Financial sustainability is crucial, but social impact is the heart of nonprofits. With the social enterprise model, how can we ensure that our organization prioritizes its social mission while maintaining a viable business? My guests today are Quilen and Hannah Blackwell , the co-founders of Southside Blooms, an off-grid flower farm youth social enterprise where participants convert vacant lots into commercial flower farms using solar powered rainwater irrigation. This creates jobs for young pe...
Jun 26, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 148
Nearly half of fundraisers say they did not meet pipeline goals in the last fiscal year. ‘Staff turnover,’ ‘manual processes,’ and ‘donor discovery and pipeline management’ were cited by respondents as key challenges faced in 2023, according to a new report by Gravyty , a leader in engagement and fundraising technology. The report breaks down findings from Gravyty’s Donor Engagement and Pipeline Survey, which solicited feedback from leaders representing 160+ fundraising departments, including hi...
Jun 19, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 147
In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Candie Fredritz, the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement at Kent School, a prestigious 9-12 boarding school in Kent, Connecticut. Candie shares her journey from a young worker in the school's stables to her current role, where she plays a pivotal role in fostering strong connections between the school's past and present. We discuss: How Kent School leveraged Zoom and other digital platforms to stay connected with alumni and ...
Jun 12, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 146
You may enjoy the work you do, but you wish more than anything you had more time to simply sit, think, and hear your own thoughts. The truth is - if you really want to make a difference, you must start by taking time for yourself right now because you can’t “change the world” if you’re not around long enough to make that happen. My guest on this episode can relate. Meico Whitlock was on the verge of complete burnout, until he had “a breakdown that led to a breakthrough.” He’s now a recovering wo...
Jun 05, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 145
Economic instability, wars, climate change, and a changing labor landscape have left businesses, organizations, and individuals feeling helpless and defeated. In actuality, too many people and organizations are lacking clarity and purpose. Maybe “outrageous kindness” is the change catalyst we need. My guest is Kristina Joy Carlson, CFRE, renowned philanthropy expert, entrepreneur, and speaker. A sought-after speaker and co-author of the best-selling Essential Principles for Fundraising Success ,...
May 29, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 144
From its potential in donor engagement and fundraising to enhancing program effectiveness, AI has shown that it can amplify the impact of nonprofits. How can we peel back the layers of AI's transformative potential in the nonprofit sector to go beyond the hype to see what’s really working and how it can help us in the trenches? In this conversation, Julia Campbell interviews Justin L. Spelhaug, Corporate Vice President and Global Head of Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft Philanthropies, and Na...
May 22, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 143
In this episode, I sit down with Seth Godin to discuss the future of nonprofit fundraising, how to reach more donors with your message, and how his new venture GOODBIDS is turning charity auctions and fundraising upside down and inside out. Seth is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he's written 21 best selling books, including the Dip Linchpin, Purple Cow Tribes, and what to do when it's your turn. And it's alwa...
May 16, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 142
As a nonprofit professional, you understand the importance of making the most of every dollar you spend on your mission. Nonprofits operate with limited budgets, so professionals in the sector constantly look for ways to maximize impact without overspending. If you’ve encountered the Google Ad Grant program , you probably recognize that the program’s valuable. Free advertising money is a clear win for any organization. Since 2003, Google Ad Grants has given over $9 billion in free advertising to...
May 15, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 141
There are five stories about your nonprofit that form the cornerstones of your organization. Investing in turning these stories into evergreen videos will help maximize your impact for years, because they are always relevant and fresh for your audience. But how to find these stories, collect them, and share them far and wide? My guest on this episode is Danami-Maurice Champion, a Story Director who helps nonprofits elevate empathy, community, and funding through emotive storytelling. Danami is t...
May 08, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 140
Are you a nonprofit leader who feels stuck despite completing a strategic plan and hiring consultants? It can be frustrating when you’ve “done the strategy” and still feel like you’re drowning in names and numbers to build a prospect list, complete a grant application or find Board candidates. You need to make your strategic plan actionable . You need genuine, lasting engagement to power up your mission and increase your impact. My guest is Beth Saunders, a strategic consultant who helps nonprof...
