The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailExploring how nonprofits can build a seamless donor journey strategy by integrating earned revenue, audience experience, and long-term philanthropic engagement.  A strong nonprofit donor journey strategy connects every touchpoint—from first interaction to long-term giving. Dr. Jonathon Scott Crider of Fox Tucson Theatre shares how integrating earned revenue, audience experience, and philanthropy can transform financial sustainability for nonprofits.For organizations balancing mission delivery with revenue realities, this conversation highlights a critical truth: “This organization has to sell tickets in order to fulfill its mission.” Ticket sales drive engagement, but they are only the beginning. The real opportunity lies in what happens next.Jonathon outlines how his team manages the full continuum—from awareness to ticket purchase, live experience, and ultimately donor cultivation. Rather than separating marketing and development, they treat every attendee as a potential long-term supporter. This unified approach allows them to grow both earned and contributed revenue simultaneously.One of the most powerful takeaways challenges traditional fundraising assumptions. Many nonprofits focus heavily on high-capacity donors, but Jonathon emphasizes that loyalty may be the most overlooked asset: “You're leaving money on the table when you're not talking to people who've just been loyal to you.” Consistent, modest donors often represent strong planned giving prospects because of their sustained connection to the mission.The episode also introduces practical strategies like identifying “super fans”—high-frequency participants who can become key donors—and aligning programming decisions with sponsorship opportunities. By connecting experiences directly to funding, nonprofits can create a more predictable and engaged revenue model.For nonprofit leaders, this conversation reinforces a critical operational mindset: every interaction is part of the donor journey. When organizations intentionally design that journey, they unlock deeper engagement, stronger loyalty, and more sustainable growth. 00:00:00 Introduction to Historic Venues & Fundraising 00:02:20 The Fox Theatre Story and Mission 00:06:20 Rise, Decline, and Restoration Strategy 00:11:45 Post-Pandemic Growth and Revenue Expansion 00:12:40 Why Ticket Sales Drive Mission Delivery 00:14:10 Managing the Full Donor Journey 00:16:00 Engaging New and Younger Audiences 00:18:10 Experience as a Fundraising Strategy 00:20:30 Sponsorships and Revenue Alignment 00:22:30 Red Carpet Legacy Society Explained 00:24:00 Loyalty vs High-Dollar Donors 00:25:10 Super Fans as Donor Pipeline #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitStrategy #FundraisingFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailThe nonprofit development assistant role responsibilities are often misunderstood—but getting this position right can dramatically increase fundraising results and operational efficiency.In this Fundraisers Friday episode, Julia Patrick and Tony Beall break down why this role is not just administrative support—but a strategic investment that frees your fundraising team to focus on revenue generation, donor relationships, and long-term growth.As Tony explains, “Nonprofit fundraising professionals need to have the bandwidth to be away from their desk… making connections and stewarding relationships.” Without that support, highly paid development leaders end up doing low-value administrative work—limiting your organization's return on investment.This conversation dives into the real responsibilities behind the role, including donor database management, acknowledgments, reporting, event coordination, CRM oversight, and campaign support. These are not small tasks—they are the operational backbone of effective fundraising.Julia highlights a critical mindset shift: “Even just opening your heart and your mind to having this support might be a little bit of a challenge.” Many organizations—and even development professionals—struggle to delegate, which creates bottlenecks and slows growth.You'll also learn:When a nonprofit should consider hiring a development assistantHow to structure the role (full-time, part-time, or shared)Why customer service skills are essential in fundraising operationsHow this role supports donor experience and retentionCareer pathways and talent pipelines (including interns and volunteers)Most importantly, this episode challenges nonprofit leaders to think in terms of time value and ROI—are your highest-paid fundraisers doing the work that actually drives revenue?If your organization is serious about scaling fundraising and improving efficiency, this is a conversation you need to hear. 00:00:00 Introduction to Development Assistant Role 00:04:30 Why This Role Is a Strategic Investment 00:06:00 Time Value: Fundraisers vs Administrative Tasks 00:08:10 Core Responsibilities Explained 00:10:00 Delegation Challenges in Nonprofit Teams 00:11:00 Modern Fundraising vs Traditional Admin Work 00:13:00 Key Traits: Customer Service + Project Management 00:14:30 Where to Find the Right Talent 00:16:10 Volunteers vs Paid Roles: What Works 00:18:30 Reporting Structure and Team Integration 00:20:00 Real Example: Post-Networking Follow-Up Workflow 00:21:40 Career Path and Growth Opportunities 00:26:30 ROI Thinking: Start Part-Time and Scale #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategyFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailIf your nonprofit's strategic plan is sitting on a shelf instead of driving results, this conversation is your wake-up call. Dylan Bassett, Principal and Founder of Department 1 Solutions, challenges a deeply ingrained habit across the sector: setting ambitious goals without first understanding operational capacity.Dylan makes it clear—most nonprofit plans fail not because of poor intentions, but because they are disconnected from the realities of staff bandwidth, systems, and workflows. As he explains, “A lot of nonprofit strategic plans are too big for the team that's executing them.” That disconnect creates frustration, burnout, and ultimately stalled progress.Instead of starting with lofty goals, Dylan urges organizations to flip the model. Begin by assessing what your team and technology can actually support today. Then identify the gap between current capacity and future ambitions. That gap becomes the real work—where systems, processes, and people must align.A major takeaway? Many nonprofits already have the tools they need but are underutilizing them. Rather than rushing to purchase new platforms, leaders should first evaluate how existing systems can be better configured and adopted. This approach not only saves money but also strengthens internal efficiency.Dylan also emphasizes turning strategy into a daily habit. By breaking large goals into smaller, measurable actions, organizations can maintain momentum, build team confidence, and create regular opportunities for progress. As he shares, “The success of success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.”This is more than a planning conversation—it's a call to rethink how your organization operates. Bring your team into the process. Align your tools with your workflows. And most importantly, create a roadmap that your staff can actually execute.If your nonprofit is ready to move from planning to performance, this episode is your next step. 00:00:00 Opening and Guest Introduction 00:01:05 Why Strategic Plans Often Fail 00:03:13 Technology Challenges in Nonprofits 00:05:04 The Gap Between Vision and Capacity 00:07:39 Defining Capacity Before Setting Goals 00:10:47 Auditing Your Existing Systems 00:13:18 Are Nonprofits Using Tech Effectively 00:16:04 Technology as a Long Term Commitment 00:18:02 Turning Strategy Into Daily Practice 00:21:00 Building Momentum Through Small Wins 00:26:22 Staff Buy In and Adapting Plans 00:29:02 Final Takeaways on Clarity and Execution #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitStrategy #OperationalExcellenceFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailA sophisticated and deeply reflective conversation on the science behind donor decision-making. Drawing from neuroscience and behavioral research, Cherian Koshy reframes fundraising not as persuasion, but as understanding—an evolution that has profound implications for the business of nonprofits.Cherian shares his own journey into fundraising, describing how early trial-and-error efforts led him to question a fundamental issue: why do donors give? That curiosity sparked a deeper exploration into human behavior, ultimately revealing that giving is not driven primarily by logic, but by emotion. As he explains, “We make the emotional decision… and then our brain says, how do I justify or rationalize that decision based upon proof.” This insight challenges long-held assumptions in nonprofit strategy. Rather than focusing solely on rational appeals or comparative value, organizations must recognize that donors are already motivated by internal emotional drivers. The fundraiser's role, Cherian emphasizes, is not to convince, but to facilitate: “Our job as fundraisers is actually to get out of their way… not to convince them to do something that they don't want to do.” The discussion also confronts ethical considerations, particularly as technology and AI reshape the sector. Cherian introduces a practical ethical framework: if a donor would feel uncomfortable knowing how their behavior is being influenced, the approach is likely inappropriate. Transparency, consent, and donor intent become essential guardrails.Importantly, the conversation bridges theory with application. From simplifying donation processes to rethinking stewardship messaging, Cherian illustrates how neuroscience can strengthen donor relationships when used responsibly. His example of moving from transactional acknowledgments to emotionally resonant gratitude reveals a powerful truth: donors are not giving to organizations—they are expressing personal meaning.As nonprofits face increasing pressure to perform, this episode offers a refined perspective on sustainable fundraising, inviting leaders to move beyond tactics and toward a more human-centered, ethically grounded approach that builds long-term trust and impact. 00:00:00 Opening and 1500th Episode Celebration 00:01:04 Introducing Cherian Koshy and Topic 00:02:50 Journey into Fundraising and Discovery 00:04:37 Why People Make Decisions 00:06:48 Ethics and Donor Intent 00:10:11 Emotional vs Logical Decision Making 00:17:30 Building Donor Connection Over Persuasion 00:20:03 AI Opportunities and Risks in Fundraising 00:23:43 Rethinking Donor Stewardship 00:26:13 Sector Adoption and Real-World Impact 00:28:42 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways #TheNonprofitShow #FundraisingStrategy #DonorBehaviorFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailNonprofits can turn fundraising events into more efficient, donor-friendly, revenue-generating experiences that support long-term growth. Most events are full of potential, but this learning session makes it clear that the strongest galas are no longer built around chaos, long lines, and overworked staff. In this energizing conversation, Justin Goodhew, Co-Founder and CEO of Trellis, makes the case that event success is not just about what happens in the ballroom. It starts before the event with better use of donor data, stronger integration with internal systems, and smarter choices about where staff time should go. He explains that many organizations stop doing galas not because events no longer matter, but because the process drains team capacity. By simplifying check-in, reducing friction, and using technology that connects with existing CRM and finance systems, nonprofits can free staff and volunteers to focus on donor relationships rather than administrative bottlenecks.He also brings a strong business lens to revenue strategy. Instead of piling on low-yield activities that consume time, Justin encourages nonprofits to focus on the highest net return, such as paddle raises, major auction items, and thoughtfully designed upsell options. As he puts it, “We're actually really a fundraising and a donor retention platform disguised as an event platform.” That perspective shifts the conversation from event logistics to donor value and lifetime engagement.One of the key takeaways is Justin's emphasis on what happens after the event. Fast follow-up, integrated donor data, and immediate action are what turn a one-night attendee into a future supporter. He also shares that strategic auction upsells can produce “about 6 to 7% increase in revenue” simply by giving donors another easy, mission-aligned way to give.This session is a smart reminder that nonprofit events do not need to disappear. They need to evolve. With the right systems, intentional design, and a stronger focus on donor experience, galas can become more productive, more profitable, and far more sustainable for nonprofit teams! 00:00:00 Welcome 00:02:24 What Trellis.org Does for Nonprofit Events 00:04:29 Growing Event Revenue With Limited Staff 00:06:32 Faster Check-In and Better Donor Experience 00:12:40 Turning One-Night Guests Into Long-Term Donors 00:16:04 Modern Event Upselling That Increases Revenue 00:17:41 Why Paddle Raises Matter So Much 00:24:01 Why Tech-First Events Are Outperforming Traditional Models 00:26:23 Less Staff Strain More Mission Engagement 00:28:10 A New Mindset for Nonprofit Events #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraising #EventStrategyFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textSecond-home ownership may sound like a lifestyle topic, but this episode makes it clear that it is also a major nonprofit business opportunity. Jeffrey Glebocki, Founder and Lead Advisor of Strategy Plus Action Philanthropy, shares first-of-its-kind research on how second homeowners think, give, volunteer, and connect with causes in the communities where they spend part of the year. The scale alone is eye-opening. Jeff explains that there are about 6.5 million second homes in the United States, representing roughly 5% of the nation's housing stock. Even more striking, half of those second homes are concentrated in just eight states: Florida, California, New York, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. For nonprofits operating in these areas, this is not a niche audience. It is a significant and often underused segment of philanthropic opportunity!Jeff explains that second-home owners bring substantial giving capacity.  Their liquid available assets ranged from $250,000 to more than $100 million.  More importantly, they are not simply passive residents. Many are interested in building relationships, finding meaning, and supporting local organizations once they feel connected to the place. That connection usually takes time. According to the research, donors often wait two to three years before making gifts in their second-home communities, but once engaged, they can become generous supporters, volunteers, and even board members.One of the most exciting takeaways is that these donors are not looking for a hard sell. They respond to invitations from trusted people, easy entry points, and meaningful social experiences. Jeff puts it plainly: “If we don't know about you, if we don't hear about your group or your cause, we can't give to you.” That insight alone is a wake-up call for nonprofits that want to expand their visibility and strengthen local communications.The lively conversation also reveals that donor values tend to remain steady across both primary and second-home communities. Yet donors often adapt their giving to local realities, whether that means environmental concerns, housing pressures, disaster response, or border issues. As one donor quoted in the research said, “Our money here has more impact, period.” That sense of direct, visible results can deepen trust and grow long-term support.This is a smart, practical conversation about donor behavior, local engagement, and how nonprofits can better position themselves to welcome a high-capacity audience already living among them part of the year. #TheNonprofitShow #Philanthropy #FundraisingStrategyFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textDonor retention is a measurable strategy, not just a fundraising hope. Plus, how to calculate donor retention for nonprofits.  On this episode of Fundraisers Friday, Julia Patrick and Tony Beall take on one of the most serious business challenges in the nonprofit sector: donor retention. Their conversation makes clear how fundraising success is not only about bringing in new names, it's about keeping the people who have already said yes to your mission and building systems that help them stay connected.The discussion begins with a hard truth: average donor retention is far too low, and many organizations are not even measuring it consistently. Julia frames the issue in plain terms, calling it “a crisis,” while Tony brings context by showing how retention can vary by subsector. Faith-based groups and higher education may see stronger rates, while arts, culture, and human services organizations often face a steeper climb. That contrast alone reminds nonprofit leaders that benchmarking matters, but strategy matters even more.One of the most focused parts of their conversation is the simple donor retention formula. Julia makes the case that this number belongs in board meetings, CEO reports, and regular management conversations. Retention is not a side note. It is a core operating measure. As she puts it, “It should be present with everyone so that you know what is going on.”Tony then moves the conversation from math to management. He explains that donors leave for understandable reasons: delayed thanks, weak impact reporting, too many asks, and too little human connection. His line captures the heart of the episode: “We're not talking about transactional fundraising. We're talking about relationship-driven fundraising.” That idea turns donor retention from a development task into an organizational discipline.They also link retention to stewardship cost, long-term donor growth, monthly giving, and next-generation philanthropy. Monthly donors, in particular, are shown as a promising path for building a more stable base. Julia and Tony encourage leaders to study patterns, review donor journeys, and make practical choices with limited resources. 00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday 00:02:31 Why Donor Retention Is a Nonprofit Crisis 00:03:14 Retention Rates by Nonprofit Sector 00:06:18 Why Donors Stop Giving 00:08:00 Relationship-Driven Fundraising Strategies 00:10:10 The Donor Retention Formula 00:12:44 Using Data to Find Donor Patterns 00:16:16 Why Keeping Donors Costs Less 00:20:20 The Business Value of Monthly Giving 00:23:07 Donor Journey and Strategy Shifts 00:25:07 Planning Beyond a Big Fundraising Year  #TheNonprofitShow #FundraisersFriday #DonorRetentionFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textAudits may make nonprofit leaders tense, but this discussion reframes the audit process as smart organizational practice rather than a yearly ordeal. Ben Stap of Your Part-Time Controller explains that a nonprofit audit is not simply a compliance exercise. It is an outside review that helps confirm financial accuracy, transparency, and proper use of funds so donors, grantmakers, and regulators can trust the organization's stewardship.Ben makes the conversation approachable right away with a memorable comparison: “It's like having a police car behind you while you're driving.” That simple image captures why audits feel stressful even when an organization has done nothing wrong. From there, he shifts the focus from fear to preparation. His message is clear: nonprofits that treat every month like audit season are far better positioned when the real process begins.A major theme of the episode is audit readiness. Ben explains that many of the biggest audit problems come from issues that build up over time, including missed in-kind contributions, unclear treatment of restricted cash, revenue recognition confusion, stale footnotes, and unusual transactions that were never properly documented. His advice is practical: keep policies current, organize records all year, reconcile monthly, and review financial activity regularly so year-end does not become a scramble.One especially useful takeaway for nonprofits is that audits are not only about finance staff. He points to the value of internal communication across departments, especially when program teams, development staff, and finance professionals need to share information about grants, pledges, and restricted funding. He also offers a smart governance practice: have the board periodically review the vendor list to help prevent conflict-of-interest concerns and support stronger oversight.Another emphasized point is that nonprofits should decide what they want from an audit relationship. Some organizations need an audit firm that simply reviews and reports. Others need a partner who will answer questions during the year and help them think through complicated nonprofit accounting situations. As he puts it, “Proactive, overreactive is always a good way to go about it.” 00:00:00 Opening Discussion 00:01:19 Why Nonprofit Audits Matter 00:03:45 What Audit Ready Really Means 00:04:35 The Purpose of a Nonprofit Audit 00:06:13 Common Audit Pitfalls to Avoid 00:10:16 Documentation and the PBC List 00:13:15 Policies Procedures and Separation of Duties 00:16:28 Why Communication Drives Audit Success 00:21:05 Monthly Reconciliations and Year Round Prep 00:22:21 Audit Season Timing and Expectations 00:24:40 Turning Audits Into a Useful Tool Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textWhat happens after the first donation may matter even more than the donation itself! Lauren Laski, Manager of Customer Success at Bloomerang, talks about how nonprofit organizations can build stronger donor relationships, improve retention, and create more reliable revenue over time.Lauren brings both fundraising and technology experience to the conversation, and she offers a clear reminder that the first donation should never be treated as the finish line. Instead, it should be seen as the start of a longer relationship. Lauren explains the power of prompt gratitude. She shares that when a first-time donor is thanked within 48 hours, they are “four times more likely to make a second gift.” That one practice alone can completely change how a nonprofit approaches stewardship.The conversation, with host Julia Patrick, also moves into recurring giving, which Lauren describes as one of the strongest tools for long-term donor retention and revenue stability. With recurring donors retaining at a much higher rate, nonprofits can reduce the feast-or-famine cycle that often comes with event-based or year-end fundraising. For organizations trying to build predictable cash flow, this is a major business lesson, not just a fundraising tactic.Another highlight of the discussion is Lauren's advice on donor segmentation. Rather than grouping supporters only by gift size, she encourages nonprofits to think about behavior, loyalty, interests, and motivations. That shift can help even smaller organizations communicate in more personal and effective ways. As Lauren says, “Even if you only have 200 donors, they're not all the same.”The duo also talk about the 80 /20 communication rule, where most donor communication should focus on impact and connection rather than constant asking. That approach helps organizations move from transactional fundraising to relationship-centered fundraising, which is far more sustainable over time.Strong donor retention is built through thoughtful systems, timely communication, and habits that make supporters feel seen, valued, and connected to mission results. For nonprofit leaders who want to grow fundraising in a healthier and more strategic way, this conversation offers a terrific roadmap! 00:00:00 Welcome and episode introduction 00:01:48 Meet Lauren Laski from Bloomerang 00:03:16 Bloomerang's AI tool Penny 00:05:28 The 48 hour gratitude rule 00:10:34 Why recurring giving is retention gold 00:13:40 Segmenting donors by behavior not just dollars 00:18:04 The 80 20 donor communication rule 00:20:49 How often major donors should hear from you 00:23:40 Aligning fundraising and marketing teams 00:27:14 Lauren's GiveCon invitation and final takeaways Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when four generations share one nonprofit workplace, but each generation brings a completely different relationship to work, authority, technology, flexibility, and purpose? In this eye-opening conversation, Julia Patrick sits down with Katie Warnock of Staffing Boutique to explore one of the most consequential workforce shifts facing nonprofit leaders right now: the rise of Gen Z in the sector.Katie explains that this next-generation workforce is digital-first, mission-aware, highly collaborative, and deeply resistant to outdated systems and top-down leadership habits. For nonprofit organizations, that creates both friction and opportunity. If your internal operations are clunky, if your leadership style depends on “because that's how we've always done it,” or if your organization cannot connect daily work to visible impact, younger talent may not stay long. As Katie puts it, “Mission alignment is huge.”This discussion goes far beyond stereotypes about younger workers. Instead, it frames the issue as a strategic business matter for nonprofits. Retention, recruitment, management structure, workplace flexibility, and leadership communication all come into play. Katie makes a powerful distinction between work-life balance and work-life integration, noting that younger workers are not willing to sacrifice mental health, fitness, hobbies, or autonomy for a job title. They want work to fit into life, not life to be consumed by work.The conversation also reaches into fundraising and donor behavior. Julia and Katie connect the workforce conversation to the next wave of philanthropic engagement, pointing out that younger donors often want proof, performance, and measurable outcomes rather than emotional appeals alone. Katie says it plainly: “They want to know the numbers before they launch a project.” That same instinct shows up in how they evaluate employers, missions, and charitable giving.For nonprofit executives, this episode is a call to rethink leadership assumptions. The next generation is not waiting to adapt to legacy culture. Organizations that want to attract talent, retain strong performers, and earn long-term donor trust will need to respond with sharper systems, better communication, real flexibility, and visible evidence of impact. 00:00:00 Welcome  00:02:00 Who Is the Next Generation Workforce 00:03:27 Digital First Expectations and Tech Credibility 00:05:04 Real Time Information and Leadership Tension 00:08:26 Mission Alignment as a Retention Strategy 00:10:08 Portfolio Careers and Work Life Integration 00:12:32 Group Projects Collaboration and Managing Directives 00:17:10 Flexibility Remote Work and Performance Expectations 00:20:39 Why In Office Roles Are Harder to Fill 00:24:18 Data Driven Thinking and Younger Donor Expectations 00:27:15 What Nonprofits Must Change to Reach Gen Z #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitStaffing #WorkforceStrategyFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send us Fan MailLeadership transitions can either rattle a nonprofit or reset it for real success, and this conversation makes the case for why professional interim leadership can be one of the smartest business decisions a board makes.! Joan Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Third Sector Company, and professional interim executive Kevin Lynch walk through what really happens when an interim steps into an organization during a period of stress, uncertainty, or executive turnover.This discussion moves far beyond the idea that an interim is simply there to “hold things together.” Kevin makes it clear that the role is much bigger than that. A strong interim is assessing the organization, working closely with the board, identifying governance gaps, preparing the path for a future leader, and helping the organization become more stable and more attractive to top executive talent.Joan brings a powerful governance lens to the conversation, reminding viewers that effective interim work starts with alignment and honesty. She says, “You have to agree on where you are.” Before a board and executive can move forward together, they need a shared view of the organization's reality, including finances, culture, board practices, staff morale, and priorities.Kevin also offers a practical look where nonprofit boards often stumble. He explains that many of the conditions that created problems for the prior executive will still exist for the interim unless expectations are reset early. That means boards must be willing to look at themselves, not just the staff or the previous CEO. Governance habits, budget assumptions, micromanagement, and bypassing the executive can all weaken the transition if left untouched.For boards, executives, and leadership teams, this learning session is a wake-up call and a roadmap. Interim leadership is not a stopgap. Done well, it is a strategic bridge to stronger governance, better hiring, and long-term organizational health.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textThe Nonprofit Show launches its Global Edition with cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Matthew Murray (CEO, Expand PR / Expand Consultancy), taking listeners inside what it really looks like to start and operate a charity/NGO in the United Kingdom—and why global expansion is as much a business decision as it is a mission decision.Matthew opens with the on-the-ground reality that “every culture has its own nuances… laws and rules,” and that expanding beyond your home country requires leaders to respect local norms, donor behaviors, and governance expectations. The conversation quickly turns practical: Do Brits give? Matthew says yes—substantially—while noting economic pressures have shifted donor patterns. He also explains a key difference for revenue strategy: the UK doesn't mirror U.S.-style donor tax deductions, but it does offer Gift Aid, where government adds funding to eligible donations. As Matthew describes it, “25 pence for every pound donated,” meaning a £100 gift can become £125 for the charity—an important lever for fundraising planning, messaging, and cash forecasting.On governance and transparency, the UK's Charity Commission functions as a dedicated regulator for charities. Matthew emphasizes the public nature of filings and the reputational impact of being late or sloppy with reporting—because funders, partners, and major donors look. In the UK, board members are typically called trustees, are usually unpaid, and cannot be paid for the trustee role itself (though they may be compensated for a separate job). For organizations with global ambitions, Matthew shares a strategic advantage: non-UK residents can serve as trustees in Britain, which can simplify governance when launching a UK-based entity.The global discussion also contrasts donor culture. Matthew suggests UK donors may give differently than U.S. donors—often less driven by “momentary adrenaline” and more oriented toward longer-term loyalty—reinforcing the value of relationship, credibility, and consistency. Julia adds a caution for international leaders: expansion fails fast when it arrives with a “we'll fix you” mindset. The Global Edition's promise is clear: practical global learning that helps nonprofit executives expand responsibly, protect integrity, and build durable support across borders.#NonprofitBusiness #GlobalPhilanthropy #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textBoards get plenty of attention in the nonprofit sector, but this lively conversation zooms in on the role that can make or break governance performance: the board chair.  Alisa Chatinsky, CEO of NPOSuccess.org, talks about what strong chair leadership really looks like—and why so many organizations treat the position like an honorific instead of a job with real operational and strategic responsibilities.Alisa shares that after decades in nonprofit leadership and nearly 14 years consulting and serving in interim roles, she stepped into board service again and was immediately asked to chair. That experience sparked a practical question: How many chairs are actually set up to succeed? Her conclusion is simple and business-minded: “Because when a board chair is strong, the board is strong and the organization is strong.” She explains that boards often “recruit” chairs by minimizing expectations, which leads to sloppy meeting execution, confused roles, and underused talent.The conversation becomes a working blueprint for better governance. Alisa outlines what effective chairs do: run meetings with purpose and time discipline, keep the board out of day-to-day management, build consensus, listen well, and handle conflict without letting it hijack the mission. She emphasizes governance infrastructure that supports decision-making: a governance calendar, clear expectations, job descriptions, consent agendas, dashboards, and space for generative discussions that move the organization forward.A standout lesson is the connection between life cycle stage and board behavior. As organizations mature, the board's work must mature too—and that can mean changing how meetings operate and what board members are willing (or able) to contribute. Alisa also advocates for board mentoring and orientation that includes real business essentials (budget, program allocations, financial results), so members can represent the organization confidently in the community. As she puts it, “We reinvest our profits in our mission.”The episode closes with her “Five-Star Board Chair” master class concept, pairing training with coaching and a real board meeting evaluation—designed to build leadership capacity that improves governance, accountability, and long-term organizational strength.#BoardGovernance #NonprofitLeadership #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textWhat happens when a nonprofit needs to raise eight figures fast… and decides to do it with unicorn horns, a donor “blessing,” and a whole lot of joy?We are joined by Brenda Goldsmith, Executive Director of the El Rio Foundation, the fundraising arm of El Rio Health, a federally qualified community health center (FQHC) in Tucson. Brenda walks us through the business model realities of community health centers—how they're designed to keep people out of the hospital, how they serve patients “from birth to death,” and why fundraising looks different when many patients live at or below the federal poverty level.Then the conversation turns into a masterclass in campaign strategy and community education. El Rio needed to support a 91,000-square-foot integrated health center expansion—part of a $50 million community investment—without federal capital support. The foundation was asked to raise $10 million quickly, despite never having run a major capital effort at that scale.Instead of leading with heaviness, Brenda and her team built a campaign brand that made giving feel welcoming and social. The “Blessing Project” was born after a simple discovery: “Does anyone know what a herd of unicorns is called?… we Googled that and we found out a herd of unicorns is called a blessing.” From there, the foundation created a clear participation on-ramp: a $1,000 commitment for five years made you an “El Rio unicorn,” complete with a unicorn horn photo moment.Underneath the fun was serious execution: board and senior leadership made first commitments, the team held 100+ face-to-face meetings in roughly 70 days, offered multi-year giving options, used tours to teach donors what an FQHC really does, and engaged younger ambassadors through the El Rio Vecinos (ages 25–40). The results speak for themselves: a stretch goal raised, a revised goal, and a growing donor community that wanted to be part of something that made their neighbors healthier.Brenda says it best: “Make it fun, make it joyous—put the fun in fundraising.” 00:00:00 Welcome  00:02:18 El Rio Foundation at 25 years and why tenure matters in development 00:03:30 What a community health center is and how it differs from a hospital 00:06:00 Why FQHC fundraising is different and why tours matter 00:08:22 Board ambassadors and the El Rio Vecinos young professional arm 00:09:30 The Blessing Project begins a major expansion with a fast timeline 00:13:00 Unicorns as a campaign identity and the “blessing” discovery 00:15:35 Leadership and board commit first over $700K in early momentum 00:18:10 100+ face-to-face meetings and why multi-year gifts worked 00:23:10 Unlocking employee giving over $1M committed from staff 00:27:25 Campaign branding icon vocabulary momentum and joy #TheNonprofitShow #FundraisingStrategy #CapitalCampaignsFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Send a textGift acceptance policies sound like paperwork—until a donor tries to turn your organization into their personal dare! In this episode, Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall get practical about why this policy is a frontline operating tool for modern fundraising teams: it protects mission alignment, strengthens governance, and keeps staff out of reactive, high-pressure decision-making.Julia opens with a classic “strings attached” scenario that shows why boundaries must be set before the check arrives. “I don't think you could do that because we make the big donor sign this thing called a gift acceptance policy,” she recalls, describing how even naming rights and donor direction can be clarified in advance. Tony adds real-world texture: unusual asks aren't hypothetical. Policies exist to protect the organization and the humans raising the money.From there, the conversation shifts into the business mechanics: ethics and values alignment, legal compliance, and the operational difference between restricted and unrestricted gifts. The cohosts stress that gifts are no longer just cash—especially during the Great Wealth Transfer—so nonprofits must prepare for nontraditional assets like real estate, collectibles, royalty streams, and other property types that carry valuation, liquidation, storage, and reputational implications. The conversation gets real about “wackadoo gifts” and the hidden costs that can turn a “donation” into a liability.They also address governance: who drafts the policy (development, finance, CEO), how it gets board approval, and why annual review matters. They're candid that boards can modify policies “at will,” which makes proactive clarity even more essential. Most importantly, they frame the policy as an empowerment tool. “It empowers you to feel good about how you're responding… it's in alignment with senior leadership… it's in alignment with the board,” Tony says, emphasizing how preparedness reduces risk and speeds decision-making when donor conditions get complicated.Finally, they discuss where the policy should live: typically internal—available when asked, shared in a professional PDF format, but not pushed into donor packets or posted publicly as a default.#GiftAcceptancePolicy #FundraisingLeadership #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Leadership transitions don't have to be terrifying revenue cliffs. In this conversation, Travis Craddock, CFRE and Founder of Craddock Strategies, reframes interim development leadership as a powerful strategic advantage—not a temporary patch.Too often, organizations view interim fundraising support as “a warm body in an empty seat.” Travis challenges that mindset directly. “It prevents rushed or misaligned hires that can be expensive,” he explains, positioning interim leadership as a disciplined pause that protects both donor relationships and long-term revenue health.Fundraising is built on trust. When leadership shifts, donors notice. Travis prioritizes immediate communication, transparency, and clarity so nothing falls through the cracks. Renewals are tracked. Grants are monitored. Donors are reassured. Strategy stays in motion.But here's where the real opportunity emerges.An interim professional arrives without emotional baggage. That means clearer data analysis, honest conversations about ROI, and strategic evaluation of legacy traditions. Should the gala continue? Is it delivering meaningful return? Are event attendees being cultivated into major donors? These are business questions—asked gracefully, but directly.Travis describes himself as “gracefully honest,” and that honesty becomes catalytic. Interim work isn't simply maintenance. It's an opportunity to elevate roles, revise job descriptions, shift from event-driven tactics to relationship-based fundraising, and align hiring with long-term strategic direction.He emphasizes data-driven decisions, CRM fluency, relationship-centered fundraising, and partnership with CEOs and boards. In many cases, he becomes the strategic driver—project-managing fundraising momentum while executives focus on mission execution.Three months may be the minimum engagement window. Six months may be ideal. But within that time, organizations can stabilize revenue, recalibrate strategy, build infrastructure, and hire with intention.Anything is possible when nonprofits embrace transition as transformation! 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Interim Fundraising 00:02:30 What Craddock Strategies Provides Nonprofits 00:04:03 Interim Leadership Beyond a Temporary Fix 00:06:48 Expanding the Definition of the Fundraising Team 00:09:21 Strategy Versus Firefighting in Development 00:11:09 Evaluating Events and Return on Investment 00:14:18 Communicating with Donors During Transition 00:17:18 Hiring Timelines and Interim Engagement Length 00:18:32 Revising Job Descriptions to Match Strategy 00:23:01 Technology Investment and Infrastructure Mindset Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

