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In this episode host Carolyn Woodard is joined by Norwin Herrera, IT Business Manager and Team Lead at Community IT. Together, they walk through a real-world case study of a public charter school that implemented a Single Sign-On (SSO) platform called Clever that can solve cybersecurity and accessibility challenges for adult or child students.Strategic IT Leadership for NonprofitsUnlike a traditional account manager, an IT Business Manager (ITBM) acts as a strategic partner, helping nonprofit leadership understand the technology landscape and make informed decisions that align with their mission. The ITBM role is unique to Community IT and is an example of a commitment to partnering with clients over the long term.In this case, the goal was to find a SSO solution that could handle a complex mix of Chromebooks and Windows devices while remaining user-friendly for both adult students and faculty.The Power of Single Sign-OnSSO acts as one door for all of your doors. By using Clever as an identity manager, the organization was able to:Enhance Cybersecurity: Centralizing access allows for immediate offboarding. If a student or staff member leaves, closing one account automatically secures access to all others, prevents fraud, and saves money.Automate User Provisioning: Through zero intervention integration with the Student Information System (SIS), accounts are created or deactivated automatically based on enrollment status.Improve User Experience: Students no longer need to remember multiple different passwords for Google, Microsoft, Zoom, and Slack for example. One password provides access to all the apps they have access to as a student using a school device.Reduce Administrative Costs: Norwin breaks down the ROI of SSO, comparing a small per-user fee against the hundreds of hours of manual labor required to manage accounts individually.Change Management and Successful ImplementationA successful IT project is about more than just software; it is about people. Norwin explains why this project resulted in zero tickets and no complaints: it started with leadership buy-in and a commitment to clear communication.Whether you are an executive at a school or a volunteer board member at a community nonprofit, this episode offers practical insights into how integrated cybersecurity and strategic IT planning can save your organization time and money.Listen in to learn how your organization can move toward a more secure and efficient digital future by subscribing to the Community IT Innovators Technology Topics podcast. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Building Stronger Teams: Purposeful Connection in a Remote WorldHow do you maintain a cohesive, supportive team when the office is now spread across dozens of different locations? In this episode, Carolyn Woodard sits down with Saba Gebru, Vice President of Support Services at Community IT, to discuss the intentional work required to foster teamwork in a remote and hybrid environment.Saba shares how Community IT transitioned through the pandemic and emerged with a deeper understanding of why social connection isn't just extra—it's essential for better service delivery. When technicians feel supported and connected to one another, our clients benefit from the collective knowledge of the entire firm, not just a single individual. We also discuss how to keep team building from feeling mandatory by aligning activities with mission-driven values, such as local volunteerism and servant leadership.Featured ResourcesCommunity IT Values: Our Story | Read More Learn more about the core values that guide our team—including balance and transparency—and how these principles help us better serve the nonprofit community.Guide: Managing Remote Teams for Nonprofits | View Article For managers looking to refine their remote operations, this guide offers practical tips on the tools and cultural shifts necessary to keep a distributed workforce engaged and secure.Case Study: 100% Remote Work Implementation with Microsoft Cloud | Read the Case Study Transitioning to a fully remote model requires more than just a change in mindset; it requires a robust technical foundation. This case study follows a large nonprofit as they navigated a rapid shift to 100% remote work. By leveraging Microsoft Cloud tools the organization was able to deploy hardware and support staff across the country without ever needing to meet in person, proving that with the right roadmap, technology can bridge the gap between physical distance and mission-critical collaboration.Next Step for Your OrganizationBuilding a strong team culture is an ongoing process, especially in the remote era. If you haven't recently checked in with your staff about what they need to feel connected, consider making it a priority in your next departmental meeting. Start the conversation by asking for feedback on what types of optional social or volunteer activities might resonate with their values. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
In this special anniversary episode, we celebrate a major milestone: 25 years of Community IT. Founded on February 1, 2001, by David Deal as a mission-focused spin-out from Reliacom, Community IT has spent a quarter-century navigating the ever-changing tides of technology for nonprofits exclusively. CEO Johan Hammerstrom, who was one of the early employees to move from Reliacom to the new company, joins us to reflect on our journey from the early days of wiring offices for the internet to our modern role as a national provider of remote IT services and cybersecurity. We discuss how our bedrock foundation of servant-leadership has allowed us to remain a stable, trusted partner for the nonprofit community through dot-com busts, financial crises, and global shifts in how we work.Beyond the history of servers and software, this conversation focuses on the vibrant people who make our mission possible. Johan shares why it is useless to predict exactly where IT will be in five years, and why Community IT instead invests in the creative, dedicated staff who can guide nonprofits through whatever the future holds. Whether you have been a partner since our founding or are just joining our community, tune in to hear how our commitment to technology expertise ensures that nonprofits can stay focused on their missions, no matter how the digital landscape evolves. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
In this episode of Hurdle, Emily sits down with Erika Gabrielli, the Vice President of Global Marketing at HOKA. Erika shares the story of HOKA’s meteoric rise from a niche ultra-running brand to a $2 billion global powerhouse. She delves into the importance of brand authenticity, the power of listening to the community, and why "maximalism" in footwear is about more than just aesthetics—it's about performance and comfort. Erika also opens up about her professional journey, offering tactical advice for those looking to break into the sports industry, the importance of trusting your intuition, and how she balances the demands of a high-profile executive role with being a mother. IN THIS EPISODE The Evolution of "Maximalism": Erika traces HOKA's journey from being "counter-culture" in a minimalist era to leading the industry with its focus on solving the problem of running downhills faster. Scaling with Soul: How the brand reached its $2 billion revenue milestone while maintaining core values like curiosity and inclusivity. Marketing via Experience: Why Erika believes experiential marketing is the most powerful tool for building emotional connections and lasting memories with consumers. Co-Creation over Control: Shifting the marketing narrative from "talking at people" to "world-building" alongside the running community. Career "Harmony": Erika's perspective on rejecting the myth of work-life balance in favor of finding a daily "harmony" that allows for both professional leadership and motherhood. QUOTABLE MOMENTS On Marketing & Community "It’s not about controlling the narrative ... it’s much more about embracing that idea of co-creation. It’s a shift from talking at people to being in a space where we’re doing more world-building." "In terms of greatest brand building, it comes from an experience because it evokes a memory ... that memory evokes emotion, and that’s what always is going to bring people back to a brand." "The work is never done. We can talk about ourselves all day long, but if it's not directly drawn to that consumer insight and how we're solving problems for them, it's not going to pass the bar." On Leadership & Intuition "The paranoid survive. You're always looking around corners to where there's opportunity but also where there's risk. Part of that to me is also tied to trusting your intuition." "It's not always the loudest voice in the room, it's not always the most senior voice in the room that is sharing the right paths or the right ideas." "The only person that's truly going to bet on you is you. Have the inner confidence to know that. You won't know until you try, and sometimes you won't know until you fail and you try again." On Life "Harmony" "I stopped looking for balance a few years ago. I think it's unrealistic. I switched my language into finding harmony. Harmony is about the acknowledgment that I’m not going to be perfect at all the roles I have to play, and that’s okay." MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEHoka Cielo X1 3.0 SOCIALErika on LinkedIn@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
To follow on from our recent discussions regarding the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector, this episode explores the critical technical and privacy distinctions between public and enterprise AI tools. The CISA Incident and the AI Privacy GapLast week, news outlets including Politico reported that the interim director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Madhu Gottumukkala, mistakenly uploaded sensitive government contracting documents into a public version of ChatGPT. This triggered automated security warnings designed to prevent the unintentional disclosure of government material.This incident highlights that anyone can mistakenly upload sensitive data to a public tool. Even the head of CISA.Key Differences Between Public and Enterprise AI:Data Privacy: Enterprise versions (like Microsoft Copilot for 365 or Gemini for Workspace) keep your prompts and data within your organizational "cloud boundary." Your information is not used to train the underlying public models.AI Search and Permissions: With Enterprise AI, the tool can surface any document a user has permission to see. This makes cleaning up your SharePoint or Google Drive permissions essential to avoid sensitive files being inadvertently surfaced via AI search. Pay attention to files that have been shared with "anyone with this link" because Copilot and Gemini will view that as granting permission to anyone searching. Finally, spend time on staff training on how to save and share files so that permissions will need less clean up going forward. Commercial Protections: Enterprise licenses include copyright indemnity that are absent in public versions.Security: Enterprise licenses give IT management and administrative controls which are essential to securing your nonprofit's valuable data. Resources:Trump's acting cyber chief uploaded sensitive files into a public version of ChatGPT from Politico by John Sakellariadis, published Jan 27, 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/27/cisa-madhu-gottumukkala-chatgpt-00749361"The interim head of the country's cyber defense agency uploaded sensitive contracting documents into a public version of ChatGPT last summer, ... The material included CISA contracting documents marked 'for official use only,' a government designation for information that is considered sensitive and not for public release."Microsoft Copilot vs. ChatGPT: Data Protection Explained from Community IT."If you are using Copilot with a 365 subscription, your prompts and data are not used to train the underlying large language model. It keeps your data within your enterprise cloud boundary... This protection only applies when you are signed in to an eligible work or school account."Upcoming Webinar: Verifying Your AI SecurityJoin Community IT CTO Matt Eshleman on February 25th to learn how to distinguish between public and enterprise accounts. Register here: How to Use AI Tools Safely at Nonprofits _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Panel Discussion with Matt Eshleman, Steve Longenecker, Jennifer Huftalen, and Carolyn WoodardOur experts answered your questions about where nonprofit tech is going next.In part 1, Community IT senior staff discuss nonprofits and AI, and updated cybersecurity trends to be aware of. In part 2, they discuss updates to Microsoft and Google Workspace, and take audience Q&A. AI, Cybersecurity, Google Workspace v Microsoft Office, Gemini v Copilot or ChatGPT or another generative AI tool, AI agents, AI FOMO, data data data, safety and security of your staff, budgeting for and maintaining basic IT, not to mention fancy IT … anything else you want to know about?We don't have a crystal ball but we do know our way around nonprofit IT.We'll look back at the trends of 2025 and what we got right last January, and we'll look ahead to make predictions for 2026.The nonprofit tech roundtable is always one of our most popular webinars every year. As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience. Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic, and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
