Relish This: The Nonprofit Marketing Podcast

Whether you are a startup looking for investment, or a nonprofit seeking to build momentum by attracting a larger donor, getting your story dialed in is clutch.On this week's Relish THIS, David Cohen from Techstars joined me to discuss his experience with investing and what purpose-focused businesses can do to ensure that they are able to attract the capital they need to take their organizations to the next level.David sees three items as paramount to attracting and securing investment: A good team with a proven track recordTraction: some momentum toward your goalsGenuine enthusiasm for your missionThese three, core elements are the ingredients for an amazing story. And stories are what help people get excited about your programs.David has a long history of investing in early-stage companies in both the for- and nonprofit spaces. He's been around the block so to speak when it comes to understanding how these three, core elements combine to produce success. If you are looking to up your game by attracting investors or are looking for tips to improve your ability to bring on larger donors to fuel your organization's success, this is a great episode.I hope you enjoy it.Links: Techstars Book - Do More FasterDavid's Website Ask: Help an entrepreneur succeed. You have special knowledge so help someone learn that so we can make the world a better place. 

Volunteers are the fuel that keeps nonprofit organizations humming.Not discounting volunteers' hard work to serve nonprofits' missions, volunteers and how they talk about their experiences working with their favorite organizations provide the thrust that brings an abundance of donations, interest, and other volunteers into the system. In short, when you treat your volunteers well and create an experience that a) positions them as the heroes in your mission story and b) treats their time as an invaluable resource not to be wasted, you'll be on the path to real success.See, many nonprofits position the organization as the hero of their story. In this narrative, the organization is cast as the creator of the majority of the thrust leading the charge to fulfill its mission.Turning that framework on its head to position the volunteer as the hero is a fantastic way to encourage better engagement and attract more volunteers to your organization. It's a subtle shift that can be challenging, but magic happens when you get it right. This shift in messaging helps bring volunteers into the system as they see themselves cast that the hero. Who wouldn't want to work with an organization that views its volunteer force through that lens?Once you have enticed your volunteers to take action to engage with your organization is the next area in which planning and process development works wonders.Crafting an onboarding process and following that process each and every time a volunteer offers to engage with your organization is paramount. Have a plan, make the volunteers feel welcome and valuable, and ensure they don't feel that their time was wasted.When you nail these two elements of your organization, you will see an uptick in your repeat volunteerism, your helpers will start recruiting for you, and you will see referral-based donations start rolling in.That's a long introduction to this week's guest on Relish THIS, Karen Knight. Karen has worked in the nonprofit space since first volunteering at age 11 and has been helping nonprofits improve their volunteer engagement ever since. Her consulting business helps nonprofit organizations knock their volunteer engagement out of the park by developing proven, repeatable processes and a better understanding of effective volunteer engagement and management.If you leverage the talent and hard work of volunteers, this episode is tailor-made for you.Dig in to see a different approach to volunteerism. Links: Karen Knight Consulting Ask: Show your appreciationThank your volunteers on every shift 

The idea of testing can stir up anxiety for many people. But what if testing was a fun, fruitful venture for your organization?In fact, to get the most out of your marketing, you need to be testing, measuring, making adjustments, and repeating this cycle infinitum to ensure you aren't missing opportunities and are taking your message and its presentation as far as possible.What's great is that it's easier than ever to test elements of your marketing. And that's just one of the things today's guest on Relish THIS does for his clients.Matt Ranta, the Partner and Head of Practice at Nimble Gravity, is steeped in analytics and testing. He approaches every interaction from the framework of curiosity. This curiosity transforms the idea of testing from one of anxiety to an activity that becomes exciting and fun. As he is able to recognize gains for his clients, their reach and ability to do good in the world improves. From vanity metrics to how to leverage data analytics to improve your performance to specific tools available for you to use to A/B test your messaging, this episode has it all!Links: Nimble Gravity LinkedInAsk: Go run a test or an experiment. Try an A/B test on your marketing or run a test on your website. 

All of us have a desire to be liked. And many of us hide our true selves from fear of rejection. We tailor our appearance, what we say, and what we talk about to try to curate a persona we believe will be more attractive to more people. This curation may create a likeable avatar, but it may exist through the exclusion of authenticity. And what might have been stifled through this creation?My guest today on Relish THIS is Kristin Faith, the CEO of The Nonprofit Makeover. If there's anything to be said about Kristin it's this: she is awash with enthusiasm for helping nonprofit leaders find their voice and the authenticity to help people really step out of their shells and take their nonprofit organizations to the next level.Our conversation was wide-ranging, with a particular focus on the importance of revenue-stream diversification for your organization. When Kristin started her nonprofit she quickly realized the power and importance of having a variety of revenue streams and how diversification frees you up to take fuller advantage of opportunities. This is a methodology she helps others in the space leverage.Have a listen to this great show and learn how you can make adjustments in your organization to help it thrive.Links: The Nonprofit MakeoverLinkedInFacebookInstagramUncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their PotentialAsk: Diversify your funding streams. Get prepared and find the resources that will push you and challenge you to be better.

Are you struggling with content marketing?In one sense, getting your message out to prospects has never been easier. A quick web search reveals dozens, if not hundreds, of content tools to help you quickly distribute your latest ideas via email, social media, your site, and nearly anywhere else you can think of. However, this ease of access has come at a price. These distribution gains have come with a loss in the authenticity required to develop strong, lasting relationships. That's one of the many topics my guest, Aaron Wrixon, and I discuss today on Relish THIS.Aaron is not only an amazing copywriter but also just a fantastic human being. I had the pleasure of meeting Aaron at a conference many years ago and we instantly clicked. He's one of my favorite people on the planet and I thoroughly enjoy our conversations. Whether we are chatting about hockey, the latest Nic Cage movie, books, or marketing, there's always gold to be mined.Dive into your approach to copywriting and hone your ability to write copy that embraces the idea of developing a 1-to-1 relationship – one that casts your stakeholder in the role of “hero” in the story they are experiencing with your organization. Aaron is just the best. Take your content marketing to the next level with this episode of Relish THIS.Links: https://www.wrixon.com/Ask: “Give your head a shake” lolTry to be more authentic and bold in your communication. Be more vulnerable and more engaging. Daring to commit to authentic conversation. 

There's a saying in sales, “‘No' is the second best answer you can hear.”There's a certain power in “no” and getting to that “not interested” allows everyone to move forward and get on with their day.This holds true in the nonprofit world as well. Understanding one's mission and selecting partners that are mission-aligned is vastly more impactful than chasing money and forming relationships with those who are not great fits. It can be challenging to turn away money or influence when the opportunity arises; however, when you can stand your ground and build connections and relationships with those who are truly playing the same game, the results can be phenomenal.Mission-alignment is just one of the many topics of this episode of Relish THIS. My guest is Teage McDaniel, the Founder and Curator of the Creative Integration Initiative here in the Denver area. They have been working in the creative space to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion into the scene and build a vibrant creative community through education, coaching, and curation of the visual arts.Teague is doing some really great work. Check out this episode to hear how they are making a difference in the art world.Links: Creative Integration Initiative Ask: Go be more creative in whatever capacity you can be creative! 