A visit with Doug Chapiewsky, CEO & President of Kanso Software, and Cameron Bowman, CAAS Solutions Consultant at JMT Consulting, for a fast-moving, systems-first conversation on one thing every nonprofit runs on: trustworthy data.Cameron frames the moment we're in as “the golden age of software”—more tools, more dashboards, more integrations, and more AI than ever before. But that abundance comes with a price: fragmented systems, duplicated entries, and competing versions of the same truth. His fix is refreshingly operational. Data integrity isn't a buzzword; it's a checklist: accurate, complete, consistent across systems, timely, and traceable/auditable. When any one of those breaks, nonprofits pay for it in grant compliance headaches, restricted-fund confusion, audit stress, and board decisions made on shaky information.Doug brings the lens of housing—where data errors don't just create inconvenience; they disrupt funding, compliance, and real people's stability. Kanso's mission is to simplify a highly regulated, high-stakes domain where sensitive data is everywhere and staffing capacity is often thin. As Doug puts it, “Trust outweighs technology… and if we don't have that trust, it really gets right to your mission.” The episode drills into the reality that single-vendor “one system does it all” is fading fast; modern organizations operate in an ecosystem. That's why both speakers prioritize open systems paired with serious guardrails—especially when handling social security numbers, income data, and family composition.The conversation turns tactical with a Business Process Review (BPR): mapping where data originates, how it moves, who owns it, what controls exist, and where manual workarounds (shadow spreadsheets, email approvals, offline tracking) weaken audit trails and invite risk. Cameron lands a line every operations leader should post near their monitor: “Technology will amplify your process. It won't correct your misaligned workflows.”Finally, the duo urge nonprofits to build a cadence—monthly, quarterly, at least annually—to revisit processes, configuration, and integrations as funding rules, reporting needs, staff, and tech keep shifting. The message is clear: clean data isn't a finance luxury—it's a mission accelerant.#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitTechnology #DataIntegrityFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