To follow on from last week's episode of the ethical issues around AI use and companies generally that nonprofits and the philanthropy sector need to discuss and evaluate through the lens of organization values and mission, here are some resources for moving forward with that discussion of ethics as you put your policy in place and refine it. How Nonprofits Can Resist the AI Efficiency Trap from Nonprofit Quarterly by James A Lomastro, published Oct 28, 2025. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/how-nonprofits-can-resist-the-ai-efficiency-trap/ "Today, when nonprofits implement AI without protecting workers' judgment and autonomy, they facilitate a similar transfer of power. The tacit understanding of experienced staff—knowing which families need outreach, when silence signals distrust, and which community leaders bridge cultural gaps—is extracted into databases and algorithms....The “AI efficiency trap” plays out in familiar ways: Time savings often lead not to relief, but to higher expectations. Workers may feel more productive yet overwhelmed, as efficiency gains are absorbed into rising demands instead of reducing workloads. In nonprofits, if AI is used solely to expedite routine tasks, it can exacerbate burnout and diminish time for relationship building or advocacy—the work that drives lasting change...Steps leaders can take are:Invest in bias-aware AI governancePosition experienced staff as strategy guidesDevelop new productivity measurements."Other resources referenced in this episode: Ethics, AI Tools, and Policies Webinar from Community IT: https://communityit.com/webinar-nonprofit-ai-framework/AI With Purpose: How Foundations and Nonprofits Are Thinking About and Using Artificial Intelligence from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (with lots of other resources on their site for the sector) https://cep.org/report-backpacks/ai-with-purpose-how-foundations-and-nonprofits-are-thinking-about-and-using-artificial-intelligence/Humanity AI consortium project from 10 Foundations https://humanityai.ai/ Humanity AI is uniting philanthropy in a broad coalition to build a more human(e) future in which AI is shaped by and for people.Tech to the Rescue matchmaking ideal AI projects from the social impact sector with ecosystem partners for funding and expertise. https://techtotherescue.org/Board.dev matchmaking tech-savvy individuals looking to serve on nonprofit boards with the nonprofits that need their expertise. https://board.dev/Responsible AI Adoption for Nonprofits: a Holistic Support Model webinar Jan 28, 2026 with Tech to the Rescue and Board.dev. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DSDEIrLFQxSApI8zQIUhyA#/registration _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Panel Discussion with Matt Eshleman, Steve Longenecker, Jennifer Huftalen, and Carolyn WoodardOur experts answered your questions about where nonprofit tech is going next.In part 1, Community IT senior staff discuss nonprofits and AI, and updated cybersecurity trends to be aware of. In part 2, they discuss updates to Microsoft and Google Workspace, and take audience Q&A. AI, Cybersecurity, Google Workspace v Microsoft Office, Gemini v Copilot or ChatGPT or another generative AI tool, AI agents, AI FOMO, data data data, safety and security of your staff, budgeting for and maintaining basic IT, not to mention fancy IT … anything else you want to know about?We don't have a crystal ball but we do know our way around nonprofit IT.We'll look back at the trends of 2025 and what we got right last January, and we'll look ahead to make predictions for 2026.The nonprofit tech roundtable is always one of our most popular webinars every year. As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience. Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic, and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Director of Client Services Jennifer Huftalen answers questions about the IT Business Manager role at Community IT. How is an IT Business Manager different from a vCIO or an account manager? Learn more from this conversation.The takeaways: The IT Business Manager is a unique role in the sector and at MSPs serving nonprofits. A combination of technology expertise and a business background make Community IT's IT Business Managers ideally suited to help our clients undertake strategic planning and management of their IT. Similar to a vCIO, like an account manager but so much more, the IT Business Managers work with the primary contact to manage and understand the costs and strategies of IT investment in addition to supporting the help desk team provide day-to-day support. The IT Business Manager comes in at onboarding and helps analyze the initial assessment. IT Business Managers at Community IT can spot trends, identify duplicate tools, extra licenses, help the client create an accurate inventory of devices and licenses, and basically work in manageable stages to move the nonprofits' IT to a “steady state” of well-managed IT.Community IT considers our clients our partners in managing IT. Nonprofits know what their ideal IT would look like. We find that a part time vCIO who parachutes in monthly or quarterly can't develop the deep understanding of that client's needs and pain points and help them invest wisely and manage change. The IT Business Manager at Community IT monitors trends in help desk tickets and identifies ways technology can make the nonprofit more efficient and secure. And the IT Business Manager documents everything, so you can ask any questions and understand how your processes work and what IT you are using. The IT Business Manager has a long term relationship with your organization and can develop 3-5 year planning in conjunction with your executive team that can be used for grant applications and funding support. For just one example, check out our case study on how an adult charter school in DC was able to implement a 4 year plan in 3 months to move all their students to remote learning in 2020.Using Community IT and having access to an IT Business Manager solves the nonprofit problem of trying to hire for this leadership position and find people with a technical AND business background and be able to retain these unique people. And the IT Business Manager at Community IT has the entire team as a resource and their experience at other clients, so you get the benefit of that network of information and expertise.Navigating the complexities of IT management doesn't have to be a solo journey for nonprofit leaders. By bridging the gap between high-level strategy and daily operations, the IT Business Manager ensures your technology is an asset rather than a cost. At Community IT, we believe the strongest solutions come from this kind of deep, human-centered partnership. To learn more about how our unique approach to IT management supports long-term mission success, we invite you to listen to our podcast episode or reach out to start a conversation today. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Community IT is starting a new series today: Nonprofit AI. Midweek we will share 10-15 minutes of updates about AI and nonprofits - including current news stories, tips, definitions, use cases, frameworks, and resources.Whether you are an AI novice wondering how to catch up quickly, or an AI early adopter always looking for a new tool you can use at your nonprofit, we hope you will join us every Tuesday for another quick update on what is going on in the world of Nonprofits and AI. Takeaways and resources from Ep 1:1. How AI Works: The Fast-Paced LibraryThink of a Large Language Model (LLM) like a super-fast librarian who has read almost everything ever written. When you ask a question, the AI doesn't "look up" a file; it predicts the next word in a sequence. It processes your request into small "packets" of data (tokens) that are sent to massive datacenters. There, billions of mathematical calculations happen in milliseconds to return a response that sounds human.2. Embedded AI vs. Prompting AIYou are already using AI, even if you haven't opened a chatbot.Embedded AI: This is "hidden" technology inside tools you use daily, like Google Search algorithms, GPS route optimization, or even your email's spam filter.Prompting AI: This is "Generative AI" like ChatGPT or Gemini, where you actively start a conversation (a "prompt") to create something new, like a draft email or a report summary.3. Use Enterprise LoginsYou should use the Enterprise versions of tools like Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini (logging in with your work account) rather than the free, public versions. This should keep your data "walled off." This ensures your donor information or internal notes aren't used to train the public model or seen by anyone outside your organization.4. Policies are Your Starting PointWhile many nonprofits are still catching up on formal IT governance or employee handbooks, AI represents a unique moment to start documenting your "rules of the road." You don't need a 50-page document, but you do need clear guidelines for your team on what data can be shared with AI, who is responsible for fact-checking AI outputs, and how your organization discloses AI use. 5. It is Okay Not to Know EverythingYour role as a leader is to focus on strategy and ethics, not the underlying code. It is perfectly professional to say, "I'm still evaluating how this tool fits our mission," or "I need more information on the privacy implications before we proceed."Resources:What is Generative AI? – IBMAI for Nonprofits: What You Need to Know – In the Microsoft/TechSoup Digital Skills CenterAI Is Already in Your Nonprofit – Community IT InnovatorsAI Suitability Kit for Nonprofits - NetHopeArtificial Intelligence (AI) for Nonprofits – The Nonprofit Alliance _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Community IT CEO Johan Hammerstrom walks through how to think about your nonprofit IT budget at any time, but particularly if you anticipate facing steeper challenges and may have to scale back. What are the three “buckets” of your IT needs, and how can you best manage your costs while keeping efficiency and functionality? What is a nonprofit IT budgeting strategy that will work for you in 2026? More extensive resource on nonprofit IT budgeting:Discovering the Value of Your Nonprofit IT Budget webinar with Johan Hammerstrom.Takeaways: In decades of assisting hundreds of nonprofit clients with putting an IT budget together – often coaching how to create and talk about the budget with stakeholders, executives, and board members – Community IT CEO Johan Hammerstrom has come to think of your nonprofit IT budget in three “buckets.” Every nonprofit has a different budget process, so take that into account when connecting your IT needs and priorities to your own process.Remember that your IT budget is not a technology task. It is a technology + business needs task. You need to incorporate the big picture. And don't forget that IT is just another strategic asset that you manage like your lease, your programs, your payroll. Don't make assumptions about what is “too expensive.” If you want to recommend something in your IT budget, make the case for itNecessity/Non-NegotiableLicenses and subscriptions are non-negotiable. Luckily, licenses are usually predictable, fixed costs per seat.Infrastructure needs to be current.Cybersecurity is non-negotiable. Make sure your protections are following best practices. Use your financial auditing process and insurance checklists to update and upgrade your cybersecurity.Can Postpone (and Plan For)Laptop replacements. Redesigning your website. Older server replacement/moving to the cloud for all functions. Everything that can be postponed should come down to a business decision.Discretionary (Can Postpone Indefinitely)Updating systems like a CRM or other software. Where there is no critical immediate impact of not updating, the organization can make a long term plan to do the updates relative to other, more critical and immediate needs, knowing that times and needs may change, costs may come down, AI may change the software/system landscape entirely.When facing difficulty with funding, you will need to prioritize immediate needs and long-term needs.Having a relationship with your funder where you can talk about your planning and decision making can help. Having a nonprofit IT Roadmap is a big help.Community IT knows 2025 was very challenging to our nonprofit sector. With all of the budget challenges our friends and colleagues are negotiating, we hope we can help nonprofit IT be the least difficult to manage. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Senior staff at Community IT share what happened in nonprofit IT in 2025: AI and non-AI. What tips and advice have you missed? Top Nonprofit IT Stories of 2025As is our tradition, we asked some of our senior staff to talk about the most important nonprofit IT stories of 2025. This year, Carolyn gave them two categories – something in AI – or something that might not have gotten as much attention because it wasn't something in AI.AI continues to be a really big story. It has been described as the water we are all swimming in, whether we like it or not. It's going to be impacting all of us, and transforming every sector that nonprofits care about, in the coming years. Education, environment, government, health, privacy and advocacy, immigration, the economy – its easier to ask what issue will not be transformed in 2026 by AI because the answer is none. And in addition to transforming the communities nonprofits care about, perhaps more immediately AI will be transforming the day-to-day work nonprofit staff do, in new and quickly evolving ways. Community IT will continue to be a trusted partner as you make AI decisions and learn AI tools for productivity and added value.In addition to reflecting on AI or giving advice on AI tools, many of our staff members gave practical tips on changes to look for in 2026, from budgeting for increasing costs of laptops because of increasing costs of RAM storage (caused by AI needs!) to the increased security of Microsoft 365 login protections, to data protection considerations and updates to look out for, including Microsoft Archive. Data security and the value of data to nonprofits will continue to be of high importance in 2026, as will the evolution of cybersecurity. Finally, we know 2025 was very challenging to our nonprofit sector. With all of the changes our friends and colleagues are negotiating, we hope we can help nonprofit IT be the least difficult to manage. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Are you the tech helper in your family? In your office? Community IT intern Jack Woodard on lessons learned over years of helping less-tech-savvy people learn the technology they need to do what they need and want to do.Takeaways on How to Be a Tech HelperBe patientPeople who are having trouble with tech get very frustrated, and they also get very down on themselves for not being able to understand it. They aren't setting out to be annoying or hard to deal with, but they can get very defensive or just have a lot of trouble following what you are asking them to do, especially if they have difficulty seeing or hearing. People having trouble with tech have a lot of anxiety around doing the wrong thing – especially with all the scams out there. But they also want to be participating – they don't want to miss out. So taking all that into account when you interact with any staff member or family member is good practice to help meet them where they are. Be a teacher, not a doerIf the less-tech-savvy person in your life is struggling to use tech, doing it for them will reinforce that they are not capable. Instead, do a lot of listening. Identify the real problem (it may not be what they think is the issue.) Then walk the person through how to do it by asking them to do it while you stand by ready to help. Describe what they need to click on. Don't use a lot of jargon. Have the person take notes, especially if they don't use this particular app or do this particular thing every day. The next time they need to do it, they can refer back to their written instructions.If they are upset by updates that change things, consider teaching them to use keyboard shortcuts where available, because these change less frequently.Help them get organized and put the apps and tools they use most frequently where they can find them quickly at a glance. Organizing is deeply personal – so don't impose your way of doing things on them. As a tech helper, follow their lead! Walk through each step with them. Most people will continue to do something “the way they learned how” indefinitely. Use that to your advantage if you want them to do it a new way. Make sure they have learned the steps and they will probably be able to repeat them time after time. Don't forget accessibility features. Many people who struggle with tech may be hard of hearing or have difficulty seeing. Modern tech has lots of features to help, like strong contrast, screen readers, and hearing aids that can be connected to other devices directly.Microsoft Accessibility KnowledgebaseGoogle Workspace Accessibility for Users (can also find the Accessibility Guide for Administrators)Mac Guide to Accessibility Community IT seeks to provide trusted advice and guidelines for nonprofit tech helpers around the holidays and throughout the year. If you have questions on staying safe with technology, especially in the age of AI, it is better to ask someone than struggle alone. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
