On this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership we welcome Pauline Palkovic, an expert in donor prospect research with nearly 30 years of experience. Pauline shares invaluable insights into how nonprofits can identify and engage potential donors through strategic research. From understanding the basics of prospect research to debunking common misconceptions, Pauline provides tips that both small and large nonprofit organizations can apply to their fundraising efforts. Learn about essential tool...
Apr 03, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 310
In this episode, host Sarah Olivieri outlines why a nonprofit board's primary role should NOT be governance. Sarah explains the importance of separating decision-making and oversight, detailing how such a system of Governance can improve decision-making and organizational effectiveness. With examples and actionable advice, she demonstrates how shifting to an oversight model can lead to happier board members, more empowered staff, and a bigger impact for the nonprofit. Episode Highlights 01:15 Th...
Apr 01, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 309
Join Sarah Olivieri, nonprofit consultant and coach, as she interviews Scott Burgmeyer about high performance leadership in the nonprofit sector. They discuss the importance of clarity in mission and strategy, how to cultivate and grow team members, and the critical aspects of hiring the right people for your organization. Scott shares his expertise on delivering effective feedback, holding team members accountable, and making strategic hiring decisions that align with long-term organizational g...
Mar 27, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 308
Join Sarah Olivieri, host and nonprofit consultant, as she shares her expert insights on planning and executing successful projects for nonprofit organizations. In this episode, Sarah discusses the crucial subprojects that form a comprehensive project plan, including designing the plan, executing it, evaluating results, and refining processes. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to projects running behind schedule or over budget and discover practical tips for making project tasks a rou...
Mar 25, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 307
In this episode, I discuss the importance of strategic planning tailored to the size and needs of your organization with special guest Kate Scherr-Adams. We talk about the significance of stakeholder engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and how to develop focused, actionable plans. Plus insights on right-sizing your strategic initiatives, making data-informed decisions, and fostering a collaborative environment within your team. Episode Highlights 03:09 Challenges and Changes in S...
Mar 20, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 306
Join Sarah Olivieri, your host and nonprofit expert as she delves into effective goal setting. Learn the difference between outcome goals and process goals, how to set them in pairs, and the importance of focusing on execution goals. Discover actionable tips for breaking down larger goals into manageable projects to make a bigger impact with less work. Get insights on evaluating goals and performance and find out how to apply SMART criteria to process goals. Episode Highlights 01:12 Introduction...
Mar 18, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 305
Join host Sarah Olivieri on 'Inspired Nonprofit Leadership' as she dives into the crucial topic of soft skills with John Whitehead, a seasoned executive coach and corporate trainer. John brings over 40 years of senior leadership experience to the discussion, sharing insights on the importance of emotional intelligence, communication, and behavioral shifts for impactful leadership. Learn practical tips for improving your nonprofit's effectiveness, including how to manage board relationships and e...
Mar 13, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 304
Join host Sarah Olivieri in this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she shares essential tips for building and retaining a dedicated and effective nonprofit team. Drawing from her experience as an executive director, board member, consultant, and coach, Sarah discusses the importance of paying a worthy wage, creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, investing in professional development, and building pathways for career advancement. Episode Highlights 01:15 The Importance o...
Mar 11, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 303
Join Sarah Olivieri in another insightful episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership where she speaks with Holly Rustick, a world-renowned grant writing and business coach. They dive into the challenges and opportunities faced by nonprofit leaders, including the importance of mindset, the complexities of grant writing, and the necessity of preparation and self-care. Holly shares her expertise on how nonprofits can pivot in response to changes in the funding landscape and offers practical tips for ...
Mar 06, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 302
Join nonprofit leadership expert Sarah Olivieri in this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she challenges the traditional hierarchical organizational chart model. Sarah explores the origins of the org chart, its limitations in fostering innovation and treating people well, and introduces a new model focused on managing outcomes rather than people. She discusses the core functions necessary for all nonprofits and how distributing leadership roles can lead to a more effective, happier, an...