We lean into a timely business truth: nonprofit sustainability is built as much through belonging as through budgets. Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tim Sarrantonio welcome Rachel D'Souza, Founder and President of Gladiator Consulting, for a conversation that reframes community-building as a practical growth strategy for donors, volunteers, staff cohesion, and long-term resilience.Rachel describes nonprofits as one of society's last best “third spaces”—those informal gathering places that used to create trust across differences. With remote work, the pandemic's aftershocks, and algorithm-driven polarization, many people have fewer natural pathways into civic life. That shift creates risk for organizations relying on legacy participation habits. It also creates opportunity: nonprofits can intentionally become the place where people reconnect around shared purpose and shared outcomes.The discussion moves from theory into operating reality: boards at impasses, teams facing funding gaps, and leaders stuck in fight-flight-freeze. Rachel offers a pragmatic path forward—start with shared facts, clarify who holds which decisions, and practice disagreement before the stakes spike. “If you want to be better at conflict, that means you have to practice it, just like anything else,” she said, recommending simple meeting exercises that build the muscle of respectful debate.Tim grounds this in organizational dynamics leaders recognize instantly: misalignment between finance and fundraising can derail systems decisions, contracts, and staff trust—without anyone “hating” anyone. The fix is not heroics; it's earlier conversations, shared language, and a commitment to being in the room together.Rachel draws a bright line leaders need: discomfort is part of growth, but it is not the same as harm. When emotions run hot, the first move is often a pause—reset the temperature so people can listen to process, not just respond. This convo offers a hopeful business case: build community on purpose, and capacity follows. 00:00:00 Welcome and why community building matters right now 00:02:10 What Gladiator Consulting does and why “belonging” drives results 00:04:30 Nonprofits as “third spaces” and the business opportunity 00:06:10 Tim's real-life example of nonprofit spaces creating connection 00:08:00 Invitation culture making people feel welcome 00:10:10 People give through nonprofits and identity-based connection 00:11:30 Practicing conflict in meetings before stakes rise 00:14:05 Finance and fundraising misalignment as an operational risk 00:16:20 Shared clarity who decides what and why it matters 00:22:20 Pause tactics discomfort vs harm and moving forward #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityBuildingFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Starting a new role as a nonprofit's fundraiser can feel like stepping onto the field mid-game—high expectations, limited time, and a lot of “what happened before I got here?” On this Fundraisers Friday, cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall offer a practical, confidence-building roadmap for what a new development officer should focus on in the first 30 days—with the business realities of nonprofit revenue, relationships, and systems front and center.Julia sets the tone with honesty and heart, and Tony brings the steady reassurance every new fundraiser needs: “It's all about listening, learning, and building trust in your first 30 days.” From there, they lay out the early priorities that protect both results and stamina. First: get anchored in the mission. Tony makes the point that mission alignment isn't sentimental—it's operational. If you don't truly connect with the purpose, the work becomes an uphill climb.Next, they move into relationship strategy: creating a thoughtful internal and external “relationship tour” so you can meet leadership, board members, and key stakeholders the right way. The emphasis isn't speed—it's sequence, context, and smart preparation so those early conversations build momentum instead of misunderstanding.Then comes the systems side: CRMs, reporting, access issues, and the real-world obstacles that appear when prior staff have departed. Tony offers a realistic view of getting up to speed quickly, and Julia adds the on-the-ground reminder that you'll be meeting people immediately—so you'll need to document interactions in the CRM from day one.Finally, they elevate culture as a performance driver. Julia notes how pressure often lands on the development officer as “the savior,” and Tony reframes it: fundraising works best as a team effort, not a solo canoe trip. As Julia puts it, “It's the nucleus of the whole organization.” If you're new in the seat, this episode gives you both direction and permission: respect the past, build trust first, and then earn the right to recommend change. 00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday 00:01:00 First 30 days focus for a new development officer 00:02:40 Mission alignment why it matters on day one 00:06:40 Relationship tour CEO board and key stakeholders 00:11:50 Systems and CRM access reporting and ramp up 00:15:40 Visibility scan marketing segmentation and social presence 00:18:00 Respect history build trust then recommend change 00:19:40 Fundraising pressure and why it must be a team sport 00:21:20 Culture shifts and board leadership impact 00:24:00 How to learn culture by asking better questions 00:26:10 Tony offers a 30 60 90 plan for development roles 00:28:10 How to request the PDF and episode close Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Sunsetting a nonprofit is one of the most difficult decisions a board and executive team can face. Erin McPartlin, Principal of Erin McPartlin Consulting, guides leaders through the strategic and compassionate realities of organizational closure.Host Julia Patrick opens the conversation by acknowledging the emotional weight of the topic. Closing an organization can feel like failure. Yet Erin reframes the discussion: sometimes the healthiest business decision is an intentional ending. Whether an organization has achieved its mission, become operationally stagnant, or reached financial unsustainability, the question is not just when to close—but how to do so responsibly.Erin outlines three common scenarios: mission accomplished, operational decline with weak infrastructure, and full financial unsustainability. In many cases, boards wait too long to confront the truth. “If you get to that point where you're now saying, we need to look at should we stay open or not, you're probably past the decision point,” she explains. That delay often stems from intermittent success—a returning donor, a new grant, a compelling impact story—that keeps leadership hoping for a turnaround.From a governance standpoint, Erin emphasizes four pillars: people, communication, finance, and risk. Boards must fully engage, understand cash flow, assess liabilities, calculate burn rate, and evaluate runway. The most important question becomes, “What is the cost of our inaction?”Rather than allowing an abrupt collapse—locked doors and shocked staff—Erin advocates for a structured 4–6 month minimum runway. This deliberate process allows nonprofits to respect employees, honor donor commitments, manage restricted funds, and protect community trust.The episode closes on a powerful idea: the “elegant ending.” By planning intentionally, nonprofits can celebrate their impact, transfer knowledge, mentor peer organizations, and potentially redistribute remaining funds to aligned missions. “It's preserving the public perception and preserving the positivity in the work that this organization did,” Erin shares.Closing well is not defeat. It is stewardship.#NonprofitManagement #BoardGovernance #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

