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Is your nonprofit aligned with your values or is it perpetuating harm? In this thought-provoking episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio sits down with Sheetal Puri, digital fundraising leader at Wikimedia Foundation, to discuss the critical issues of value misalignment, nonprofit burnout, and workplace culture in the nonprofit sector. Together, they explore how nonprofit professionals can navigate organizational challenges, advocate for meaningful change, and build a healthier, values-aligned workplace culture.

Sheetal brings her extensive fundraising experience, from grassroots volunteering to overseeing global digital campaigns, to offer actionable advice for fundraisers at all career stages. Whether you're navigating a workplace that doesn’t align with your values or looking to build a more equitable and inclusive nonprofit sector, this conversation offers insights and strategies to inspire change.

Burnout in Nonprofit Fundraising - the highlights:

• Sheetal's journey from an alumni caller to digital fundraising at Wikimedia Foundation.
• How value misalignment can lead to burnout and strategies to mitigate it.
• The role of storytelling in fundraising and why we must challenge "savior" narratives.
• Practical ways to advocate for equity, inclusion, and better workplace cultures in nonprofits.
• Why fundraisers hold unique power to create systemic change in their organizations.
• How privilege can be leveraged to challenge the status quo and advocate for marginalized voices.
• The importance of transparency, collaboration, and trust in nonprofit management.
• How unionization and collective action could reshape the nonprofit sector.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor engagement, productivity & tools, and nonprofit storytelling strategies!

About Sheetal Puri:

Sheetal Puri, our guest today, has dedicated her career  to non-profit fundraising, marketing and communications for organizations globally. Having raised hundreds of millions for multiple organizations over the past 15 years, Sheetal’s commitment to the sector has given her the insight to identify areas in present day fundraising models that perpetuate colonial modes of power and prevent the ability to practice and implement our core values and missions. She is a strong advocate for community-centric approaches to fundraising that prioritize the return of power and agency to those who have experienced disempowerment.

Links and Resources:  

• Connect with Sheetal on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sheetalpersaud
• Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariario/
• Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/s

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• Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
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