The Nonprofit Experts

In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts podcast, Mary dives deep into the transformative power of mentorship and the strategic planning process for nonprofits featuring Lisa Humphrey, CEO and President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County. Lisa Humphrey provides strategic leadership and innovative problem-solving in carrying out the agency's mission to ignite the power and promise of youth. She brings a wealth of knowledge and innovative programming in the field of mentoring. This episode covers the significant role of mentorship in empowering youth, the importance of community support, the reciprocal nature of mentor and mentee relationships, and the benefits of strategic planning.  00:00 Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts Podcast 00:59 The Power of Mentoring 07:03 Impact Stories and the Importance of Mentorship 13:21 Strategic Planning: Why It Matters 17:40 Engaging Stakeholders in Strategic Planning 24:18 Upcoming Initiatives and Final Thoughts 27:17 Conclusion and Tips for Effective Strategic Planning Connect with Lisa Humphrey: Visit bbbsflint.org Connect with the Big Brothers Big Sister of Flint and Genessee County on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bbbsflint  Reach their office at 810 235 0617

Answering Nonprofit Leaders' Most Pressing Questions of 2024: Year-End Review In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts Podcast, Mary and Christina address the most frequently asked questions they receive from nonprofit leaders.  They discuss key topics including: ⭐Diversifying funding sources ⭐Effective strategic planning ⭐Utilizing AI tools ⭐Improving board engagement ⭐Measuring organizational impact This conversation aims to provide practical tips and insights to help nonprofit leaders feel less isolated and more empowered in their roles.  Tune into this episode for effective strategies you can implement in your organization today and stay until the end for valuable tips and tricks! 00:42 End of Year Show: Most Asked Questions of 2024 03:17 Highlights from the Past Year 07:04 Diversifying Funding Sources 12:20 Strategic Planning Tips 19:12 AI Tools for Nonprofits 25:33 Engaging Your Board of Directors 37:17 Measuring Impact and Success 42:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mary discusses the importance of year-end campaigns with guest Christina Wood, Executive Director at Educational Child Care Center, EC3.  Christina Wood is the Executive Director of Educational Child Care Center in Lansing.   She worked in restaurant management for 20 years before pursuing her passion in early education. Starting as a classroom assistant, she worked her way up to a lead teacher earning her Child Development Accreditation, then an associate's degree in child development and early education. It was her passion for children and families that led her to pursue her current career. They explore the challenges and opportunities of these campaigns, focusing on strategy, relationship-building, and use of modern tools such as ChatGPT and Canva to streamline processes.  Christina Wood shares her experiences and plans for her first year-end campaign, including rebranding and increasing visibility.  Additionally, Mary and her colleague Christina Wichert offer insights into leveraging AI tools for crafting impactful narratives and managing campaign logistics efficiently. Listen into this episode for effective strategies for year-end campaigns from these nonprofit leaders. 00:44 Year-End Campaigns: An Overwhelming Task 02:18 Year-End Campaign Insights with Christina Wood 04:31 Challenges and Strategies for Small Nonprofits 07:07 The Importance of Relationship Building 28:12 Using AI Tools for Year-End Campaigns 40:52 Conclusion and Final Tips

