Are you tired of feeling like you’re not getting anywhere with problem-solving in your organization? So many leaders and decision-makers have adopted a status quo with how they solve problems in their organization. It almost feels like they’re on autopilot. While having a good process for solving issues is beneficial, sometimes we don’t give enough thought to how these problems are impacting our staff and community members. That’s why I’m so excited to have special guest, Heather Hiscox on today...
Jan 15, 2024•44 min•Ep. 151
Are you feeling bogged down by a busy work schedule? Is 20 meetings a week your norm? I’ve been there and that’s exactly why I recorded this podcast episode. Today, I’m diving into the New Year’s resolution that completely changed my life! I’m sharing with you four tips to avoid the burnout being a nonprofit leader can sometimes bring. Plus, I’m giving you real-world examples of how you can start implementing these strategies in your everyday life. I’m talking about batching work, using your tim...
Jan 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 150
Are you looking for fresh ideas to shake up your nonprofit and grow your impact? If so, then you’re in luck! Special guest and founder of Humble Design, Treger Strasberg, is sharing all the different ways she’s shaking up the nonprofit world like… how she communicates with her donors, and using empathy, dignity, and creativity as part of her nonprofit’s mission. She also dives into how she’s been able to grow her nonprofit beyond Detroit to Chicago, Cleveland, Seattle, and San Diego by having se...
Jan 01, 2024•42 min•Ep. 149
2023 is quickly coming to a close, so I thought I’d do a podcast highlights episode. I’m diving into the top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2023 and boy oh boy are they juicy… like the episode where I announced that we were shutting down half of our business. It was absolutely terrifying, but 100% the best and most aligned decision for us. That experience was part of the inspiration for my ‘Building Confidence Doing Scary Things’ episode that aired shortly after. This year, we also dove into bui...
Dec 25, 2023•18 min•Ep. 148
Are you a small nonprofit leader looking for ways to spruce up your fundraising strategy to meet your goals? If you said yes, then you’re in luck as fundraising expert, Cindy Wagman, is joining us on today’s episode. She is sharing a wealth of knowledge, like the number one factor in fundraising success, how she’s seen fundraising change over the past two decades, and how having the right person in a fundraising role makes a huge difference for the nonprofit. She even tells us how access to expe...
Dec 18, 2023•48 min•Ep. 147
Are you effectively using your budget to support your team's culture and values? One of the most important qualities of a prosperous nonprofit is having a healthy, well-taken-care-of team. But is it reflected in your budget? In this episode, I’m diving into five ways your budget can support your organization’s team values. I’ll share strategies around defining your team culture and how you can work those values into your budget. And don’t worry, if you’re limited on funds, there are a ton of way...
Dec 11, 2023•21 min•Ep. 146
Are you stressing about wrapping up your 2023 finances? There are so many regulations to adhere to and tasks to get done. It can get overwhelming very quickly. In our latest episode, special guest, Mark Pate, shares several great strategies for wrapping up your 2023 finances so you can go into 2024 stronger than ever. Mark answers burning questions like, “Should nonprofits change audit firms every three to five years?” He also shares how nonprofits can get the most out of working with an auditor...
Dec 04, 2023•43 min•Ep. 145
Are you a nonprofit leader feeling intimidated by public relations? You know you want to spread awareness for your organization, but PR feels scary and you have questions. Is it marketing? Is it fundraising? What is it exactly? If this sounds familiar, then stick around. In this episode of The Prosperous Nonprofit, I’m chatting with two special guests, Caitlin Copple and Holly Conti, co-owners of Full Swing Public Relations. They’re addressing your burning questions about PR and how you can leve...
Nov 27, 2023•50 min•Ep. 144
If you could raise 53% more money next year for your organization, without hosting another gala event or traveling across the country to meet with a new donor, what would that mean for your nonprofit? Guidestar published a study that demonstrated that organizations that provided better and more information to stakeholders raised substantially more money in subsequent years than organizations that didn’t share information with stakeholders. So what’s the problem? Oftentimes, nonprofit leaders are...
Nov 21, 2023•21 min•Ep. 143
Did you know the 990 can be more than just a tax form? It’s also a powerful marketing tool you can leverage to make a great impression on donors and stakeholders and get more funding for your nonprofit. In this episode, I’m diving into the ins and outs of the 990, why it is more than just a tax form, and how you can use it strategically for your organization. In today’s episode, get ready to learn how you can intentionally fill out the 990 with your mission statement, metrics, and impact to tell...