Mar 04, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 301
We are excited to celebrate our 300th episode of the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership with special guest Brandon Dean Johnson, CEO of Create Now, an LA-based nonprofit focused on empowering underserved youth through arts education. Brandon shares his journey from being unhoused to leading a successful nonprofit, drawing from his background in graphic design and fine arts. He discusses the importance of authentic leadership, the role of AI in nonprofit work, programmatic innovations, and the future ...
Feb 27, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 300
In this episode Sarah Olivieri shares her three top tips for developing your staff at your organization, covering both heads vs. hands roles and the importance of understanding key functions. She also delves into opening up the advancement process and moving toward a model of distributed leadership. Whether you're part of a nonprofit or for-profit organization, these actionable strategies will help you build your dream team and drive future success. Tune in now to learn more! Episode Highlights ...
Feb 25, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 299
This episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership features disaster expert Patrick Hardy. Learn about Patrick's unique approach to disaster preparedness for non-profit organizations, focusing on the 'five pockets' strategy to ensure continuous operations during any crisis. Discover Patrick's incredible journey of breaking a world record for the longest CPR marathon and gain practical tips to empower your team and keep your nonprofit resilient. Patrick also shares fascinating stories and emphasizes t...
Feb 20, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 298
Join host and nonprofit leadership expert Sarah Olivieri on Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she dives into the critical topic of overcoming board dysfunction. In this episode, Sarah shares three essential tips for refining board structures, emphasizing the transition from a governance to an oversight model. She also discusses the importance of continuous learning for board members and building a rewarding and enjoyable board experience. Sarah’s insights are designed to help nonprofit leaders cr...
Feb 18, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 297
In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, Sarah Olivieri welcomes Alan Harrison, a seasoned nonprofit arts professional and author, to discuss the critical need for nonprofit arts organizations to focus on creating measurable impact in their communities. Alan emphasizes that arts organizations must go beyond just producing art and work towards making a tangible, positive difference in society. He shares powerful examples of organizations like the Louisville Orchestra and Out of Hand Thea...
Feb 13, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 296
Join host Sarah Olivieri in this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, where she shares invaluable strategies on how to start making smart choices using simple data. Discover the importance of tracking key metrics weekly without depending on complex dashboards or automation. Learn how to balance outcome and execution goals, identify critical data points, and integrate data review into your routine for effective decision-making. Sarah also introduces her coaching program 'Thrive' for nonprofi...
Feb 11, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 295
In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, host Sarah Olivieri welcomes executive coach and leadership consultant Rachel Burr. With over 20 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and organizational development, Rachel shares invaluable insights into effective communication, the power of humor, and overcoming imposter syndrome. They discuss the importance of authenticity, practical tips for new leaders, and strategies to navigate the complexities of leadership. Rachel also emphasizes...
Feb 06, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 294
Join Sarah Olivieri in this insightful episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, where she answers a pressing question from a board member: "How can we justify approving a big expense during a tight budget year?" Sarah discusses different categories of expenses and offers practical advice on focusing on revenue-generating expenses even in challenging financial times. Learn why cutting costs is not always the best solution and discover effective strategies to improve your nonprofit's financial si...
Feb 04, 2025•6 min•Season 1Ep. 293
On this episode, host Sarah Olivieri chats with Bryce Wolf, Director of Strategic Growth at Unit 4, about the transformative power and challenges of AI in the nonprofit sector. They dive into practical strategies for balancing AI's benefits with data privacy, and how to make data truly meaningful using AI-powered tools. Dive in for tips to help you navigate the evolving world of AI and enhance your nonprofit's impact. Episode Highlights Bryce's Fun Fact: Coffee with Taylor Swift Diving into AI f...
Jan 30, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 292
In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, host Sarah Olivieri discusses why taking more risks can be beneficial for nonprofit organizations. She explores the common tendency to avoid risks in the nonprofit sector, which can lead to stagnation and reduced impact. Sarah also provides four strategies to help nonprofits transition into risk-taking, including experimenting with small-scale innovations, engaging in advocacy work, acquiring risk mitigation skills, and gaining unanticipated insi...
