What should an executive director or her board do when she’s highly stressed, can’t delegate, is burned out or lacks confidence? Hire a coach to help her devise solutions and put new behaviors into action. An executive who isn’t happy can’t be creative, supportive or fully productive and this impacts the nonprofit’s overall performance. On this week’s show, I talk to two highly skilled coaches who have helped leaders solve practical problems often in a very short time. Jill Sheldon of Open Road ...
Aug 22, 2011•57 min
This show is designed to inspire you and it will involve both your ears and eyes as my second guest and I review an phenomenal photographic story about an orphanage in Transylvania . My two guests work for PhotoPhilanthropy , a two-year old nonprofit that brings together professional photographers and nonprofits with the intention of causing social change through photographic storytelling. The organization believes in people’s interest in knowing more, in understanding better, in seeing the stor...
Aug 15, 2011•1 hr 1 min
A recent study showed that only 45 percent of executive directors had a performance review in the past year and of those, 2/3 said it was of little or no use to them. This show describes a great process boards can use and five questions they can ask to ensure the evaluation empowers both the board and staff. My guest is Paula J. MacLean of MacLean Management Consulting which operates Silver Creek Press . She is the author of six human resource books, including The Supervisor’s Big Book of Answer...
Aug 08, 2011•54 min
Reluctant nonprofit leaders and board members can learn to overcome their fear of fundraising. Two extraordinary guests on this week’s show provide coaching about identifying and calling on people who may be interested in supporting your nonprofit. Rita Galowich of Fund Inc . describes what she has her clients do to build their individual donor base and you’ll see how do-able it is. Andrew Watt of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) shares methods that he knows are effective; he’s...
Jul 25, 2011•1 hr 1 min
Although Minnesota’s governor and top legislative leaders have agreed to end the government shutdown, there’s still a great deal of uncertainty. Nonprofits and businesses are laying off hundreds of people every day. Listen to Angie Miller, executive director of Community Action Duluth , describe how her organization, staff and clients are being affected. The bright spot in the crisis is that her strong relationships with local community funders is helping her manage her cash flow crisis at the m...
Jul 18, 2011•52 min
This week’s show focuses on how to get started in a nonprofit career and also, understanding young professionals. I speak with Nathan Hand, author of the blog Nonprofit Nate and vice president of development for Indy Schools on Wheels. He discusses his career, fundraising and how to increase individual giving. He also provides great advice about the best ways to support young nonprofit professionals. My second guest is Rosetta Thurman , also a blogger as well as a nonprofit consultant, leadershi...
Jul 11, 2011•1 hr 3 min
It’s a holiday week for Host Renee McGivern so we’re replaying the very helpful show, Understanding a Balance Sheet. The nonprofit balance sheet is a complete mystery to thousands of leaders in nonprofit management and also to board members. The balance sheet tells a unique story about the organization’s financial health that shouldn’t be overlooked; your other financial statements do not replace this valuable point of view. In this show, Host Renee McGivern and Terry Fraser of LarsonAllen revie...
Jul 04, 2011•58 min
On this show, I speak with Jeffrey Tenenbaum , an expert on nonprofit law, about unrelated business income taxes. If you receive income from corporate sponsorships, advertising, licensing agreements or endorsements, or cause-related marketing, then you and the staff people involved must know when that income is taxable and when it’s not. If you don’t receive this type of income, listen to this show anyway; one of your board members may ask, “How can we generate more revenue? How about getting in...
Jun 27, 2011•49 min
My first guest on this week’s show illustrates how to be a stranger in a strange land providing service with sensitivity and respect. Gary Teale of Avivara tells the story of how he and his wife started a nonprofit in Guatemala and what they’ve been learning about supporting teachers there. My second guest is Laura S. Quinn who founded Idealware , a nonprofit that helps nonprofits make good software decisions. Think of Idealware as a kind of “consumer reports.” Subscribe with your favorite podca...
Jun 20, 2011•55 min
Charting Impact is a new online tool and its five, deceptively simple questions will sharpen your thinking about your nonprofit, clearly define your strategies, and help track your progress. Bob Ottenhoff, CEO of Guidestar , will talk about why the tool was developed in partnership with The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and Independent Sector. M.J. Ebenhack, President and CEO of Ahead Energy , did a great job answering the Charting Impact questions and we’ll talk about it. Along ...
