Nonprofit Radio Show
Business & Finance
About
The Nonprofit Radio Show podcast offers bite-size, practical information to help small nonprofits thrive.
Episodes
- Why Small Donations Matter
In this episode of Nonprofit Radio Show, Nancy and Sarah discuss the importance of small donations for nonprofits. They explore strategies such as monthly giving and radical transparency to rebuild trust, strengthen community connection, a…
- Low Engagement? Fix What’s Getting in the Way
Nancy and Sarah discuss common challenges nonprofits face regarding board engagement. They explore reasons why board members may hold back and offer practical strategies to encourage greater participation and follow-through.
- Onboarding New Board Members
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing strategies for onboarding new board members. They cover how to instill organizational knowledge and help new members identify impactful contributions.
- Leadership Transition
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses navigating leadership transitions within nonprofit organizations. Hosts Nancy and Sarah explain that effective transitions involve more than just hiring a new executive director and require ti…
- Setting a Fundraising Goal
Nancy and Sarah discuss how to set a successful fundraising goal for nonprofit organizations. They provide a manageable approach for teams, whether they are building on past data or starting fresh, aiming for a goal that is both realistic…
- How to Have an Effective Board Meeting
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show focuses on making board meetings more effective by moving beyond routine report-outs to engage in governance, strategy, and alignment. Nancy and Sarah offer practical advice on setting meeting purpose,…
- Advocacy Habits for a New Year
Recorded January 4, this episode discusses building advocacy habits for nonprofits. Hosts Nancy and Sarah explain how to use everyday insights to increase influence, spread advocacy across teams, and work within capacity.
- The Secrets of a Great Thank You Letter
Nancy and Sarah discuss effective thank you letter writing, focusing on genuine and sustainable practices to keep donors connected to the organization's work and clearly describe impact.
- Rethinking the Board-Executive Director Relationship
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing the board-executive director relationship. They explore what makes the partnership effective, how it changes based on an organization's phase and the executive direct…
- End of Year Reflections
In this episode reflecting on 2025, hosts Nancy and Sarah identify five key themes in nonprofit work: community coalitions, advocacy, board governance, and new leadership, emphasizing the sector's role as the backbone of communities.
- How to Assess Your Organization
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses practical frameworks such as SWOT, SOAR, balanced scorecards, and lifecycle models that nonprofit boards and staff can use to assess their organization's health and direction, moving towards e…
- Budgeting for a New Year
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses building a budget as a tool for organizational goals and values. Hosts Nancy and Sarah explore mission alignment, decision-making, budgeting approaches, and collaborative processes with staff…
- 8 Ways to Engage Your Board in Year-End Fundraising
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show outlines eight strategies to engage board members in year-end fundraising, emphasizing mission connection and sharing over direct financial solicitation.
- Imposter Syndrome
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing imposter syndrome. They explain its prevalence in nonprofit work and provide strategies for leaders to overcome self-doubt and lead with confidence.
- The Lonely Executive Director
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show focuses on how Executive Directors can overcome the isolation of their role by finding connection and community. Nancy and Sarah discuss practical strategies like peer groups and setting healthy boundar…
- How to Engage Your Board
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses how to build an engaged board by focusing on four key areas: people, lens, structure, and conversations. Nancy and Sarah share practical strategies to encourage board members to invest more de…
- Everyday Advocacy: Finding Your Voice to Influence Policy with Bethany Snyder
This episode features advocacy expert Bethany Snyder discussing how any nonprofit can build power and influence policy. The conversation covers practical ways to use personal stories and missions to advocate for community needs, emphasizin…
- Manipulation or Influence?
Nancy and Sarah discuss the distinction between manipulation and influence in a nonprofit context. They examine how ethical persuasion techniques like storytelling and social proof can be used to support mission-driven goals.
- How Professional Associations Can Help Your Mission
Nancy and Sarah discuss the role professional associations can play in supporting nonprofits. They explore how these organizations can provide practical tools, inspiration, and a sense of connection for those working on a mission.
- The Most Important Financial Report for Your Organization Right Now
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show focuses on the importance of the cash flow statement for small nonprofits. Hosts Nancy and Sarah explain how to create and utilize this report to identify financial issues early and improve financial di…
- What it Really Costs to Run a Program
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing the concept of full-cost budgeting for nonprofits. They explain how covering the total cost of operations can lead to healthier organizations and greater sustainabili…
- Evaluation as a Learning Journey
Nancy and Sarah discuss evaluation as a process of discovery and learning for nonprofits. They explain how it can help organizations ask key questions, engage communities, and uncover insights, offering practical ways to move beyond survey…
- Understanding All the Ways People Can Give to Your Mission
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses diverse methods of supporting nonprofit missions, such as volunteering, recurring donations, donor-advised funds, and stock contributions. The hosts emphasize understanding these varied forms…
- Planning for Succession
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses succession planning, emphasizing its importance for sustaining an organization's mission through leadership transitions. Nancy and Sarah cover practical steps and mindset shifts for preparing…
- How Boards Can Be a Source of Strength in Uncertain Times
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses how strong nonprofit boards can provide stability and focus during uncertain times. Hosts Nancy and Sarah explore strategies for boards to remain mission-focused, support their organizations,…
- How to Stress Test Your Nonprofit
This episode discusses how nonprofits can navigate existential challenges, funding shifts, and administrative changes through stress testing. The method involves asking "What if?" questions to identify risks, foster creative solutions, and…
- Practical Ideas for Inspiring Board Members to be Mission Ambassadors
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show discusses practical strategies for inspiring board members to act as mission ambassadors. Hosts Nancy and Sarah suggest activities such as speed dating and conversation challenges to equip board members…
- Reflections for a New Year
In this episode of the Nonprofit Radio Show, hosts Nancy and Sarah share reflections on lessons learned in 2024. They discuss how these lessons can guide intentional steps toward staying focused, resilient, and hopeful in 2025.
