"Are you trying to put yourselves out of business?"

That was the very first question Alyssa got after Prosper Strategies launched its new Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox earlier this month. In this special solo episode of Changemaker Conversations, she answers it head-on — and tackles every other question that's been coming in since launch.

Why would a consulting firm with 12 years of high-touch strategic planning experience release a DIY toolbox? What's actually inside it? Who is it for? And how is it different from the free templates already floating around the nonprofit sector?

If your organization needs a real, stakeholder-driven strategic plan but a near six-figure consulting engagement isn't in the budget right now, this episode lays out exactly how the Toolbox is designed to close that gap.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

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🎁 Save $125 (our biggest discount yet) on the Nonprofit Strategic Planning Toolbox with the code CHANGEMAKERCONVERSATIONS — exclusive to Changemaker Conversations listeners. Apply at checkout: https://www.strategicplanningtoolbox.com

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Funding uncertainty is top of mind for many nonprofit leaders right now. Between shifting policies, unstable grants, and rising demand for services, organizations are being asked to do more with fewer resources.

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa Conrardy and Lindsay Mullen wrap up their three-part Fix Your Funding series by discussing a practical tool nonprofit leaders can use to prepare for uncertainty: scenario planning.

Scenario planning helps organizations think through potential financial outcomes before a crisis hits — so leaders can make thoughtful decisions instead of reacting under pressure.

In this conversation, Alyssa and Lindsay walk through a simple framework for creating “bad,” “worse,” and “catastrophe” scenarios and tying them to clear decision triggers.

They also discuss how scenario planning can surface hidden organizational challenges and help nonprofit leaders move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

What nonprofit scenario planning is and why it matters right now

How to build “bad, worse, and catastrophe” financial scenarios

How to set decision triggers tied to financial indicators

What scenario planning can reveal about programs, staffing, and expenses

How to involve your board without pulling them into operational details

Why planning ahead can make crisis leadership easier

Whether you’re already facing financial uncertainty or simply want to strengthen your organization’s resilience, this episode offers practical guidance for planning ahead.

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Fix Your Funding Part 3: Take On Scenario Planning

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Blog post: Nonprofit Scenario Planning Guide

In this powerful episode of Changemaker Conversations, we confront what it means for nonprofits and their leaders to show up in times of moral crisis.

Amidst violent ICE raids and the recent killings of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, nonprofit leaders within and beyond Minnesota are grappling with how they can respond when communities are grieving, afraid, and in urgent need of support.

Against the backdrop of recent events in Minnesota—and with an eye toward future crises—we explore the real risks, responsibilities, and decisions nonprofit leaders face when choosing whether to stay silent or speak out, and how to align their services and actions to meet the moment.

If you’re wrestling with how your organization should show up while protecting its mission and adapt its work during times of moral urgency, this episode offers clarity, practical guidance, and a values-driven framework for action.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

How to decide whether—and how—to speak out during a moral crisis like the one taking place in Minnesota right now

The risks of silence and the risks of public statements

How mission and values should guide crisis decisions

A practical framework for nonprofit crisis response and communications

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Minnesota Nonprofits Resources for Supporting Communities During ICE Operations

Nonprofit Rapid Response Communications Framework

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[email protected] with topic ideas or questions

We’re kicking off 2026 with a topic that’s top of mind for nearly every nonprofit leader right now: funding.

As part two of our three-part Fix Your Funding series, Lindsay and Alyssa walk through how to build a fundraising crisis response plan—so you can stabilize cash flow, close budget gaps, and focus your efforts where they’ll move the needle fastest.

If you're heading into the new year feeling the pressure of financial uncertainty, restricted dollars, or a lack of revenue diversification, this episode is for you.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

How to build a fundraising crisis response plan based on your organization’s most urgent financial health metric

Why your board should be your first (and most powerful) lever in a funding crisis

High-ROI ways to mobilize board members quickly—without burning them out

How to approach current funders with transparency, urgency, and a clear stabilization goal

What to do when restricted revenue is limiting your ability to operate effectively

How to think about revenue diversification in a crisis (and what not to do)

What to prioritize when all four financial gauges are off track

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Fix Your Funding Part 2: Build Your Nonprofit's Crisis Response Fundraising Strategy

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In this first episode of our three-part Fix Your Funding series on Changemaker Conversations, we dig into the financial crisis nonprofits are facing right now—and why “we just need more money” isn’t a clear enough diagnosis. From disappearing federal funds to shrinking corporate support and skyrocketing community need, we walk through how to get brutally honest about your organization’s financial health so you can protect what matters most: your nonprofit’s survival.