On this Fundraisers Friday, our cohosts lean into one of the most nuanced and professionally demanding areas of nonprofit leadership: donor research, privacy, ethics, and gift acceptance policy. For nonprofit executives, development leaders, and board members, this episode functions as a governance workshop disguised as a conversation. The message is clear: professionalism in fundraising is not just about revenue—it is about trust architecture, long-term credibility, and disciplined leadership.In a fundraising ecosystem shaped by rapid technological change, cloud-based systems, and evolving donor expectations, the conversation moves beyond tactics into governance and risk management. Julia Patrick sets the tone by noting that philanthropy is in an exciting era—but it demands more strategic thinking. Tony Beall echoes that reality, sharing that even experienced leaders must continually refine their understanding because the landscape keeps shifting.At the center of the discussion is a powerful reminder: “Research isn't surveillance so much as it is stewardship,” Tony explains. Just because information is available does not mean it should be used. Fundraising professionals must balance data access with relational integrity. As Tony adds, “A donor doesn't want to feel studied. They want to feel understood.”The cohosts explore practical implications:• Who has access to donor data internally and externally • The responsibility of third-party vendors and contract review • Data breach planning and crisis communication • Transparency with donors about how their information is protected • Retention policies for lapsed donors • Recognition preferences and anonymity in sensitive mission areasPerhaps the most thought-provoking segment addresses gift acceptance policies. Tony offers a clarifying principle: “A gift acceptance policy isn't anti-donor, it's pro-mission.” Without policy, organizations invite inconsistency and risk. With policy, staff are protected from making moral judgment calls alone, and mission credibility remains intact.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

If your nonprofit's checking account looks “healthy,” this episode is your friendly wake-up call: bank balance is not the same as real liquidity. Carole Santilli, CPA, Manager at Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC) Philadelphia, joins us to help leaders, board members, and development teams stop guessing and start managing cash with clarity.Carole lays out why the bank statement can be “the worst place to look” when assessing what you truly have available to spend. The heart of the conversation is the difference between true operating cash and restricted or conditional funds—money that may be sitting in your account but is already spoken for by purpose, timing, or requirements (like matching). A scholarship grant, a multi-year commitment, or a conditional advance can create the illusion of being flush, even when operations are tight.From there, the discussion turns practical: separate accounts for restricted funds, monthly reporting that keeps everyone honest, and board-level transparency that supports smarter decisions and stronger trust with funders. Carole also reinforces a widely used benchmark for stability: nonprofits should aim for three to six months of operating cash on hand—but only after restricted dollars are set aside.Forecasting takes center stage as the real “business muscle” here. Budgets are approved and static, but reality shifts: events move, grants arrive late, reimbursements lag, expenses climb with inflation, and unexpected costs (like snow removal or insurance increases) show up fast. Carole's message is consistent: forecast monthly, watch variances, and adjust early—before panic becomes policy.And for boards? She makes it plain: financial oversight isn't a passive role. Ask the “annoying” questions, understand obligations, and engage early in meetings while energy is high. As Carole puts it, “You can't support the mission if you don't have the funding and the resources.” She also reframes audits as a credibility asset: “Look at this as another tool in your toolbox” to reassure funders that your organization is well-run.This episode is a strong reminder that calm, disciplined financial practices protect mission momentum—especially when life throws curveballs.#NonprofitFinance #CashFlow #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Planned giving isn't a “sign the paperwork and move on” moment—it's a decades-long business strategy that demands discipline, systems, and relationship leadership. James Goalder (Partnerships Manager, Bloomerang) reframes planned gifts as the start of a longer stewardship cycle, not the finish line.James tackles a mindset shift many organizations need right now: once a donor includes you in a will or trust, your responsibility actually accelerates. As he puts it, “for planned giving and for planned gifts, that's really when the job is started.” Why? Because life changes, priorities evolve, and estate documents can be revised. The winning move is not celebration alone—it's consistent, intentional connection that protects donor trust over time.From there, James lays out three practical pillars that turn long-range stewardship into a repeatable operational system: information management, message delivery, and relationship management. He makes the business case for documentation as the backbone of continuity in a sector where staff turnover is real. “If it's not in the CRM, it doesn't exist,” he says—because the next person must be able to step in and carry the relationship forward without scrambling.The conversation also moves beyond transactions into brand, messaging, and donor experience. Planned givers want to feel like insiders—part of a shared long-term vision, not an ATM. James warns that a “crisis culture” can weaken confidence fast, especially when donors have endless choices. Strong organizations communicate purposefully, listen more than they talk, and match touchpoints to donor preferences (email, coffee, events, family involvement when appropriate).Finally, James reminds us that planned giving isn't reserved for the ultra-wealthy. The most inspiring legacy commitments can come from unexpected champions who love your mission and want their impact to continue well into the future. 00:00:00 Welcome and why this “decades-long” topic matters 00:01:10 What a Partnerships Manager sees across the sector 00:02:45 Planned giving is the start of the work, not the end 00:05:10 Why wills and trusts can change over time 00:07:10 Who belongs in the stewardship circle (family, advisors, accountants) 00:10:45 The 3 pillars: information management, message delivery, relationship management 00:11:40 “If it's not in the CRM, it doesn't exist” 00:13:10 Messaging that builds belonging, not transactions 00:16:45 Relationship preferences and consistent touchpoints 00:21:25 Taking over a portfolio and the magic question: “Why us?” 00:23:05 Smart donor handoffs and being one link in the chain 00:28:10 Planned gifts can come from everyday champions #PlannedGiving #DonorStewardship #TheNonprofitShow Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Job searches in the nonprofit sector aren't just about “what's next” anymore they're about navigating a labor market that feels equal parts opportunity and uncertainty. We visit with Dana Scurlock, Managing Director of Staffing at Staffing Boutique, to talk about what's really happening on both sides of the hiring desk and how nonprofit professionals can compete with more strategy and less stress.Dana describes today's market as “a little bit of everything,” explaining why so many experienced professionals are staying put. She introduces a newer trend she's seeing across industries: “job hugging” where talented mid-level and senior candidates hold tightly to stable roles, making it harder for nonprofits to recruit proven performers and slowing down the pace of hiring. At the same time, organizations are being more cautious with budgets and taking longer to hire, sometimes choosing a vacancy over a rushed decision.Then the conversation turns to modern job-search tactics and what nonprofits should expect from candidates (and vice versa). Dana makes the business case for tailoring every application, just like fundraising requires tailored outreach: fewer applications, better aimed. She also shares how AI tools can help candidates align resumes with recruiter keyword searches so the right experience actually shows up when hiring teams search. As Dana puts it, “AI really can be a helpful assistant when it comes to building your resume and optimizing your resume for some of the Boolean and keyword searches.”One of the most eyebrow-raising moments is the rise of the one-way video interview: candidates recording answers to prompts without a live interviewer. Dana and host Julia Patrick react strongly to what that may signal about candidate experience and employer brand. Dana frames it plainly: “It affects your brand, it affects your ability to retain staff.” From virtual first-round interviews to smarter follow-up emails, the big takeaway is clear: nonprofit hiring is evolving fast and the organizations that treat recruitment like a core business function will win better talent.#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitCareers #NonprofitStaffingFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Jeffrey R. Wilcox, President and Chief Learning Curator of Third Sector Company, and Nancy Bacon of Nancy Bacon Consulting—provide a timely conversation on interim leadership as a smart business move for nonprofits.Nancy shares the findings from their recently completed report on Interim Leadership and how it was built through deep listening—town halls, surveys, and focus groups with interim experts across North America—to capture what the field is becoming. The result: a sector-wide definition that positions interim leadership as an intentional, mission-centered intervention at a pivotal moment—built to stabilize operations, guide people through change, and set up the next leader for success.Jeffrey makes the business case with unmistakable clarity: “Interim is an investment. It is not an expense.” Rather than a temporary human resource fix, the work addresses a major risk facing nonprofits: executive attrition and leadership transitions that aren't planned. Boards that treat a transition like an emergency hire often trade speed for stability—then pay for it later in culture strain, staff churn, and stalled momentum.The conversation lifts the role of language in board decision-making. Both guests emphasize that clear expectations reduce fear and prevent “accidental interims” created by rushed succession. Jeffrey shares a simple framework interims consistently bring: clarity, capacity, and confidence—so boards can move forward with shared reality instead of conflicting perceptions.Finally, the episode widens the lens: interim leadership is expanding beyond coastal hubs, accelerated by COVID-era shifts and virtual capacity, allowing experienced leaders to support rural and smaller communities that need strong nonprofit operations the most.If your organization is thinking about succession—or avoiding it—this conversation offers a practical, mission-forward way to treat leadership change as a moment to strengthen the business engine behind the mission.#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitManagement #SuccessionPlanningFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall tackle a fundraising trap that quietly keeps nonprofits stressed and stuck: betting everything on one revenue source. They call it “The Egg or the Basket”—and the message is clear: your mission can't ride on a single lane of funding.Tony frames revenue diversification in plain business terms: build multiple revenue streams that fit your mission, your market, and your organization's maturity. If one stream slows down or disappears, you're not forced into panic-mode program cuts. Julia reinforces that there's no one-size-fits-all formula; the mix should shift based on life cycle, community behavior, and capacity.They walk through a sample revenue mix and why it often surprises teams. Individual giving typically sits as the largest slice, and Tony points listeners to Giving USA as a useful reference point for understanding how national trends compare to your own results. Grants, while important, can be unpredictable—especially for newer organizations. Tony offers a reality check for early-stage nonprofits: many funders want proof of concept, years of services delivered, and sometimes matching funds before larger awards are on the table.Then they move into earned revenue and enterprise conversations—where boards may push for a café, thrift store, gallery, or other venture. Julia notes these choices come with real accounting and cost structures that must be managed like a business line, not a side hobby.Finally, they bring it home with practical governance tools: reporting, dashboards, benchmarking, and scenario planning so teams can pivot intentionally. As Tony puts it, “You need good data to help you understand how to diversify your revenue stream and what that mix should look like.” And Julia warns against board-driven wish lists that development teams are told to execute after the fact: “That's just…a recipe for disaster.”#NonprofitFundraising #RevenueStrategy #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