Storytelling is a major component of any organization's marketing. People love a good story, and effective storytelling can make the difference between gaining that new donor or falling short on your projections… again.More often than not, when looking for a compelling story, one overlooks a glaring opportunity in one's organization. See, when telling a good story, the devil is, as they say, in the details. And what better place to look for details than one's own numbers?My guest today is Stephen King, Founder and CEO of GrowthForce, a financial management firm that specializes in working with nonprofits to help them keep their missions on track through sound financial management. Stephen is a font of valuable information: from how to stay on top of your reporting, to how to leverage your accounting data to make all kinds of organizational decisions. He shares his understanding of how healthy finances create tangible results for every organization. So buckle up for an eye-opening episode of Relish THISLinks: GrowthForce TwitterLinkedIN Podcast: Path To Profits Ask: Attend the Nonprofit Growth Webinar. Download the workbooks and start getting your organization set up for growth. 

Particularly when one is a solopreneur, there's a tendency to think of expenses as money coming out of one's pocket instead of as an investment into one's organization. It stems from adopting a scarcity mindset (rather than framing one's experience from abundance) and also is seen quite a lot when one attaches oneself very closely to one's occupation. (But that's a whole other conversation.)The problem is compounded when framing every investment opportunity against the direct revenue this allocation is likely to create.So before introducing this week's guest here on Relish THIS, I'll relate a quick tale.When I first started my life as an entrepreneur, I had a tendency to fall into this “cost trap”. I viewed every expense through the lens of “how does this make us money” and neglected the other benefits investing in support, resources, tools, etc. could bring to an organization. I know now that there are many intangible benefits to investment, including boosts in morale, comfort, and the like, as well as time savings (both direct and indirect saving accrued simply by no longer having to think about an activity needing to be accomplished). For me, one of the first places this type of investment attitude paid off was in bookkeeping. Every month I dreaded doing our books. I didn't enjoy it and knew I wasn't great at it. I tended to put it off until the last minute and then fret about it after I was done. Neither, any good bookkeeper will tell you, are good for the health of one's books.So I overcame the “this cost won't make me money” demon in my head and hired a bookkeeper. Mischa has been helping us ever since and I don't think I have once questioned the “cost” of her engagement. It freed up a ton of noise in my own head and I know our books get done correctly and on time each month. Now THAT was a great investment!So coming back to my guest today on Relish THIS. Alex Romero is one of the financial masterminds (her “real” title is Virtual CFO) at Chris Hervoshon CPA. They are a virtual CPA team that helps nonprofits get their financial house in order so that they can confidently serve their constituents most effectively.Alex is just great. She has been working in the nonprofit space for years and shared a TON of valuable information during our conversation to help your nonprofit navigate bringing on a CPA to help you stay compliant with state and federal regulations and have a healthier understanding of your nonprofit's financial status. Of course, we talked about the cost vs. investment conundrum as well as what you need to know before bringing on a CPA, ways to bridge the gap between DIY and hiring an expert,  and ways to get really proactive about your finances so that you can be able to run your organization most effectively. We dove into managing and tracking grants and donations as well, so there is a LOT of great information in this episode. Whether you are just getting started with your organization or have been up and running for years, there's something for you in this episode. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did.Links: Better Way CPA TwitterLinkedInAsk: Start a spreadsheet to track any money that you get through your door at your nonprofit. Just start tracking and keeping records. 

In the past, one's “elevator pitch” lasted 30-60 seconds. There was a reasonable expectation that one could hold someone's attention for that period of time during which a longer conversation could be created. These days, however, 30-60 seconds is an eternity. In the world of TikTok and SnapChat and Twitter, we now have roughly 7 seconds to capture your audience's attention before they move on to something else.That's why you have to answer these questions immediately on your site:What is this?Who is it for?How does it make their life better?How do they get it? Or what should they do next?Today's guests on Relish THIS, Maren Miller and Nikki Murillo from Building Bridges, are working to transform the world through DEI training. They see an opportunity to inspire both current and future leaders to embrace inclusivity in the workplace and beyond to shift perspectives and make the world a better place. They are doing amazing work in the space.They are also doing a pretty good job of fleshing out their story on their site: demonstrating empathy and establishing authority, differentiating their services and processes, and leveraging social proof. But (at least on the date of our conversation) were missing an opportunity to nail the 7-second test to really throw the hook into those looking to improve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices in their organizations.Just the nature of their work, which requires individuals to take a pretty hard look at their own privilege, requires overcoming some interesting challenges. We chatted through some sales ideas, ways to create some sparks in their INSPIRE phase activities and more. This was a really fun conversation and I hope you can check out the show.Links: https://buildingbridgesshift.org/Building a Story BrandSmall Business Marketing AssessmentAsk: Fill out the Building Bridges Survey Go Slow To Go Fast! Pause take a breath, be aware of yourself, of your environment, your surroundings, your community, and, examine what is the next right step.

Going after grants seems like a no-brainer for most nonprofits.The allure of readily available money is certainly a draw – that can turn into a real distraction if you aren't positioned well to win these opportunities.My guest today, Gauri Manglik, is a pro in the grant writing space. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of Instrumentl, a platform designed to help nonprofits manage their grant writing to improve their chances of success in the space.Gauri has seen it all when it comes to navigating the process of researching, applying for, and then managing grants once they have been secured and she was incredibly generous to share her expertise with us on today's show. We talked a log about what your nonprofit should look like from a maturity standpoint before applying for grants makes sense, relationship building in the grant application process, and mindset shifts you can make to improve your success rate when exploring leveraging grants to help fund your nonprofit's successes.Overall, this is an amazing and valuable conversation for anyone interested in bolstering their grant skills.Enjoy the show!Links:InstrumentlBlogUse RelishThis50 coupon code to get $50 offASK: If there is someone you have been delaying asking for an introduction to a new contact or partner, ask them to make an intro!

One of the challenges most entrepreneurs create for themselves is an inability to ask for help. This can stem from fear of appearing weak, a desire for control, or a heightened sense of responsibility honed by years of “Gettin' it done.”Regardless of the root cause, one thing is certainly true: You are not alone. Neither in your thinking that you ARE alone nor your actual state of aloneness. Help is available for you and it's ok to be vulnerable and ask for assistance. (In fact, asking for help is seen as a way to help others. The Jewish faith calls this a worthy deed – a “mitzvah”.)My guest today is Mike Hess. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Blind Institute of Technology. Mike and I actually met several years ago when he was doing a presentation for the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO). Mike took us through a really cool exercise that demonstrated how entrepreneurs in particular have a hard time asking for help. Mike and I chatted about this challenge – particularly in relation to the idea of loss aversion and how he experiences that as a person with blindness. Mike says he gets a sense of this kind of “squishy” feeling sometimes when he's talking with people and makes some recommendations for ways to avoid creating that experience for others if you are starting to put off that vibe. Mike believes that if one can just be vulnerable and admit the challenges that they're having, how that becomes a way to diffuse the “squishiness” and creates a stronger foundation on which to build relationships. As you may have guessed, Mike is just an amazing person. His willingness to share his perspectives to help others grow is truly a gift.Links: Blind Institute of TechnologyASK: Partner up! If you don't know how to do something, find a partner and engage with them – particularly if things are feeling “squishy”