If you’re lying awake wondering how many payrolls you can cover, how to explain the situation to your board, or where to even start with the numbers, this episode will give you a simple framework and language to get everyone aligned around reality—and ready for action in parts two and three of this series.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

The four essential financial “gauges” every nonprofit should be tracking in a crisis

How to calculate and interpret your operating reserves (months of cash on hand)

Why your restricted vs. unrestricted revenue mix can quietly put your mission at risk

How to spot dangerous overreliance on any single funder or funding stream

A practical way to project your year-end surplus or deficit—before it’s too late

How to bring your board into the financial truth so they can actually help

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Prosper Strategies’ Financial Health Gauges for Nonprofits 

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Fix Your Funding Series – Part 2: Build a Crisis Response Fundraising Strategy 

Fix Your Funding Series – Part 3: Prepare for the Future with Scenario Planning

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ChangemakerConversations.com for show notes and additional resources

Prosper-Strategies.com to learn more about our strategic consulting practice

[email protected] with topic suggestions, guest recommendations or questions

On LinkedIn with Alyssa Conrardy, Lindsay Mullen and Prosper Strategies

In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa and Lindsay break down one of the most overlooked yet mission-critical elements of strategic planning: defining clear roles for everyone involved. From staff and board members to constituents and facilitators, they unpack how each group contributes—and what happens when those roles blur.

Whether you’re gearing up for your next planning cycle or in the middle of one, this conversation will help you bring clarity, collaboration, and buy-in to your process.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

The four essential groups every strategic planning process needs

How to effectively engage your constituents from start to finish

Common pitfalls—like over-involved or under-involved boards—and how to avoid them

How strategic planning serves as a “microcosm” of your organization’s culture

Practical ways to balance diverse perspectives and build stronger alignment

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In today's challenging political climate, many nonprofit leaders are focused on what they can't say—but what if we shifted our attention to what we can say? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're exploring strength-based communication and why it's more relevant than ever for nonprofits navigating anti-DEI pressures and funding restrictions.

Alyssa and Lindsay share their decade-plus journey developing strength-based communication frameworks with organizations like Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the McCormick Foundation—and the data proves it works. From increased donor engagement to stronger brand metrics, organizations taking this approach are seeing real results without sacrificing their values or their fundraising goals.

If you're struggling to stay true to your mission while adapting to new federal regulations and "off-limits language", or if you're simply ready to communicate about the people you serve in more empowering ways, this episode will show you how.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

Episode Blog Post and Transcript --> 

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In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, Alyssa and Lindsay tackle one of the biggest things that holds nonprofits back: thinking too small about marketing. Moving far beyond the traditional view of marketing as just a fundraising tool, they make the case for marketing as a true mission driver that can advance every aspect of your strategic plan.

Drawing from their groundbreaking Nonprofit Marketing Manifesto, they share the 10 commitments that transform how organizations approach brand, messaging, and stakeholder engagement. From eliminating poverty porn to ensuring marketing is overseen at the executive level, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what's possible when marketing becomes a strategic lever for social change.

If you're ready to stop playing small with your marketing efforts and start treating marketing as the mission-critical work it should be, this episode is packed with practical insights to get you started!

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

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What if your nonprofit's most effective strategy decisions weren't made in a boardroom, but in partnership with the very people you serve? In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we're diving deep into the Shared Power Philosophy™—the belief that nonprofits develop their most impactful and equitable strategies by deeply involving all stakeholders, especially the people and communities they serve, in shaping their work.

In this episode, Alyssa and Lindsay share why centering constituents isn't just good practice—it's the secret sauce to nonprofit effectiveness. From California Rural Legal Assistance's multilingual strategic planning process to the Muhammad Ali Center's community-led response during social justice upheaval, you'll hear real examples of Shared Power™ in action.

Then, you'll learn simple frameworks you can begin implementing today to transform your organization into a Shared Power™ Nonprofit.

If you're ready to move beyond one-time stakeholder surveys and build genuine feedback loops that transform how your organization operates, this episode is your roadmap.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

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In this episode of Changemaker Conversations, we sit down with Kelly Mattox, Vice President of Campaign and Principal Gifts at Connecticut Children’s Foundation, to explore what it really takes to align marketing and fundraising for greater impact.

Drawing on her decades of nonprofit experience—including 14 years at Horizons National—Kelly shares insights on running major campaigns, building sustainable fundraising strategies, and creating lasting partnerships between marketing and development teams.

Whether you’re navigating a campaign, trying to improve internal collaboration, or just need a dose of inspiration, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas and renewed purpose.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

How to foster a healthy, collaborative relationship between marketing and fundraising

Why role clarity matters—and how to get it right

Lessons from creating a national Giving Day that raised millions

What makes a campaign truly sustainable beyond its launch

How to stay mission-connected in challenging fundraising climates

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