In this episode, I dive into the concept of a Brain Trust—a facilitated gathering that leverages the expertise of advisors and thinkers to tackle specific organizational challenges. Imagine convening your “dream team” of advisors and strategic thought partners, all focused on solving a real, tangible problem your nonprofit faces. It's not just about sharing ideas; it's about action-oriented problem-solving that's grounded in real-world issues.

I'll guide you through why Brain Trusts are a simple yet powerful tool for your leadership toolkit, covering their benefits across cultivation, stewardship, and network expansion. You'll learn how these gatherings can deepen engagement with your board members, foster intimate connections with potential donors, and broaden your network with invaluable insights.

Here's what you'll learn:

• The Essence of a Brain Trust: Understanding its structure and how it fosters action-oriented problem-solving.
• Why It's a Game-Changer: The impact of Brain Trusts on donor cultivation, stakeholder engagement, and network building.
• Setting Up for Success: A step-by-step guide to hosting your own Brain Trust, from identifying your challenge to engaging the right mix of participants.

Five Key Takeaways:

1. Brain Trusts center on solving specific, real-world challenges through collaborative expertise.
2. They are a potent tool for engaging potential and existing supporters, creating a sense of insider intimacy.
3. Diverse perspectives enrich the problem-solving process, bringing creative and strategic insights to the forefront.
4. Strategic planning and participant selection are crucial for the success of a Brain Trust.
5. Follow-up is key to maintain engagement and momentum post-event.

Steps to Hosting a Brain Trust:

1. Identify the Challenge: Focus on specific, actionable topics.
2. Curate Your Participants: Aim for a diverse group of 6-8 advisors.
3. Plan the Agenda: Structure the session for productive discussion.
4. Facilitate Engagement: Encourage active participation and idea sharing.
5. Follow Up: Keep participants updated and engaged with progress.

Resources Mentioned:

• Nonprofit Template Vault: Access a comprehensive toolkit for setting up a Brain Trust, complete with model agendas. Visit brookerichiebabbage.com/templatevault for more information.

Connect With Brooke

Enhance your leadership journey by connecting with me. Let's explore the paths to impactful leadership together:

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Now is the time to invest in smart, strategic redesign of what's blocking your org's growth. Set yourself up for a poweful 2026 - apply to join the Next Level Nonprofit. brookerichiebabbage.com/nextlevelnonprofit

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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In today's podcast, I share a concrete method for communicating your work to potential supporters — no matter who they are: The Stakeholder Communication Bridge. Drawing from my own experience with fundraising and network building, the Stakeholder Communication Bridge is a straightforward and powerful framework for clarifying and connecting your mission to the activities and outcomes that make your organization stand out. If you've ever struggled to articulate the impact of your work in a way that resonates broadly, this episode is your roadmap to cultivating deeper connections and fostering a diverse community of supporters.

What Listeners Will Learn:

• Strategies to articulate your mission's problem, approaches, and outcomes clearly.
• How to reduce mental friction in communication, ensuring your message is compelling and understood by a diverse audience.
• The importance of connecting with stakeholders on a level that transcends professional and sectoral boundaries.

Key Takeaways:

1. Clarifying the Problem: A deep dive into expressing the urgency and importance of the issue your organization addresses.
2. Distinguishing Strategies from Activities: The significance of outlining your strategic approach rather than listing activities to convey the bigger picture.
3. Articulating Intended Impact: How to communicate the concrete changes your work aims to achieve, making the case for investment and support.
4. Building Shared Affinity: Techniques for finding common ground with stakeholders, fostering a sense of shared mission and purpose.
5. Reducing Mental Friction: Tips for preemptively addressing potential questions and concerns, making your organization's mission and work accessible to all.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Articulate the Problem: Clearly define what you are solving, emphasizing the problem's priority and the urgency of solving it now.
2. Outline Your Strategies: Differentiate your overall strategic approaches from the specific activities you undertake, highlighting the rationale behind these choices.
3. Communicate the Outcomes: Clearly state the anticipated impact of your strategies, offering a concise vision of the expected change.