Marketing is all about relationship-building.From selling a $0.25 widget to landing a multi-million dollar corporate sponsor, your ability to close business is only as strong as the relationships you build. People do business with people… and it's becoming increasingly evident that people do even MORE business with people they like. That's why any chance to further your relationships with other and to strengthen those bonds is an important part of your organization's tactics.And that's what our guest today, Nick Black is all about. Nick is the Co-Founder and CEO of Good United, an organization that helps nonprofits build lasting relationships with their stakeholders at scale.If there's one takeaway from today's show it's that you need to go over to Facebook right now and make sure that you have “Facebook Giving Tools” activated for your organization. This tool enables you to start collecting donations on Facebook and Instagram immediately, improving your ability to tap into the power of these social platforms to expand your means of collecting donations from those who are interested in the good work you do.From a relationship-building standpoint, Good United has you covered. They have developed an amazing platform that allows nonprofits to engage with their potential audiences through Facebook messaging. It's unique, cutting edge, and is something that almost every nonprofit could take advantage of. Have a listen to this episode to expand your ability to leverage the power of social media and the opportunities for relationship-building that it provides.Links: https://www.goodunited.io/Ask: Go onto Facebook and make sure that the Facebook Giving Tools are turned on for your organization. 

A small adjustment in the language you use can make a big impact on your outcomes. A lot of nonprofits, in fact, MOST nonprofits, talk about donations in terms of  “gifts”. This tees up a certain dynamic – one with low expectations which can reduce the frequency and volume of said “gift”. My guest today is Greg Harrell-Edge, the Executive Director at CoachArt. He and his team have completely reimagined how they talk about donations to reframe the narrative to one with heightened expectations, resulting in an increase in revenue and engagement with their donors.Instead of simply being a donor who gives a gift to the organization, CoachArt uses language framed around “investment” language. They talk about IPOs and ROI and use similar language that transitions the relationship they are building with their stakeholders from one that is a one-way exchange of value into one where there is increased interest and investment in the outcomes, creating more of a two-way relationship with donors.This was an incredibly fascinating conversation jam-packed with valuable insights that can be applied to any organization's playbook.Links: https://coachart.org/Surveymonkey Audience: https://www.surveymonkey.com/market-research/solutions/audience-panel/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregharrelledge/Expectations vs. Agreements: https://relishstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Expectation-vs-Agreement.mp3Ask: Head to CoachArt's website and Join our Impact Investment Club

If there's one takeaway from this week's episode it's that “your site is a member of your team.”And, like the other members of your team, your site needs to be nurtured in order for it to thrive and work as effectively as you would like.See, a lot of people think that having a website is enough. They tend to fall into the Field of Dreams fallacy. “Build it and they will come,” they say.But this just isn't how the web works these days.You have to nurture your site to enable it to work to its fullest potential. And that means introducing new content, building out hub pages, storytelling effectively, etc.The conversation today is with David Pisarek, Founder and Chief Digital Aficionado of Wow Digital. David and the team at Wow Digital focus on building strong brands with effective sites for both for- and nonprofit organizations seeking to maximize their positive impact on the world.Our conversation was wide-ranging and had a LOT of great information for anyone seeking to fuel their organization's growth through marketing.Hope you have as much fun with this conversation as I did.Links: david@wowdigital.comwowdigital.com/ebook/http://nonprofitdigitalsuccess.com/  (redirect to the podcast page on my site at https://wowdigital.com/podcast - eventually I'll probably build out a proper site for it, but for now enjoying the SEO benefits of having it on my site)https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-You-Genius-Anybody-Anything-ebook/dp/B00PWE8IXA/ - the book I mentioned - it's a quick read, $5 for the paperback...Ask: Look at your analytics and get a feel for what people are actually doing when they visit your site

Aside from “pivot”, “culture” is a word that has been getting a bit of a workout in the business world over the last several years. There are SO many reasons why a focus on “culture” is a clutch move for any organization. We are seeing a big shift in how people engage with businesses and brands, and when one can lead with culture, there are a variety of benefits to be had.Attention to one's prowess (or lack thereof) with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is an area where many organizations are also focusing attention these days, as these elements have a direct influence on team culture. That's why this week's discussion is so valuable.My guest today is Michael Rolph, Founding Partner at New Sincerity. Michael and his team help with DEI awareness, training, and culture-building for organizations ready to up their DEI game.Michael and I had an incredibly valuable conversation about how to work on building a great culture and how those efforts are not only rooted in “the right thing to do” but have spillover benefits to all aspects of any organization. Our conversation was rooted in the idea that it's important to not worry so much about getting it “right” immediately but to get it started and get better as it grows. I hope you enjoy this episode. It's jam-packed with goodness.Links: New Sincerity Ask: Commit to one action this week and get to know somebody with a different lived experience. 

Building a team seems like a pretty straightforward endeavor. Figure out what you want people to “do” then get someone on board to accomplish that task, right?Turns out, there is a better way to approach the hiring process and it comes from “BEing” rather than “DOing”.And it really comes down to seeking cultural fit before task fit.It's a bit of a scary mindset shift but when you can see that it's WAY easier to train someone to expand upon their set of skills than to facilitate a cultural alignment, your ability to build a solid, happy, healthy team will be unparalleled.Leading with culture has SO many benefits that go beyond efficiencies and output gained by having cultural alignment. A strong company culture influences everything around it. From vendor relationships, to marketing, to investment opportunities. When your culture is humming, everyone who has a relationship with your organization gets on board.That's why today's conversation is so important. My guest is Otisa Eads and she's a HR Consultant and Systems Strategist who is fully steeped in culture and team building. Yes, Otisa can help you with your HR needs, AND that starts with culture.Otisa is also a big proponent of measuring. See, when you can identify ways to measure the effectiveness of the modifications you make – the experiments you run in your organization – you can then make more educated decisions about what to try next. Running your organization is really just a series of experiments. Define a hypothesis. Establish tests to prove or disprove that hypothesis. Measure. Repeat.Otisa is AMAZING at this stuff and our conversation was super valuable.Have a listen to this episode and help get your culture game humming.Links: Otisa EadsAsk: Gather feedback and data. Whether from the staff or stakeholders, spend time doing research on what is happening internally at your organization. 

At one point, having a purpose-focused organization was a bit of a differentiator. Lately, the term comes up a lot, and for those organizations that are truly leading with purpose and have a mission that drives their decisions and daily activities, kudos to you.At Relish Studio, we like working with people with a purpose for a variety of reasons. Mostly, helping organizations and their leaders who have a “giving back” ethos just feels good. However, we also see that many of these organizations just have a stronger culture and drive and the purpose they are embracing unites their teams and provides an added thrust that can be absent in those organizations that just have revenues to motivate performance.That's why my conversation with Cristina Ferreri and Cheryl Farr from Signal CSK was so much fun. These two are definitely on a mission. They help develop brand strategy that goes above and beyond just logo creation and simple messaging. They help their clients lead with real authenticity to build a strong culture that gets teams engaged and gets audiences motivated to take action.If you are interested in taking your organization to the next level, this conversation is definitely for you. Cristina and Cheryl will help you harness the power of purpose and lead with authenticity to make your organization shine in the marketplace. Hope you enjoy the show.Link: Signal CSK Brand Partners LogicMoose International Ask: Lead with authenticity. take time to consider the purpose you are chasing. live it out loud. Look at brands you engage with in a new light to understand how that brand relates to YOU. Learn and apply lessons learned.

