“I pride myself on being a disruptor. So like, how can we talk about things differently that aren't or haven't been talked about in the sector? That's not what I was comfortable with when I started my business 14 years ago. I was born in Georgia, raised in South Carolina, like conservative roots, pearl necklaces, right? Where it was like, oh, no, no, no, you just need to like, don't rock the boat. And I'm rocking the fucking boat, Like where's the boat? I want to rock it. And so really like step...
Aug 10, 2023•42 min
Get ready for a power-packed panel discussion that will leave you inspired and motivated! In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we've gathered three extraordinary nonprofit leaders who are here to share their wisdom and experiences of what it’s like for your clients. Join Jehan Seirafi, the visionary force behind Sunsar Maya, Sara Miller, the fearless advocate for organ donation through SODA National, and Cassy Horton, the superhero championing the cause for children of cancer patients wit...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Say goodbye to traditional pricing models and hello to value-based pricing. But what exactly does that mean? In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we are joined by Regina Alhassan, founder of ResearchPRO, a prospect development coaching and consulting firm. With years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Regina has mastered the art of value-based pricing to help organizations not only meet but exceed their financial goals. Hear her thoughts on delivering value, prospect development, and ...
Jul 27, 2023•39 min
Get yourself prepared for an awe-inspiring conversation in this episode of the Confessions Podcast as we sit down with the extraordinary LaTresse Snead, founder of Bonsai Leadership Group. She runs a boutique consulting firm that helps nonprofit organizations in the environmental sector with executive coaching, recruiting, and consulting services. LaTresse reveals how she added a personal brand to her business and how she prices her services based on the value she brings to her clients. She also...
Jul 20, 2023•42 min
Get ready to hear some juicy confessions on this episode of the Confessions Podcast as we sit down with Chad Barger, a fundraising consultant who's decided to keep his business a one-man show. Chad shared his secrets to work-life balance, including how he manages to take intentional time off and keep his workload under control. He also dishes on the challenges of growth and staying focused and giving out his killer advice for fellow consultants on how to build a business that doesn't make them w...
Jul 13, 2023•34 min
Get ready to be inspired by the latest episode of the Confessions Podcast featuring Lacey Kempinski, founder of the Balanced Good. Lacey shares her inspiring journey of pivoting from a career in fundraising plans to creating a new and innovative service in nonprofit sector. Through persistence, faith, and leveraging her relationships. Join us as we delve into Lacey's story and discover how she found her calling in helping organizations navigate the complexities of parental leave. Highlights: How...
Jul 06, 2023•38 min
In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we sat down with Racheli Edelkopf, the mastermind behind Pedal Marketing - a consulting biz that helps nonprofits up their marketing game. Racheli talked about her journey as a program director and how that led her to start her own business. Racheli has valuable insights into the realm of marketing and specifically attraction-based marketing, which is the approach she has taken to build her business. Highlights: Racheli's transition from the nonprofit ...
Jun 29, 2023•46 min
Ever wonder what it really takes to launch a successful product or program? How do you transition from a safe, small-scale launch to a full-on, all-in launch? Join us in this episode as Cindy spills all the details about her super successful launch of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy. You'll hear about the nitty-gritty details, the numbers, and the journey from conceptualizing to creating and eventually launching a comprehensive program. It's going to be a deep-dive case study filled with valua...
Jun 22, 2023•49 min
"I think that people who maybe have the best intentions of being an affiliate and then don't end up doing it well is because they don't treat it like a launch the way they would launch their own product." Looking for insider knowledge on affiliate marketing? In this episode, we’re giving you the inside scoop on the art and business of affiliate marketing. We're debunking myths, sharing insights, and guiding you through every step to make the most out of your affiliate relationships. Whether you'...
Jun 15, 2023•30 min
“Nobody's ever gonna do it the way that you would do it, and that's okay. So you just have to find people who know 60% of what you know, you teach them 20% to 30% and you have to be okay with 80% to 90%. And it won't be 100% the way you would define 100%, but it'll be 80%, 90%. And for most people that you're gonna help, for most clients, that is already 200% better than they would do on their own. So don't get hung up on it.” - Mike Duerksen In this episode of The Confessions we sit down with M...