Now is the time to invest in smart, strategic redesign of what's blocking your org's growth. Set yourself up for a poweful 2026 - apply to join the Next Level Nonprofit. brookerichiebabbage.com/nextlevelnonprofit

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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The end of a quarter is a powerful opportunity for growth and strategic planning. In this episode, I share five critical questions that can guide you and your team through a meaningful exercise of introspection and evaluation, helping you stay on track toward, and aligned with your goals. Whether you're utilizing these insights during a quiet week or a CEO day, this episode is your guide to refining your approach, optimizing resources, and making strategic, impactful decisions.

What You Will Learn:

• How to effectively reflect on and assess your nonprofit's progress towards its goals.
• Strategies for ensuring your organization's actions align with its core values.
• Tips for engaging your community and stakeholders to maximize impact.

Key Takeaways:

1. The power of structured reflection and assessment in strategic planning.
2. The importance of aligning actions with organizational values.
3. How to evaluate the effectiveness of team dynamics and strategies.
4. The role of community engagement and stakeholder impact in nonprofit success.
5. Leveraging learnings for strategic future planning.

Resources Mentioned:

• Past Episode Links: CEO Day
• Post-It Planning System 

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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In today’s episode, I offer a catalog of the episodes in which I’ve done a deeper dive into how to think about and operationalize leverage.

You can find all of the episodes in this curated playlist: brookerichiebabbage.com/leverage-playlist

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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In this episode, I’m doing a deep dive into the concept of leveraged networks - the secret sauce to expanding your organization's capacity, influence, and impact without breaking the bank. As a founder and leader myself, I've navigated the complexities of growing an organization, and I've discovered that the strength of your network can truly make or break your impact. Today, I'm sharing personal insights and strategies on how to build and leverage a micro-group within your broader network to achieve your strategic objectives. This episode is a goldmine for anyone looking to amplify their reach and accomplish more with less.

What You'll Learn:

• The essence of leveraged networks and why they're a game-changer for your business.
• A breakdown of the four types of structured relationships within a leveraged network and how each can propel your organization forward.
• Practical steps to identify and cultivate these relationships to maximize their benefits.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leveraged networks are a structured relationship framework that amplifies your organization's reach and impact.
2. Identifying and engaging with volunteers, advisors, junior board members, and ambassadors can significantly enhance your strategic capacity and brand awareness.
3. Tailoring your approach to each type of relationship within your leveraged network can yield unparalleled results.
4. Establishing clear strategic objectives is crucial in effectively utilizing your leveraged network.
5. Cultivating these relationships with intention and respect can unlock doors you never knew existed.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Identify Your Strategic Objectives: Clearly define what you aim to achieve with your leveraged network.
2. Map Your Network: Identify potential individuals in your broader network who fit into the categories of volunteers, advisors, junior board members, and ambassadors.
3. Engage and Cultivate: Reach out to these individuals with a clear value proposition and engage them in your mission.
4. Tailor Your Approach: Customize your interactions and requests based on the type of relationship and the individual's capacity to contribute.
5. Nurture and Appreciate: Continuously appreciate their contributions and nurture these relationships for long-term engagement.

Resources Mentioned:

Leveraged Leadership Strategy Bundle - brookerichiebabbage.com/leveragebundle

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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In this episode, I walk through how Key Financial Indicators can serve as a high leverage navigational compass through the murky world of your financial health. Whether it's understanding your liquidity to seize new opportunities or measuring your mission's efficiency to ensure alignment with your values, KFIs are indispensable tools.

What You’ll Learn:

• The role of financial KPIs in navigating your business towards its financial health goals.
• How to leverage KPIs for strategic decision-making and budgeting.
• The importance of assessing liquidity, stability, fundraising efficiency, and mission alignment through KPIs.