Jan 28, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 291
Addiction to money, creating decentralized organizations, and the importance of measurable goals all get highlighted in this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership. Host Sarah Olivieri interviews Ali Horriyat, who left the lucrative, profit-driven world of finance in 2016 and donated his entire net worth of millions to devote himself to his vision of a society where compassion, empathy, and social impact are at the heart of our actions. Starting from scratch financially, but full of heart, Ali...
Jan 23, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 290
Join Sarah Olivieri on Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she tackles the pervasive issue of the poverty mindset in nonprofits. Learn how this scarcity mindset can hold back your organization and discover strategic steps to foster an abundance mentality. Sarah shares real-life examples, the cost of a scarcity mindset, and offers three actionable tips to cultivate a culture of abundance. This episode is packed with insights to help your nonprofit grow, thrive, and make a bigger impact. Tune in for ...
Jan 21, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 289
This episode is packed with insights on relationship building, problem-solving, fundraising, and the power of community-driven impact. Perfect for nonprofit leaders looking to maximize their impact and grow their organizations. Join host Sarah Olivieri on Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she interviews Shilpa Alva, founder and executive director of Surge for Water. Discover Shilpa's inspiring journey from the corporate world to leading and growing a nonprofit focused on sustainable water, sanita...
Jan 16, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 288
In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, host Sarah Olivieri shares three essential tips for measuring the impact of your nonprofit organization. Learn how to identify meaningful outcomes, measure your organization's achievements, and evaluate the overall need to determine your impact gap. With over two decades of experience, Sarah shares valuable insights to help you make strategic decisions and enhance the positive change your nonprofit creates. Tune in for useful tips and strategies ...
Jan 14, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 287
In this episode, host Sarah Olivieri is joined by Michael Randel, an experienced organizational change practitioner and founder of Randall Consulting Associates. Michael shares his career journey, particularly his experience with nonprofit organizations in South Africa, and discusses the importance of lifelong learning and leadership coaching. The conversation delves into the distinctions between mentors, coaches, and advisors, and provides practical insights on when and why nonprofit leaders sh...
Jan 09, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 286
Join host Sarah Olivieri on Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she shares essential strategies and tips for evaluating executive directors. This episode explores the importance of regular evaluations, setting clear evaluation criteria, and providing constructive feedback and support. Whether you're an executive director, board member, or nonprofit leader, you'll gain valuable insights to enhance leadership and drive organizational success. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to ensure effecti...
Dec 31, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 285
Join Sarah Olivieri, host of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, as she discusses nonprofit strategies and insights with special guest Rebecca Reiner, Executive Director of Sincere Foundation, who shares her extensive experience in humanitarianism, fundraising, and leading a corporate foundation. Learn about the unique aspects of corporate-funded foundations, the importance of trust in nonprofit funding, and effective grant application strategies. This episode is packed with valuable tips for nonprof...
Dec 19, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 284
In this episode, host Sarah Olivieri dives into the importance of strategic planning and execution, offering three valuable strategy tips you can implement immediately! Tune in for insights and tips to navigate your nonprofit leadership journey effectively. Episode Highlights Understanding Strategy and Execution Tip #1: Achieving More by Doing Less Tip #2: Aligning Projects with Strategic Goals Tip #3: Moving Forward Amidst Uncertainty About Your Host Have you seen Casino Royale? That moment whe...
Dec 17, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 283
In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, host Sarah Olivieri is joined by special guest Tammy Rogers, a leadership expert who has transformed companies like Google and Procter & Gamble. In this episode you’ll learn the importance of balancing results and relationships, investing in leadership development, and giving yourself the brain space to think strategically. Gain practical tips on leadership coaching and why nurturing future leaders is crucial for nonprofit growth. Perfect for...
Dec 12, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 282
Join Sarah Olivieri on Inspired Nonprofit Leadership as she delves into the critical topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within nonprofit boards. Discover why diverse perspectives are essential for effective decision-making and learn about the historical roots of current board structures. Sarah challenges the traditional job description of nonprofit boards, explaining how it was designed to concentrate power and influence within a select group. By shifting decision-making power from ...
Dec 10, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 281
