Think you can fill a staffing gap with volunteers? Think again. In this episode, nonprofit expert Sarah Olivieri unpacks the hidden costs of relying on volunteers when what you really need is paid staff—and how this well-meaning move often slows down your growth. I’ll show you how to break the cycle by investing in your revenue engine first (spoiler: that’s fundraising), and how to use volunteers wisely so they support, not sabotage, your success.

 

Episode Highlights

• 00:23 The Pitfalls of Relying on Volunteers

• 02:40 Effective Volunteer Management Strategies

• 03:32 Balancing Revenue and Mission

• 04:08 Optimizing Volunteer Roles

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About Your Host

Have you seen Casino Royale? That moment when Vespa slides in elegantly, opposite James, all charming smile, razor-sharp wit and mighty brainpower, and says, “I’m the money”?

Well, your host, Sarah Olivieri has been likened to Vespa by one of her clients – not just because she’s charming, beautiful and brainy– but because that bold statement “I’m the money” was, as it turned out, right ON the money.

Sarah helps nonprofits transform their organizations from failing to thriving. And she’s very, very good at it.

She’s brought nonprofits back from the brink of insolvency. She’s averted major cash-flow crises, solved funding droughts, board conflicts and everything in between… and so she has literally become “the money” for many of the organizations she works with.

As the former director of 3 nonprofits and founder of 5 for-profit businesses, she understands, deeply, the challenges and complexities facing organizations and she’s created a framework, called The Impact Method®️, which can help you simplify operations, build aligned teams and make a bigger impact without getting overwhelmed or burning out – and Every. Single. One. Of her clients that have implemented her methodologies have achieved the most incredible results.

Sarah is also a #1 international bestselling author, holds a BA from the University of Chicago with a focus on globalization and its effect on marginalized cultures, and a master's degree in Humanistic and Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz.

Access additional training at www.pivotground.com/funding-secrets or apply for the THRiVE Program for personalized support at www.pivotground.com/application

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