What scams are circulating and how can you protect yourself and your organization?Nonprofit Cybersecurity expert and Community IT CTO Matt Eshleman runs through common scams and new tactics that we are seeing at nonprofits and simple steps you and your staff can take at this time of year to be better protected.Takeaways on Nonprofit Cybersecurity for the HolidaysCommon scams“Your package couldn't be delivered” … this email tries to get you to click on a link or respond in some way, using social engineering/helpfulness/urgency to trick you into helping a colleague or sorting out a problem with a package. “The Executive Director needs to purchase holiday gift cards for staff” … a variation on the “gift card” scam oriented towards the end of the year, holiday parties, gifts for donors or volunteers.Pop-up “your computer has been compromised, call this number” scam … often the pop-up can't be closed (you should shut down and log back in, and alert someone on your actual IT help desk team.) New ScamsSpam bombs… followed by a helpful call from “the IT help desk” ... this scam will inundate your inbox with hundreds to thousands of spam email an hour. This scam tries to get the victim anxious at the spam attack and relieved when “the help desk” notices an increase in spam and reaches out to help. AI deep fake voice and video scams… growing in presence as the tools to create deepfakes become more available and affordable. Protections Against Holiday ScamsStay suspicious, particularly at the end of the day before a holiday break and the week before that break. Be particularly suspicious of in-bound calls and new contact information at any time of year, but particularly around the holidays. Do not give your log in credentials or other information to someone who called or texted you, claiming to be from IT or your bank. Review your incident response plan, particularly your phone tree, before the holidays. Make sure you know who to call to report a suspicion or problem, and make sure that your point of contact has a substitute for when they are out of the office for the holidays. Who is “on call”? Have strong cybersecurity already in place. Strong passwords, MFA requirements, physical MFA keys for staff who are particularly targeted like your Executive Director and CFO, staff training on the importance of cybersecurity to protect your organization – maybe even a quick training on holiday scams to watch out for … taking proactive steps will give you peace of mind during your holidays.Do not be tricked into using a work-around. Always use your established procedures. Do report something, using your incident response plan. If you did click on something suspicious at 5pm on a Friday, use your response plan to report it immediately to the person on call for your cybersecurity. Community IT seeks to provide trusted advice and guidelines for nonprofit cybersecurity safety around the holidays. If you have questions on cybersecurity assessments, staff training, incident response plans, or other cybersecurity topics, reach out and schedule a conversation or assessment with Matt. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Johan Hammerstrom hosts the podcast this week, interviewing Carolyn Woodard on her nonprofit IT management capacity growing pet project.100% of nonprofits struggle with IT management capacity – whether it's optimizing limited budgets, selecting the right tools, or building sustainable tech staffing models. Or just knowing where to turn for trustworthy, professional advice. We need structured connection to share best practices and elevate what works in IT management at nonprofits. We hope this community of practice will gather best practices and that it will snowball, attracting more participants with more experiences and ideas to share.By publicizing proven approaches, we can develop the scalable best practices the broader nonprofit sector needs. By sharing widely within the philanthropy sector, we can reach more nonprofits and stakeholders with the opportunity to manage IT effectively.Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) is a membership organization of foundations, funders, and vendors, that shares knowledge and experiences with technology in philanthropy.Carolyn Woodard has been working in collaboration with Jean Westrick and Gozi Egbuonu at TAG to create a community of practice around better defining the challenges around IT support for nonprofits and grantees, and to gather and better disseminate best practices. When nonprofits have functioning and strategic IT they are 4 times more likely to be effective at achieving their missions. How, as a community, can the stakeholders come together in partnership to grow IT management capacity, IT funding, and IT strategic planning as a leadership component of any effective nonprofit? Together, TAG and Community IT curated a series of three events around this topic: a panel discussion with experts from providers, foundations, and TAG laying the groundwork of the issue; a mini-convening meet-up of interested stakeholders at the TAG Conference in 2025; and the release of a white paper in early 2026 outlining the nonprofit IT management landscape, existing resources, and areas for building out best practices. To join this community of practice and stay updated on events and publications, get in touch with Carolyn, through our contact us page or on Linkedin. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Technology Association of Grantmakers held their 2025 Conference in Atlanta. Jenny Huftalen and Carolyn Woodard attended and share the takeaways and trends in philanthropy for tech.The takeaways: Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) convenes members bi-annually to share knowledge and experiences on technology used at foundations and funders. Four trends stood out from this year's conference: AI, Data, Cybersecurity, and our own health.Almost every session and keynote spoke to the prevalence of AI in our lives, in philanthropy, and in the nonprofit space. If you are feeling FOMO or feeling that you don't know enough about AI, rest assured no one really knows what they are doing either. We also heard several fascinating use cases where nonprofits in partnership with funders are using AI in thoughtful and impactful ways. Data and database cleaning and organizing was also a trending topic. Several presentations stressed the need to work on your data processes and governance before throwing an AI product at your data and expecting it to clean it up for you. Again, thoughtful attention to the human side of data is necessary to make the AI work well. Several speakers stressed the need to weave cybersecurity throughout your operations and realize that IT and cybersecurity touch every staff member at your organization. Starting with anti-virus software not being built-in to your purchase, IT has constantly packaged cybersecurity as something additional and separate. But that is an inadequate viewpoint. Weave cybersecurity into everything and keep yourself and your organization better protected.Finally, our health. IT in philanthropy is all about people. People need to be healthy, which can require a pause to reflect even in chaotic and stressful times. Several speakers and attendees talked about the need, as ever, to re-focus on the essentials: the communities we partner with, the deep knowledge we have about the assets we hold and the challenges we face, and that we do this work because we have hope for a better future.It's clear that the intersection of technology and philanthropy is evolving rapidly. These trends can feel like a lot to navigate, but remember that the strongest solutions always come from a thoughtful, human-centered approach. Community IT is here to help your nonprofit or foundation thoughtfully weave technology into your operations so you can focus on your mission. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
What Do Nonprofits Need to Know About Penetration Testing?Nonprofit Cybersecurity expert and Community IT CTO Matt Eshleman explains what penetration testing is, why some nonprofits may need it, and why other nonprofits may not, or may not need it until after a basic assessment and vulnerability scanning. Do you have someone urging you to get expensive pen testing, and you aren't sure if you really need it, or if it is just checking a box on an insurance form? This podcast should give you more information on what the pen test tests, and how to match your investment in cybersecurity to your nonprofits' risks and needs. Takeaways on Pen Testing for Nonprofit CybersecurityWhat is penetration testing? When nonprofits hosted a server on premises, penetration testing was a step that could be taken to look for vulnerabilities such as open ports on the local network.Pen testing, as the name implies, involves finding vulnerabilities and exploiting those openings to show how far into your system a hacker could get. Usually a pen testing company will provide a long and very technical report about the client's cybersecurity configurations. Now that most nonprofits are working in the cloud, there is less to test in a pen test. Vulnerability scanning and a basic assessment can usually create a more valuable list of vulnerabilities and remediation suggestions, for a more affordable price. An assessment will provide a more comprehensive and holistic report on the cybersecurity practices at your nonprofit.If you have been told you “need” to have a pen test, make sure you understand why and the ROI return on investment the pen test is expected to provide.Pen testing has definite value, but that value is very specific to certain types of organizations; with on-site servers, and with certain technical needs and risks. The most likely source of compromise and fraud at most small- to mid-sized nonprofits is going to be malicious phishing email leading to wire fraud or compromised credentials. If you have a limited budget to put toward cybersecurity practices, it makes sense to invest in staff training to decrease the risks of clicking on a bad link, and “basic” cybersecurity to protect account credentials and user ID. In general, Community IT would recommend starting a cybersecurity improvement journey with a basic assessment, adding vulnerability scanning, and only after addressing any vulnerabilities discovered at that level, determining whether a pen test is a valuable tool to learn more about your system security and resilience.Community IT hopes that we can provide trusted advice and guidelines for nonprofit safety and security. Your cybersecurity risks and needs will be individual to your nonprofit. If you have questions on pen testing, vulnerability scanning, and basic assessments, reach out and schedule a conversation or assessment with Matt. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
October is ESOP Employee Owner MonthAn Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP, is a legal structure used in the U.S. to create an employee-owned company. Essentially, an ESOP is a type of retirement plan that invests primarily in company stock, holding the assets in a trust for the staff. Community IT is 100% employee-owned. This structure means our staff participates in the company's success. Not all ESOPs are 100% employee-owned. Our CEO Johan Hammerstrom walks through the decisions and concerns of our founder, David Deal, that the mission of the company always remain focused on serving nonprofits with well-managed IT. The best way to preserve that mission when he sold the company in 2012 was to sell it entirely to the staff. Being an ESOP is fundamentally important to Community IT because it ensures we maintain the stability and focus required to serve the nonprofit sector best. This structure guarantees we control our own destiny, allowing us to prioritize long-term, excellent service to nonprofit organizations over external pressures like seeking to be acquired or maximizing short-term profits for outside owners. Further, it enhances our culture by aligning the incentives of our passionate employees with our mission, empowering independent decision-making and ensuring that clients benefit from a dedicated, resourceful, and stable team that is invested in the organization's lasting success.Join CEO Johan Hammerstrom as he explains what October being ESOP employee owner month means to Community IT, our clients, and our dedication to providing excellent outsourced IT services.Interested in the ESOP structure advantages and how to become an ESOP? Contact Johan directly, he is always happy to talk about our ESOP. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