Mary welcomes Cindy Hales from the Capital Region Community Foundation for an intriguing discussion on navigating nonprofit collaboration and capacity building.  Cindy has over thirty years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has served as an executive director of several organizations and has direct fundraising experience in higher education, healthcare, and cultural organizations. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and a master's degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. As Vice President of Community Investment, Cindy leads the Foundation's grantmaking programs and builds relationships with nonprofits in the community with support from the community investment team. She works closely with her team and is part of the leadership team. Mary & Cindy discuss vital strategies for effective nonprofit management, focusing on capacity building and cooperative relationships with funders. Cindy shares insights on succession planning, proactive organization management, and the importance of aligning nonprofit and funder priorities.  Encouraging nonprofits to build relationships with local community foundations, they offer practical advice for sustainable nonprofit growth. Mary emphasizes the benefits of shifting from reactive to proactive organizational operations through storytelling and real-life examples. 00:00 Introduction to the Nonprofit Experts Podcast 00:34 Celebrating the Success of Season One 02:19 Exciting Plans for Season Two 03:07 Today's Topic: Nonprofit Funder Relationships 03:33 Guest Introduction: Cindy Hale 04:21 Understanding Capacity Building 13:24 Proactivity vs. Reactivity in Nonprofits 17:35 Aligning Priorities with Funders 21:52 Tips for Working with Community Foundations 26:47 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode of "Nonprofit Experts," host Mary Gladstone-Highland delves into the often-misunderstood world of nonprofit lobbying with a true advocate for change, Nick Lutton from Family Voices of California. Together, they explore the transformative journey from hesitation to legislation, revealing the untapped potential nonprofits hold in shaping policy and driving their mission forward.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts podcast, titled "Leadership in Times of Crisis," we tackle the common struggles of nonprofit leaders who often grapple with feelings of scarcity, whether it's not enough time, donations, or staff. Our expert shares three essential assets that you already possess to bolster your nonprofit work, and they recount an inspiring story of overcoming exceptional circumstances with unwavering resilience. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an interactive poll where you can share your thoughts on this critical topic.

Join host Mary Gladstone-Highland in a compelling conversation with Dorothy Norris-Tirrell, Interim Executive Director at the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, on the Nonprofit Experts podcast. Discover intentionality's pivotal role in hiring, the dangers of hasty recruitment, and the valuable insights offered by interim leadership during times of transition. In this episode, explore: Intentional Hiring: Uncover why rushed hires can lead to pitfalls. Interim Leadership Insights: Learn the often-underestimated advantages of interim leaders in stabilizing organizations, facilitating transitions, and introducing fresh perspectives. Continuous Learning: Delve into the importance of nurturing professional growth through ongoing education, fostering innovation and adaptability. Tips for Emerging Leaders: Gain practical advice from Dorothy's journey, embracing challenges, building resilience, and forging meaningful connections. Navigating Senior Leadership Changes: Get a roadmap for managing leadership shifts with open communication and transparency. For a comprehensive exploration of intentional hiring, interim leadership's transformational effects, and navigating leadership changes, tune in to this enriching episode of Nonprofit Experts. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or an aspiring leader, you'll find valuable insights to elevate your leadership experience.

In this episode, Mary Gladstone-Highland, Christina Wichert, and Katy Stokes share insights from their upcoming book titled Calm: How to End Destructive Conflict in Your Church. The book focuses on providing practical guidance and strategies for addressing conflict within a faith-based organization, although many of the principles can be applied to any kind of organization. During the discussion, the authors provide a behind-the-scenes look at the process of developing their book. They talk about the personal experiences they drew upon, and the collaborative effort it took to create a comprehensive resource on conflict resolution. The authors explore different approaches and techniques that can be used to effectively handle conflicts in a productive and healthy manner. In this episode, you will hear: How to address conflict in your organization Tools and resources that you can use in order to not feel alone in your tension Tips for being proactive about conflict resolution

Welcome to "The Nonprofit Experts," a podcast where we discuss important topics for nonprofit professionals. In this episode, we explore: The power of an asset-based approach The importance of flexibility Making deep investments in our community Navigating the complexities of multiple partners Strategies for collective decision-making Advice for launching new programs Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice to enhance your nonprofit work and make a meaningful impact.

You've heard the buzz. Everyone is talking about ChatGPT. But how can it support your work? In this episode, host Mary Gladstone-Highland is joined again by her friend and co-owner of Spark Group Consulting, Christina Wichert. The two discuss cutting-edge technology that's transforming the nonprofit sector. Whether you are a ChatGPT savant or brand new to the movement, this episode is for you. Here is a taste of what you will hear in this episode: What ChatGPT is and why nonprofits should pay attention Examples of the practical uses for ChatGPT in nonprofit organizations What using ChatGPT frees your employees up to do Ideas for small steps you can use to implement ChatGPT in your work.