Jun 08, 2023•46 min
"I think one of the first triggers to where you need to turn your mind to, maybe you need some legal advice or legal help or a system, and this isn't necessarily something you need to go to a lawyer for but it's something that you should turn your mind to because there are legal ramifications, and it's the idea of contracts." Do you wonder if you're overlooking vital legal aspects of your business? Is the thought of hiring a lawyer daunting to you, especially if you're in the early stages of you...
Jun 01, 2023•44 min
"Don't network to network, network to learn, network to meet, network to engage because one thing I have learned is everyone in this sector is so open and so willing and wants to share and encourage and love and support and talk like there's no reason.” - Clay Buck Self-discovery and alignment in your business with Clay Buck In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we have a heart-to-heart with Clay Buck, the brain behind TCB Fundraising. With over three decades of experience in fundraising, ...
May 25, 2023•50 min
"Having an intention behind what it is you're putting any effort, energy and money towards is critical." In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we will spill the beans of our experience at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference (AFP ICON) in New Orleans. We went there with a mission: to create space for consultants! We dive into all of our reflections and learnings. But the real gem of this episode is our reflection on the importance of having clear intentions...
May 18, 2023•36 min
“ I could have stopped and walked away and said, you know what, it didn't work. And I had this support and it didn't happen. And that's about me. And only sold four class, all of the things, right? But I kept going. It was like, no, I still believe in this. And I had to get myself to that energy to then get to where I am now. “- Holly Rustick Are you curious to know how to grow your business with diversified income streams and turn your services into passive income? Then you should listen to thi...
May 11, 2023•41 min
“You just have to decide how long am I going to be a hamster on this wheel and when am I going to stop the wheel and say I want to do meaningful work that really means something to somebody that people are learning and they're growing and they're changed because of the work that you're doing.” - Christal Cherry Do you ever feel trapped in a never-ending grind in your business and wonder how you can break the cycle? Christal Cherry, founder of The Board Pro, joins us today to share her journey fr...
May 04, 2023•42 min
“One of my big things is that I hate lazy money. And so giving your money a job, knowing exactly what it's for is really beneficial.” - Jayne Dykstra Are you struggling with cash flow in your business? Do you have trouble making your money work for you and paying yourself and your bills? In this episode of Confessions with Jess and Cindy Podcast, we speak with Jayne Dykstra, the founder and CEO of Zetique, about the value of keeping track of your financial situation in a meaningful way. Highligh...
Apr 27, 2023•37 min
“So just allow the process to be the process. Take it easy on yourself and don't overthink it. Just do what you do best. As long as you do good and you have pure intentions, like the revenue, the clients, the good things, the opportunities will find you. I don't have to stress out on trying to find it. “ - Sheleia Phillips Our guest for today's episode is Sheleia Phillips, the brains behind SMP Nonprofit Consulting and a former biologist turned grant writing coach. Since its inception, she has e...
Apr 20, 2023•51 min
“I find that fluidity is where I find joy and where I am my most productive. And by fluidity, I mean some days, I might be at my desk from eight till six. And other days, I might be at my desk from 10 till noon. “ - Katy Pedersen Behind the scenes of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy with Maria and Katy In this episode, we're taking you behind the scenes with Maria and Katy, members of the Fractional Fundraiser Academy. Listen in as they share their journeys, reveal how they've overcome entrepre...
Apr 13, 2023•41 min
"It's designed to really make it, less risky, more comfortable, and safer for people to take that step towards achieving their goals and creating the income and freedom they set out to create from day one." - Cindy Wagman In this episode,we’re going to dive into the Fractional Fundraiser Academy, a training program that empowers you to set-up, launch, and succeed as a fractional fundraiser. Discover how this program helps you set up your business, find clients, deliver results, and maintain a he...
Apr 06, 2023•38 min
“And I wish more people were like me. I wish more people would just give themselves a break and know that it's okay to screw up because other people learn from that. And again, there's value, I think, in seeing how you respond to the screw ups.” - Kamilah Martin In this episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Kamilah Martin, the founder and CEO of Katalyst, who shared her valuable insights and experience as an interim executive director for nonprofits. Kamilah revealed some practical tips ...
Mar 30, 2023•39 min•Ep. 32
“So it really is the topic. It's sadly, far less about the person and the accomplishments, the experiences, the biography of who is getting pitched, and more about how relevant that topic is to the host audience and how aligned it is with the type of content that they create and produce.” – Angie Trueblood In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Angie Trueblood of the Podwize Group to discuss the art of pitching yourself to podcasts. With her entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking, and s...
