What if your nonprofit could generate more revenue without adding more chaos? In this episode, I talk with 30-year nonprofit veteran Rick Harris about how to stop relying on the same old income streams and start building new ones the smart way. We unpack practical strategies for diversifying revenue without spreading your team too thin, creative ideas for attracting sponsors, and how fair pay builds trust and retention across your organization.

Episode Highlights

• 01:16 – Meet Rick Harris: Nonprofit Growth Expert

• 03:04 – The Importance of Diversification

• 06:17 – Avoiding the Scattergun Approach

• 12:05 – Innovative Sponsorship Ideas

• 18:56 – Navigating IRS Regulations and UBIT

• 29:25 – Equitable Pay in Nonprofits

My guest for this episode is Rick Harris. Rick is the CEO of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), and a 30+ year non-profit veteran. Specializing in helping other non-profits grow their business through better membership, education, networking, marketing, and building communities, Rick is a go-to-market-now expert in the field of non-profit business growth. He is well known for helping non-profits achieve their goals through better business planning, marketing, and building their communities through his 20+ years in non-profit management.

Connect with Rick:

Website: http://www.apmp.org

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APMP.org

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Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Ever feel stuck—like no matter what you try, you're spinning your wheels? In this episode, I introduce the Five Drivers Framework by David Bayer, a powerful tool to help you uncover the root causes behind your results. You'll learn how your beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions work together to create outcomes—and how shifting one belief can change everything. Whether you're leading a team, fundraising, or just trying to get unstuck, this mindset framework will help you turn frustration into forward motion.

Episode Highlights

• 00:29 Understanding the Five Drivers

• 02:50 The Power of Beliefs: The Four-Minute Mile Story

• 04:45 Applying the Five Drivers to Achieve Desired Results

• 05:44 Identifying and Reversing Limiting Beliefs

• 06:40 Steps to Change Limiting Beliefs

• 09:00 The Self-Reinforcing Cycle of Beliefs and Results

• 10:46 Conclusion and Call to Action

Resource

The Board Clarity Club

A monthly membership for boards that provides training and live expert support to help your board have total clarity on how to be the best board possible.

Learn More >>

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

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

What if your nonprofit could anticipate the future instead of reacting to it? In this episode, futurist and strategist Donna DuPont shares how leaders can build future literacy—the skill of reading change before it happens. We explore how to turn uncertainty into opportunity, overcome resistance to change, and design flexible strategies that thrive even in chaos. If your team feels stuck reacting to crises, this conversation will help you plan with confidence, not fear.

Episode Highlights

• 04:25 Understanding Future Mindsets

• 06:57 Empowering Nonprofits Through Strategic Foresight

• 09:03 The Power of Great Questions

• 09:40 Collective Intelligence and Workshop Insights

• 15:09 The Rise of AI: A Case Study in Weak Signals

• 22:24 Opportunities in Crisis

• 24:43 Building a Case for Change

• 25:25 Understanding Dissatisfaction and Vision

• 27:26 Taking Action and Iteration

• 29:48 Navigating Uncertainty with Foresight

• 33:01 Evaluating Processes and Outcomes

• 38:42 Prototyping and Innovation

Meet the Guest

My guest for this episode is Donna Dupont, Founder and Chief Strategist of Purple Compass, is an award-winning designer and futurist with over 25 years of experience collaborating with leaders.

She helps organizations build future literacy, navigate uncertainty, and drive impactful change. Combining systems thinking with strategic foresight, she empowers leaders to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness, and seize opportunities for innovation, transformation, and resilience.

Recognized with seven government awards, Donna's work spans critical areas like climate change, health security, and emergency management, with her futures research earning accolades from the Canadian Defence and Security Network and the Association of Professional Futurists.

Connect with Donna:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dupont/

www.purplecompass.ca

Sponsored Resource

Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit!

Access it here >>

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Does your fundraising only ramp up when the money's running low? You're not alone. In this episode, I'll show you how to stop scrambling for funds and start building a proactive fundraising strategy that keeps your nonprofit stable year-round. You'll learn how to shift from crisis-driven fundraising to relationship-driven sustainability—because the fastest path to cash (and calm) is building strong connections long before you need the money.

Episode Highlights

• 04:36 Building a Sustainable Fundraising Plan

• 05:05 The Foundation: Individual Donors

• 06:39 Scaling Relationships with Digital Tools

• 08:34 Corporate Sponsorships and Grant

• 09:47 The Power of Relationships

Resource

The Board Clarity Club

A monthly membership for boards that provides training and live expert support to help your board have total clarity on how to be the best board possible.

Learn More >>

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

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Nonprofit leaders, what does it take to lead one of the largest and oldest nonprofits in a major city—and do it as the first woman in its 165-year history? In this episode, I talk with Lauren Koontz, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, about stepping into leadership, navigating crises, and building partnerships that truly serve the community. Lauren shares her journey from development officer to CEO, lessons learned through the pandemic, and why advocating for yourself and empowering others is essential for lasting impact.

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 Introduction: The Y as a Third Place

• 00:04 Addressing Senior Loneliness and Isolation

• 00:09 Reaching Out to Seniors

• 00:17 Offering Help and Support

• 00:18 Delivering Essential Items

My guest for this episode is Lauren Koontz.

Lauren Koontz is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, where she became the first woman to lead the organization in its 165+ year history. She oversees 20+ branches, 19 early learning centers, 60+ afterschool sites, five camps, and thousands of staff and volunteers serving Atlanta's communities.

