use donor personas to engage my donors?
• What Is journey mapping?
• What are some best practices for involving all staff in donor cultivation?

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Virtuous CRM
• Responsive Nonprofit Summit
• Responsive Fundraising

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• Episode 156: Fundraising for Sustainability with Dr. Shantell Chambliss
  [Apple Podcasts | Spotify | our website with show notes]

• Episode 72: Make Your Board an Engaged Fundraising Machine with Kim Horton and Greg Giles
  [Spotify | our website with show notes]

Tara and Tony discuss how to ethically work with donors who have dementia or other cognitive impairments.

Kevin discusses why his nonprofit embarked on a journey of equitable pay and hiring practices and how you can, too.

Krista discusses the recent trends in individual giving and how they impact your fundraising campaigns.

Natalee shares the lessons she learned from organizing and hosting her first expo.

Kate discusses how trauma impacts our brains and how we can take a trauma-informed approach to ensure we respect and empower those who have been touched by trauma.

Joanne shares ideas for how you can increase the cost-effectiveness of your fundraising efforts.

Rebecca discusses the value going on a Learning Journey brought to her nonprofit's last strategic plan.

Larry discusses how you can use text messaging to engage donors and increase your fundraising revenue.

Mazarine shares tips for nonprofit professionals looking to transition into consulting.

Alan discusses simple tips and techniques for measuring your programs' impact.

It's the last week of August, and the lights are off here at Successful Nonprofits®. We have no meetings this week; the podcast and social media are scheduled in advance. And we're off the computer and off the phone. You know why? Because we're off having fun and enjoying our rest week!

Since we're on self-care rest week right now, it felt appropriate that we run this encore episode with Kevin Greer, the Chief Administrative Officer at New Profit, about the transformative power of incorporating rest weeks into your nonprofit's annual calendar. 

As nonprofit professionals, we often push ourselves to the limit, but Kevin shares how New Profit's Radical Reset — a full week where the organization completely shuts down — helps to combat burnout and boost creativity. He discusses the implementation process, the benefits of collective rest, and how rest can be equitably designed for all staff members.

This week, as the Successful Nonprofits® team takes our own rest week, we encourage you to consider planning one for your organization next year, especially during a slower period like the last week of August. While acknowledging this may not be feasible for organizations providing 24/7 or emergency response services, the benefits for your team could be profound. 

This episode answers the following questions:

• Why is a rest period critical for nonprofit staff?
• How does collective rest differ from individual vacation time?
• What are the steps to successfully implement a rest week?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Radical Act of Rest by Tulaine Montgomery
• How Fundraisers Can Get Off the Road to Exhaustion and Burnout by Emily Haynes
• We Are for Good: Unlocking the Impact of Proximate Leadership
• New Profit's Website

Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes:

• Ep 200: Self-Care Tips for Coming Out Stronger with Beth Kanter
  [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
• Ep 295: Tips for Making Your Dream Sabbatical a Reality with Emily Raskin
  [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]

Chad discusses how your Board Treasurer and Banker can help your nonprofit achieve financial sustainability.

France discusses how to build and strengthen organizational culture at your nonprofit.

Doug discusses the value of community engagement and tips for doing it effectively.