When asked, “What's the best Customer Relationship Management Tool (CRM)?” I like to joke, “The best CRM is the one you will use.” And though this is mostly a pithy reply to a legitimate inquiry, in my experience just getting started and committed to using a CRM is one of the best actions one can take to get their sales humming.And yes, nonprofits can benefit from a CRM too. (One they will use, of course.)Your CRM helps you stay on track with outreach, check-ins, and where people currently reside in their engagement lifecycle with your organization. Using one effectively helps you build relationships and keep conversations and actions from falling through the cracks.Some of the more full-featured CRMs even help you keep your one-to-many outreach on track with email automations, funnel capabilities, and even social media management functionality that enables you to be more proactive with your outreach and improve your team's efficiency and effectiveness with social engagement. In fact, we wrote a whole post about getting organized with a CRM.That's why I'm so excited about today's guest, Lidiane (Liddy) Mocko. She's a CRM expert and the founder of CRM Growth Strategy and if you are interested in getting your CRM game on point, Liddy is your go-to person to make sure you are set up and running at peak efficiency.See, Liddy is steeped in the CRM world. She's a SalesForce expert and helps teams in both for- and nonprofit organizations get the most out of their systems. She not only helps organizations customize their platforms, but has a wealth of experience and knowledge she shares with the world to ensure that you get the most out of your CRM and engagement plan.This episode is a game-changer for those who currently have a CRM or those looking to add this valuable tool to their kit. I hope you enjoy it.Links: CRM Growth Strategy Salesforce GreaterGivingClickBidGiveLively Ask: If you are using a CRM, now is time for Spring Cleaning, go ahead and check in on people you haven't talked to in a while, pick up the phone or send some emails to get them reengaged with you and your organization. 

Like it or not, we are still living in a world where virtual events continue to be a necessity. In order to accommodate the widest possible audience, getting your virtual events dialed is imperative to ensure that you enable optimum engagement. And what's fortune is that we do live in an era where technology exists to make these types of events not only possible but incredibly engaging.Instead of fighting the “new normal”, my guests today, Michelle Garrison and Daniel Moss from We and Goliath took a forward-thinking approach and focused on updating and optimizing virtual events to keep your attendees interested and engaged.There are benefits to putting on your event in the virtual (or hybrid) space. First, you are no longer limited to local audiences (or ones with the facility to travel to your locale). Second, virtual events by their very nature include a built-in mechanism that create materials that can be repurposed to allow a one-time, in-person event to gain increased reach and a bulk of materials that can be shared for years to come. In fact, assets created in one year can be used to promote future events. Our conversation today is jam-packed with great tips, clever breakout activities, and ways to make your next event shine. The events Daniel and Michelle have helped create over the years  have helped organizations turn their in-person events into international events and have even helped increase online attendance by over 7x of their previous years' in-person attendance.If you are seeking to put on an event, this show is a must-listen.Links: Pledgling Give Butter We and GoliathAsk: ASK: Create coalitions. team up across spaces and support each other. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFsNL_EWA9AEmbrace the efficiency that virtual events provide to make connections you never could at an in-person event.

When thinking about planning, most of us start that exploration from the perspective of where we are today. Want to buy a new car? How much money do you make or have in the bank? Interested in taking an extended vacation? How much time have you accumulated in your PTO at work?But my guest today, Sherry Quam Taylor from Quam Taylor Consulting takes a different approach. She asks the question, “Where do you want to be?” and budgets according to those goals rather than getting stuck in the present state of affairs.Sherry is a veritable font of nonprofit strategy and planning wisdom. (Much of which can be applied to the for-profit world as well.) She helps nonprofits move from collecting donations in the low, seven-figure range to trending toward becoming 8-figure organizations.Even if your nonprofit is nowhere near those milestones, our conversation on today's show has plenty of fantastic mind-shift opportunities and information that can help you and your team thrive.I hope you enjoy the show.Link:Quam Taylor Consulting ASK: Donors are open to new ideas, walk confidently into scary situations. Go for it and commit to growth.

When you think of strategic planning, what comes to mind?Hours locked away in a conference room, working through scenarios and exercises that, in the end, will produce a document that feels ok at the time, but you know will rarely see the light of day once the session is complete? Or a valuable exercise that aligns your team, creates thrust for your organization, and builds an actionable plan to keep you on track for the short- and longer-term?There is often fear associated with strategic planning — a fear in investing time, energy, and money in an exercise that, for many, doesn't seem like it produces a great ROI and isn't helping you engage your stakeholders.  But here's the deal…  when done well, strategic planning is an invaluable tool for any nonprofit (in fact, organizations of all types) to help them reach their goals. Strategic planning aligns visions with budgets, builds an action plan, and helps reorient your mission around your stakeholders and their needs. My guest today is Carol Hamilton, the Principal at Grace Social Sector Consulting. She is absolutely great and her and her organization has a lot of invaluable tools and resources to keep nonprofits on track and help them weather the inevitable transitions every nonprofit experiences during its lifespan. Our conversation centered around how to build a great plan that helps you avoid falling into traps and what you can do to quickly get out of a trap if you do get caught in one. I think the best quote from the conversation was that “budgets are essentially a plan in numbers.” There is a lot of invaluable information on this episode and I hope you enjoy it. Here we go. Links: Grace Social Sector Consulting Podcast: Mission ImpactAsk: Have conversations with decision-makers. What are decision-making criteria? Use these as a screen for important decisions, get to good enough vs. perfect. 

Setting big goals for your organization can be daunting. Are your plans and projections realistic? Are you reaching too far? Not far enough?Getting to that “sweet spot” of planning and projections feels comfortable. But, as we chatted about in last week's episode, that's not real commitment. Commitment happens when you land in the zone of uncertainty—enough that you aren't sure if you can make it happen but certain enough that you can't NOT make it happen.And here's the deal… all of this stems from your place of BEing rather than what you are DOing. See, most of us start from the position of DOing when looking at the outcomes we would like to create. However, when one shifts that perspective and approaches every moment from the perspective of BEing, magic happens.On today's episode, I speak with Sobia Zafar, who is on the board of the Taaleem Organization, a nonprofit based in Pakistan that brings education to those who need it the most. They currently have eight schools in the country and have a goal to raise $12 million in the next three to five years to help improve infrastructure and promote educational change in the region. Sobia is committed to making this happen. Her father founded the schools and she is helping to take them to the next level with this round of capital that will enable them to expand, improve infrastructure, and level up the services they provide.During our conversation, she recognized the power of BEing when compared to simply having another to-DO list.If your organization is looking to level up, this conversation shows a way to evaluate what you have working for you and how to start adding elements to your organization's success. I hope you enjoy our talk as much as I did. Links: Taleem Foundation Sobia Zafar CoachingAsk: Don't make a to-do list, today, make a to-be list. Take inspired and disciplined action.