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A Panel Discussion with Matthew Eshleman and Ian Gottesman.In part 1, Ian and Matthew discuss an approach to cybersecurity for nonprofits, taking the first steps, and 3 steps you can take to prevent at least 80% of attacks. In pt 2, they talk about making cybersecurity training more engaging, and lessons learned this year. They finish by taking audience questions.Our nonprofit cybersecurity experts discuss the current state of risks, and the best counter-measures nonprofits should have in their toolboxes. Learn what are cybersecurity essentials for nonprofits, and how your nonprofit organization can meet the moment. Keep your staff, your networks, and your data secure in an insecure world.Worried about nonprofit cybersecurity?You aren't alone. The nonprofit sector is seeing new attacks and politicization of work that was never political before. Most attacks we are seeing in our networks are still financial, not political – but that doesn't make being a victim of these attacks better. AI is changing cybersecurity needs rapidly.If you aren't sure what you need to know, or who to ask, learn from our expert panel in this webinar where we will discuss cybersecurity essentials for nonprofits in accessible language, and lay out a plan for any nonprofit to put the basics of cybersecurity in place.Secure your devices. Secure your accounts. Secure your data. In this new webinar, expert panelists discuss cybersecurity essentials and take Q&A.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic, and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
A Panel Discussion with Matthew Eshleman and Ian Gottesman.In part 1, Ian and Matthew discuss an approach to cybersecurity for nonprofits, taking the first steps, and 3 steps you can take to prevent at least 80% of attacks. In pt 2, they talk about making cybersecurity training more engaging, and lessons learned this year. They finish by taking audience questions.Our nonprofit cybersecurity experts discuss the current state of risks, and the best counter-measures nonprofits should have in their toolboxes. Learn what are cybersecurity essentials for nonprofits, and how your nonprofit organization can meet the moment. Keep your staff, your networks, and your data secure in an insecure world.Worried about nonprofit cybersecurity?You aren't alone. The nonprofit sector is seeing new attacks and politicization of work that was never political before. Most attacks we are seeing in our networks are still financial, not political – but that doesn't make being a victim of these attacks better. AI is changing cybersecurity needs rapidly.If you aren't sure what you need to know, or who to ask, learn from our expert panel in this webinar where we will discuss cybersecurity essentials for nonprofits in accessible language, and lay out a plan for any nonprofit to put the basics of cybersecurity in place.Secure your devices. Secure your accounts. Secure your data. In this new webinar, expert panelists discuss cybersecurity essentials and take Q&A.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic, and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Today Carolyn talks with Johanny Torrico about her recent promotion to an executive position that the Community IT Board created for her: President and Chief Operations Officer.This conversation provided an opportunity to delve into Johanny's strategic vision for the company's future. We explored how the new position was created to recognize her role guiding the company through a period of significant growth and innovation in the past few years, ensuring that we continue to provide the highest level of service and support to the nonprofit community. We also touched on the challenges and successes of our expansion at Community IT, doubling both staff and clients served in the years following the pandemic. From scaling our services to meet increasing demand to fostering a cohesive culture as our team grows, Johanny shared valuable insights into the dedication and strategic planning that was required to navigate this dynamic landscape.Our President and COO shared personal reflections on her extensive career in IT and operations, highlighting pivotal moments of challenge and the principles that have led to her success. This led to insights on what it takes to recognize and nurture talent within an organization, offering practical advice for HR professionals, managers, and job seekers alike. We also explored the unique benefits of being a 100% employee-owned company. This model is a cornerstone of our internal culture, fostering a deep sense of ownership and commitment among our staff. Ultimately, this shared purpose and dedication not only helps us attract and retain top talent but also directly translates into the exceptional service and long-term partnerships we provide to our nonprofit clients.Johanny has a lot to say on the benefits of a culture that encourages staff to be happy and capable, and the focus at Community IT on customer service – the face to face interactions of people with people. “As an employee owned company, we all have a stake in the success of our company. For sure, that is something that has contributed to the culture that we have. A culture of work-life balance. A culture of team building, of learning together. I think that part of staff development, that part of working together for the better good, supporting nonprofit organizations, is definitely what makes Community IT unique in the sector.”– Johanny Torrico, COOSpeaker:Johanny Torrico brings over thirty years of experience managing teams and operations to her role as President and Chief Operating Officer at Community IT, where she leads the largest internal team providing services to clients. A calm and organized leader, Johanny is responsible for the service and technical operations for all the teams at Community IT. She also leads staff development and internal business processes, with a focus on staff retention and career mentoring.As Chief Operating Officer Johanny played a critical role in leading the dramatic expansion of our service operations. She established new teams, expanded company management and led the successful adoption of a wide range of new technologies. Johanny has a special ability to promote standardization of our services in ways that add value for our clients. Johanny brings decades of experience, professional maturity and tremendous skillsets as a business leader. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Nonprofit Cybersecurity expert and Community IT CTO Matt Eshleman offered his take on these trends. Listen for expert advice on avoiding new computer viruses and making sure your organization is protected from Attacker-in-the-Middle attacks on MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), particularly for important accounts like your Executive Director and CFO.Fighting VirusesVirus attacks have been increasing. These computer viruses are no longer just malware that “infects” your network through an email link or website. Bad actors know we are suspicious of links in our email and that these days most malicious emails are stopped from reaching our inboxes. As a work around, they have started sending a document with instructions to open the document with a “secure code” – actually a malicious code. In this way, they trick the victim into running the attack against themselves. To resist this attack, always think – if the document you need to open is legitimate, and the person emailing it to you is genuine, they can send you a pdf. You should be very suspicious of any attachment that requires another set of steps to open, particularly executing code on your computer.Other ways you may pick up a computer virus: downloading something malicious online. Be careful to double check you are on a legitimate site before downloading anything. Better yet, use the App Store where possible. We are also seeing an increase in malicious pop-ups. If a window opens on your computer saying you have a virus, it can be scary. Always contact your own IT provider. Do not follow the directions the pop up is giving you to get “support,” or you will be calling the scammer. Using Phish-Resistant MFACommunity IT continues to recommend that all users use a Multi-Factor Authentication method on all accounts.Because MFA is so effective, it is not surprising that attackers are trying to work around it. In the past few years Attacker-in-the-Middle attacks have been on the rise. In this attack, the bad guys trick a user into “logging in” in a way that exposes their secure token for the attacker to steal. The attacker can then login as the user from a different device and gain access to anything the user has access to.Phish-Resistant MFA, like using a passkey or Microsoft Hello, will only allow the MFA to be authenticated from the device where you are. You can also use a physical key like Ubikey or FIDO, which must be present to allow the login.Community IT is recommending at a minimum that all accounts with access to sensitive data such as Executive Director, CFO, maybe Board members, the executive team, should use Phish-Resistant MFA to best protect the organization. Of course, any access to your network is a risk, so where possible, investing in Phish-Resistant MFA for all staff is a good investment.Training on Phish-Resistant MFA can lessen the friction or feeling that an extra step is required. Most Phish-Resistant MFA is quick to use and easy to learn. Peace of mind is worth it. Community IT hopes that building this culture of care at your organization makes it easier for you to update your staff on new threats and scams through your regular training program. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Do you have important files in your nonprofits' Google Drive that are associated with their owners' personal gmail address? Google lets you migrate those files to Shared Drive so your organization never loses access to them. Google Workspace is fantastically easy for nonprofit start ups to set up and doesn't take a lot of technical know-how to manage until you grow to a larger staff size. One of the common issues we run into is ownership of files. In Google world, the creator “owns” the files even when shared or saved on a shared Google Drive, and if that owner leaves the organization – through any number of scenarios – the organization no longer has access to those files. Depending on how important the files are, that can cause problems! For example, if you are using an outsourced CFO – or if a photographer “shared” files with you – you can lose access. A while back Google created “Shared Drive” and we recommend moving files from individually shared folders to organizationally owned folders. In this podcast, Steve shares a Google Drive trick for nonprofits on migrating those files to Shared Drive relatively easily, by making the owner a temporary manager of the new folder. The takeaways: Google regards the “owner” of files as the creator. Various options for sharing files may not grant complete access to those files for as long as they are needed. Community IT recommends creating Shared Drive in Google Workspace and migrating individual files and folders there to preserve organization access to them. This changes the “owner” from the individual to the organization. If you are running into migration issues with shared files disappearing, it is probably because the file was “owned” by someone outside your organization, or even someone within your organization using an individual gmail account to access Google. It is very easy to mistakenly log in to Google under other accounts to do your work!To migrate files in that situation, Google makes it possible to solve the ownership problem without a third-party tool. Staying within the Google universe preserves the file formats and makes migration easier. Links remain valid as will dynamic connections within Google Sheets.Community IT recommends creating a Shared Drive and temporarily making those external people managers with their individual gmail account. That gives them the ability to move whole folders of their files into the Shared Drive, where they become “owned” by the organization even after the individual leaves. This also helps clear up files created by external vendors where ownership needs to sit with the organization not with the individual owner, such as photos.It sounds complicated, but Steve walks through how to approach “ownership” in the Google Workspace universe and make data management as easy as possible. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Vanguard Communications' Chief of Innovation Brenda Foster shared tips and practical advice on getting started using generative Artificial Intelligence AI tools at your nonprofit in a way that matches your mission and values.Learn how to prompt, when and how to use AI tools, and when not to. Learn how to evaluate the outputs and feel good using AI at your nonprofit.In part 1, Brenda explains the various types of AI and walks through the ethical considerations and trade offs for the environment, community justice, human creativity, privacy and security, and bias. She presents a five question framework for creating your nonprofit AI policy. In part 2, Brenda explores good prompting and the differences between tools in this moment, and takes audience Q&A.Are you wondering where to start with AI?Chances are you and your colleagues are already using it for some things, and wondering how to use it better, or whether you should be using it at all. Your organization may be ambivalent or aghast at AI, have already embraced it, or be unsure where to start. You may have colleagues that are using AI for everything and others who won't touch it.Brenda Foster is a PRSA-NCC Hall of Fame inductee who has specialized in nonprofit communication for decades. In this webinar, she shares tips and best practices on improving your AI prompts for communication success and explores situations where AI can improve the day-to-day job satisfaction for nonprofit staff. You can hear more from Brenda in our podcast discussion of AI tips here.How can your nonprofit get started ?In this webinar learn how to prompt, when and how to use AI tools, and when not to. Learn how to evaluate the output and ensure that your team feels confident and comfortable using AI to make their jobs more interesting and to better support your mission.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic, and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community.Learn how to create an AI Acceptable Use Policy here. The nonprofit sector is deeply concerned with ethics, accountability, the environment, and systemic change. Learn more about ethical AI frameworks here. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Vanguard Communications' Chief of Innovation Brenda Foster shared tips and practical advice on getting started using generative Artificial Intelligence AI tools at your nonprofit in a way that matches your mission and values.Learn how to prompt, when and how to use AI tools, and when not to. Learn how to evaluate the outputs and feel good using AI at your nonprofit.In part 1, Brenda explains the various types of AI and walks through the ethical considerations and trade offs for the environment, community justice, human creativity, privacy and security, and bias. She presents a five question framework for creating your nonprofit AI policy. In part 2, Brenda explores good prompting and the differences between tools in this moment, and takes audience Q&A.Are you wondering where to start with AI?Chances are you and your colleagues are already using it for some things, and wondering how to use it better, or whether you should be using it at all. Your organization may be ambivalent or aghast at AI, have already embraced it, or be unsure where to start. You may have colleagues that are using AI for everything and others who won't touch it.Brenda Foster is a PRSA-NCC Hall of Fame inductee who has specialized in nonprofit communication for decades. In this webinar, she shares tips and best practices on improving your AI prompts for communication success and explores situations where AI can improve the day-to-day job satisfaction for nonprofit staff. You can hear more from Brenda in our podcast discussion of AI tips here.How can your nonprofit get started ?In this webinar learn how to prompt, when and how to use AI tools, and when not to. Learn how to evaluate the output and ensure that your team feels confident and comfortable using AI to make their jobs more interesting and to better support your mission.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic, and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community.Learn how to create an AI Acceptable Use Policy here. The nonprofit sector is deeply concerned with ethics, accountability, the environment, and systemic change. Learn more about ethical AI frameworks here. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Does your nonprofit know what to do when a staff person clicks on a suspicious email and instantly regrets it? David Dawson is a Senior Engineer at Community IT on the escalation team for our help desk. Recently he led the response to a cybersecurity incident at a nonprofit client. In this Community IT podcast, he answers Carolyn's questions about the flow of the response, best practices, and gives tips on how your nonprofit can be prepared to respond to phishing or hacking attempts. Knowing who to call and how to respond to a cybersecurity incident at a nonprofit can be the difference that makes a quick and complete recovery.The takeaways: When staff know what to do and who to call it saves valuable time and leads to more confidence in your response. Cybersecurity Awareness Training – particularly anti-phishing training – is a crucial part of your nonprofit cybersecurity defense. Having a single point of contact handling the communication at the nonprofit was important both to provide helpful information back to the IT provider quickly and to communicate effectively with 100+ staff that the incident was being resolved and what they needed to do. Of course, if your single point of contact is on vacation it can complicate your response. Having an Incident Response Plan with multiple backups will help guide your response.If you haven't reviewed your Incident Response Plan recently, you should! Better yet, gather the stakeholders and hold a tabletop exercise to run through some scenarios and see how your team would handle them. This kind of an exercise doesn't cost anything to run except your stakeholders' time, and can help identify single points of failure or areas where the plan is good but your staff need training on what is in it.Many nonprofits initially handle their IT management internally. As your nonprofit grows, consider when it becomes appropriate to call on a trusted partner like Community IT to help with cybersecurity, help desk, and strategic planning. Are your cybersecurity investments up to date? What does your cyberliability policy cover? Could you resolve and recover from a cybersecurity attack? _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
On September 30th Microsoft will only support a new unified multi-factor authentication control configuration. What does this mean for your nonprofit?In March 2023 Microsoft announced that after September 30th, 2025, they would no longer automatically support “legacy” multi-factor authentication controls in the Microsoft 365 Entra ID and General Admin administration portals. The methods your staff are using now will not automatically roll over to be allowed via the new admin dashboard after that date. Steve Longenecker, Community IT's Director of IT Consulting, explains to Carolyn the implications for nonprofits of this change and the Microsoft unified security administration deadline.The takeaways: The new unified authentication dashboard is available now to Microsoft 365 admins.The new Authentication Methods page does not inherit methods allowed in the legacy controls. An administrator needs to manually enable the MFA methods your organization wants to allow. Old MFA options your staff are using now will not roll over automatically to the new dashboard.Microsoft and Community IT are pushing admins to use this opportunity to to exclude less secure MFA methods. Community IT advises against allowing SMS texting and one-time codes sent to personal email addresses as MFA methods. You can upgrade and implement the new MFA and password reset options at any time, and we advise you to do this before September 30, whether or not Microsoft grants an extension of the deadline.If you just started using Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits, you don't need to worry about the deadline because your initial configuration would already be using the new Authentication Methods page. If you haven't made the change or don't know, you need to check before September 30, 2025.This change is visible only to Microsoft administrators, who should be making the change and informing staff where appropriate. If you are a nonprofit leader or board member and have not heard from your IT Director or outsourced IT, check with them to understand the plan for your organization. If you are a nonprofit staffer, pay attention to directions on using the safest MFA to protect your nonprofit.While not directly impacted by this deadline from Microsoft, Carolyn and Steve discuss the importance of “phish-resistant” MFA, preventing Attacker-in-the-Middle (AitM) attacks, for executives and staff working in finance, IT and other highly targeted areas of your operations. NOTE: The timelines on Microsoft changes do sometimes shift, and we are working to keep you updated. Please check for the most recent blog or podcast from us to ensure you have the most recent update. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Many nonprofit staff are facing increased stress and multiplying concerns about privacy, security, and vulnerabilities. What should you be tackling first in this new political environment? The takeaways: Most attacks are still financially based: criminals want you to wire money to the wrong account. The good news is that cybersecurity basics that protect you from fraud also protect your organization from politically motivated attacks.Taking action – even modest first steps or reading up on the issues – goes a long way to assuage fears and stress. But when the stress is all around us, it is hard to prioritize the boring, back-office tasks like reviewing your incident response plan or acceptable use policies, or updating your cybersecurity awareness training. Working with an accountability partner can help! To find motivation to carve out the time to gather stakeholders together, remind them that as Jenny says, a trip in an ambulance to the emergency room costs way more than an annual check up. The cost of a breach will likely be a lot more than the time it would take your team to strengthen your security. There are lots of resources available – here on our site we have free resources on basic cybersecurity, anti-doxxing resources, staff training, and governance policies. If you need motivation to start, listen to this podcast and take those first steps.Presenter:Jennifer Huftalen is a 17-year veteran at Community IT and is our Director of Client Services. She speaks daily with clients about their needs and fears and shares her insights in this podcast interview with Carolyn. The good? news is that our fundamental recommendations on foundational cybersecurity still stand, and will protect most nonprofits from most threats, financial or political. More good news? Basic solutions do not have to be expensive, in fact in our experience, most nonprofits worried about cybersecurity need to walk – put fundamentals in place – before they can run – engage vendors in expensive comprehensive testing when an assessment could have already revealed those weaknesses, for less.Bottom line, it feels good to take action, and Community IT has lots of resources on taking your first steps. If you have questions that aren't answered by our downloadable Cybersecurity Playbook or other online resources, schedule time with our Cybersecurity Expert Matthew Eshleman, no strings attached. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Board.dev Co-Founder and CEO Alethea Hannemann on how to recruit tech leadership to join your nonprofit board, and why you should have tech leaders an/or a tech committee on your board helping your organization to grow and thrive.In part 1, Alethea presents research on the benefits of board members with tech experience and gives two case studies. In part 2, she delves into how to recruit a tech-savvy board member and takes audience questions.Do you have tech expertise on your nonprofit board?Board.dev was founded to help nonprofits recruit and engage tech leaders for your board—so you can fully and responsibly harness the power of technology to maximize your impact. Board.dev also helps educate tech leaders from the for-profit world on the benefits of joining a board, and helps train them to help them be effective quickly in the nonprofit world.Alethea Hannemann is the co-founder and CEO of Board.dev and an architect of the pro-bono service movement, with a career in nonprofits, investing, and advising. She will share Board.dev's insights into the necessity of having board members fluent in tech and nonprofit needs, and how to build tech expertise on your board. Why tech board leadership? Why now?Technology is increasingly a key differentiator for nonprofit performance, from operational efficiency to better service of the community. Yet too few nonprofits have the technology resources they need to achieve their missions.Board service is a high-potential lever for tech capacity-building in social sector organizations. By placing a tech leader on your board, you bring a unique technology perspective to board conversations, add to your general business knowledge, and engage a valuable strategic technology planning partner to the CEO. Making technology risk and opportunity a regular topic at the highest levels of leadership can transform an organization, driving mission success and building greater support for the community.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Board.dev Co-Founder and CEO Alethea Hannemann on how to recruit tech leadership to join your nonprofit board, and why you should have tech leaders an/or a tech committee on your board helping your organization to grow and thrive.In part 1, Alethea presents research on the benefits of board members with tech experience and gives two case studies. In part 2, she delves into how to recruit a tech-savvy board member and takes audience questions.Do you have tech expertise on your nonprofit board?Board.dev was founded to help nonprofits recruit and engage tech leaders for your board—so you can fully and responsibly harness the power of technology to maximize your impact. Board.dev also helps educate tech leaders from the for-profit world on the benefits of joining a board, and helps train them to help them be effective quickly in the nonprofit world.Alethea Hannemann is the co-founder and CEO of Board.dev and an architect of the pro-bono service movement, with a career in nonprofits, investing, and advising. She will share Board.dev's insights into the necessity of having board members fluent in tech and nonprofit needs, and how to build tech expertise on your board. Why tech board leadership? Why now?Technology is increasingly a key differentiator for nonprofit performance, from operational efficiency to better service of the community. Yet too few nonprofits have the technology resources they need to achieve their missions.Board service is a high-potential lever for tech capacity-building in social sector organizations. By placing a tech leader on your board, you bring a unique technology perspective to board conversations, add to your general business knowledge, and engage a valuable strategic technology planning partner to the CEO. Making technology risk and opportunity a regular topic at the highest levels of leadership can transform an organization, driving mission success and building greater support for the community.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