Nov 20, 2023•25 min•Ep. 142
Are you in the year-end fundraising time crunch? The end of the year is often one of the busiest times for nonprofits, with teams hustling to achieve their year-end fundraising goals. That’s why I am so excited to have a special guest and fundraising expert, Morgan Gross in this podcast episode. Morgan shares how she’s helped nonprofits achieve their fundraising goals and expand their reach internationally. She also shares with us what strategies she’s used to achieve these goals like leveraging...
Nov 13, 2023•36 min•Ep. 141
Are you leveraging consultants for your nonprofit? Maybe you’re debating on bringing on a consultant but aren’t sure where to start. Or maybe you’re not even sure if bringing on a consultant is the right move for your organization. If you’re in consultant limbo, then this episode is for you! In today’s episode, I share my experiences hiring consultants for organizations as well as being a consultant for organizations. I dive into some of the legal nuances of consultant vs. employee and some of t...
Nov 06, 2023•27 min•Ep. 140
Are you looking for ways to build an inclusive culture in your nonprofit? Organizational culture can be a challenge for many nonprofit leaders. One of the main reasons is that every organization has blind spots. It can be difficult to see what your organization is missing, especially when you’re on the inside all day every day. In this episode, I sit down with Yanira Castro to chat about how she uses strategies to help nonprofits build an inclusive culture. She discusses how she uses respectful ...
Oct 30, 2023•43 min•Ep. 139
Have you started the process of budgeting for 2024 yet? It’s already October, so if you haven’t started yet, you’re behind. This podcast episode will help you get caught up so you can go into 2024 prepared and ready to make a big impact on the communities you serve. This episode covers six tips for improving your nonprofit’s 2024 budgeting process. We dive into what mistakes many organizations make during this process, and more importantly, how to avoid them. Plus, strategies for boosting your t...
Oct 23, 2023•26 min•Ep. 138
Are you leveraging technology to create better outcomes for your nonprofit? Do you immediately get a feeling of overwhelm or dread when you hear the term “leveraging technology?” It’s understandable if you do, technology can be complicated to say the least. However, it can also be a game changer when it comes to freeing up extra time. In today’s episode, I chat with Heather Johnson about her experience of helping nonprofits leverage technology. We dive into how the nonprofit space has evolved ov...
Oct 16, 2023•32 min•Ep. 137
Do you ever feel alone as a nonprofit leader? Maybe you feel like you don't have anyone to talk to within your organization about the challenges you're facing. Finding peer connections can sometimes feel impossible for nonprofit leaders. In today's episode, I chat with Ellen Kehl about how she’s helping to foster connections within the nonprofit leadership community to help leaders overcome the many obstacles they’re experiencing. We talk about the different challenges nonprofit leaders are faci...
Oct 09, 2023•39 min•Ep. 136
How are you integrating core values into your nonprofit’s everyday work? Are you utilizing these values as a decision tool and a means for navigating your organization through changes? How do all of your employees, from those on the front lines to the leadership team embody core values every day? In this episode, special guest Chad Zibelman talks about how he and his organization integrate core values into their everyday work. He discusses how to use these values to help your organization grow b...
Oct 02, 2023•41 min•Ep. 135
Is organizational culture top of mind for your nonprofit? If it isn’t, it really should be. Special guest, Alissa Novoselick, explains exactly why in today’s podcast episode. She brings us her unique perspective as a modern CFO who prioritizes building a strong organizational culture because she sees just how much it impacts the nonprofit’s bottom line. Alissa discusses how she created a finance department that plays a big role in building her organization's culture, instead of being seen as the...
Sep 26, 2023•48 min•Ep. 134
Are you on the nonprofit cash flow rollercoaster? Managing cash flow is one of the trickiest things for nonprofit leaders because so much of it is out of our control. And while it can feel dizzying to be on the constant up and down of cash coming in and going out, there are ways to manage. In this episode, we dive into different strategies your organization can use to help better manage your cash flow like leveraging your strategic plan, keeping up to date with your bookkeeping, and putting bett...
Sep 25, 2023•24 min•Ep. 133
Are you looking for strategies to strengthen your donor relationships? Or how to overcome some of the many challenges nonprofits are facing today? In today’s episode, we chat with Dr. Mark Scott from the Oishei Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting nonprofits. We dive into how his organization provides support for nonprofits and discuss new demands and challenges nonprofits are facing around staffing shortages, competition with the corporate sector, and the strugg...