AI isn't a “someday” conversation for nonprofits anymore it's a right-now operational decision with governance, risk, and staff behavior at the center. Joshua Peskay, Co-Founder of Meet the Moment, joined Julia C. Patrick to talk about the practical reality nonprofits are facing: AI adoption is already happening inside your organization whether leadership has planned for it or not.Joshua frames the moment with a clear warning and a workable path forward. Too many nonprofits, he says, are bumping into “governance immaturity” the missing pieces that turn AI from a productivity boost into a liability. Think policies, staff learning, data classification and handling, and vendor risk review. Instead of debating whether AI is allowed, Joshua urges leaders to start by accepting the current state and then managing it with intention. As he puts it, “Artificial intelligence is happening and it is happening incredibly fast… the water is coming down the mountain.”The duo reinforce what many executives have observed: when organizations ban AI, staff still use it they just do it quietly, creating silos and exposure. Joshua connects that to a familiar cybersecurity pattern: shadow IT. People work around constraints to get the job done, especially in a sector that's under-resourced, remote, and mission-urgent.The forward-looking takeaway is refreshingly actionable: start with the AI tools already inside your protected environment. If your nonprofit runs on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, use Copilot, Gemini, or NotebookLM as your baseline so staff can work with guardrails. For anything outside that ecosystem, require a business case and a review process. Then, build a learning culture where staff share what's working, what's failing, and what's safe.Joshua also brings urgency from the risk landscape, noting nonprofits are attractive targets because of sensitive data and typically weaker security. 00:00:00 Welcome and why AI is the topic right now 00:01:26 What Meet the Moment does for nonprofits 00:03:20 The real issue governance maturity and policies 00:05:04 When nonprofits ban AI staff use it anyway 00:06:08 The water down the mountain analogy 00:07:53 Why nonprofit community learning matters 00:11:23 The square wheel paradox and making time to learn 00:13:32 Readiness vs reality and starting from current state 00:15:17 Use the AI already in your protected workspace 00:18:39 Shadow IT and work from home risk 00:21:42 Why nonprofits are attractive cyber targets 00:24:52 Donor spreadsheets and why “hope is not a strategy” #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitManagement #AIgovernanceFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

We visit with Kate Berkey, a StoryBrand guide for nonprofits, to talk about something that affects every organization's bottom line — whether they realize it or not: clear messaging. Or more specifically… what happens when we don't have it.Kate opens with a reality check that's hard to ignore: many nonprofits are unintentionally leaving money on the table simply because their communication is confusing. Not wrong. Not poorly intentioned. Just unclear. And as she shares a phrase that sticks with you, “If you confuse, you lose.”Using the StoryBrand framework, Kate explains how humans are wired for story, not information overload. The model is simple and familiar: a character wants something, faces a problem, meets a guide, gets a plan, takes action, and moves toward success while avoiding failure. The big shift for nonprofits? Your organization is not the hero — your donor or the person you serve is. Your role is the guide. When that dynamic clicks, messaging becomes more relatable, more actionable, and far more effective in fundraising.Kate also shines a light on a common nonprofit habit: using big, feel-good language that sounds meaningful internally but leaves outsiders scratching their heads. Phrases like “empowering human flourishing” may feel inspiring in a strategy session, but they create mental work for donors who are just trying to understand what you actually do and how they can help. Clear messaging makes it easy to say yes.The impact goes beyond fundraising. When your message is tight and repeatable, staff, volunteers, and board members gain confidence. They stop fumbling when someone asks, “So what does your organization do?” and start becoming natural ambassadors in everyday conversations.Kate wraps with a real-world story of a volunteer event that had heart, energy, and great intentions — but lost momentum because it delivered too much information and ended with multiple calls to action. The result? Confusion instead of commitment. Her fix is beautifully simple: one clear story and one clear ask.If your organization has ever struggled to explain what you do in a way that sparks action, this conversation is a must-watch. #Storytelling #NonprofitMarketing #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

What does it take for a nonprofit to grow from “we're getting by” to “we're building a real engine for impact”? In this energizing conversation, Julia Patrick sits down with Sherry Quam Taylor of Quam Taylor to talk about what nonprofit leaders should truly focus on in 2026 if they want sustainable, strategic revenue growth.Sherry starts with a bold challenge: stop letting scarcity run the organization. Not as a motivational poster idea, but as a practical leadership decision. Her favorite starting place is a deceptively simple exercise: take the strategic plan and price it out honestly. Not the “squeak by” version. The real version. Reserves. Living wage salaries. The marketing role you never replaced. Staff development. The tech you keep postponing. When leaders finally put the full need on paper, something shifts from fear to possibility, because the organization can now align revenue goals to an actual plan.From there, Sherry calls out one of the biggest growth blockers in the sector: trying random tactics instead of committing to a planned strategy. As she puts it, “If we align our hours to dollars… there's actually a math equation that gets to that.” That's the business of nonprofits in one sentence: staffing, activities, and fundraising effort must match the revenue destination.Then she brings it home with a refreshing reminder that modern fundraising still wins through relationships. Not stiff, over engineered emails and performative professionalism, but real human connection. Sherry has a simple mantra her clients keep on sticky notes: “Talk like a human.” She explains that both funders and nonprofits want the same thing a genuine conversation with the people behind the work. In a world where messages all start to sound the same, authenticity becomes a competitive advantage.Finally, she makes a case for something too many organizations avoid: asking for help and budgeting for it. Growth requires investment in expertise, capacity, and support systems, and boards should be champions of that, not roadblocks.If your nonprofit is ready to fund the plan you actually want, not the one you can barely afford, this episode will leave you with momentum and a smarter path forward. #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitManagement #FundraisingStrategy Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Nonprofit leaders are staring down a new funding reality and Ben Cooley, CEO of Maxwell and Marie, arrives with the kind of energy that turns anxiety into action. In this conversation, Ben makes the case that “development” is no longer a department it's a shared posture across the whole organization. When revenue streams shift and donor expectations rise, sustainable growth comes from culture, systems, and a leadership voice that people trust.Ben draws on his own path scaling a nonprofit from a basement operation to work across 12 countries, with dozens of offices and nearly 1,000 staff. That experience fuels a blunt message for today's moment: government and institutional funding patterns have changed, high net worth giving is evolving, and donor behavior is more selective than ever. The solution is not panic, it's diversification and public fundraising strength that can weather storms.The discussion challenges the way nonprofits talk about donors. Ben and host Julia Patrick point toward a refreshed mindset where supporters increasingly behave like philanthropic investors, expecting clarity, measurable outcomes, and proof of execution. Stories still matter, but numbers and outcomes must become part of everyday language, not just a grant report.Ben's rallying call is cultural and operational. “Your resources are in your relationships,” he says, and that means every staff member can contribute to growth. His mantra is simple and powerful: “Everyone needs to be a fundraiser and everyone needs to be a friend raiser.” The conversation also moves into stewardship, where gratitude becomes a strategy, not an afterthought. Ben shares an unforgettable reminder that systems create results, and leadership sets the tone for momentum.If your organization is wondering how to meet goals in uncertain times, this inspiring convo offers a strong playbook: build rhythms, modernize engagement, prioritize relationship-based growth, and lead with hope that moves people to act. 00:00:00 Welcome and why mindset matters in fundraising 00:02:05 What Maxwell and Marie does and Ben's scale up experience 00:03:36 Why funding streams are fragile and revenue diversity matters 00:04:50 Government and institutional funding shifts and what it means now 00:06:39 High net worth donor behavior change and impact measurement expectations 00:08:26 Storytelling plus metrics moving from emotion to proof 00:11:09 Development is everyone's job fundraiser and friend raiser culture 00:15:29 Stewardship after peak giving season keeping donors engaged year round 00:18:16 Donor perspective charity ratings innovation and why donors choose you 00:18:40 Gratitude systems the thank you call that changed giving 00:21:25 Leading in hard times language culture and rallying the team 00:27:20 Time of action get visible practice the ask and adapt fast #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraisingFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