When do your licenses renew? What kind of free or discounted licenses do you have? What are your options? Microsoft announced in the spring of 2025 that after July 1st two classes of nonprofit discounted licenses would be changing. Steve Longenecker, Community IT's Director of IT Consulting, explains how the license discount and donation program is changing at Microsoft, and how to form a plan of action before your renewal date in this podcast with Carolyn Woodard.Steve reviews the history of the Microsoft donation and discount programs for nonprofits and how they have changed over the years. Microsoft's office suite is of course one of the industry standards and very reliable, reputable, and very affordable for nonprofits who qualify for discounts and donated licenses. Steve then reviews the two types of licenses that are affected, and our advice for each.Some Key Takeaways:Check your licenses through your Microsoft admin portalCheck the renewal dateCheck the license typesIf you are currently using Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses you were getting 10 free licenses. Any licenses over the first 10 that you are using are being billed at a discounted nonprofit annual rate. When your licenses renew after July 1, 2025, NONE of them will be free.Microsoft says that your 10 free licenses will be automatically rolled over into discounted nonprofit licenses on your renewal date.You don't need to do anything to make this happen, and your staff using the licenses will not see any interruption in their services.Your finance team needs to be aware that on your renewal date, your payment method on record will be charged an annual renewal fee for ALL your Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses. Make sure your payment method is up to date in your account before your renewal to avoid problems with the rollover.If you are currently using free nonprofit Office 365 E1 licenses for some staff, those also will roll over to discounted licenses on your renewal date after July 1, 2025.Because Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses are very similar to Office 365 E1 licenses, and are free for qualified nonprofits for up to 300 licenses, we recommend procuring Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses and unsubscribing from Office 365 E1 before your renewal date. Changing licenses can be done at any time before your renewal date, so you can go ahead and do it now rather than risk rolling over to paying for E1 licenses.Steve walks through the steps he likes to take to change these licenses over for our clients. It is not difficult but not automatic.For further clarity or support, contact your IT provider, IT staff, or Microsoft account manager. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
A week in the life of the On Site Support Team - what do they do?We're inordinately proud of our On Site Support Team (OSST), who work with clients who need IT help in person, particularly at the nonprofit schools we serve in the DC area.So many of us work remotely - but many nonprofits do work that can't be remote, and many of them need IT support at the office or workplace. For those clients, Community IT is proud to employ a team of customer service professionals that travel on site to keep IT running smoothly and answer questions in person.In fact, all our On Site Support Team members have achieved HDI Customer Service Certifications. Listen to this presentation, meet our team, and learn about a typical week filled with teamwork, expertise, partnerships with our clients, and love of helping people that goes into providing excellent IT support service. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
2025 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report: Keeping Your Nonprofit SecureCommunity IT CTO and cybersecurity expert Matt Eshleman delivered our annual report on trend lines and took questions live and online in this popular annual webinar. In part 1, Matt discusses the landscape and background of cybersecurity attacks nonprofits face now, goes over the lingo and acronyms, and introduces new trends in attacks and protections. In part 2, Matt discusses the data from 2024 and takes questions.Is your nonprofit prepared?Drawn from anonymized data from the calendar year 2024 of cybersecurity incidents across end users in hundreds of our small and mid-sized nonprofit clients, this report shows changes in attacks and emerging threats.Using this real and timely data, Matt walks through recommendations and outlines the practical steps your organization can take to prevent the most frequent attacks. He covers new threats and training best practices for your nonprofit staff around evolving cybersecurity issues, including a spike in online and in-person harassment, wire fraud, AI-enabled scams, smishing and vishing, adversary-in-the-middle MFA attacks, and other new and disturbing trends.You may also be interested in downloading the free Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook to review a framework for focusing on your cybersecurity fundamentals, or using any of our free cybersecurity webinars and podcasts to learn more about specific protections you can take.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
2025 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report: Keeping Your Nonprofit SecureCommunity IT CTO and cybersecurity expert Matt Eshleman delivered our annual report on trend lines and took questions live and online in this popular annual webinar. In part 1, Matt discusses the landscape and background of cybersecurity attacks nonprofits face now, goes over the lingo and acronyms, and introduces new trends in attacks and protections. In part 2, Matt discusses the data from 2024 and takes questions.Is your nonprofit prepared?Drawn from anonymized data from the calendar year 2024 of cybersecurity incidents across end users in hundreds of our small and mid-sized nonprofit clients, this report shows changes in attacks and emerging threats.Using this real and timely data, Matt walks through recommendations and outlines the practical steps your organization can take to prevent the most frequent attacks. He covers new threats and training best practices for your nonprofit staff around evolving cybersecurity issues, including a spike in online and in-person harassment, wire fraud, AI-enabled scams, smishing and vishing, adversary-in-the-middle MFA attacks, and other new and disturbing trends.You may also be interested in downloading the free Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook to review a framework for focusing on your cybersecurity fundamentals, or using any of our free cybersecurity webinars and podcasts to learn more about specific protections you can take.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Taking care of your team: why you can't afford to ignore mental health at work Welcome back to Blended! Today, we're talking about something that is often a strand that weaves through many of the issues we talk about here on the show, from burnout to bias – and that's mental health. But today we're focusing in on mental health, and putting the spotlight onto how it interacts with work. Almost 60% of the world population is in work, and we spend a lot of time there. We often spend more time in a workplace than we do at home, more time with our colleagues than we do our families! That amount of time, the environment we're in, the people around us, the culture – all those elements of work are going to massively impact us. And, of course, everything that happens at home, we're inevitably going to take to work with us as well. So it's incredibly important to prioritize mental health. But, unfortunately, the numbers show we're not doing a good enough job. Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. Not to mention the impact on those people's wellbeing. So what we can do? Our panel are going to be exploring what's going wrong, as well as sharing some of the ways we can all protect and promote good mental health at work. IN THIS EPISODE: [01.21] Introductions to our Blended panelists. · Mariana – Marketing Director at WSI and Kase · Prakash – Fulfilment Specialist and Founder of OTIM · Brandon – Founder of Warm Heart Life · Debra – SVP, Marketing and Strategy at Halo Effect Management “Mental health isn't separate from work. It's the foundation of what we're doing.” Debra [07.53] The group discuss healthy work environments – what they look like, why they're so important, and how we define performance in a healthy environment. “We have no problem talking about our physical wellbeing. It needs to be just as easy to talk about our mental wellbeing... At my office, we all got standing desks and we didn't have to justify it: sitting for hours a day, it's not good for your health. And, to me, a collaborative space where we come together and laugh and catch up on life is just as important as that standing desk.” Mariana “We need to be able to slow down and ask: ‘How are you?' Actually seeing the person you're working with, rather than just using them.” Debra · Work is a big proportion of our lives · Mental health does not equal mental illness · Focus on/acceptance of physical health, rejection of mental health · Brandon's experience of both healthy and unhealthy working environments, their impact, and how they could have changed the course of his life and career forever · Impact of leadership · Importance of trying different things/working in different places · Communication · Tailoring environments – people work differently · Setting clear expectations and defining performance goals for individuals · Allowing teams to be safe in their honesty and communication · Recognizing burnout · Understanding individual's holistic needs · Importance of timely feedback/regular check-ins · Building trust · Carrying weight of unhealthy cultures into new working environments · Psychological safety · Importance of slowing down · Over-focus on productivity · Resilience · Stress/pressure · Individual responsibility vs team collaboration · Measuring KPIs for individuals and leaders · Visibility · Leadership vulnerability – trust, leading by example and giving permission · Advocating for yourself · Community “It really comes down to individuals and, if you have the right few people around you, you can transform an entire team just by having the right conversations. It doesn't have to be the corporate conversations where you're giving all the right trigger words, talking to the C Suite... We're all human.” Prakash “We assign value to people via their productivity. Leaders are feeling the pressures, employees are. And we're not having the capacity conversation. Are we actually setting realistic expectations for ourselves, based in reality?” Debra [59.31] Brandon's experiences with mental health, and his take on the importance of shifting your mindset away from negativity and towards positivity and problem-solving. · Importance of talking · Personal development [01.07.36] The panel explore responsibility, and the role individuals and leaders play in nurturing good mental health and creating positive working environments. “We have a responsibility to show up at work and give our best. And our best isn't going to be the same every day, but we do have a responsibility to take care of our own mental health because, when we don't, everyone around us also suffers.” Mariana “I've had moments where being open about my needs and mental health has made me feel exposed… If we normalize being human, it makes it safer for others to do the same.” Debra · No one-size-fits-all · Creating safe spaces · Empathy · Authenticity · Utilizing HR and resources · Letting go of control/certain expectations · Growth mindset · Vulnerability · Active listening · Leading with curiosity · Educating ourselves “As a leader, you have a responsibility to be aware of the people you're leading and to care for them… And, maybe this is a hot take. But if you feel like you don't have the time to be aware of your employees wellbeing, maybe you shouldn't be leading a team.” Mariana “The best leaders are all trying to get better.” Brandon [1.21.53] The group sum up their thoughts from today's discussion. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: You can connect with Mariana, Debra, Brandon and Prakash over on LinkedIn. Episode 53 - Burnout
In today's interview, Carolyn talks with Tiff Parker, an IT Business Manager at Community IT. They talk about her background, how she got into a technology career, and what brought her to Community IT in this role. Tiff reflects on her early interest in GIS Geo Information Systems mapping, her years as an “accidental techie” at a nonprofit with increasingly senior roles and responsibilities as she gained experience and expertise managing nonprofit IT, and her move from nonprofit IT Director to her role now providing technical and strategic guidance to multiple clients. The Community IT ITBM service provides an outsourced IT manager to clients at a reduced cost to hiring and having an IT manager on staff. These managers are a resource dedicated to matching technology solutions to clients' business needs. To do this well requires an ongoing conversation with the client to continually understand their business needs, and then effective communication with client staff and leadership about the ways specific technology solutions can meet those business needs and how to budget for technology.The ITBM makes recommendations on IT investments, training programs, maintenance, and licenses. They help the client be forward-looking, and act as a vendor-agnostic, trusted advisor with deep knowledge of the nonprofit IT software and platforms available. Because Community IT works in partnership with clients to manage long-term IT needs, the ITBM relationship with the client makes them a true asset.“I'm an IT consultant and I work specifically with nonprofits. I help them leverage technology to meet their mission. …I really love working with the clients. I have a wide variety of all different sizes, different areas they focus on … I might see their name pop up on the news and think “Hey, I'm helping them with their technology.” It's that nice connecting feeling of helping other people accomplish their great work.”Tiff ParkerTiff Parker joined Community IT Innovators as an IT Business Manager (ITBM) in October 2023. She brings over 17 years of experience working in nonprofit technology.As an ITBM, she guides clients through implementation of effective technology investments and utilizing efficient IT services in direct support of their missions. She also assists clients with long-term planning, budgeting, and strategic goals.Prior to coming to Community IT, Tiff was the IT Director for an environmental nonprofit where she was responsible for the overall vision, planning, implementation, management and support of their various information systems, data, policies, and processes.Tiff graduated from Virginia Tech in 2007. She holds the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals MS 900 certification. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Ian Gottesman is CEO of a coalition of 200+ NGOs and 20 major IT companies working together to improve cybersecurity for the nonprofit sector (NGO ISAC). He has decades of experience in executive roles in nonprofit cybersecurity in a variety of organizations.In these challenging times for the nonprofit sector generally, many nonprofits are taking a harder look at their cybersecurity policies to better protect their organization and staff. Community IT recommends getting to a foundational level of basic cybersecurity, and you can download our free Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook to learn what that means and how to put those basics in place. Three cybersecurity basics to think about: manage your identity, patch your hardware and software, and look out for phishing – train your staff. You will get 80% protection from just doing those three low cost things – why would you want to get 0%?When your cybersecurity basics are in place, Ian recommends strengthening your nonprofit data retention policy and compliance as your first next step. Again, this is low cost in terms of your budget, but will have costs to your organization in terms of staff time and energy. So let this challenging moment motivate your team to take on a sorting-and-retaining-or-deleting project.Some Key Takeaways:Cybersecurity Basics are not difficult and protect you from 80% of hacks.Manage your identity. Accounts must be protected, your staff should be verifying they are who is supposed to be logging in.Patch your hardware and software. The easiest way to do this is reboot – log out, restart, and log back in periodically. Your IT provider or internal IT staff should be patching as part of your cybersecurity strategy.Look out for phishing – train your staff. More than 90% of attacks start out tricking a user into clicking a link. For more information on anti-phishing training, check out this webinar on Cybersecurity Awareness Training Tips.Cybercrimes are crimes.Don't feel that you were responsible for your own victimization. Clicking on links happens. Huge companies fall for scams. Encourage a culture of openness and sharing around cybersecurity best practices and incident response planning.Make sure your nonprofit culture embraces a team approach to cybersecurity, and that everyone on your staff knows to tell someone when they see something suspicious or make a mistake, and who to tell. Holding cybercriminals accountable in every country should be a bigger goal for our governments and our laws. Nonprofit Data Retention Policy is a valuable project now.Remind your staff not to put in writing in any device or app something they would not want to be public about your organizationCreating and monitoring compliance with a nonprofit data retention policy does not require expensive tools but it does require the time and energy of your staff. Avoiding unnecessary reputational risks is worth it. Make sure your nonprofit data retention policy covers emails and messaging in addition to documents and files. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Which platform would you choose if you were starting a brand new nonprofit tomorrow?Learn the differences, how to choose, and when to contemplate changing platforms in this webinar with Community IT Innovators CEO Johan Hammerstrom and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker. Johan and Steve together have over 40 years of experience in nonprofit IT and have worked with hundreds of nonprofit clients as they made crucial decisions about their IT platforms.In part 1, we discuss the basic features of each platform, and acknowledging that most people working at nonprofits do not actually have a choice in platforms, we discuss the reasons one or the other may be a better fit for your organization if you had to choose. And if you are thinking of switching, we recommend you have a very strong business case for the switch, not just personal preferences, and that you practice very good change management if you find you must switch.In part 2, we discuss security, data retention, and the limited options for nonprofits that are not one of these two platforms. That is, there are many reputable third party options for ID management or cloud storage, but very few other options for basics like email, calendar, or the office suite of documents and spreadsheets. We then take audience questions and delve into managing a hybrid solution (and check out the previous webinar Managing Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 Together for more tips.)Microsoft VS Google WorkspaceEvery nonprofit organization must have IT tools and a platform. Google offers its Google Workspace suite at a discount to nonprofit organizations. Many new nonprofits use this suite of tools to start up their organization. For small, young, and growing nonprofit organizations, and nonprofits in the education field, this inexpensive suite of user-oriented essential IT tools is becoming a popular standard.Of course, there's a competing service provider also offering a suite of cloud-based basic business productivity tools, also at greatly reduced prices to qualified nonprofit organizations: Microsoft.We are often asked to give our opinion over which platform our clients should use. The answer is not as simple as you might think.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. That said, we're obviously talking about two specific platforms in this presentation, Microsoft and Google – and we find that 99% of our clients are using one or the other, or a hybrid of both. Given that these platforms are widely used by nonprofits, it is in that context that we discuss the choices, advantages, and trade-offs that you could be facing as you choose a platform for your nonprofit.Many questions asked at registration or live at the virtual event will be answered in the transcript. Check back after the webinar for additional resources. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Which platform would you choose if you were starting a brand new nonprofit tomorrow?Learn the differences, how to choose, and when to contemplate changing platforms in this webinar with Community IT Innovators CEO Johan Hammerstrom and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker. Johan and Steve together have over 40 years of experience in nonprofit IT and have worked with hundreds of nonprofit clients as they made crucial decisions about their IT platforms.In part 1, we discuss the basic features of each platform, and acknowledging that most people working at nonprofits do not actually have a choice in platforms, we discuss the reasons one or the other may be a better fit for your organization if you had to choose. And if you are thinking of switching, we recommend you have a very strong business case for the switch, not just personal preferences, and that you practice very good change management if you find you must switch.In part 2, we discuss security, data retention, and the limited options for nonprofits that are not one of these two platforms. That is, there are many reputable third party options for ID management or cloud storage, but very few other options for basics like email, calendar, or the office suite of documents and spreadsheets. We then take audience questions and delve into managing a hybrid solution (and check out the previous webinar Managing Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 Together for more tips.)Microsoft VS Google WorkspaceEvery nonprofit organization must have IT tools and a platform. Google offers its Google Workspace suite at a discount to nonprofit organizations. Many new nonprofits use this suite of tools to start up their organization. For small, young, and growing nonprofit organizations, and nonprofits in the education field, this inexpensive suite of user-oriented essential IT tools is becoming a popular standard.Of course, there's a competing service provider also offering a suite of cloud-based basic business productivity tools, also at greatly reduced prices to qualified nonprofit organizations: Microsoft.We are often asked to give our opinion over which platform our clients should use. The answer is not as simple as you might think.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. That said, we're obviously talking about two specific platforms in this presentation, Microsoft and Google – and we find that 99% of our clients are using one or the other, or a hybrid of both. Given that these platforms are widely used by nonprofits, it is in that context that we discuss the choices, advantages, and trade-offs that you could be facing as you choose a platform for your nonprofit.Many questions asked at registration or live at the virtual event will be answered in the transcript. Check back after the webinar for additional resources. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Are your staff as ready as they can be for the next attack?Our cybersecurity training team manages hundreds of clients and shares our knowledge on what works to keep your staff prepared, not just scared.Matt Eshleman, our CTO and cybersecurity expert answers your questions on how to manage frequent, timely, and engaging training.Part 1 covers the cybersecurity landscape and types of threats facing nonprofits, our framework for how to think about cybersecurity and where staff training fits in your strategy, and the basic philosophy of security awareness training. Pt 2 gets into the details and examples of a typical cybersecurity training program, and Matt answers audience Q&A.Cybersecurity Awareness Training TipsWe often say that staff training is a foundation for cybersecurity protections. As the risks are always evolving, your training needs to be current too. Gone are the days when your staff could be adequately protected by watching an hour long video with a quiz once a year. But managing more frequent training is difficult. We will discuss the tool we use, KnowBe4, which makes it easy to stay up to date and administer training to all staff. There are other training tools out there that work for nonprofit staff – the most important tip is to commit to training and to prioritize it as a team. Your staff and leadership are your best defense of the organization you care about.In addition, with new auditing requirements SAS145 your auditor must assess IT risks to your financial processes – and it will be necessary to demonstrate staff cybersecurity training in your audits. Learn about these issues and more with our experts! If you've been putting off implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training regime, don't wait any longer. Join CTO Matthew Eshleman and host Carolyn Woodard to learn how to implement an up-to-date and flexible cybersecurity awareness training program this year.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. There are multiple cybersecurity awareness training vendors with products that work for nonprofits. We will be discussing the tool we have selected and use, KnowBe4, which offers nonprofit discounts, but our insights and tips will be useful no matter what training program you are using, or if you want to create and run cybersecurity awareness training in house.Many questions asked at registration or live at the virtual event will be answered in the transcript. Check back after the webinar for additional resources. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
In this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zachary Garza and Brad Griffin of Fuller Youth Institute explore the impact of mentoring teenagers, with a focus on identity, belonging, and purpose. Brad, drawing from his research at the Fuller Youth Institute, stresses the importance of genuine connections with young people and fostering safe environments where they can express their thoughts and emotions. The discussion underscores the value of trust, active listening, and guiding teens toward purpose through meaningful service and community engagement.You can checkout Brad's book, Three Big Questions here. To get free resources or find out more information about Fuller Youth Institute, visit https://fulleryouthinstitute.com/.--Takeaways:Mentoring is about listening to teenagers' questions.Identity, belonging, and purpose are crucial for youth.Building trust is essential in mentoring relationships.Creating a safe space allows teens to be authentic.Helping others gives teenagers a sense of purpose.Mentors should not have an agenda when engaging with youth.Follow-up conversations show care and build trust.Teens often feel pressure from expectations around them.Community and church can provide a sense of belonging.God's will for our lives is broad and forgiving.--Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Mentoring and Identity07:32 Exploring Identity, Belonging, and Purpose15:32 Building Trust and Authentic Relationships23:20 Creating Safe Spaces for Teens33:20 Understanding Purpose and Community--It would mean the WORLD to us if you would leave a 5 star rating on our pod so we can reach more people! Scroll down to the bottom the You Can Mentor page on Apple Podcasts and click "Write Review". On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the admin wheel, and hit "Rate Show". Thank you!Also, check out our National Christian Mentoring Gathering, which is April 16-18, 2025 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Learn more about all we do at www.youcanmentor.com
