Are you constantly chasing funding but still struggling to build sustainable growth?In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Drew Reynolds, Principal Consultant at Common Good Data, to break down why so many nonprofits are stuck in the funding trap and what to do about it.With increasing funding uncertainty and limited capacity, nonprofit leaders are being forced to rethink their fundraising strategy. The key is not doing more. The key is getting clear on your mission and proving your impact.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why nonprofits get stuck in the starvation cycle
• How the Clarity Impact Fundraising framework drives sustainability
• How to improve donor retention through impact storytelling
• Practical ways to measure impact without overwhelm
• How to align your team around mission and results

If you want to build a more sustainable nonprofit and stop chasing funding, this episode is for you.

Check out the full episode and blog here: https://thecharitycfo.com/nonprofit-funding-sustainability/

Connect With Drew Online

🌐 Website: https://www.commongooddata.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewdreynolds/

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

#nonprofitleadership #nonprofitfunding #fundraisingstrategy #impactmeasurement #thecharitycfo

Grant Writing in 2026 Is Harder Than Ever - Here’s How to Adapt Federal funding volatility.

Private foundations acting like contracts. Massive nonprofits competing for $5,000 grants. And now AI flooding the system with applications.

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Dr. Krista Kurlinkus to unpack the state of grant seeking in 2026 and what nonprofit leaders must change to survive.

We cover:

-Why competition for grants is exploding

-How AI is increasing volume but lowering quality

-The dangers of “spray and pray” grant writing

-Administrative burden and hidden compliance costs

-Why nonprofits need a Grants Operating System

-How to align strategy before writing another proposal

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by funding shifts, this episode will give you clarity and actionable next steps.

#grantwriting #nonprofitleadership #fundraisingstrategy #nonprofitfinance #aiingrantwriting #thecharitycfo

Connect with Krista Kurlinkus

FREE Templates on Krista's website: https://www.grantwritingmadeeasy.com💼 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kristakurlinkus

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GrantWritingMadeEasy

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristakurlinkus

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Why Are Donors Disappearing? Here’s What Nonprofits Must Change

Only 20% of first-time donors give again.

That means for every 100 new donors you acquire, 80 disappear.

Is it donor fatigue? The economy? AI? Federal funding volatility?

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson and donor strategist Erin Straza unpack the real reasons donors don’t return - and what nonprofit leaders must change to improve donor retention.

We discuss:

• The truth about donor retention rates

• Why transactional fundraising fails

• The power of phone calls and personal outreach

• How messaging impacts lifetime donor value

• Why “fully funded” grant-heavy nonprofits are still vulnerable

• How to shift from a numbers game to relationship strategy
  

If your fundraising appeals feel like they’re vanishing into the void, this episode is for you.

#donorretention #nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitleadership #fundraisingstrategy #thecharitycfo

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinstraza/

🌐 Website: https://erinstraza.com/

FREE Open Office Meet Up with Erin on April 14th

Register for FREE here: https://mailchi.mp/1af00243dff3/charitycfogrowtime

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Is federal funding coming back? Should your nonprofit apply for federal grants in 2026? And what are the new compliance risks you need to understand before submitting an application?

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with federal funding expert Fielding Jezreel to unpack the current state of federal grants as of February 2026.After a turbulent 2025 filled with funding whiplash, shutdown fears, and shifting priorities, we’re finally seeing stability return. But that doesn’t mean it’s business as usual.

We cover:

-Why federal grant opportunities are surging in Spring 2026

-New federal funding priorities (faith-based, charter schools, rural organizations)

-Increased scrutiny around first-year outcomes and compliance

-Red flags that mean your nonprofit is NOT ready to apply

-How to build the infrastructure to withstand federal audits

-Whether you should apply directly or start as a sub-recipient

If you’re a nonprofit leader navigating federal funding, grant management, compliance requirements, or organizational readiness, this episode is essential listening.

Federal grants aren’t all doom and gloom in 2026 — but they do require strategy.

Connect with Fielding Jezreel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fieldingjezreel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jezreelconsulting

Learn more about Fielding’s Federal Grants Accelerator: https://www.federalgrantsaccelerator.com

Follow Us Online

🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Full episode here: https://thecharitycfo.com/federal-grants-2026-nonprofit-readiness/

Check these out:

Is Your Nonprofit Ready For Federal Grant Funding?

Why You Shouldn’t Be Giving Up on Federal Grants

#nonprofitleadership #federalgrants #grantwriting #nonprofitfinance #nonprofitstrategy #thecharitycfo

Data doesn’t have to feel like a burden.

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson talks with Kayla Meyers, Founder of Bridgepoint Evaluation, about how nonprofit leaders can move from compliance-driven data collection to clarity-driven evaluation strategy.

If your organization is collecting data for grants but not using it for decision-making, team alignment, or strategic growth, this conversation will help you rethink your approach.

You’ll learn how to:

• Shift from reactive to proactive evaluation

• Streamline nonprofit data systems

• Improve data quality without increasing volume

• Align your team around shared learning goals

• Combine impact stories with metrics
  

Evaluation isn’t just a reporting requirement — it’s a leadership tool.