My coach frames everything from the perspective of commitment. And if you think you understand commitment, let me tell you something, his definition (and getting committed to REAL commitment) could change your world.See, it's easy to “commit” to things you know you can do. I can confidently sign on to say, throwing a football 20 yards. That's not commitment. That's just doing.I can similarly not get behind the idea of doing something I know I can't accomplish. Like throwing a football 100 yards. It would be silly for me to suggest I would ever be able to accomplish that feat.But where real commitment lies is in the in-between. That space where we get out of our comfort zone and start to wonder, “Could I actually get this done?”And I would say, “What if you committed to it?” What if you got really comfortable with the idea that you were going to go places somewhat outside of your zone of comfort.That's what today's guest on Relish THIS is doing. Steve Bacon is a remarkable, passionate, authentic human being who has committed himself to making enormous changes in the black community. His goal is to make sure that this is the LAST generation that has to experience the ingrained belief structure endemic to his community. Steve is the Master Teacher and Coach at Belief Theory and in this episode we discuss taking passion and authenticity to the max and how to use those qualities to push yourself to make change. Warning, there is some NSFW language and potential triggering content in this episode so please be advised. That being said, I think this is an important conversation and well worth the listen. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Links: BeliefTheoryAsk: Stop looking everywhere else for problems that come from within

Partnerships can provide a much-needed boost to any organization's outreach. They help secure funding for events, bring in a baked-in audience ready to engage, and can contribute in a variety of other ways to help your organization move closer to your goals. However, partnerships are a two-way street.This week's Relish THIS I spoke with Ken Ungar, the President and Founder of Charge, an organization that helps those seeking sponsors as well as those looking to become a sponsor achieve success through sponsorship coaching and consultation services. Ken and I had a great conversation about how to incorporate sponsors into your for- or nonprofit organization's plan of action. In this episode we discuss ways to provide appealing data to entice sponsors to become part of your organization, how to start small and prevent creating misaligned partnerships, and how to survey your audiences to find potential opportunities. The big takeaway from our discussion is that sponsorships are a two way street. A lot of times nonprofits get caught up in the idea of money and how the sponsor can financially benefit their organization. They lose track that there has to be value added for the sponsors as well. This is a great episode for anyone seeking to fuel their growth through sponsorship and partnership opportunities.Enjoy! Link: chargesponsorship.comchargesponsorship.com/freestuff/Ask: Survey and know your audience. Get in touch with them to leverage the opportunities hidden within.  

Two of the most common questions we get from nonprofit leaders are, “Do you know anyone who can help us with that?” and “Is there a tool or app we can use that will help streamline that for us?”Fortunately, the Founder and CEO of Pond, Mitch Stein and his team can help with both of these challenges.There are SO many tools and resources available and it can get really overwhelming shopping for solutions. That's one of the interesting adjustments Pond is making to the system. With Pond, they have created a system that flips the narrative. Vendors and solutions providers invest for the opportunity to access the nonprofit, providing solutions you have requested direct to you rather than you having to go out and find the solutions for yourself. It's a clever paradigm switch that not only puts the power in the hands of the nonprofit, but also creates revenue for your organization at the same time. Pretty clever!Pond also encourages Nonprofit leaders to join the conversation by providing rewards and goodies on the platform; it's a good resource to share and learn from other leaders in the community. Pond is a great online marketplace and if you are a nonprofit leader, check out Pond and participate in conversations to help your organization find the tools and resources you need to level up! Link: joinpond.comThe Kids Table Podcast Ask: If you are a nonprofit leader, join Pond!

What if you could have your organization truly work for you? Many leaders dream of building an organization that can run without constant attention and input from the founders. One that has the right team in place and the right processes on line to thrive. One that allows every team member the opportunity to step away for a while with the confidence that everything will continue to run as planned.  What if you could build a business in which you have the highest degree of confidence that everything is going to be ok and your organization is moving in the right direction? One that is doing so well that you can finally take some time off to relax or work ON your business instead of in your business. Those are the types of systems my guest today can help you create. In this episode of Relish THIS I had a great conversation with Simon Severino, the CEO of Strategy Sprints. His company works with organization leaders to help supercharge their systems and create operational efficiencies. He is so confident that his systems produce results that he promises to double your sales in 90 days when working with his team. Using the 90 Days Sprint mentality they are able to help organizations of all types inject oxygen into their mechanisms to help them grow more into the world. I think you are going to love this show and I am excited to take on some of these ideas myself. I hope you enjoy this episode. Here we go. Links: https://www.strategysprints.com/Ask: Do your own time analysis. Head to https://www.strategysprints.com/tools and download the Daily Flow workbook to track your time and see how you can optimize and improve. 

At the ripe, young age of 23, I found myself leading a team of creatives for one of the top three cycling catalog companies in the nation. Looking back at that time, I certainly could have used more experience in team management and motivation to get the most out of my team. Or at least some additional investment in myself to become a better leader. But, like many 23 year olds, I am sure that I figured I could knock it out of the park on my own. Did I get the job done? Sure. But there was a LOT more tacking than optimal (to use a naval metaphor.I made lots of mistakes: from micromanaging, to making constant changes in direction, to failing to find resources for those activities I could delegate. That's how most of us learn to lead.But there is a better way.On this episode of Relish THIS, I had a great conversation with Chris Hutchinson, the CEO, Founder, and Abundance Influencer of the Trebuchet Group. His company helps purpose-focused leaders learn to work more effectively with their teams, get their organizations' visions and actions aligned, and ensure that everyone is working as a team toward a unified goal. Using another naval metaphor — everyone is rowing in the same (and correct) direction.Culture alignment, letting go of perfect, and how leadership coaching creates improvement in other areas of one's life were all on the table during our conversation. Chris and his team at the Trebuchet Group do amazing things to help lay the foundation for organizational — and personal — growth for those looking to get their teams working as a unit.I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.Links: Trebuchet Group Ask: Think about the impact you are making and if it is working for you. If not, take action if it is not fully satisfying. 

Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit or just getting started, it's important to learn the concept of “failing fast.” Getting to a “no” quickly can help you achieve success and grow rather than limiting yourself and what you can do. On this week's Episode I spoke with Diana Zhang, CEO and Co-Founder of Neighbor Share, an organization that offers “micro-donations” directly to those who need it. Her organization gives contributions of less than $400 to people whose lives could be greatly affected by this contribution. Diana's background is in finance so we had a great discussion about fundraising strategies, strategic partnerships, and her plan to scale her organization nationally. We discussed how the quickest way to achieve that scale is to fail quickly to gain insights into what's not working so you can move on to new opportunities faster. This was a fascinating conversation and I hope you enjoy it.Link: Neighbor ShareAsk: Go do SOMETHING. Donate, volunteer, dip your toe in and just get going.