Are your staff as ready as they can be for the next attack?Our cybersecurity training team manages hundreds of clients and shares our knowledge on what works to keep your staff prepared, not just scared.Matt Eshleman, our CTO and cybersecurity expert answers your questions on how to manage frequent, timely, and engaging training.Part 1 covers the cybersecurity landscape and types of threats facing nonprofits, our framework for how to think about cybersecurity and where staff training fits in your strategy, and the basic philosophy of security awareness training. Pt 2 gets into the details and examples of a typical cybersecurity training program, and Matt answers audience Q&A.Cybersecurity Awareness Training TipsWe often say that staff training is a foundation for cybersecurity protections. As the risks are always evolving, your training needs to be current too. Gone are the days when your staff could be adequately protected by watching an hour long video with a quiz once a year. But managing more frequent training is difficult. We will discuss the tool we use, KnowBe4, which makes it easy to stay up to date and administer training to all staff. There are other training tools out there that work for nonprofit staff – the most important tip is to commit to training and to prioritize it as a team. Your staff and leadership are your best defense of the organization you care about.In addition, with new auditing requirements SAS145 your auditor must assess IT risks to your financial processes – and it will be necessary to demonstrate staff cybersecurity training in your audits. Learn about these issues and more with our experts! If you've been putting off implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training regime, don't wait any longer. Join CTO Matthew Eshleman and host Carolyn Woodard to learn how to implement an up-to-date and flexible cybersecurity awareness training program this year.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. There are multiple cybersecurity awareness training vendors with products that work for nonprofits. We will be discussing the tool we have selected and use, KnowBe4, which offers nonprofit discounts, but our insights and tips will be useful no matter what training program you are using, or if you want to create and run cybersecurity awareness training in house.Many questions asked at registration or live at the virtual event will be answered in the transcript. Check back after the webinar for additional resources. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Shauna Dillavou is the co-founder of Brightlin.es, a security firm working with the nonprofit sector to prevent vulnerabilities. She is a seasoned intelligence analyst with decades of experience working for the US government. She formerly was part of a team locating cartel associates by their online traces, and founded Brightlines to reverse-engineer that experience to protect vulnerable staff from online doxxing and threats to their personal safety. Unfortunately in recent years the threats against nonprofit staff have grown, making this service necessary and timely.We know nonprofits are facing challenges in a challenging time. At Community IT, when we think about and enact cybersecurity for our clients in the nonprofit sector, we generally are focused on protecting the organization, its data, its systems, and its finances, from bad actors. Those hackers are overwhelmingly interested in financial benefits: getting you to wire the money to their bank account instead of your real bank account. While some cyber criminals are interested in gaining insights into your advocacy area or your networks, a majority of cyber crimes against nonprofits are purely financial.But what happens when your nonprofit is involved in an advocacy area, a country, or an issue that has suddenly become controversial? Media attention turns to your spokespeople, your staff, your board, and your volunteers – anyone who has been associated with your organization's issue. Particularly online. It isn't long before that online attention can become threats against your personnel.“Doxxing” is a term for when an opponent releases personally identifiable information about you – your home address, phone number, your parents, your kids' personal information. Doxxing is meant to inspire terror and to shut you up. And sometimes the online rancor, coupled with personal information, can lead unhinged individuals to act on these online threats.In this interview, Carolyn talks with Shauna Dillavou, co-founder of Brightlin.es, a security company that works in the nonprofit sector to prevent personal vulnerabilities for staff who may be in the online media spotlight. With decades of experience in the intelligence community, Shauna co-founded Brightlines to provide resources to nonprofits, foundations, and others who face threats and escalation against their staff or spokespeople. In this podcast on anti-doxxing and nonprofit staff safety with Shauna Dillavou, learn the types of personal threats that are becoming more common, and the steps you should take to protect your vulnerable staff. Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our podcasts and webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Podcasts are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. Brightlines is one of many services that exist to improve the security of your staff, executives, and board members. This interview with Shauna Dillavou explores the parameters of the problem and gives general advice on steps to take if you or your staff are threatened online. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Expert Tips on Current Trends: Webinar 2025 Nonprofit Tech Round TableHow is your organization using AI? What policies do you need? What should you be worried about? Download the Community IT Acceptable Use Policy Template for AI Tools in the Nonprofit Workplace.Steve and Matt also share a veritable "grab bag" of new tools, new chips, and other new issues to keep an eye on that will impact the nonprofit sector using IT in 2025. Join CTO Matthew Eshleman and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker, moderated by Carolyn Woodard from Community IT, in a lively and specific discussion of all things nonprofit tech for 2025 and beyond.It's like listening in on your smart friends talking about stuff you need to know about but don't know who to ask.Kick off the new year with a new understanding of trends and practices that can help your nonprofit succeed. This is one of our most popular webinars and podcasts year after year for a reason. We don't believe a lot of lingo or jargon is necessary to understand what you need to know to manage IT.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience. Part 1 covers our introductions, a discussion of hybrid work in the nonprofit context, and tips on new cybersecurity from our expert. Part 2 covers AI, a "grab bag" of new tech and new issues, and audience Q&A.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. Many questions asked at registration or live at the virtual event will be answered in the transcript. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
Expert Tips on Current Trends: Webinar 2025 Nonprofit Tech Round TableIs the Hybrid/Remote Workplace here to stay or on the way out? Download the Nonprofit Guide to Remote WorkWhat is the new cybersecurity reality and what should you be doing now to better face the next threats?Download the updated Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits PlaybookJoin CTO Matthew Eshleman and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker, moderated by Carolyn Woodard from Community IT, in a lively and specific discussion of all things nonprofit tech for 2025 and beyond.It's like listening in on your smart friends talking about stuff you need to know about but don't know who to ask.Kick off the new year with a new understanding of trends and practices that can help your nonprofit succeed. This is one of our most popular webinars and podcasts year after year for a reason. We don't believe a lot of lingo or jargon is necessary to understand what you need to know to manage IT.As with all our webinars, this presentation is appropriate for an audience of varied IT experience. Part 1 covers our introductions, a discussion of hybrid work in the nonprofit context, and tips on new cybersecurity from our expert. Part 2 covers AI, a "grab bag" of new tech and new issues, and audience Q&A.Community IT is proudly vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Webinars are never a sales pitch, always a way to share our knowledge with our community. Many questions asked at registration or live at the virtual event will be answered in the transcript. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
If your organization uses Google Workspace you have access to Google Groups. Kind of like a listserv but so much better.What are Google Groups?If your nonprofit uses Google Workspace, you can use Google Groups to manage tasks via an email group, with granular controls and monitoring if you need it. Google Groups can improve security for email addresses like “donate@mynonprofit” or “info@mynonprofit” if that email directs to a group and is not its own account that's credentials could be hacked. Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker explains the ins and outs of using Google Groups and some issues to consider including Google's Fedramp certification if you are trying to use Google Groups with federal workers. Since few MSPs can help nonprofits using Google Workspace, please contact us if you have more questions we can help with. We know that so many nonprofit startups start using Google Workspace because it is easy. Some Key Takeaways:Google Groups works like a listserv, allowing multiple people to view and respond to group emails right from their inbox. No new tools needed like slack or discord. Keeping it simple can help your team or volunteers engage easily.Google Groups allows granular permissions and allows a manager to assign certain email threads to specific team members, so you can make sure all donation inquiries get a quick response, for example. Managers can get valuable insight into email thread status and team members can easily collaborate without checking and back-checking to see who is taking which inquiry.Google Groups can be useful in keeping volunteer groups organized and engaged. You can assign any email to Google Groups, making a partly external volunteer team more functional and making it easier for busy volunteers to participate, right from their inbox.Google Groups has many security features that make it preferable to listservs. And Listerv tools are becoming harder to find and manage. Everyone uses email – if you already use Google Workspace you have a listserv tool already available to you, for free, that has many features and security that listservs just don't have.Google Groups is relatively easy to set up and manage, and Google provides lots of helpful how-to tutorials and advice that are accessible to non-technical managers.If you are trying to use Google Groups with federal employees and encountering resistance, be aware that Google has Fedramp certification. This means your federal friends are allowed to use it from a security perspective.Google Groups is a tool you should consider if you are struggling to manage a team or volunteer group. It is easy to get started and easy to expand as you learn the capabilities. We know that few MSPs serving nonprofits are experts in Google Workspace. Community IT has developed expertise in Google Workspace support since we serve nonprofits exclusively, and so many nonprofits use this platform. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.
*JOIN THE PHYSIONIC INSIDERS [PREMIUM CONTENT]* Join the Physionic Insiders: https://bit.ly/PhysionicInsiders2 *HEALTH AUTONOMY [COURSE]*Learn to Analyze & Apply Studies for Yourself: https://bit.ly/healthautonomy *JOIN THE COMMUNITY*Join my Community [It's Free!]: https://bit.ly/PhysionicCommunity2 *EMAIL LIST*1-2 Weekly Email of Value [It's Free!]: http://bit.ly/2AXIzK6 *HIRE ME FOR CONSULTING:* Consulting: https://bit.ly/3dmUl2H 0:00 - Introduction 1:18 - What is NAD+? Why is it Important? 8:39 - Weight Loss and NAD+ 16:25 - The Dr. Sinclair Story 24:30 - Dr. Sinclair's focus on NAD+ 31:50 - How have Scientists boosted NAD+? 34:09 - Do NAD+ Boosters work? 45:36 - Different types of NAD+ Boosters 49:40 - Dr. Sinclair's newest NAD+ Study (Unpublished!) 1:05:28 - Exercise and other Strategies for NAD+ Boosting 1:10:15 - NAD+ in Women 1:13:55 - Nuchido Time+ NAD+ Study in Humans 1:29:51 - Summarizing/Take Aways 1:34:08 - Taking Niacin instead of other NAD+ Boosters? 1:38:05 - Conclusion/Just Chatting
Knowing what we want to be when we grow up is a gift, but for most of us, our careers take us to unexpected and surprising places—just like our guest for this episode. In this episode we hear from Dominique Johnson, Connecticut State Representative for the 143rd District, covering parts of Norwalk and Westport. Dominique takes us through her unexpected path into politics, starting from her days as an aspiring violinist to becoming a social scientist and finally, stepping into the world of public service. With her skill of analytical thinking combined with a deep commitment to education and the youth, Dominique discovered social science and worked with nonprofits, eventually transitioning into a political career where she could directly impact her community. She shares valuable insights about her dedication to making a tangible impact in her community through coalition-building and thoughtful legislation. Topics Include: Using Past Experiences for Future Success: We can never truly know how the things we know and the skills we develop now will help us in the future. Dominique's background in social science and the analytical mind developed by music gave her the skills to address real-world issues through data-driven solutions. The Power of Community: It is incredibly important to have a community that supports and recognizes your potential —especially when pursuing paths you never imagined for yourself. Building Coalitions for Effective Governance: An approach to policy making is to emphasize collaboration and listening to diverse voices. Bipartisan efforts and coalition-building can lead to meaningful change, even in politically divided environments. Dominique's story is a reminder that the most meaningful careers often result from life's unexpected twists. As a dedicated community leader, her work aligns with the values of HAYVN—advocating for women's economic mobility, sustainability, and workforce development. Her ongoing efforts continue to support her constituents and contribute to building a more inclusive and resilient society. Tune in to hear more about how Dominique is bringing her skills, passion, and heart to the political arena while keeping her community's well-being at the center of everything she does. Connect with Dominique Johnson: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Connect with Nancy: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter
Join Rhea Wong in this solo episode of Nonprofit Lowdown as she shares her top 10 insights and lessons learned from her journey as an Executive Director. This episode is inspired by Brittany, a new Executive Director Ria met during a recent speech in Vegas. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just stepping into your role, this episode is packed with wisdom that'll help you navigate the challenges and triumphs of being at the top. Key Takeaways: Perceptions Matter: Everything you do will be interpreted by your team, so be mindful of your actions and behaviors. Manage Expectations: No one will meet your high standards perfectly; learn to manage your expectations and delegate effectively. Protect Your Time: Focus on high ROI tasks and protect your most valuable asset—your time. Face Your Fears: The tasks you avoid out of fear are often the ones that will move the needle the most. Hire Slowly, Fire Quickly: Take your time to hire the right people and don't hesitate to let go of those who are detrimental to your culture. Adjust at the Top: The skills that got you to the top won't necessarily help you succeed there. Adapt and evolve. Self-Awareness: Your emotional state impacts your team. Be responsible for managing it. Get a Coach: Even top performers need a coach. An external perspective can help you grow. Find a Community: It's lonely at the top; find a community for support and camaraderie. Choose Happiness: You can be right or you can be happy, but you can't be both. Prioritize your happiness and team cohesion. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nonprofitlowdown/support
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