Mar 23, 2023•39 min•Ep. 31
"The real win is who I'm becoming, that I'm becoming a more resilient person, that I am becoming someone who is more courageous, more kind. I'm learning perseverance in a real way. I'm learning staying power. Can you just stay? Can you just keep going? That's what entrepreneurship is, right ?" – Julie Ordoñez In this podcast episode, we’re joined by Julie Ordoñez, a major gifts strategist and coach. She is also the founder of CourageLab, a 6-week accelerator where ambitious nonprofit leaders get...
Mar 16, 2023•50 min•Ep. 30
“I make all my decisions through the lens of my values. My values are love and justice.” – Nneka Allen Join us as we chat with Nneka Allen, the founder of The Empathy Agency, a business that is aligned with her values - love and justice. Nneka dives into the complexities of the historical relationship between African and Indigenous peoples and how it informs her work to create belonging spaces where everyone can feel they belong. Tune in as she discusses her approach to coaching, training, consu...
Mar 09, 2023•43 min•Ep. 29
Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver are the co-founders of Fundraising Everywhere, an online training and support community for fundraisers. Through their hard work and dedication, Nikki and Simon were able to provide their staff with pay rises and other benefits, and introduce new methods to make their events and conferences more accessible. Highlights: How Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver started Fundraising Everywhere and their journey to success The ROI of making values-based decisions and how they inc...
Mar 02, 2023•58 min•Ep. 28
You’ve heard us talk about the value of having an email list, well, today we’re diving all in.In this episode of The Confessions Podcast, we are joined by Eman Ismail, an email strategist and copywriter who started with a small email list of 400 people and was able to make $35,000 from her launch. Eman now helps online business owners and ecommerce brands make money through email and encourages them to nurture their email lists. Highlights: Transition from working for charity to for profit busin...
Feb 23, 2023•38 min•Ep. 27
"This is a long game. Everything in life, every relationship we have with our best friends is a long game. If you try to turn to your short game, you just cannot win. And unless you're capable of investing in the long game and yes, looking for quick wins, I just don't think you can have a very successful long business life." - John Lepp Jen Love and John Lepp are the founders and strategic leads of Agents of Good, a strategic and storytelling firm that supports nonprofits in telling better stori...
Feb 16, 2023•45 min•Ep. 26
“If you have great structure and systems in place and your pricing is right, you can do this while you're at your nine to five. The goal is to replace your income, not feel burned out, and not do all those things” DeaRonda Harrison is a grant writing expert and coach, helping nonprofits train up their grant writers and start or scale their own consulting businesses. She is the founder of June 1 Firm, providing high quality services and achieving impressive ROI for her clients. Highlights: Strate...
Feb 09, 2023•52 min•Ep. 25
“I've been speaking for about 10 years. You know, I'm not a newbie at it. I think just being really clear about your boundaries and what you'll accept and not accept.’ – Julia Campbell Julia Campbell is an OG nonprofit consultant and social media teaching maven. She has been in the nonprofit sector for over 13 years, and now works with clients one-on-one, speaks on stages, and runs online courses to empower nonprofit coaches and consultants. In this episode, Julia walks us through how she has bu...
Feb 02, 2023•48 min•Ep. 24
"It takes a lot of time and having an accountability partner or just somebody to be on that journey with you to remind you that you're not doing it wrong." - Brooke Richie-Babbage Navigating the 'Fun Hard' of scaling a business, Brooke Richie-Babbage, CEO of Bending Art, is on a mission to empower nonprofit coaches and consultants to make the power moves that bring them the income and freedom they desire, uncovering secrets and no-longer gatekeeping strategy. Highlights: Shifting business models...
Jan 26, 2023•39 min•Ep. 23
"When I shifted my approach to sales to be of service, it allowed me to have more open, transparent, and honest conversations - it doesn't feel like a zero-sum game where you're fighting for the most your client can give you, and they're fighting for getting the least, the lowest price for the most amount of work. It feels like you're on the same team." - Erin Lindstrom Let us all grow our businesses holistically, combining strategy, mindset, and healing with Erin Lindstrom, a sales strategist a...
Jan 19, 2023•45 min•Ep. 22