Read the full blog recap here: https://thecharitycfo.com/from-compliance-to-clarity-how-nonprofits-can-finally-make-data-work-for-them/

Connect with Kayla Meyers

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgepointkayla/

🌐 Website: https://www.bridgepointevaluation.com/

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

#nonprofitpodcast #nonprofitdata #impactmeasurement #nonprofitstrategy #thecharitycfo

What if philanthropy wasn’t just about writing checks - but about building systems that actually work?In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson sits down with Ed Mitzen, Co-Founder of the Business for Good Foundation, to talk about rethinking traditional philanthropy through a business lens.After selling his for-profit company, Ed and his wife chose a hands-on approach to giving - investing time, talent, and capital into workforce development, housing, entrepreneurship, and underserved communities. Together, they explore how nonprofits, government, and the private sector can collaborate more effectively to create long-term economic mobility instead of short-term fixes.

You’ll hear real examples of:

• Using entrepreneurship to reduce reliance on nonprofit services
• Partnering with government to get funding out faster
• Why nonprofit boards need business expertise
• How to engage donors and business leaders beyond writing checks
• What nonprofits should focus on as funding gets tighter

If you’re a nonprofit leader, funder, or board member navigating uncertainty and looking for smarter, more sustainable ways to drive impact - this episode is for you.

Connect with Ed Mitzen

🌐 Website: ⁠⁠https://www.bfg.org/💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-mitzen/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/businessforgoodfoundation/

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Traditional strategic plans are failing nonprofits.

In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson and Theresa Guest, CFO at The Charity CFO, explain why so many nonprofit strategic plans collect dust instead of driving decisions. Using insights from The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint, they unpack the missing links between strategy, accountability, financial planning, and execution.

You will learn why quarterly planning creates more momentum than multi year roadmaps, how financial alignment exposes unrealistic goals early, and what nonprofit leaders can do this quarter to turn strategic planning into a living system that supports sustainable growth.

This episode is a must listen for nonprofit leaders who want clarity, alignment, and financial sustainability.

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Fundraising and finance are supposed to work together but in most nonprofits they operate in silos. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with David Cristello, Founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, to talk about why this disconnect is costing nonprofits time, money, and people.They dive into grant utilization, financial visibility, burnout, and why spreadsheets are failing nonprofit leaders. David shares what he has learned building technology for accountants and how those lessons apply to nonprofits struggling to track grants, programs, and funding gaps. If you are a nonprofit CEO, finance leader, or fundraiser trying to reduce chaos and make smarter decisions, this conversation will resonate.This episode is especially relevant if you are struggling with grant tracking, forecasting, financial transparency, or aligning fundraising strategy with financial reality.Connect with David Cristello🌐 Website: https://www.actuallyFI.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcristello/Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Trust is the currency of leadership - especially during disruption.In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson sits down with Kim Bohr, President & COO of SparkEffect, to unpack how nonprofit leaders can navigate uncertainty without losing the trust, morale, and engagement of their people.Kim draws from SparkEffect’s new research study, Trust in Turbulence: The 2025 State of Organizational Trust, revealing what employees say builds trust (and destroys it) during disruption. They discuss:✔️ Why disruption hits trust before anything else✔️ The “Trust Dividend” - and how trust can grow during change✔️ Why middle managers are the most powerful (and fragile) culture carriers✔️ How nonprofits can protect belonging and psychological safety✔️ How to measure trust like a strategic asset - not a soft skillWhether you’re navigating shifting funding, leadership turnover, or organizational restructuring, this episode gives nonprofit CEOs and leaders the playbook for leading with clarity, consistency, and purpose.

Check out the full episode here: https://thecharitycfo.com/trust-during-disruption-nonprofit-leaders/

👉 Download the SparkEffect Trust Report for 2025: https://www.sparkeffect.com/mnp👉 Explore more nonprofit leadership tools at: https://www.thecharitycfo.com#nonprofitleadership #organizationaltrust #changemanagement #nonprofitmanagement #thecharitycfo Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo

Connect with Kim BohrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbohr/SparkEffect LinkedIn Company Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect/

Courage to Advance Podcast available on All PlatformsPodcast Webpage: https://sparkeffect.com/sparkeffect-podcast-courage-to-advance/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sparkeffect-usCompany Website Homepage: https://sparkeffect.com/Join our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint

Most nonprofit leaders want more unrestricted revenue - but few have a strategy for building it.

In this episode, The Charity CFO’s Tosha Anderson and Aaron Landis explain why unrestricted funds are the true fuel behind nonprofit growth, stability, and innovation. Drawing on conversations with hundreds of CEOs and EDs, they highlight why organizations with the highest unrestricted percentages are often the most resilient and mission-aligned.

You’ll learn:

• Why unrestricted revenue is essential to scaling programs

• The risks of relying on restricted grants or government funding • How unrestricted dollars improve staffing, operations, and long-term planning

• How boards and CEOs can shift the fundraising mindset

• Practical ways to increase unrestricted support in your next budget cycle

A must-listen for CEOs, CFOs, development leaders, and board members serious about financial health.

Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠www.thecharitycfo.com⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook:⁠⁠ /thecharitycfo⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠ / the-charity-cfo⁠⁠ ⁠ 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoReach out and connect with Aaron Landis: https://www.thecharitycfo.com/contactJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint#nonprofitfundraising #unrestrictedrevenue #nonprofitleadership #financialsustainability #thecharitycfo