Tax exempt organizations in the United States are the third largest employment sector behind manufacturing and retail. Nonprofits do a lot of good. They help feed the hungry, conduct research for childhood cancer, preserve the environment, provide healthcare to the uninsured, fight injustice, and so much more. As much good as nonprofits do in our communities, that does not mean a new nonprofit is the solution to all of life's problems. Join us as we discuss the reasons you might not want to star...
Sep 30, 2021•50 min•Season 4Ep. 20
Join co-hosts Amanda and Kimberly for the ups, downs, and all-arounds of working with Boards of Directors as a board member, staff, or consultant. Successful boards can open doors for fundraising, grant seeking, and building strong partnerships in the communities served.
Sep 16, 2021•54 min•Season 4Ep. 19
From productivity tools to social media management, there are a plethora of tech tools to help grant and fundraising professionals with saving time and keep up with it all. Cohosts Amanda and Kimberly share their favorite tools, from Toggl to Miro, and so much more. Whether you are a consultant or employed by a nonprofit, local government, or other agency, tech tools are a must-have for getting the job done.
Sep 02, 2021•46 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Learn how to make productivity tools work for you, not run your life in this fun, fast-paced interview with Scrum and Agile expert Avi Schneier, the Principle Consultant, Agile Transformations of Scrum Inc. From writing more grants, to raising more money, to the importance of tracking happiness, we cover the waterfront of efficiency and effectiveness in this episode. In the episode, Avi shared three great scrum related resources, and they are: (1) Book - Scrum The Art of Doing Twice the Work in ...
Aug 19, 2021•48 min•Season 4Ep. 17
For some fundraising and grant professionals, consulting is the ultimate end game. For others, they fall into it through no fault of their own. Either way, one must do more than build a good product and hope clients will come knocking on the door. Join our conversation with Lucy Morgan, owner of MyFed Trainer, to learn the ropes on building and growing a successful business all your own.
Aug 05, 2021•52 min•Season 4Ep. 16
On this season's episode of the road less traveled we are talking to Simon Scriver, cofounder of Fundraising Everywhere. A backpacking trip in Australia led to his beginnings in the fundraising world, a profession he did not even know existed before then. One never knows their career trajectory in the fundraising field, and it turns out that even a fear of public speaking cannot keep a good fundraiser down. Take a listen to Simon's path and imagine where your career may lead.
Jul 22, 2021•57 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Today we're talking with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, cohosts of the Pantsuit Politics Podcast. They're known for their grace-filled political discussions, something all grant and fundraising professionals need to know a thing or two about. Join our conversation as we discuss the comeback of federal earmarks, collecting quality data, changing your mind, and having difficult conversations.
Jul 08, 2021•46 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Employee giving is a touchy subject. Don't believe us, check out the conversations on Twitter. We're talking to Ephraim Gopin, Founder of 1832 Communications. After hearing both sides of the argument from leaders in the nonprofit field, he spearheaded a survey of his own, sharing the results in his eBook, Employee Giving: Does Charity Begin in the Office? (Get your own free copy here: Employee Giving Ebook - 1832communications.com. Join our discussions surrounding his survey results, what he lea...
Jun 24, 2021•43 min•Season 4Ep. 13
To write a clear and compelling grant proposal, we need accurate data and a convincing call to action, woven throughout a persuasive narrative. At the heart of our work, we are storytellers. And who better to chat with about storytelling than best selling author Jessica Handler. Not only is she an author, she is also a lecturer in English at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and a grant reviewer. Join our discussion on how to improve our craft.
Jun 10, 2021•42 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Before you write the grant, you need to find the grant. Grant prospect research is a pivotal component of a grant professional's work. So where do you find the right funder and the right application for your organization and the needs it serves? The answer is simple: the same place grant professionals have been looking for the past 20+ years. We're talking about the usual suspects, plus a few you might not know about yet.
May 27, 2021•51 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Join our cohosts as we talk with Carol Kraus, former Director of Illinois’ Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit. With backing by the state’s legislature, this new unit worked with stakeholders, creating a streamlined grant process for all state grant programs, including federal pass through funding. Imagine a one stop shop for grant prospect research, grant application portals, and grant management regulations for every state agency. It’s like a dream come true, and Illinois set the standa...
May 13, 2021•49 min•Season 4Ep. 10
The grants and fundraising arena has always been a competitive endeavor. If you have spent any amount of time in the fund seeking world, you understand that the need always outweighs the grant awards offered by funders and donations handed out by individuals. But that does not mean us grant professionals and fundraisers have to throw off the gloves and duke it out until the last one is standing. Join today's episode for real world examples of how to dial down the crazy-making competition of gran...
Apr 29, 2021•43 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Getting comfortable with understanding and developing program/project budgets is essential for winning grants. Most grant professionals do not have a finance or accounting background, but budget building skills are necessary for every grant proposal. Consider this episode grant budgets for English majors. It is a deep dive you don't want to miss.