This lively Fundraisers forum delivers real-world guidance on the operational side of fundraising and nonprofit management. Cohosts Julia Patrick and Tony Beall tackle a range of audience-submitted questions that reflect the day-to-day realities facing development professionals and nonprofit leaders.The conversation opens with a thoughtful discussion about who should pay for professional association memberships, such as AFP. Tony makes a compelling case for organizational investment in staff growth, noting that these memberships provide far more than education. They create peer connection, shared problem-solving, and emotional support in a profession that can often feel isolating. Julia reinforces this with a story from a local chapter event where a fundraiser left feeling renewed and ready to keep going — a reminder that community can directly influence staff retention and performance.Next, the cohosts address a governance question many nonprofits wrestle with: who sees the strategic plan and fundraising goals? Tony outlines a clear division of roles. Boards and senior leadership help establish the goals, while staff design the strategies to achieve them. Most importantly, these plans should be communicated organization-wide. As Julia puts it, “if people don't know where the organization is headed, they can't help move it forward.”Email communications strategy also gets attention, with insights on sender credibility, leadership visibility, and the technical role email platforms play in engagement rates. Julia shares that American Nonprofit Academy reaches 43,000 subscribers monthly, underscoring how metrics like open rates influence decision-making and timing.The fast-paced convo also covers the importance of maintaining an up-to-date case statement, describing it as a living fundraising tool that should evolve alongside the strategic plan. Finally, Tony breaks down the distinctions between corporate relations and foundation relations, clarifying differences in funding cycles, expectations, reporting, and relationship management.#Nonprofitfunding #FundraisingStrategy #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In this energizing conversation, Ann Fellman, Chief Marketing Officer at Bloomerang, provides a data-forward look at what donors will expect in 2026—and what that means for the business of fundraising. The conversation opens with a “hopeful reframe” rooted in fresh research: Bloomerang conducted a national survey of 1,000 U.S.-based donors in November 2025, and the findings point to a bright, measurable shift—not a collapse—in generosity.Ann's central message is numbers-backed and morale-boosting: donor behavior is changing, but people still want to give. As she puts it, “It's not a decline in generosity. It's a shift in how generosity shows up.” For nonprofit leaders, that shift demands smarter relationship strategy, not louder volume. Younger donors, especially Gen Z and Millennials, are “more relational,” seeking belonging and alignment. Ann expands the classic “time, talent, treasure” framework with two additional drivers—testimony and ties—because social proof and community can be the catalyst that converts interest into giving.Several statistics land like actionable business insights. Gen Z respondents were twice as likely as Baby Boomers to give after a positive interaction, and 21% said they were influenced by a celebrity or peer. Millennials showed strong values alignment, with 43% prioritizing shared values. Meanwhile, channel strategy needs a reset: donation sites and nonprofit websites remain leading channels, with 48% of Millennials gravitating toward website giving. Yet the surprise data point for 2026 planning is direct mail: Gen Z reported being twice as likely as older generations to give via direct mail—often because tactile outreach can lead to digital conversion through QR codes.Trust also emerges as a major retention lever. Ann shares that 70% of Americans have done recurring giving, signaling confidence in mission and stewardship, while Gen Z is the most likely generation to stop giving when trust erodes. The operational mandate is clear: personalized, timely, segmented communication that respects attention. In Ann's words, “Personalization is not a nice to have… it's going to be a must to have.”#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraising #DonorEngagementFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Every nonprofit says they want board meetings that are strategic, energizing, and worth everyone's time. And yet… so many board meetings still feel like a quarterly endurance test: long decks, last-minute prep, and a live meeting that turns into a read-aloud.We visit with Robert Wolfe, CEO and founder of Zeck—to reimagine how boards and leadership teams communicate—because meeting design is not a “nice-to-have.” It's a capacity issue. When leaders burn 100–150 hours building decks and board members struggle to engage with clunky PDFs, the mission pays the price.Robert shares the origin story behind Zeck, built from his experience as an operator who lived the board-meeting grind firsthand. He's refreshingly blunt about the tools we still tolerate: “No one in the world would wake up in the morning and read their news in a PowerPoint slide deck.” And he makes a bold comparison that lands for any executive team trying to modernize: “Zeck is to board meetings as DocuSign is to signing your contracts and agreements.”The conversation focuses on what matters for nonprofit business operations: saving staff time, boosting board participation, and moving governance work out of the live meeting and into smarter pre-work. Robert walks through practical innovations like pre-voting (so approvals don't eat the first 45 minutes), analytics that show engagement (and create healthy peer pressure), and AI features that support content creation—without turning every boardroom comment into a permanent artifact.If your board meetings create dread, drag down morale, or result in rubber-stamp decisions, this episode offers a modern path forward—one that respects time, improves decision-making, and helps leaders stay focused on outcomes, not formatting.#TheNonprofitShow #Zeck #BoardGovernanceFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

The Great Wealth Transfer is already in motion, and Gen X is standing in the receiving line! Wendy F. Adams, CFRE, CEO of Cultivate for Good and longtime friend of the show, brings a leader's lens and a fundraiser's candor to a question many nonprofits still avoid: Who inherits donor loyalty, and what are we doing to earn it? She shares a personal story that makes the business case impossible to ignore—after her mother passed, Wendy discovered a long list of recurring gifts to multiple organizations. The dollars were real, consistent, and meaningful. The relationship? Nearly invisible.Wendy introduces a practical concept that flips stewardship into a forward-looking strategy: the “beneficiary checkup.” Instead of waiting until a donor is gone and the organization is forced into an awkward conversation, Wendy challenges nonprofits to invite beneficiaries into the relationship now—while the donor can celebrate impact, and while the next decision-maker can form a real connection.The episode presses on a tough truth: recurring donors are often treated as “set it and forget it,” and that quiet neglect can become a revenue cliff when a family member inherits the decision. Wendy also speaks directly to Gen X expectations: they want clarity, outcomes, and honesty, not glossy language. As she puts it, “Proof beats poetry.” And when it comes to legacy decisions, she's blunt: “Give it to us straight and keep us a part of the dialogue.”For leaders and boards, the call is simple: build confidence around assets, legacy tools, and storytelling that shows what happens because someone invested. The wealth is moving. The question is whether your nonprofit will be part of the next chapter—or quietly left behind.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Nonprofit financial leaders are being asked to do more with less, manage rising risk, and still advance mission with confidence. Dr. Stephanie Rose-Belcher, COO of JMT Consulting, provides a forward-looking conversation on FinTech forecasts and what nonprofit executives must be preparing for now.Dr. Rose-Belcher reframes finance as the operational backbone of nonprofit leadership, not a barrier. She opens by addressing cybersecurity, urging leaders to view it as a governance, compliance, and financial responsibility rather than an IT task. “This is not an IT issue. This is an everybody issue,” she explains, placing accountability squarely with executive leadership and boards. With donor data, financial systems, and integrated platforms increasingly interconnected, leaders must treat cyber readiness as an enterprise-wide business risk.From there, the discussion moves to platform strategy. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all solution, Dr. Rose-Belcher challenges nonprofit leaders to take ownership of their technology ecosystem. The responsibility, she explains, is not simply to buy tools, but to understand workflows, integrations, return on investment, and the operational change required to realize value. Finance leaders, often serving as what she calls “accidental technologists,” must either develop this fluency or intentionally bring in expert guidance.Predictive analytics emerges as a defining leadership capability for 2026. Dr. Rose-Belcher encourages nonprofit financial teams to move beyond static annual budgets toward rolling forecasts and scenario planning. By modeling funding shifts, cost changes, and operational risks throughout the year, finance teams can elevate their role from record-keeping to strategic decision support.Talent constraints also surface as a pressing leadership challenge. With fewer trained accountants entering the field and nonprofit compensation pressures persisting, leaders must focus on skill development, retention, and creative workforce pipelines. Dr. Rose-Belcher shares how JMT is investing in long-term intern programs to strengthen the sector as a whole.The episode closes with a powerful leadership message: finance teams must act as strategic partners and educators across the organization. “We consider finance the enabler of the mission, not the blocker,” Dr. Rose-Belcher notes—a mindset shift that can transform silos into shared stewardship.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

We sit down with Keith Mestrich, Senior Advisor of Nonprofit and Foundation Partnerships at Crescent Cares, for a great nonprofit business conversation. As nonprofit leaders step into a new year filled with uncertainty and rapid change, Keith offers a clear message: finance isn't a back-office function to tolerate—it's one of the strongest tools a nonprofit has to stay steady, make smarter decisions, and keep programs moving when conditions shift.Keith shares that early in his nonprofit CFO journey, he drew a firm line about how the role should operate: “As the CFO, I'm a full partner, just like any of your other programmatic partners are.” That idea sets the tone for the discussion. When finance is treated as an equal partner—connected to program strategy, staffing, and planning—leaders gain visibility into what's possible, what's risky, and what's sustainable. Keith also explains why finance is often sidelined in the sector: many nonprofit executives rise through program excellence and suddenly inherit budgets, banking, insurance, and reporting—without ever being trained for the business mechanics.From there, the conversation shifts to technology decisions that can protect both time and dollars. Keith uses a simple example that lands with almost every organization: paper checks. Moving payments and processes into modern systems can increase speed, reduce cost, strengthen tracking, and lower exposure to fraud. He also points to the growing potential of analytical tools and AI to strengthen forecasting—helping leaders anticipate cash-flow pinch points and plan ahead instead of reacting late.Scenario planning becomes another centerpiece, and Keith keeps it approachable: you don't have to create a plan for every possible situation. Focus on two major categories—key personnel changes and major financial impacts—and walk through what you would do if something shifted quickly. He emphasizes that this is a management responsibility, while boards should ensure it's happening and revisited regularly.Finally, Keith reframes risk management as something that supports confident leadership, not fear. As he puts it, “The bad guys know that our sector isn't as sharp… They target us.” Reviewing insurance, cyber readiness, and coverage levels isn't glamorous—but it's part of protecting the mission with the same care you bring to programs.#TheNonprofitShow #Nonprofitboards #NonprofitFinanceFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In the nonprofit world, “funding” is often treated like a finish line. But in this conversation, Gloria Dixon—Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy at the BECU Foundation—frames it as something more useful: a long-term business relationship built on trust, clarity, and shared accountability.Gloria begins with BECU's origin story, rooted in cooperative problem-solving: in 1935, Boeing employees pooled money in a tin box so colleagues could buy the tools they needed to work. That same “people helping people” ethos still shapes how BECU shows up today—through products and services, employee volunteerism, and philanthropic partnerships designed to strengthen community financial health.From there, the discussion moves into what many nonprofits are feeling right now: shifts in funding, rising uncertainty, and the need to adjust strategy without losing momentum. Gloria makes the business case for longer-term, larger-dollar commitments—because multi-year stability gives nonprofits room to plan, staff, and deliver outcomes instead of living in perpetual fundraising churn. She explains trust-based philanthropy as a power shift that respects expertise closest to the work: “We have to trust them to do the work…give them the funding they need… and then just get out their way so they can do the best work.”That mindset shows up in BECU Foundation's approach to grants. Instead of long, technical applications, Gloria's team prioritizes conversation and relationship—practical for a small staff overseeing partnerships with nearly 300 nonprofits annually, and aligned with how trust actually gets built. Reporting expectations, she explains, vary by the size and structure of the partnership—light-touch for small, one-time support, and more defined reporting for multi-year agreements.Perhaps the most refreshing business lesson is Gloria's view of “competition.” In her words: “There is no competition, never.” The goal isn't brand ownership—it's maximizing community outcomes. BECU also adds value beyond checks: their name can signal credibility to other funders, they share partner insights across philanthropic networks, and they even play matchmaker—connecting senior executives to nonprofit board opportunities when leadership talent is needed.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