Jun 13, 2011•50 min
On this week’s show, you’ll hear two guests who are very clear about their organizations’ missions and yet very open to new ideas for manifesting them. They instill confidence in volunteers, donors, and customers. My first guest is Gary S. Fagin, the founder, musical director and conductor of The Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra . In three short years and despite a difficult economy, he and his board are staying true to their mission, fundraising, and making this orchestra THE community orchestra...
Jun 06, 2011•46 min
On this week’s show, you’ll get simple ideas for being creative about recruiting board members and young volunteers. Kristin Rortvedt is a younger board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico who talks about an innovative Teen Ambassador program she’s developed for the organization. You can download the toolkit for this program from their online resource area at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (of New Mexico) website . Paula J. MacLean is a nonprofit consultant who has writt...
May 30, 2011•56 min
This week’s show focuses on efficient nonprofit management and nonprofit technology. Jim Coningsby of PNOLA in New Orleans discusses how he uses Salesforce and Google apps to manage volunteers, donors and projects. Being efficient with operational systems gives him time to look ahead and be responsive. Tal Frankfurt of Cloud for Good goes into more detail about these online tools and how they can support nonprofits. Don’t spend one more dime on software or technology until you’ve listened to thi...
May 23, 2011•56 min
The show focuses on how artists and the arts support and can be supported by communities. My first guest is Megan Rye, one of the organizers of a successful, first-time fundraising event that involved more than 400 artists who contributed 1200 works of art. Art4Shelter tapped into artists’ deep concern for the homeless. My second guest is Jessica Jarrett who is executive director of Creative Advocacy Network , a temporary nonprofit with the goal of engaging leaders in the Portland, Oregon area t...
May 16, 2011•47 min
Fundraising auctions can produce greater returns if you think like a creative merchant rather than an event planner. On this show, you’ll hear from Sherry Truhlar, a passionate auctioneer and founder of Red Apple Auctions LLC and Jon Carson, chairman and CEO of BiddingForGood . Be prepared to take lots of notes! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The post Nonprofit Spark – Silent, live and online auction tips and best practices – 05/02/11 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net ....
May 02, 2011•18 min
The Miami Dolphins is the only NFL team to coordinate volunteers on behalf of nonprofits in the area. The Miami Dolphins Special Teams volunteer management program kicked off one year ago and to date, has enlisted 3,120 volunteers who’ve contributed 41,509 hours of community service. On this show, you’ll hear Adam Grossman, senior vice president of public affairs, describe why they started the program and what makes it effective. I also speak to Tina Silver, a Miami Dolphins Special Teams volunt...
Apr 25, 2011•45 min
Despite all the talk about social media, newspapers, radio and television still are the most effective media for causing sustainable change. In this show, I speak with Brenda Simmons of the Institute for Public Strategies . It’s an agency that specializes in population-based prevention. She’ll talk about how the organization uses media advocacy to earn the attention if legislators and the community. She’ll also discuss how they combine their media advocacy with intentional community organizing, ...
Apr 17, 2011•50 min
This show is geared to the organizations without formal event planners and it’s an eye-opener! We touch on critical issues related to budgeting and the legally binding contracts you sign with hotels and other venues. Though events can be fun, they’re not to be taken lightly. My Minneapolis-based guests are Kathleen Sheridan of Sheridan Association & Meeting Services (952-472-4762, http://mksheridan@aol.com ) and Melanie Weber of the Crowne Plaza Northstar Hotel (612-338-2288 http://melaniewe...
Apr 11, 2011•51 min
On this week’s show, Robbin Phillips of Brains on Fire will challenge you to think creatively about your nonprofit as a movement. Your role is to ignite people’s passion and support them in taking action to solve the injustice your organization brings to light. You’ll learn what “engagement” really looks like. Also on the show, I speak with Vanessa Hope Schneider of Eventbrite , an online event management tool. It’s the kind of online or Web 2.0 resource that can help you work smarter and suppor...
Apr 04, 2011•48 min
This “Best of Nonprofit Spark” show features three of my favorite guests from the past 25 episodes who are hands-on leaders. The first guest is Alicia Hansen of Salt, a new nonprofit based in New York City. The second guest is Gibson Fay-Lablanc of The Telling Room, a five-year-old organization based in Portland, Maine. The final guest is Whitney Smith of Girls for a Change, a 10-year-old nonprofit based in San Jose, California. Taken together, the interviews demonstrate a common progression in ...