For most businesses and organizations, the quickest wins are found in the INSPIRE phase of the stakeholder lifecycle. In most situations, transforming customers and donors into repeat business is simply easier than selling to a whole new audience. After all, you've already put in the hard work nurturing these individuals through the ATTRACT, BOND, and CONNECT phases of their journey. You just need to re-engage with value-driven materials, inspirational stories, and/or fresh opportunities to inspire them to take further action. (Read all about this in my book, Mission Uncomfortable.)In fact, this group of engaged individuals can help you expand your reach as they evangelize for your organization and spread the word about all the great work you do in the world. If you can make it as easy as possible for them to do that—for example, by recommending (and even writing for them) ways to share your mission—this group can become quite valuable to your organization. On today's episode I spoke with Dr. Joe Sanders, the CEO of Colorado Uplift, a very cool organization that helps urban youth gain skills and get the support they need to become leaders in their communities. We delve into the INSPIRE phase of the stakeholder journey—discussing how to get stakeholders to re-engage, refer, and share reviews. (In other words, INSPIRING them to talk up your organization and its impact.)Our conversation also focused on ways to supercharge your marketing efforts and PR campaigns to improve your ability to reach and engage with a wider audience. Joe is a thoughtful and focused leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization. Not only is he a retired Air Force Colonel and Director of the Air Force Academy's Leadership and Character Development activities, but he is a PhD as well. This was a great chat. I hope you enjoy it. Links: Colorado UpliftAsk: Truly listen to someone. Just listen to them and acknowledge their story. 

Messaging is a challenge for many organizations. From struggling with differentiation, to being too “us” focused, it's flat-out difficult to nail your core message and engage stakeholders.Yet most nonprofits have a great story lurking in the haze. After all, what's not to love about an inspirational mission? And even the newest nonprofits have success metrics that can be used to help frame a compelling story. Getting your message to land is sometimes as simple as switching the perspective from which you tell your story. It's easy to consider your organization the hero of your story and fall into language about “we,” “us,” and “our.” But what if there was a better way? Flipping the narrative—recasting the roles in the story you tell so your reader is the hero—can be a powerful way to connect with your audience. With your organization cast as the guide, you can tap into your reader's natural ego and help them see how they benefit when they partner with you.This is just part of what Danny Combs, Founder and CEO of TACT, and I talked about this week on Relish THIS. His organization helps kids on the autism spectrum get training in trades they love and secure great jobs. Our discussion focused on the TACT mission and how they effectively share this message with the world—and inspire stakeholders to get engaged—by “making it all about the reader.”When you focus on your audience's core motivators, Danny says, and make them the hero of your story, you're essentially helping them see how helping you will make them feel good. When you can get comfortable sitting in that “guide” seat—with empathy and authority—you can build deep connections. You can even transform strangers into enthusiastic supporters who go on to spread your message far and wide.We had a few tech challenges during this recording but stick with it. Danny and his team are doing great things and there's some definite gold to be found in our conversation for any organization.Hope you enjoy!Links: Build with Tact Ask: Recognize people's strengths, if you have a business be open to looking at how you can see someone with Autism as an asset. 

If you have been listening to Relish THIS for a while, you have probably detected a theme: I'm a big fan of taking action.In fact, I ask each of my wonderful guests at the end of each episode what action they would like for you, dear listener, to take after our discussion.Well, my guest today, Mark Bergel, Co-Founder of the Shared Humanity Project is ALL about action.The Shared Humanity Project enables people to select an area of interest and be presented with actions they can take in that area to help eradicate poverty. It's an incredibly interesting approach to circumnavigate the inevitable question most nonprofits hear, "That's a great mission, but how can I help?"Mark and I share a foundation in Sociology so had a really fun, thoughtful conversation that touched on ways to form partnerships to expand your mission, working with INSPIRE phase opportunities to create stakeholder engagements to spread the word about your organization, effective storytelling, persona development, and much more.I hope you enjoy this valuable discussion.Action Ask:Make a vow, get committed, and take action.

The business world is changing. No longer can businesses continue to operate in using the old paradigm. Put your head down, shut up, and work harder no longer work as a motivators for your team.This shift to culture-based business promises a different experience for all stakeholders. And when you and your entire team can live the values you have created that define your culture, job satisfaction and productivity soar. Need evidence? Follow Dan Price on social to see what he's up to at Gravity Payments.But here's what's really cool… when you run a nonprofit, you get to not only establish your values as a business, but can then apply those same values to your mission. That's what Seth Ehrlich is up to over at SOS Outreach.Seth applies the core values of SOS Outreach as part of their programming. See, SOS Outreach creates opportunities for underprivileged and inner-city kids to experience the magic found only in the mountains by getting them into the outdoors and connecting them with mentors who are steeped in the SOS Outreach culture. Courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and humility guide the team's actions and these same values are core to the SOS Outreach engagement.So what does this episode bring to the table? A great discussion of ways to engage your stakeholders from the framework of core values.Seth and his team are amazing. Hope you enjoy the show. Action Ask:Follow SOS Outreach on social media. Take the next step to get involved and engage through your passions.

Whether you run a nonprofit or for-profit organization, paid search is going to be one of the main marketing ecosystem pillars you should consider to get "instant on" traffic sources to your offerings. That being said, running a successful paid search campaign requires some planning and know-how to make sure you get the most out of your investment. That's why we are joined today by Kurt Filla, Founder of FillaLife Media. Kurt LOVES data and it shows. We have a super fun conversation about Search Engine Marketing and Pay Per Click advertising for nonprofits and other purpose-focused enterprises as well. If you are looking to start a paid search campaign, this episode is a must-listen. From setting up your budgeting and goals to how to tweak your campaigns for maximum effect, this show has it all. Learn about landing page creation and optimization, how to tweak your calls-to-action to get your audience to DO what you are seeking, how re-targeting works, lookalike campaigns, and much, much more on this episode PACKED with great info. Action Ask: Look at your reporting data and make sure you have robust tracking set up to ensure you aren't wasting your time and money on your campaigns. Then test the waters and see what you can do for your organization through paid ads.

Launching a podcast can be difficult especially if you don't find your niche. According to recent research, there are currently over 2 million individual podcasts out there. And around 45 million episodes. That sounds like a pretty crowded market. But when you dig into the stats a bit more, some real gold gets unearthed. According to Amplifi Media, of that 2 million, roughly 25% have only published 1 episode. When you dig deeper, the stats get even more interesting... Only 770,000 shows made it to the 10 episode mark. So, even though jumping into the deep end of podcasting seems like you will be swimming in a very crowded pool, if you can commit to your show and stick with it, you have a pretty clear lane of travel to becoming among a pretty select few who have a "successful" podcasting experience. My guests today, Tony Lupo and Ryan Fairfield from The Warrior Next Door, have been conducting interviews with veterans of World War II for over 17 years and recently spun these interviews up into a really great show that launched in the fall of 2021. The Warrior Next Door has a unique, serialized format in which Tony and Ryan add context to the interviews and take listeners on a real journey with their guests. It's a fantastic show I recommend you check out. But here's the rub... getting a podcast up and running and building an audience takes some work. That's what we discuss in this episode. How to launch a successful podcast, the pitfalls to avoid while spinning up your show, and how to make sure you can reach the widest possible audience to make the biggest splash. If you are looking to get your podcast up and running (or firing on all cylinders), this is the episode for you. Action Ask: Put down your screens and really be present with your families. Have real conversations. Pair up with someone and bring your passions to life. Preserve your family history through conversations.