Starting as a new Executive Director of an organization is nerve-wracking – especially if you're new to the role! New EDs may be wondering: What decisions need to be prioritized? How will I interact with the board? How can I optimize my relationship with the staff? In this episode, you will hear from Kristina Schmidgall, LMSW, the Executive Director of the Lansing Area Aids Network. Kristina shares her journey to the role of an E.D., how she prepared for the job, what she did to make her first two years a success, and how you can adapt her guidance to your career path. Here are some parts of the interview you don't want to miss: 9:00 - Lansing Area Aids Network's approach to supporting clients holistically 10:00 - The Biggest Misconception around HIV/AIDS 14:50 - The path toward becoming an executive director 20:30 - Learning from staff through 'stay interviews,' and the benefit of sending questions ahead of time 25:50 - The challenges of transitioning into an organization as a new leader, and what makes it easier 30:00 - Tips for the first year of being an ED

Whose voice really matters when you develop a new program? What kind of insight does it take to develop a successful program? On the other hand, is there a first step that really leads toward a program disaster ... and can it be avoided? A game changer for how nonprofits can approach their work with clients is taking a trauma-informed approach, looking holistically at the different and varied experiences of individuals rather than just their symptoms. In the latest episode of The Nonprofit Expert podcast, macro-level social work expert Benita Robinson explains more about this approach. Listen as she and host Mary Gladstone-Highland discuss taking a proactive approach to program design, making sure our programs aren't retraumatizing individuals, while also considering the potential impact of programs on staff. You don't want to miss it! Here are some highlights you don't want to miss: 9:00 - What does it mean to take a trauma-informed approach to program design 11:20 - Vicarious staff trauma and burnout 17:30 - How staff capacity affects program success and sustainability 23:00 - Who should have a voice in program design 28:00 - How to begin to implement a trauma-informed approach 30:00 - Applying a trauma-informed approach to fundraising, storytelling, and strategic planning

What do you do when everything around your organization shifts and you must rethink your operations? This is a topic that Jan Lawerance, the Executive Director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, knows a lot about. Listen in while Mary and Jan discuss how you can ride the wave of change, articulate your true north, seek out diverse thought partners, and remain relevant to your communities regardless of any changes that come your way. Here is what you will hear in this episode How to be flexible and open to change The importance of revisiting your mission and guiding principles The benefits of seeking out diverse thought partners when considering your next steps How to leverage your north star to help you know what moves are right for your organization

The second episode of our podcast: 'The Nonprofit Experts' is live! Listen as Mary Gladstone-Highland talks with Tim Paré, founding artistic director and CEO of Michigan Stage, on Building Community Connections to Fast-Track Sustainable Growth. Hear how this great organization was able to quickly scale, as well as Tim's secrets for networking and finding partners. You can also read more about Michigan Stage, and buy your tickets for their upcoming event, Broadway in the Burbs, here: www.michiganstage.org Below are some highlights you don't want to miss! 03:30 Introducing Michigan Stage 11:00 Using a Broadway performer's mindset when approaching community partners 17:20 The Dos and Don'ts of Networking 19:25 Finding confidence 32:10 Telling your story

Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts podcast! In our pilot episode, you will meet our team, hear how sector leaders (like yourself) define 'expert,' and reflect on your expertise. Additionally, you will hear how you can use this material with your team to uncover the assets hidden within your midst. Here are some highlights from the show! 00:00 Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts podcast. 05:00 How sector leaders define ‘expert.' 07:35 Harnessing confidence to highlight your expertise. 10:35 The expertise that clients bring to your work. 12:50 Reflecting on your inward and outward-facing relationship to the word ‘expert?' 15:30 What are you an expert in? 19:00 What else can you learn? 23:00 Staking your claim on your expertise. 26:00 Listening to the expertise of your clients. 27:30 Using this material with your team.

You are the expert of your nonprofit organization. You work hard, know your organization inside and out, and seek thought partners to think through challenging moments and exciting new strategies. This show is a chance to have conversations with nonprofit leaders like yourself. In each episode, you'll hear from everyday, exceptional leaders of the nonprofit sector as they chat with host Mary Gladstone-Highland, CEO of Spark Group Consulting, about the critical issues that impact nonprofits and how they use their assets to provide creative solutions to complex problems. Join our first episode! Leave us a message here answering this question: How do you define 'expert'?