May 01, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 139
Black women, the fastest growing segment of business owners, are the least likely to receive investments from venture capitalists. They account for less than 1 percent of the $424.7 billion raised in tech V.C. funding since 2009, according to the 2018 Project Diane study conducted by DigitalUndivided, an organization that empowers women entrepreneurs of color. To address these disparities, and to provide a one-stop-shop for people looking to buy from Black women, my guest Nikki Porcher founded B...
Apr 24, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 138
Are you tired of pouring resources into events only to see attendees come and go without making a lasting impact? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, fundraising master trainer Chad Barger, ACFRE, shows us the secrets to converting event attendees into loyal donors. The data shows that events are unparalleled in their ability to engage attendees. A study by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) found that 84% of event attendees believe that face-to-face interactions are crucial for building...
Apr 17, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 137
In the philanthropic landscape, the influence of corporate matching programs cannot be overstated. With approximately 81% of Americans making charitable donations and 26 million individuals employed by companies offering match programs, there is significant potential for fundraisers to tap into this resource. Want to reach younger donors? The average age of an American employee is 38, and 70% say they want to work for a company that has purpose. These potential donors not only represent strength...
Apr 10, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 136
Social media can be a boon for nonprofits - or a bane. With attention spans and engagement rates plummeting, and new platforms popping up, how can nonprofits keep up? My guest today is the founder of Sunflower Communications, Nina Staer Nathan. In this insightful episode, we unravel the essential components of crafting an effective social media strategy. From understanding your target audience to leveraging the power of different platforms, Nina provides actionable tips and strategic insights to...
Apr 03, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 135
Most nonprofits struggle to generate income, which hinders impact. It’s common to constantly live in frantic fundraising mode. It impacts your team, your mission, and even your family. How can nonprofits - like yours - find more donations with the network of supporters you already have so you can leave your unique mark on the world? My guest this week is James Thorne. James is a passionate creator dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities through entrepreneurial opportunitie...
Mar 27, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 134
Cause marketing involves partnering with a for-profit business to promote your cause and raise funds. This type of marketing can be a win-win for both parties, as the business benefits from increased brand awareness and positive PR, while your organization benefits from increased exposure and donations. And as more consumers look to support companies that align with their values, cause marketing is becoming increasingly popular for nonprofits to raise funds and awareness. In this episode, I sit ...
Mar 20, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 133
New and small nonprofits are doing powerful work in communities, often with little to no budgets. Getting your first donations can be challenging when you feel like you have little visibility or support. That’s where peer-to-peer fundraising comes in. My guest this week is Tiffany Allen. Tiffany is the CEO of Boss on a Budget , a small firm that teaches communities to form strong nonprofits and obtain funding. Her passion is working with Black-led nonprofits and other new nonprofits, teaching th...
Mar 13, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 132
We know that nonprofits do amazing work. Every single day, they deliver life-changing programs, research, and more to impact communities, regions, and the world. Philanthropy supercharges nonprofits to go forward — but it’s often about more than money. It’s about trust. It’s about storytelling. It’s about big relationships. It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about meaningful conversations. The concept of servant-leadership inspires all this and more - and that is the focus of a new book on p...
Mar 06, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 131
Volunteer recruitment is the #1 challenge volunteer managers report facing. In this episode, I speak with Geng Wang, CEO and Founder of Civic Champs, a volunteer management and engagement platform. We discuss: How volunteering has changed since the pandemic The latest volunteer recruitment trends Tips to recruit and retain the best volunteers How to leverage social media for recruiting volunteers About Geng Wang Geng Wang is the CEO of Civic Champs, a volunteer management and engagement platform...
Feb 28, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 130
Fundraising does not have to feel like throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping for the best. My guest this week is going to help us finally take the guesswork out of finding, cultivating & activating new donors — in proven and actionable ways. In this episode, we discuss: How to Attract New Funders And Donors to Fuel Your Growth How to fund growth How to Mobilize your board to be *real* ambassadors and meaningful thought partners to you and your team How to attract (instead of chasing...