Mar 28, 2011•53 min
Web sites are a fundamental communications and marketing tool for nonprofits. On this show, my guest is Tim Spell of Nonprofit CMS and I explore a modern, fresh example of a social service agency Web site and discuss the elements of the site that make it so effective. Please follow us along as we talk about the Web site of the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association in Memphis, Tennessee. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The post Nonprofit Spark – Elements of a great Web site...
Mar 21, 2011•53 min
Listen in to learn more about how to encourage more women to give generously to your organization. On this show, you’ll hear some great insights about women donors from a pioneer and leader in the field of women’s philanthropy, Martha Taylor. She also shares practical actions most nonprofits can take to improve their relationships with women donors. Martha is a vice president at the University of Wisconsin Foundation and recently co-authored her third book called Women & Philanthropy: Boldly...
Mar 14, 2011•49 min
Program evaluation can be a rich and rewarding discovery process and it’s considered a nonprofit Best Practice. Jessica Mele, the executive director of Performing Arts Workshop in San Francisco, discusses how her organization’s evaluation processes have evolved and how the staff hold itself accountable for outcomes. Dr. Mary Ruth Coleman of the Frank Porter Graham Center for Child Development at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill provides a program evaluation overview and ideas that ma...
Mar 07, 2011•1 hr 1 min
This week’s show provides a hopeful message about fundraising in tough economic times combined with very practical advice. Jerold Panas is a masterful and beloved fundraising coach and the CEO of Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners , one of the country’s top firms for campaign services and resource development. He is a founder of and trainer for the Institute for Charitable Giving and has written many great books, including Mega Gifts, which is in its 12th printing. Get out some paper and a penci...
Feb 28, 2011•49 min
The nonprofit balance sheet is a complete mystery to thousands of leaders in nonprofit management and also to members of the board. The balance sheet tells a unique story about the organization’s financial health that shouldn’t be overlooked; your other financial statements do not replace this valuable point of view. In this show, host Renee McGivern and Terry Fraser of Larson Allen review a balance sheet in a conversational way so it makes sense for even the most novice of listeners. Download t...
Feb 21, 2011•58 min
It’s an honor to be a board president but we often take on the role without much training. Listen in to this week’s show for help in being thoughtful about how to run effective board meetings and also, to build good relationships with the executive director and board members. I first speak with a Fergus McCann, the co-chair of the board of Beauty Night , a nonprofit based in Vancouver, British Columbia with a mission to provide marginalized people and youth the tools to make positive lifestyle c...
Feb 14, 2011•59 min
Want to raise more money for your organization? Then start thinking like a development professional. This show distinguishes between the short-term view of fundraising and the long-term view of development. I talk to Phil Schumacher again, the executive director of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation , LaCrosse, Wisc. and Jackie Bright, the executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albermarle in Virginia . Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The post Nonp...
Feb 07, 2011•59 min
Considering scaling up your program and results so other communities benefit? Then listen in to this week’s interview with Whitney Smith of Girls For A Change , a San Jose-based program that was founded 10 years ago and has expanded throughout the country and across the globe. We’ll also speak with Peggy Hill of Denver-based Nurse-Family Partnership which developed its model for serving young, disadvantaged mothers over three decades and finally brought it to 30 other communities in the past fiv...
Jan 31, 2011•57 min
Executive directors have many roles and this show hones in on those of visionary and relationship builder. It’s a rare opportunity to spend some time thinking about how important a vision and relationships are to making newer organizations prosper. There are two guests on the show. Alicia Hansen is the executive director and founder of a new nonprofit, SALT , which is a photography program for inner-city teenagers in New York City. Margaret Donohoe is a nonprofit consultant and co-author of the ...
Jan 24, 2011•43 min
Nonprofit “best practices” provide a foundation of experience for nonprofit leaders and board members. The practices and principles focus on “what works” in the areas of planning, boards, financial management, fundraising, program evaluation and more. This week, I’m talking to Trisha Lester, the vice president of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits about how best practices were developed and how to use them. I’ll also speak with Carter McNamara, creator of the Free Management Library Web si...
Jan 17, 2011•47 min