Marketing is all about relationship-building. The most valuable relationships are measured by their quality vs. their quantity, but almost every relationship begins with an exchange of value often marked by some series of back-and-forth interactions. My guest today, Keith Hartnett, the Founder and CEO of Better World Products, knows all about the power of relationship-building. Keith is here to talk about his vision to shift to shift the retail landscape and bring new life and wealth into our shared communities. Learn more from Keith about how to bring your products to the market, build relationships, and create processes that will help you scale and more.

Have you ever considered how you "be" directly influences all that you "do"?It's an interesting concept – one that requires some serious brain yoga to wrap your head around.See, if you follow today's guest's approach, you have the capacity to create every moment in your life. How you show up in life (how you "be") influences everything.In this episode, Stu is joined by Life Transformation Architect, Townsend Wardlaw, to share how the book, The Ultimate Coach, inspired him.Extending that to others, Townsend shares his experiences undergoing some of the transformative thinking he has created for himself and those with whom he works over time.Find inspiration from this conversation and witness as you realize how each of us holds within the power to experience Peace, Freedom, and Connection.Join Townsend to not miss out!

When you start a business, systems optimization isn't usually top of mind when it comes to priorities. However, if you want to scale and grow, you need to have processes in place for your team to follow. Today's guest is Alyson Caffrey, the Founder and CEO of Operations Agency. Her goal is to help organizations create powerful, reliable systems that support their vision. In this episode, Alyson shares how you can develop your operations so you can run and grow your business at the same time. There is SO much great info in this episode if you are looking to effectively scale your business. Hope you enjoy the show.Action ask: If you don't have Loom or some other screen capture application, get one and start documenting processes your team can follow to get to "done right".

Nietzsche is quoted as saying, "To live is to suffer. To survive is to find some meaning in the suffering." But what if the suffering itself was optional? What if you can shift your mindset to look forward instead of back? This concept is what today's guest, Jeff Kinsey, and your host, Stu Swineford, have in store for you. Jeff is the Founder of The Logos Group, an organization specializing in strategic planning and executive coaching to help anyone live their best lives. He also volunteers with Breakthrough that works with incarcerated individuals to help them prepare for reintegration into society. Jeff went from trying to justify making rich people richer to giving people a home that they had never had before. This is a fantastic conversation jam-packed with concepts you can apply to bring peace and fulfillment to your life.Action ask: Experiment letting thoughts go by.

As you're probably aware, I'm a big fan of protecting Colorado's open spaces. You may know Relish is involved with 1% for the Planet, but I think it's also of interest that I've chosen to live deep in the forest of Colorado's Front Range. It's fair to say environmental stewardship is engrained in what I do.That's why this episode of Relish This was so much fun.I got to chat with two people—Stephanie Weber and David Taft—who work with the San Juan Mountains Association. The organization was started in the Durango area, and since their inception, they've expanded their reach. Now they preserve and protect forests with a solid ambassador program, education program, and volunteer program. All of these initiatives help people who are enjoying the forests understand the importance of protecting these pristine locations.SJMA now impacts more than half of Colorado's wilderness areas!This episode focused on helping SJMA hone their message and expand their reach and engagement with stakeholders. Through social media, email, and general community networking, we look at strategies and ways to answer the question, “How do you reinforce all the good you are doing?”This was a fun conversation with a group doing some real good for Colorado's public lands and forests. I hope you enjoy the show. Link: SJMAAsk: Get involved in your own backyard to protect public lands.

In the for-profit world, Sales and Marketing are two sides of the same coin. They work hand-in-hand to build an organization. In the nonprofit world, however, these two components of brand building and stakeholder engagement get a bad wrap. But do nonprofits actually sell? Of course they do. Whether some component of your organization drives revenue through selling, or your ED is simply out drumming up donations during the giving season, at some level every non-profit depends on sales and marketing.My guest on this episode of Relish This is Suzi Bahnsen, founder of Apple and Arrow Sales. They help organizations and leaders navigate the intersection of marketing, branding, and sales. Suzi and I met when she was working at Boulder, Colorado's Small Business Development Center. She has a long history working with nonprofits and small businesses to improve their sales and engagement, and it was great to reconnect with her..We had a vigorous discussion about storytelling and how to use marketing and branding to get your message across to your stakeholders, how to develop a solid marketing and engagement strategy, and much more. This was a super fun episode. I hope you enjoy it. Link: Apple and Arrow SalesASK: Say something nice to a stranger and find a charity to give to!

I don't think it's news that Amazon dominates the online selling game, both here in the United States and around the world. You don't get to be a $1.75T—yes, that's trillions of dollars—by slacking.In any case, if you're launching a consumer product, a little knowledge about how to market it on Amazon can go a long way.On this week's episode, I talked with Luke Tierney, the Founder and Director of Eco D2C a firm that helps eco-brands bring their products to market—primarily on Amazon. Our conversation focused around the challenges and processes around bringing a product to market, the factors that go into a successful launch, and how to develop marketing around eco-brand awareness to sell more products in this quickly-expanding sector of B2C sales. But here's something else we discussed—Amazon isn't just for selling your product. The site is also used by millions of people a day as…A search engine. See, many consumers turn to Amazon first for product information, reviews, and pricing comparisons. Then they eventually purchase in-store or at another site online. This makes having your products on the service something to consider—even if you have no desire to sell millions.If you've ever wanted to launch your own eco-product, this is a great conversation to listen to. Hope you enjoy it. Link: Eco D2C Ask:Buy and re-upFind 1 thing and shift to an eco-conscious brand.

When you're trying to scale and grow, it can be daunting to think about all the moving parts that need to fall into place for your organization to reach the next level. Fundraising, messaging, outreach, hiring, infrastructure—all of these compound to create a lot of stress. That is, if you haven't mapped out a plan. On this week's episode of Relish This, I spoke with Regeanie Corona, the Founder and CEO of Advancing the Seed. Regeanie excels at helping organizations supercharge their revenue streams to enable predictable growth. A lot of our conversation focused on mindset and how everyone—no matter whether they work for a non-profit or a for-profit—should have an entrepreneurial focus. After all, that focus is what allows you to look at alternative revenue streams, to seek investments instead of handouts, and to create a stronger donor base. Regeanie has created a program called “10 in 30 Days,” a checklist and accountability program that shows you how to generate $10,000 worth of revenue in just a month. This is great for organizations who are just starting to build a strong financial foundation, as it really provides an understanding of how to generate revenue quickly. This is a fascinating show with a LOT of information about how you can take your organization to the next level. Links: regeanie.com10in30days.com@regeanie on socialsASK: Sit down and create a list of everything you can do to monetize your organization then make a commitment to do one of these in the next 90 days to bring more revenue to your organization. 