Lauren joined the Y in 2012 and previously held leadership roles at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Emory University, and more. A recognized leader, she's been honored as one of Atlanta's Most Admired CEOs, a YWCA Academy of Women Achievers inductee, and a "40 Under 40" alum. She serves on numerous boards, speaks widely on nonprofit leadership, and is committed to advancing education, wellness, and youth development across the region.

Connect with Lauren:

Website: https://ymcaatlanta.org/

LinkedIn: Lauren Koontz

Sponsored Resource

Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit!

Access it here >>

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Nonprofit leaders, does your fundraising strategy feel complicated—or nonexistent? You're not alone. In this episode, I break fundraising down to three simple levers you can pull to get results: growing your qualified leads, improving donor conversions, and maximizing lifetime donor value. I'll show you how to simplify your approach, avoid overplanning, and build a strategy that actually works in the real world.

Episode Highlights

• 01:11 Introduction to Fundraising Strategy

• 03:00 Three Key Fundraising Levers

• 03:56 Lever 1: Increasing Qualified Donor Leads

• 04:49 Lever 2: Improving Conversion Rates

• 06:21 Lever 3: Maximizing Donor Lifetime Value

• 07:45 Special Activity: Donor Referrals

• 09:00 Applying the Three Levers

• 12:10 Donor Categories and Strategies

Resource

The Board Clarity Club

A monthly membership for boards that provides training and live expert support to help your board have total clarity on how to be the best board possible.

Learn More >>

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

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Nonprofit leaders, are you tired of hearing that funders "don't support general operating costs"? You're not alone—and that mindset is costing your organization. In this episode, I unpack why donors often resist unrestricted funding and how you can change that conversation. The truth is, most donors genuinely care about your mission, not just your programs. They want to be part of the solution, but they need you to show them how their support fuels impact across your entire organization—from staff development to research to long-term sustainability. I'll walk you through how to set the right expectations, talk confidently about unrestricted gifts, and inspire funders to invest in your cause—not just a single program.

Episode Highlights

• 00:20 The Challenge of Funding General Operating Costs

• 00:46 Shifting Donor Perspectives

• 02:13 Communicating Your Mission Effectively

• 03:18 Engaging Donors with Program Details

• 04:31 Assuming Donors Care About Your Mission

• 07:07 Investment Level Conversations

• 09:52 Conclusion: Changing Your Fundraising Mindset

Resource

The Board Clarity Club

A monthly membership for boards that provides training and live expert support to help your board have total clarity on how to be the best board possible.

Learn More >>

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

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Nonprofit leaders, when too much responsibility lands on one person's plate, the results are predictable—burnout and turnover. Relying on a single leader, often the ED or CEO, doesn't just exhaust them, it puts your entire organization at risk. In this episode, I share why spreading leadership capacity is essential, how to know when it's time to hire, and what happens when you build a team that carries the load together.

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 The Power of Shared Decision-Making

• 00:06 Accelerating Progress Through Better Decisions

• 00:17 The Feedback Loop: Learning and Refining

• 00:26 Building a Stronger Team for Faster Iteration

• 00:38 Continuous Improvement and Iteration

Resource

The Board Clarity Club

A monthly membership for boards that provides training and live expert support to help your board have total clarity on how to be the best board possible.

Learn More >>

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

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Nonprofit leaders, fundraising isn't just about raising dollars—it's about raising power. In this episode, we delve into the often-overlooked role of Latino fundraisers, the gap between boards and development staff, and why genuine sustainability stems from investing in fundraising, rather than galas or gadgets.

Episode Highlights

• 02:22 Armando's Personal Story and Fundraising Philosophy

• 04:18 Challenges in Fundraising and Nonprofit Sustainability

• 11:52 Board Education and Fundraising Transparency

• 16:42 Latino Community and Fundraising

• 23:55 Critique of Traditional Fundraising Events

• 24:53 Challenges in Securing Funding

• 28:22 The Importance of Prospect Research

• 32:38 Supporting Latino Nonprofits

My guest for this episode is Armando Zumaya.

Armando Zumaya has been a fundraiser for over 40 years, working on billion-dollar campaigns at Cornell and UC Berkeley, and serving in leadership roles across major gifts, annual funds, and development. He is the founder of Somos El Poder, a national Latinx fundraising institute, and a nationally recognized expert on Latino Major Giving. Armando has raised five, six, and seven-figure gifts from the Latinx community, and is a sought-after speaker and writer whose work has appeared in Stanford Social Innovation Review and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2024, he was named to The Nonprofit Times "Top 50 Leaders of Power and Influence." He lives in Northern California and is proud of his Chicano heritage.

Connect with Armando:

www.somoselpoder.org

Sponsored Resource

Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit!

Access it here >>

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

What if working fewer hours actually led to better results for your nonprofit? In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, I unpack why so many nonprofit leaders—and boards!—get stuck in the weeds, and how shifting into true strategic focus is the key to both impact and sanity. I share the mindset shifts, scheduling tweaks, and permission you might not know you need to stop the overwhelm and start leading with clarity. Spoiler: the path to a thriving organization might just be a 3-day workweek.

Episode Highlights

• 01:15 The Problem of Getting Stuck in the Weeds

• 02:17 The Importance of Strategic Planning

• 04:06 Overcoming the Fear of Working Less

• 04:49 Personal Experience: Working Three Days a Week

Resource

The Board Clarity Club

A monthly membership for boards that provides training and live expert support to help your board have total clarity on how to be the best board possible.

Learn More >>

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

Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.