- Fiscal sponsorship as an option to achieve your mission
This episode of the Nonprofit Radio Show explains fiscal sponsorship, a tool that allows individuals and groups to advance their mission without establishing a formal nonprofit. Hosts Nancy and Sarah discuss how it helps projects access fu…
- Your mission as a movement
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah explaining what it means to view your mission as a movement. They discuss the value of this re-frame, how to know if you have achieved it, and its potential to focus on collecti…
- Changing Board Culture
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show focuses on the importance of board culture for nonprofits. Hosts Nancy and Sarah discuss how to intentionally shape culture by addressing change, inclusion, learning, and conflict, offering practical ti…
- Why you need a volunteer strategy right now
Nonprofit Radio Show episode discusses the importance of a volunteer strategy for nonprofits. It covers how a goal-centered plan can deepen mission connections, attract future leaders, and increase donations by providing meaningful engagem…
- The Art of Delegation
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show explores the art of delegation, highlighting its importance for nonprofit leaders, executive directors, and volunteer managers. Hosts Nancy and Sarah discuss how mastering delegation can lead to stronge…
- Planning a Career in Nonprofits
Nancy and Sarah provide seven tips for new graduates seeking to build a sustainable and impactful career in the nonprofit sector. This episode offers guidance for establishing a long-lasting presence in nonprofit work.
- Motivating your team
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing the two elements necessary to foster motivation in others. They cover how to motivate staff, volunteers, and donors.
- Recruiting great board members
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing challenges in finding board members. They explore various recruitment strategies, including "open call" and "by invitation only" approaches, to help organizations att…
- Let's Talk about Risk
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Ted Bilich, CEO of Risk Alternatives, discussing risk management for nonprofits. The discussion covers identifying, addressing, and embracing risk to build organizational resilience and turn po…
- Inviting legacy conversations into our organizations
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing the importance of legacy conversations in nonprofit organizations. They explore how inviting discussions about end-of-life giving can help donors support causes they…
- Why attend a conference
Nancy and Sarah discuss the benefits of attending nonprofit conferences, including breaking routine, gaining learning opportunities from experts, and networking with peers. They highlight how conferences can inspire and provide practical t…
- Why investing in your organization matters
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah challenging the idea that nonprofit board members should avoid investing in their organization. They emphasize that people are the most crucial asset and require competence and…
- Reconnecting with donors
In this episode of Nonprofit Radio Show, Nancy and Sarah present six steps to help nonprofit organizations reconnect with donors who may have become disengaged. The discussion also covers how donor re-engagement can provide insights into d…
- Find joy in nonprofit work
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show focuses on how nonprofit leaders can find joy and fun in their work. Hosts Nancy and Sarah share practical ideas, like using an office bell for positive moments, to help make demanding nonprofit roles m…
- Worker-related rules apply to nonprofits
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show covers workplace regulations pertinent to nonprofit organizations, such as work standards, safety, health laws, and workers' compensation, with hosts Nancy and Sarah. The discussion emphasizes the impor…
- Nonprofit Finance: What Hat Are You Wearing?
In this episode, Nancy and Sarah explain the five distinct finance roles within a nonprofit organization. They detail the responsibilities associated with each role to help board and staff members improve financial management and oversight.
- Change of Year Thoughts
Nancy and Sarah share their thoughts on the new year, reflecting on lessons learned and considering future actions. Topics include the role of boards, conflict resolution, recognizing hard work, fostering curiosity, sharing stories, and ex…
- The Superpowers of Small Nonprofits
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah discussing the inherent power and comparative advantages of small nonprofit organizations. They provide methods for utilizing these strengths to advance a nonprofit's mission an…
- Three Buckets of Board Learning
This episode from Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah detailing three essential categories of information for nonprofit board members. They offer practical examples to help boards deepen their understanding of their cause, the or…
- Putting personalization to work
This episode of Nonprofit Radio Show features Nancy and Sarah exploring how to personalize communication for fundraising and outreach. They provide three practical tips to make personalization efficient and meaningful, encouraging listener…
- Board governance made simple
In this episode of Nonprofit Radio Show, Nancy and Sarah explain board governance in simple terms, detailing specific tasks for board members. They discuss how focusing on governance can prevent common issues and introduce the four buckets…
- How to Write an Annual Appeal Letter
This episode defines the role of the annual appeal letter for nonprofits and offers practical advice for writing an effective letter that encourages reader action and donations. Hosts Nancy and Sarah aim to help listeners overcome writer's…