The Great Wealth Transfer is no longer a future talking point—it is unfolding right now, and nonprofit organizations that are not prepared risk watching history pass them by. Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall confront what may be the most consequential financial shift the nonprofit sector will ever face: an estimated $90–$100 trillion moving between generations, with $12–$18 trillion potentially directed toward charitable causes.The urgency is unmistakable. While awareness of the wealth transfer exists, Julia and Tony raise a sobering concern: most nonprofits are still treating this moment as business as usual. Traditional planned giving conversations are happening, but without the staffing depth, board expertise, or internal policies needed to responsibly handle what is coming. As Tony notes, “It's going to happen. It's the largest transfer of wealth in history, and nonprofit organizations need to think about how they are ready for it right now.”The conversation exposes a hard reality—many development teams are already stretched thin, juggling events, grants, membership, and major gifts. Expecting those same teams to manage estate gifts, complex assets, and family dynamics without focused expertise is risky. Julia warns that this lack of preparation could result in missed gifts, internal conflict, or worse—board fractures triggered by ethical or values-based disputes over donor sources.The episode also widens the definition of wealth itself. Beyond cash, nonprofits must be prepared to assess real estate, securities, collectibles, and even intellectual property. Julia shares examples that range from transformative royalty gifts to deeply problematic asset donations that create storage costs, legal exposure, or reputational strain. Without clear gift policies in place, organizations may accept assets that cost more to manage than they ever generate.Perhaps most alarming is the human side of the transfer. Julia and Tony describe real cases where heirs contested legacy gifts, leaving nonprofits entangled in legal and emotional turmoil. These situations underscore the need for deeper donor relationships that include family members—not just the donor alone.This episode makes one thing clear: readiness is no longer optional. Policies, staffing, board composition, and professional advisors must be aligned now, not later. As Julia reminds viewers, this moment will not wait. The organizations that act decisively will serve their missions for decades to come—those that don't may never get a second chance.#TheNonprofitShow #FundraisersFridayFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

With the kind of energy that makes you sit up straighter: Tim Sarrantonio, now Chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), leads a boardroom-level conversation about one of the biggest business threats to nonprofits today: misinformation.Tim pulls back the curtain on what FEP actually is—an ambitious collaboration where major CRM and data partners contribute anonymized giving data that is organized into a secure warehouse overseen by GivingTuesday and the AFP Foundation. The result: monthly, real-world insights into donor behavior at a scale that fundraisers rarely get, and fast enough to influence decisions in real time. For nonprofit leaders trying to forecast revenue, frame strategy, or explain retention trends to a board, this is not “nice-to-know” information—it's operational intelligence.From there, the discussion pivots into how misinformation sneaks into our sector: vendor marketing that cherry-picks success stories, “benchmark” claims without context, and social posts engineered for clicks rather than truth. Tim's advice is blunt and practical: follow the sources, examine methodology, and treat data as a tool for leadership—not a headline to repeat. As he puts it, “All data is the electronic representation of relationships.” That single line reframes retention drops and donor shifts as more than numbers—they're signals about trust, connection, and experience.The conversation closes with a future-facing lens on AI. Tim urges nonprofits to treat generative tools like a junior staff member—helpful, fast, and absolutely in need of editing. He even teases a new project: an educational role-playing game for fundraisers that uses AI to interpret workshop artifacts and accelerate learning. The takeaway is clear: in a world full of noise, nonprofits win by becoming disciplined stewards of evidence, context, and credibility.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In 2026, nonprofit finance isn't just about reporting what happened — it's about shaping what happens next. Ellie Hume (Regional Director, at Your Part-Time Controller) leasds a forward-facing conversation on financial leadership that starts with one powerful idea: your organization's strongest advantage is what you choose to control.If your nonprofit is ready to “spiral up,” this episode offers a finance-and-management playbook that turns mindset into momentum—so you can stay steady, stay strategic, and stay fundable.Ellie reframes today's uncertainty—funding volatility, staffing pressure, new compliance expectations—as a call to build resilience through intentional decisions. She challenges leaders to stop relying on “SALI” (Same As Last Year) and instead strengthen revenue diversification: monthly giving programs, new grant relationships, and smarter prospecting that expands beyond familiar funders.From the finance seat, Ellie makes scenario analysis feel practical and doable. Build multiple budget versions, monitor what's changing, and be ready to adjust the levers as reality shifts. Financial data becomes fuel for action when it's used for forecasting and decision-making—not just for looking in the rearview mirror.The conversation also brings AI down to earth. AI isn't “coming someday”—it's already embedded in accounting systems and donor databases. Ellie talks about adopting tools with purpose, using them to reduce administrative drag, increase speed, and free staff to focus on higher-value work. As Ellie puts it: “Control what you can control, and that is your mind and the actions that result from what you want to do.”Finally, Ellie connects governance, compliance, and cybersecurity to financial stewardship. Cyber risk and fraud are rising, and boards have fiduciary responsibility to protect organizational assets. That means budgeting for safeguards, setting internal guardrails for AI use, and even seeking funding specifically for infrastructure that protects mission delivery.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Why don't nonprofit boards do their work — and what can executive leaders actually do about it? In this episode we welcome back executive coach, author, and speaker Hardy Smith, creator of the Amazon bestseller Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game. Hardy tackles the question nonprofit leaders lose sleep over: when boards underperform, is the problem really “the board”… or the way we build the board?Hardy makes a bold case that disengagement often starts long before the first meeting — in recruitment that's rushed, vague, and driven by panic. Too many organizations wait until seats are empty and the annual meeting is looming, then scramble to fill slots with “busy, well-known names” without real vetting or alignment. The result? Board members who cannot prioritize your mission, and leaders frustrated that nothing changes.From there, Hardy goes straight to the business mechanics of governance: expectations, clarity, and accountability. If fundraising is part of board service, say it early. If meeting attendance matters, define it. If board members are being recruited for their influence, then design roles that actually use their influence. Hardy warns that when organizations avoid the “money talk” out of fear, they create a trust gap that's hard to repair: “That's called bait and switch. And it's illegal.”Most importantly, Hardy explains what makes great board members shut down: a board experience that wastes time. His prescription is practical and board-chair-ready—make meetings matter by structuring them around strategic progress, decision-making, and real conversation, not passive report approval. And if you want board ownership, involve them in the plan from the beginning—because as Hardy reminds us, “If they help bake the cake, they own the cake.”Ready to stop blaming and start building a board that performs? This episode gives you a playbook to recruit with purpose, set expectations with confidence, and design meetings that earn engagement.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Organizational assessments can sound intimidating—like a test, a grade, or a “gotcha.” We sit down with Joan Brown, Chief Operations Officer at Third Sector Company, to reframe assessments as one of the smartest business moves a nonprofit can make—especially during leadership transition.Joan explains that a strong organizational assessment is not about blame. It's a systematic look at operations, performance, systems, and culture to answer one question: Are we operating in the best possible way to serve our mission? The real value is that it creates clarity and alignment across the organization—so decisions can be made with facts, not feelings or assumptions.This conversation is especially timely for boards and leaders navigating an interim period. Joan shares why assessment belongs at the top of the interim playbook: it builds a shared reality of where the organization truly stands. And that shared reality becomes the foundation for priorities, staffing decisions, resource deployment, and even a far more accurate CEO/ED job description—particularly after a long-term “legacy leader” has held an outsized set of responsibilities for years.You'll also hear the nuanced difference between transitions when a beloved CEO departs versus when a leader has been let go: in one case, people may defend the past; in the other, emotion can flood the process. Either way, a transparent and participatory assessment helps separate noise from truth and turns tension into forward motion.Joan says it best: “The main goal of the assessment process is shared reality.” When nonprofits build that shared reality early—using data, participation, and transparency—they gain the power to prioritize confidently, stabilize culture, and position the next leader for success.If your board is preparing for leadership change, facing recurring “fires,” or simply wants better decisions with limited resources—this episode is your push to start the assessment conversation now.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

2026 is already rewriting the fundraising playbook—and your nonprofit can't afford to run last year's plays. In this Fundraisers Friday conversation, Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall lay out the business realities that will separate thriving organizations from the ones that stall out: AI adoption, the Great Wealth Transfer, next-gen talent shifts, and smart technology investment.First, they make it plain: AI has moved from optional to operational. As Julia says, “AI now is not a nice to have. It is a must have.” But they also challenge leaders to use it with intention—protecting donor privacy, building internal standards, and using AI to improve work rather than replace human judgment and relationship-building.Next, they turn to the Great Wealth Transfer—an unprecedented movement of generational assets that will reward organizations that build long-term relationships now. Planned giving can't sit quietly on a webpage anymore. Your team needs a proactive approach, stronger data practices, and a donor experience that earns loyalty over time.They also address the talent landscape: retiring leadership, the need to develop the next generation of fundraisers, and the reality that donor behavior has shifted. Next-gen donors want fewer commitments with deeper impact, fast and easy giving, visible transparency, and experiences that build trust.Finally, they land on a theme every executive team should bring into budget season: technology requires true investment—time, talent, and treasure—and the ROI is found in better donor experiences, better systems, and stronger sustainability.If your 2026 plan doesn't include AI policies, planned giving momentum, and a tech strategy built for speed and trust—this episode is your wake-up call. 00:00:00 Welcome back and 2026 fundraising forecast 00:01:10 The Architecture of Fundraising and why it matters now 00:02:10 Trend 1 AI is a must have for fundraising 00:04:55 AI standards donor privacy and internal policy 00:06:00 Trend 2 The Great Wealth Transfer and what it means 00:07:15 Planned giving must become proactive 00:11:45 Trend 3 Retiring leadership and building next gen fundraisers 00:16:55 Next gen donor behavior what changed and why 00:20:45 Legacy giving impact over recognition 00:25:40 Tech adoption requires time talent treasure and ROI  #TheNonprofitShow #FundraisingStrategyFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Nonprofit work is purpose-driven, but the business reality is relentless: tight budgets, heavy caseloads, public scrutiny, and a pace that rarely fits inside “normal hours.” In this episode we welcome Rahul K. Maharaj, known as “Mr. Trauma Talks,” for a timely conversation about stress, trauma, and what leaders must do to protect the people who power the mission.Rahul opens by reframing the myth of the “fresh start.” Many professionals don't begin January renewed they begin January carrying last year's exhaustion into a new calendar. That's not just personal; it's operational. When burnout becomes normal, performance dips, turnover rises, and the mission takes the hit. Rahul offers an empowering reminder that healthy culture is not a perk it is a productivity strategy. As he puts it, “Your worth is who you are.” That message lands hard in a sector where many teams have been conditioned to endure, absorb, and keep going.The discussion also moves into Rahul's children's book Mellie and the Pandemic, a “labor of love” designed to help kids name emotions and start honest conversations early. Rahul explains how the story becomes a simple bridge between children, families, and schools, giving language to feelings that otherwise turn into frustration, isolation, or silence. Connecting this to the nonprofit sector's front-line reality: we often serve people shaped by trauma, yet we rarely address the emotional load carried by our own staff.From social media's role in amplifying stress to the way workplace disrespect and discrimination compound pressure, Rahul makes a clear case: mental health support belongs inside organizational strategy. He even proposes a practical model organizations can adopt placing a trusted counseling professional within the workplace to provide consistent, confidential support.This episode is a leadership call to action: build systems that help teams stay well, so they can do well and keep the mission strong.#NonprofitLeadership #WorkplaceWellbeing #TheNonprofitShowFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