What message are you trying to share with your stakeholders? On this week's Relish This, I chatted with Spencer Brennan, the founder and CEO of Boston agency Douglas Spencer. He and I met on an online group called Nonprofit.ist that enables those working in the nonprofit sector to connect with other nonprofit and purpose-focused experts.Spencer helps mission-driven clients reframe their focus and remaster their messaging so they can thrive in any environment.As you might imagine, he knows all the ins and outs of messaging—and we had an amazing talk about the complexity of crafting messaging that works. We also talked about the challenges most of us face when trying to get our message across to the masses.There's a lot to get out of this conversation. Hope you enjoy it!Links: Spencer BrennemanNonprofitistASK: Pause and think about one thing about your work and what you know that others might not understand. Then take that thing and share it! 

My guest today is Richie Kendall, the co-founder of Goodworld, an AMAZING tech stack that helps organizations (both nonprofit and for-profit) manage and fuel their growth.Richie's platform combines many great features in one platform, making it easier to coordinate your outreach for maximum effect.In my opinion, nonprofit organizations could especially benefit from using Goodworld to have all of their events, social giving, and rounding up campaigns all in one easy-to-view place. This would help to reduce costs and cut down on time wasted learning multiple platforms. Richie and I had a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it. Link: Good World NowASK: Educate yourself on where the world is moving. Encourage your leadership and workforce to engage in ritualistic good to provide the time and space, perks and incentives to have a stronger connection. 

Are you crafting a conversation with all of your audiences? On this episode of Relish This, I talked with Maya Brook, the Executive Director of Slow Food Denver, an organization that helps educate people about their food sources and encourages them to seek out  food that is produced using sustainable practices and is available to everyone. Their motto is “We believe in food that is good, clean, and fair for all.” During our conversation, we discussed the different avenues that Slow Food has created to support and promote its mission including its kids program, Little Sprouts, that helps children learn how to cook and creates a passion for good food at an early age. We also discussed Maya's background in PR and how organizations can do a better job teeing up messaging and outreach to capture the attention of a wider audience and how to properly frame your story when sending out PR materials. The key is to ensure that you are creating the right content for the right audience in the right medium. Finally, for those of you who are looking to move into an Executive Director role (or if you are searching for an ED), we finished our conversation about the ED hiring process and how Maya prepared herself to successfully land her new role as Executive Director of Slow Food Denver. This was a fun episode. I hope you enjoy itLinks: Slow Food DenverASK: Ask questions, grow your own food, try new things!

On this week's episode, I talked with Mike Reichert, the Director of Operations at Wild Bear Nature Center in Nederland, CO. Wild Bear Nature Center has an ambitious plan to educate people about nature by building a new facility down the street from where I live. (They're currently running a big capital campaign to raise the necessary funds.) They've been active in Nederland for over 27 years, making avid supporters out of the local community and businesses. Drawing on this history to engage partners in the area and expand their reach will be key to reaching their ambitious goals.We discussed using those partnerships and building trust to expand their message and get more people involved and engaged. WBNC is doing some amazing things for the local community and beyond. Check them out on this episode!Link: https://www.wildbear.org/ASK: Reduce, reuse, recycle. Pick up trash on the trails!

Are you hosting an event this year? If not, you should consider doing so. (Within the bounds of safety, of course.)On this week's episode I talked with Dave Jensen, the CEO of Encompass Events Group. Their company helps nonprofit organizations put on live hybrid and remote events. They offer support and production services to help organizations knock their events out of the park. And listen—if you don't know how to run an online or hybrid event, but want to, then this is the show for you. Dave and I go over a lot of great stuff, from how to start your first online event to how to make your hybrid events engaging. Recently, I had the pleasure of doing a virtual tour of Dave's studio. Encompass Events Group has done a great job of adapting to the online world of events and they really have the skills to help you up your online or hybrid event game. I think there are two main takeaways from this episode. First, flip the script: make your audience the main attraction at the event. Get them participating or highlight them to make things feel like “not just another Zoom call.” Secondly, do something. Even if you host just a small event, it can help you stay relevant to your stakeholders and front-of-mind. You are going to love this episode. Link: Compass Event GroupMobileCauseAsk: Just do something. Even if it's a small event and 100% online, do something to remain relevant. 

Are you keeping your foot on the gas? This week I talked with Angela Forster, the co-founder of Tiny Studio. Angela and her business partner, Nancy Rice, have a women-owned business that does lots of work in the nonprofit sector. Since both of us are in the design world, our conversation naturally touched on design trends. We also talked about remote working challenges—and even our mutual love of opera! The biggest takeaway from our conversation was remembering—even in hard times—how important it is to stay consistent and “keep your foot on the gas” with your marketing spend. It's crucial to keep at it—even allowing your tactics to be more creative and experimental, if you can. (Experimentation can help you find new and interesting opportunities to be successful.) This was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it. Link: https://tinystudiollc.com/ASK: Reach out to a nonprofit and figure out how to share your expertise with them.

Have you ever thought about generating donations by hosting a sweepstake? (Yes, “sweepstakes” means more than one.

Have you committed to getting your story out to your stakeholders? Today's episode of Relish This, we talk to Rhiannon Hendrickson, Founder and CEO of Orapin Marketing, a fantastic PR firm that does a LOT of work in the nonprofit sector. Her firm focuses on helping nonprofits get their stories out to their stakeholders. Orapin's approach focuses on first getting you to commit to your story, and then helping identify why people should care about what you are up to. Our conversation reminded me that nonprofit leaders are experts in their fields. They understand the issues, and intuitively know what solutions are needed to solve problems. But they're not always great at communicating this expertise.Nonprofit leaders should feel empowered to use their voice and speak up. Not only will you be sharing your passion, but also you'll be building trust with your donors—who will feel more willing to give when they feel their money will be used competently. This episode is great for any nonprofit leader seeking to expand their mission and amplify their story. Links: https://orapinmarketing.com/inspired-impact/ACT: Focus on clarifying your story, What you do, why it matters, Why should they care. Answer the "So What" question.

Are you cultivating trust with your core stakeholders? On this week's episode we talk to Greg Hodgin, Founder and Executive Director of Peacebuilding Solutions. Peacebuilding Solutions builds success from a platform rooted in solid research. Their teams embed in areas affected by war and crisis, and spend time learning and understanding—not assuming—their stakeholders' needs. Their proactive model has led to them helping to build more sustainable solutions to the real-world problems their beneficiaries face. Their research-focused approach has helped their organization learn how to really hone their story and build a strong sense of trust with their donors and volunteers. Here's one of the biggest takeaways from this episode: instead of focusing on casting a wide net to build a large donor base, focus on building strong relationships with people who are intrinsically aligned with your organization and trust you to complete your mission.Greg and I also discussed how nonprofits should focus on cash donations. We talked about how to focus the donation narrative around trusting that the organization can use money effectively to get the job done. This was a great episode and a great way to learn how to build that donor base. Link:https://peacebuildingsolutions.org/https://relishstudio.com/blog/thought-leadership/get-the-most-out-of-what-you-have/ASK: Donate CASH to the charities you care about. Find one you trust and invest cash in their mission. Let them figure out the best way to use that donation to its fullest effect. Build trust, develop relationships, and do your research