Feb 21, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 129
In the last few years, bilingual social media content has emerged as a tool used to increase diversity and rights for minority groups. On Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and other social platforms, organizations such as Tide Pods by Unilever have released bilingual images that support diverse communities. More recently, nonprofits have started to use bilingual social media content as a marketing tool and support communities by creating awareness and encouraging the involvement of people ...
Feb 14, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 128
Livestreams are the new telethons, and they’re raising millions for charities. The rise of video game streaming in the last several years has opened up a new avenue for philanthropy. Streamers and charity organizations routinely partner up to solicit donations from the gamer’s thousands of loyal viewers. Instead of calling in like participants did for telethons, viewers funnel donations through a digital pipeline that makes the fundraising process instantaneous. Twitch streamers raised $40+ mill...
Feb 07, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 127
Your major gifts strategy may be leaving millions on the table. And it’s probably holding you back from the impact you know your organization could make. You have - or you are developing - relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, but they’re not stepping up to the level you need. But in truth, the person who needs to step up is you. Asking for a lot of money from a rich person face-to-face can be intimidating. Especially when you have worked so hard to build these relationships. My g...
Jan 31, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 126
Social Media for Social Good Academy is open for enrollment - click here for more information! How is technology shaping your fundraising strategy this year? What challenges are fundraisers facing in 2024 - and where are the opportunities? From leveraging data analytics to optimizing online donation processes, this episode explores some of the emerging tech-driven approaches that can elevate fundraising efforts. Join me for an episode diving into the dynamic intersection of technology and fundra...
Jan 25, 2024•36 min
My guest today is Sterrin Bird, Senior Director, Nonprofit Industry Advisor, Salesforce. Sterrin is a nationally recognized leader in the nonprofit community, with nearly three decades spent working with some of the most prestigious organizations in the country, including UCSF Medicine, Duke Medicine, American Red Cross, United Way and the March of Dimes. She was a Chief Development Officer for 30 years In addition she founded her own consulting practice in 2010. Sterrin partners with organizati...
Jan 24, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 124
Social Media for Social Good Academy is open for enrollment - click here for more information! What type of content is most likely to inspire long-term support from your followers? How are nonprofit organizations handling the constant rise of social platforms and features? Are they jumping on the AI bandwagon? And which social platforms are they most (and least) confident will deliver a positive ROI? Join me and the Hootsuite Social Impact Team to discuss the Social Media Trends in Nonprofits re...
Jan 22, 2024•55 min
Nonprofits are often stuck in the status quo of fundraising, inching along towards their revenue goals and slashing programs and budgets along the way. What if we changed the question to: “What if we had no choice but to double our revenue over the next three years with half the resources, half the human effort, half the budget? How would we do it? Go.” This is the question that my guest aims to answer. Matt Scott is CEO of CauseMic and the author of The High Growth Nonprofit: Proven Steps to Qu...
Jan 17, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 123
Have you heard of human-centered design? It is built on the idea that people who experience a challenge are best suited to solve it. More recently, human-centered design has been adapted to solve problems that have nothing to do with technology. For example, school districts often use variations of the approach to redesign schools, engaging students, parents, and teachers as the “expert users” who know what’s needed for an optimal learning environment. Social entrepreneurs use it to design ways ...
Jan 10, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 122
AI is certainly a hot topic right now, and the focus is primarily on using the tools to save time and increase productivity. However, ethics and privacy concerns apply to any and all uses of AI. In this episode, my guest is Kim Snyder, VP of Data Strategy at RoundTable Technology. She leads us in a discussion of the specifics of ethics and privacy as they relate to generative AI. We will cover essential safety practices for nonprofits using or considering generative AI, which includes the crucia...
Jan 03, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 121
In this episode, Julia Campbell sits down with Wendy Mercurio, the Content and Education Specialist at Qgiv, to discuss the top fundraising trends to watch for in 2024. They cover five exciting emerging trends, including AI in fundraising, recurring donors and giving flexibility, peer-to-peer fundraising, unconventional donors, and digital wallets for easy payments. Wendy shares insights and practical tips on how nonprofits can leverage these trends to create more impact and improve their fundra...
Dec 28, 2023•35 min