Sep 19, 2023•45 min•Ep. 132
Are you maximizing your nonprofit’s impact? What if I told you the key to doing just that was data? Sounds complicated, right? Well, it’s not as complex as it seems. Our special guest, Triana Urraca, breaks down the strategies she’s used to help countless nonprofits maximize their organization’s impact using data. She dives into the different types of data she uses and how she implements data collection systems. Triana also shares with us how most of the data she uses is often what organizations...
Sep 18, 2023•47 min•Ep. 131
Nonprofit leaders, how are you setting up your new leaders for success? What strategies do you have in place to ensure they come into the organization strong? And arguably more importantly, how are you ensuring your new leaders keep a good momentum without burning out? In today’s episode, we have two very special guests, Ivan Gilreath and Deena Terry. Ivan and Deena work together as the CEO and CFO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. They give us their “secrets” for a successful CE...
Sep 12, 2023•40 min•Ep. 130
What processes does your nonprofit have in place to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, most importantly safeguard your precious assets? In this podcast episode, Stephanie discusses what internal controls are and why it’s important to have them in place… to safeguard your precious assets. She has seen all too many times the consequences organizations face when they do not have these procedures in place. And no, it’s not just because an auditor “dinged” the organization for not having these polici...
Sep 11, 2023•22 min•Ep. 129
Is your nonprofit struggling with building a diverse leadership team? Are you facing difficulty when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent? Are you finding it hard to compete with the corporate sector? These are all common challenges within the nonprofit sector, but you’re in luck! Our guest today, Jailan Adly is an expert on nonprofit leadership talent search. She’s helped countless organizations build successful diverse leadership teams by finding top talent for nonprofits. On today’...
Sep 05, 2023•44 min•Ep. 128
Nonprofit leaders, are you seeing a trend of trust-based philanthropy in your organization? Have you seen an uptick in unrestricted funds? Maybe you’re searching for innovative ideas to use this funding. If so, you’re in the right place! In today's episode, I chat with Kelsey Vatsaas, a nonprofit industry expert who is the managing principal of the national nonprofit industry at CLA, a top 10 professional services firm. Kelsey dives into getting unrestricted funds from the employee retention tax...
Sep 04, 2023•50 min•Ep. 127
Institutional Fundraising and Empowering Your Nonprofit with Ash Rogers Is your nonprofit achieving its institutional fundraising goals? What about empowering team members through its leadership structure? Did you know these things can actually go hand in hand? We are so excited for today’s episode with Ash Rogers, where she dives into institutional fundraising and decolonized leadership structure and talks about tons of practical tips and strategies. She tells us how she helped to transform her...
Aug 29, 2023•40 min•Ep. 126
Is your nonprofit financially healthy? If you’re thinking, “Well, what exactly does financially healthy even mean?” Then, you’re in the right place! On today’s podcast episode, Stephanie covers everything you need to know about your organization’s financial health, sustainability, and how to make improvements so you can continue to have a lasting impact on the communities you serve. She breaks down the seven financial metrics your nonprofit should be tracking, common pain points in organizations...
Aug 28, 2023•34 min•Ep. 125
Process Improvement: Why Change Isn’t Always a Bad Thing Nonprofit leaders, when is the last time you did a process improvement audit for your organization? Does just the thought of it make you cringe or give you all the thoughts of overwhelm? If so, fear not! Today, you’re in luck because we have a special guest, Margaret Chapman, who is an expert in implementing strategic and meaningful changes in nonprofit backend processes. She’s going to break down some strategies for us and give us a wealt...
Aug 21, 2023•42 min•Ep. 124
Participatory Budgeting: How to Create Your Best Budget Yet Nonprofit leaders, are you looking for a better way to budget this year? A process that actually builds morale instead of squashing it? Sounds too good to be true, right? It doesn’t have to be! In this episode, Stephanie discusses the participatory, or collaborative, budgeting process. She does a deep dive into what exactly participatory budgeting is, and equally, if not more importantly, what it is NOT. Hint: it is NOT a free-for-all. ...
Aug 14, 2023•31 min•Ep. 123
Using Storytelling to Speak to Your Donors and Hit Your Fundraising Goals Are you looking for ways to hit your fundraising goals and nail your donor communication? You’re in luck! In this special bonus episode, Jess Campbell lays it all out, step-by-step. Jess Campbell is the founder of Out in the Boons, a small shop helping nonprofits discover donors in their email list. She has been a nonprofit fundraiser for 18 years and has raised over $17M+ working from New York to California in organizatio...
Aug 08, 2023•41 min•Ep. 122