Apr 15, 2021•52 min•Season 4Ep. 8
This season's ripped from the headlines episode highlights three instances of grants gone wrong. Join our cohosts as we discuss grant fraud from both a grantee and grantor standpoint. Real life instances of grant fraud can be a powerful lesson in what not to do and serve as a reminder why our grant office should include policies, procedures, and checks and balances. We want to be good stewards of the resources funders entrust to our organizations.
Apr 01, 2021•50 min•Season 4Ep. 7
There are many varying specialties for grant professionals. So how do you choose the right one for your career? We recommend learning as much as you can about each one. Today we are highlighting TJ Hansell and his work with Tribal Nations, both as a funder and fund seeker. Who knows? This may be the grant specialty for you.
Mar 18, 2021•53 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Grant applications vary from application to application. Public and private funding processes are often at two ends of the spectrum, from the level of detail provided in the guidelines to application length to submission processes. Join our cohosts as we discuss the differences between the two, including what we like and don't about each. Neither are perfect, and there is always room for improvement.
Mar 04, 2021•46 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Burnout is a reality in the grant profession. So how do you recognize the signs? And how do you learn to successfully move past the stress to get to the other side? Join our cohosts as we talk with Trish Bachman, Bethany Planton, and Johna Rodgers, a trio who continues to study the effects of burnout in our profession. Based on their research, burnout is not a matter of if it happens, but when.
Feb 18, 2021•44 min•Season 4Ep. 4
At the end of the day, we'd like funders to read our proposals with an eye towards funding our programs. So how do we keep them focused and excited to hear all we have to say? It's all in the story we tell. Join our cohosts as we chat with author Joshilyn Jackson. She translates her New York times bestseller writing techniques into sound advice for successful grant writing.
Feb 04, 2021•44 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The often overlooked and underappreciated source of nonprofit funding is monthly giving. Join our cohosts as we talk to Erica Waasdorp, author of Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant. Learn how easy it is to get your program started. It may not be the sexiest tool in your arsenal, but it's one of the most effective.
Jan 21, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 2
We're kicking off season 4 with a heartfelt discussion about grant application processes and funding practices. Sometimes it's enough to drive even the most seasoned grant professional crazy. We're sharing stories, frustrating experiences, and solutions to it all.
Jan 07, 2021•47 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Season Three wraps with a top ten list of the cohosts' favorite tips, organizations, and helpful things. Join Kimberly and Amanda as they chat about all the things that brought them joy in 2020.
Dec 17, 2020•48 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Join our conversation with Janay Richmond, Director of Marketing and Membership for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). NCRP believes philanthropy should be accountable and transparent, employ effective grant making practices, and benefit marginalized communities. So what does that look like and how can we help make that happen? We discuss that and so much more.
Dec 03, 2020•47 min•Season 3Ep. 15
December 1st is Giving Tuesday, a day set aside to promote the spirit of giving through social media sites. It sounds like a brilliant fundraising tactic for your growing nonprofit, but if you don't have the staff, social media following, and know-how, you will find time wasted and little return on your investment. Join our cohosts as we discuss this and other funding campaigns that may or may not be the right fit for your organization.
Nov 19, 2020•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
There is no clear trajectory for a grant professional. So where do you start, and how do you move up the ladder? The truth is, everyone's ladder is different. Cohosts Amanda and Kimberly share their paths in the grant profession. Take a listen and consider where your career will lead you.
Nov 05, 2020•45 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Sadly, horror stories abound of individuals and organizations not following the rules, regulations, and requirements set forth by grant funders. These stories of fraud serve as a reminder that grant funding is not our money, and we have a fiscal and morale responsibility to safeguard it. Join this year's discussion of stories ripped from the headlines.
Oct 22, 2020•42 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Work-life balance. Healthy work environment. The happy, health nonprofit. Let's face it. We have all heard the buzz words about having a healthy work environment, but it's time to get past the talking and actually make it happen. Join our conversation with Tara Davis who manages staff well-being and engagement for the American Psychological Association as we learn some great practices and ideas to make our working environment better for us all. And she's got the data to back it up, a fan favorit...
Oct 08, 2020•48 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Why do we seek grant funding in the first place? It is simple: we serve communities with needs. Without a need, there is no reason to write that grant proposal in the first place. Listen to learn tips to writing the best needs statement for your next grant.
Sep 24, 2020•43 min•Season 3Ep. 10
We are talking to Pamela Grow about individual giving. Nonprofits should have a diverse portfolio of funding, and believe it or not, grants are not the biggest slice of that pie. The largest source of charitable giving comes from individuals. Take a listen to learn how to cultivate consistent donors for your organization.
Sep 10, 2020•36 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Pat Duboise is a seasoned grant professional who recognized the signs of burnout after attending a national conference. Rather than giving in or ignoring it, she invested in the grant profession through professional development and new experiences in the field. Join our conversation with Pat and learn how to reengage in your own career.
Aug 27, 2020•29 min•Season 3Ep. 8
The Enneagram is a tool, complete with nine personality types, used to understand your way of relating to the world around you. Understanding how you and your coworkers interact, based on your enneagram types, can make you a more cohesive team. Find your enneagram today.
Aug 13, 2020•32 min•Season 3Ep. 7
