Nonprofit advisor Dr. Sharon Elefant reveals how to launch a "business with a cause" the RIGHT way — from 501(c)(3) filings to funding strategy.

Most nonprofit founders are passionate about their mission, but have zero background in business. Dr. Sharon Elefant, CEO of The Nonprofit Plug, has helped hundreds of early-stage nonprofits go from idea to impact with a 100% formation success rate.

In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Matt Gardner (CEO of Hiline) and Dr. Sharon cover:

• Why calling it a "nonprofit" sets you up for failure — and what to say instead
• Fiscal sponsorship: the secret tool to test your idea WITHOUT forming a 501(c)(3)
• The #1 financial investment to make BEFORE hiring a grant writer
• How to reverse-engineer your nonprofit budget from mission to dollar
• What "good money" actually looks like, and the grant traps to avoid
• When and how to build the financial infrastructure that unlocks funding

Whether you're just starting out or cleaning up a mess from bad TikTok advice, this episode will give you the financial foundation to build a sustainable, fundable organization.

🔗 Learn more about The Nonprofit Plug

🔗 Learn more about Hiline

About Fiscally Awesome Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.