What if the biggest thing holding your nonprofit back isn't budget, bandwidth, or the board… but the size of the goal itself?In this energizing conversation, Julia C. Patrick turns the spotlight inward for a rare public coaching session with Keith Ellis, “The Impossible Success Coach.” Together they tackle a leadership problem every nonprofit executive and development team knows too well: the endless list of “important” goals that leaves you busy, stressed, and still frustrated come October.Keith's premise is bold: stop aiming for incremental wins and start committing to the goal you genuinely believe you can't reach — the one you keep dismissing because it feels out of reach. Why? Because “normal” goals create too many options. If your organization wants to raise 20% more this year, you can name 1,000 tactics… and you'll spend the year guessing which ones matter most. But when you pursue a truly audacious target, the noise fades fast. Suddenly, there are only one or two moves that can realistically change the outcome — and your operational strategy gets clean, focused, and decisive.The conversation also goes straight at board dynamics. Julia asks the question every nonprofit leader has whispered after a board meeting: how do you keep governance from chasing shiny objects? Keith reframes it as leadership sales: connect the vision to what board members already want, then “herd the cats” toward one clear, motivating aim that's bigger than everyone's comfort zone.Most powerful: the episode redefines success as more than results. Keith argues the real payoff is who you become while building the capacity to achieve the goal — and that's exactly how nonprofits scale beyond last year's limits.“If you set an impossible goal, it's actually easier to achieve than a normal goal.” — Keith Ellis 00:00:00 Welcome and transformational goals 00:01:26 Why Keith Ellis uses the word impossible 00:02:09 Wishes come true and you are your own genie 00:04:07 Why aiming bigger can make progress simpler 00:06:11 How to choose one goal instead of 100 00:09:04 Fundraising example 20% vs 200% vs 500% 00:12:40 Tracking goals and building motivation 00:16:40 Keeping boards focused and aligned 00:19:27 Preventing board disengagement when work gets hard 00:23:27 The real payoff becoming more capable 00:28:38 Homework question to find your audacious goal Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

We welcome Katie Warnock, CEO and Founder of Staffing Boutique, for a “New Year Trend Forecasting” conversation—focused squarely on what nonprofit leaders must do to operate smarter, steadier, and more sustainably.Katie opens with a morale boost that's grounded in real numbers: philanthropy is getting culturally “cool,” even as many executive directors and development leaders report that fundraising has felt exhausting and uphill. She points to GivingTuesday results and rising volunteer participation as signals that generosity isn't disappearing—it's changing shape. When donors can't always give more dollars, many still show up with time and energy. And for organizations, that means the business of fundraising still comes down to relationship strength and trust built over time. As Katie puts it, “relationships matter so much… who are they giving to… all the fundraisers that they've stayed connected with through the years.”From there, the conversation turns practical: AI is no longer a novelty—it's becoming a daily operating strategy. Katie shares how nonprofits can start small and immediately reduce drag in workflows: faster acknowledgements, cleaner data entry, and smarter automations inside fundraising systems. She also describes tools that tame inbox overload and speed scheduling—freeing leaders to spend more time on high-value work that only humans can do.Then the discussion gets candid about operating in a heated political environment. Katie suggests nonprofits create scenario-based plans that anticipate policy shifts, funding constraints, and communication traps—so boards and leaders aren't improvising under pressure. Finally, she names what many are privately feeling: cultural fatigue. Burnout at the top is real, and retention can't rely on salary alone. Katie offers a menu of “value-add” investments—from professional development to flexible schedules—supported by listening systems in HR and a dedicated budget line.It's a trend episode with a strong business bottom line: sustainable mission delivery depends on smarter systems, healthier leaders, and talent practices that actually match today's workforce realities. 00:00:00 Welcome and New Year trend forecasting kickoff 00:01:45 What Staffing Boutique does for nonprofits and education 00:03:24 Philanthropy is cool and what the data suggests 00:06:28 Why relationships still win when giving gets tough 00:07:05 AI as a day-to-day operating strategy for nonprofits 00:09:00 Inbox overload and AI tools that reduce admin time 00:11:13 AI agents as the next evolution of alerts and research 00:12:33 Planning for a heated political environment 00:18:37 Culture fatigue and leadership burnout in 2026 00:22:00 Retention through investment beyond salary increases 00:27:24 Closing thoughts on people, staffing, and execution #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #NonprofitHRFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

If your nonprofit is staring at a funding gap in 2026: your money problem may actually be a structure problem. Host Julia C. Patrick welcomes Dr. Sharon Elefant of The Nonprofit Plug to talk about why grants and big gifts don't “save” organizations when the foundation underneath is shaky—things like weak financial controls, unclear governance, founder-centric operations, burnout, and stalled growth.Dr. Elefant frames it in plain language: when infrastructure is messy, even good funding becomes risky. She shares a real example of a funder walking into a site and asking, “What would you do with $100,000?”—and the leader couldn't answer beyond “I need a million.” That moment exposes a common challenge: passion without business readiness. As Dr. Elefant puts it, “Funders don't fund passion. They fund systems… impact… data… proven methodologies.” The practical shift starts with smaller, sharper thinking: her team asks clients, “What would you do with $5,000?” so leaders can articulate spending with purpose and credibility.The duo then connects the dots to the daily realities nonprofit leaders face—grant reporting, accounting requirements, staffing ramps, and the inevitable pressure of post-award management, reminding viewers that grant dollars aren't free; they demand operational strength. Together, they push the conversation toward healthier revenue design: Dr. Elefant suggests keeping grants to a manageable slice (she's comfortable around 25%) and building the remaining 75% through stronger revenue streams like major donors, sponsorships, partnerships, and especially program service revenue. She normalizes earned income with examples nonprofits already recognize—hospitals, daycares, universities—and shows how fees can expand access through sliding scales and subsidized services.The episode lands on relationships and board performance: cultivate funders like humans, ask them what they want, and bring mindset training to the boardroom with clear expectations, accountability, and the courage to treat board service like real work. Sustainable funding follows sustainable operations! 00:00:00 Welcome to 2026 and today's funding reality check 00:01:32 What The Nonprofit Plug does  00:03:18 Why funding problems are structural problems 00:04:46 The $100,000 question leaders struggle to answer 00:06:40 The $5,000 question that builds real clarity 00:09:22 Why grants are episodic and can't create sustainability 00:11:38 A realistic grant percentage and smarter revenue balance 00:12:13 Program service revenue explained and why it's ethical 00:14:24 Contracts with schools and government as revenue pathways 00:18:17 What funders want now trust outcomes survival 00:20:48 Funder cultivation relationship building that wins 00:24:36 Getting boards to shift mindset and raise expectations Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

how nonprofits set goals that actually move revenue, relationships, and results. They start with the metric many teams avoid because it can be a rude awakening: donor retention. Tony walks through a simple way to calculate it, then connects the number to what leaders feel every day, time and budget pressure. His reminder lands like a CFO truth bomb: “The data doesn't lie.” If your team assumes things are fine because a few familiar names show up at events, this episode brings you back to reality and gives you a starting point for a better plan.From there, the conversation turns to relationship depth. The point is not endless list building. It is quality over quantity, supported by segmentation and donor tiers, and backed by a pipeline you can actually manage. Julia frames it in plain business language: your pipeline is not a vague hope, it is a set of lanes that deserve goals, tracking, and steady motion all year, not a December scramble driven by board pressure and gala season.They also press into revenue diversification, especially when grant and government dollars can shift quickly. Multiple lanes are not just safer, they keep fundraising work more sustainable for the humans doing it. Then they move to data and tools: a robust CRM, mobile access, timely notes after donor meetings, and capacity building funding that can help pay for the systems and training.Finally, they tie it all together with culture. A culture of philanthropy means everyone owns the donor experience, including customer service, and teams can celebrate other organizations' wins without losing confidence.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Year-end doesn't “arrive” in nonprofits so much as it ambushes us. And that's exactly why this conversation with John Tiso, VP of Revenue and Service Delivery at JMT Consulting, and Buu Lình Tran, SVP of Financial Solutions at JMT Consulting, feels like a shot of espresso for your finance, accounting, and operations leadership.Host Julia C. Patrick frames the real business challenge: you're not only closing the books you're leading humans through a high-pressure stretch where accuracy, speed, and collaboration all collide. Buu Lìnn makes the case that strong leadership is less about pushing harder and more about supporting smarter: assess what your staff truly needs, invest in process improvement, and use technology intentionally to make work easier and outcomes stronger.John brings the mindset shift that separates “we survived year end” from “we built capacity for next year.” Organizations that resist change until it's unavoidable end up reacting at the worst possible moment. His blunt truth is the most liberating: “Get ahead of it and you'll be soaring high.” That applies to financial operations, system adoption, and the way leaders set expectations for learning.A standout takeaway: training can't be a one-and-done event. Repetition matters and Buu Lình offers a practical solution: short, reusable “refresh” videos that staff will actually watch, plus an easy onboarding asset when roles change midstream.Then the conversation turns to the big nonprofit efficiency leak: fundraising and finance teams operating with separate data, separate definitions, and a quiet trust gap. The fix is proactive alignment deciding now what data you'll need later, naming data owners, and building a unified approach so teams stop competing and start collaborating.Finally, they zoom out to strategic tech leadership: someone must serve as the connector across departments, guiding decisions so systems and data work together instead of multiplying confusion. Bottom line: year-end leadership is not paperwork it's performance architecture!!#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #NonprofitFinanceFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Starting a nonprofit is often treated like a simple administrative step: fill out a few forms, wait a bit, and you're off to the races. But in this episode, Julia C. Patrick and cohost Ellie Hume sit down with Christian LeFer, CEO of Instant Nonprofit, to talk about what it really takes to launch—and sustain—a mission-driven organization with business discipline.Christian shares how many founders arrive at the nonprofit moment almost accidentally: the garage is full of dog crates, the community is offering in-kind support, and suddenly you need the legal structure to accept gifts, operate credibly, and stay compliant. Yet traditional paths can be slow, expensive, and confusing—often pushing would-be leaders into delays, missteps, or burnout before they've built momentum.Instant Nonprofit positions itself as a modern, founder-friendly alternative: a guided, contextual process that handles formation through IRS approval and then keeps organizations on “autopilot” for ongoing maintenance. The real business takeaway is not just speed—it's reducing operational friction so leaders can move from idea to execution without losing energy, donors, or board engagement along the way.A memorable moment comes when Christian explains his “love letter to a bureaucrat” approach—designing filings to make a reviewer's job easier, which accelerates outcomes and lowers risk. “Money is just a flow of energy… it's really a river, and my job is to unblock the obstacles in that river,” he says, connecting formation, compliance, and financial management to the same leadership mindset: clarity, structure, and forward motion.#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #NonprofitOperationsFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Consistency is not glamorous, but it's the engine that keeps a nonprofit's business model running when the calendar flips and the pressure spikes. In this conversation with  Matt Glazer, Founder and CEO of Blue Sky Partners (Austin-based, national reach), we talk about building consistent engagement without burning out your team or betting the whole year on a Q4 miracle.Matt brings a practical operator's lens: simplify what repeats, template what you can, and stop trying to cram “97 things” into the final stretch. His philosophy is steady, sustainable progress that makes room for reality—staff illness, unexpected disruptions, and capacity limits—so quality doesn't collapse under urgency. As Matt puts it, “I'm a big believer in doing a little bit of work a lot of the time.”From there, the conversation gets sharply useful for fundraising and stakeholder communications. Matt challenges the sector's fixation on “unicorn donors” and reminds us that the so-called boring work—like building a sustaining donor program—creates real stability. He shares a concrete example from his early nonprofit leadership: by repeatedly communicating the value of monthly giving, his organization grew from zero sustainers to $7,000 per month, proving that small gifts, stacked with intention, can fund real infrastructure.The discussion also tackles a leadership truth many avoid: in many nonprofits, clients and customers are not the same people. Funders may be the “customer” demanding reporting and outcomes, while beneficiaries deserve asset-based language and authentic voice. To bridge those realities, Matt recommends human-centered design tools—journey maps, empathy maps, and personas—to understand how people experience your organization and where alignment between mission, funding, and community needs can become a win for everyone.Finally, Matt introduces decision trees as a way to improve donor asks and engagement pathways by learning not only what people choose—but why they didn't choose the other option. That's how your nonprofit can turn assumptions into strategy and strategy into revenue!#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategyFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show