Key Takeaways:

1. Financial KPIs are crucial for a holistic view of your organization’s financial health.
2. Understanding liquidity through metrics like Monthly Cash on Hand can significantly impact strategic spending and planning.
3. Stability KPIs, such as Reliance Ratios, highlight the risks associated with income concentration from a single source.
4. Fundraising Efficiency ratios are vital for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of fundraising efforts.
5. Mission Efficiency, including Program and Personnel/Benefits Efficiency, ensures that spending aligns with organizational values and objectives.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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Over the past 25 years, I've learned that understanding the concept of leverage can mean the difference between sustainable growth and burning out.

In this episode, I explore three areas in which leverage is critical: evaluating your impact, leveraging your network and partnerships, and optimizing your use of resources. I share concrete questions every organization should ask itself in each of these 3 areas, as part of an organizational leverage self-audit process.

What Listeners Will Learn:

• How to conduct a self-audit to assess and enhance your nonprofit's impact effectively.
• Strategies for building and nurturing powerful partnerships and networks to amplify your mission.
• Tips for optimizing resource allocation to ensure maximum efficiency and impact.

Key Takeaways:

1. The importance of setting clear, measurable goals aligned with your mission and regularly reviewing progress.
2. The value of collaborative relationships and how to engage your network in supporting your goals.
3. Effective resource management strategies to align your nonprofit's efforts with its most impactful programs.
4. The role of technology and process optimization in increasing operational efficiency.
5. Creating a culture of continuous improvement and strategic thinking within your organization.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Conducting the Leveraged Leadership Self-Audit:
   • Assess your nonprofit's mission alignment and goal specificity.
   • Evaluate your network and partnership engagement strategies.
   • Audit your resource allocation for efficiency and impact.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

Connect with me!

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A CEO Day isn’t just about stepping away from the day-to-day tasks. It’s about stepping fully into a role that demands vision, strategy, and long-term planning.

In this episode, I share why dedicating time to think like a CEO can be a game-changer for your organization. From fostering a mindset shift from managing to leading, to ensuring every effort aligns with your overarching objectives, a CEO Day is your catalyst for growth, innovation, and renewed focus.

What You’ll Learn:

• The importance of a CEO Day for nonprofit leaders and solopreneurs.
• Practical steps to plan and execute an impactful CEO Day.
• How to align short-term actions with long-term organizational goals during your CEO Day.

Key Takeaways:

1. A CEO Day facilitates a crucial mindset shift from managing to leading.
2. Regular CEO Days contribute to personal and organizational resilience.
3. Effective leadership involves regular reflection, adaptation, and forward-thinking.

Step-by-Step Process for Planning Your CEO Day:

1. Frequency and Scheduling:
   • Decide on quarterly CEO Days or at least twice a year.
   • Schedule these days well in advance and ensure they're immovable to signal their importance.
2. Location:
   • Choose a location outside of your regular workspace to signal a mental and environmental shift, fostering fresh perspectives and strategic thinking.
3. Planning the Day:
   • Craft an agenda focused on vision casting, strategic planning, and tackling significant projects.
   • Identify concrete outcomes you aim to achieve during the day.
   • Prepare all necessary documents for review, ensuring a productive and focused CEO Day.

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

Connect with me!

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Do you ever wonder about the approaches someone actually takes to grow their organization’s budget, team, board and impact?

Like what strategies do they actually use to go from a $450K budget, a tiny team, and awesome but scrappy programs to a $2M budget a strong team, board, and impact that go along with that growth?

The answer is by using approaches to growth that are intentionally about increasing leverage. In this episode, I’m breaking down five of the most powerful organizational and leadership principles that leaders who take their organizations to the next level use to help them lead in a more leveraged way.

This is my second episode in this leveraged leadership series, and like the last one, it’s super concrete.

What You'll Learn:

• Discover the power of the Balanced Scorecard in evaluating and optimizing your nonprofit's performance across key areas.
• Unleash the potential of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to align your team's efforts with your organization's mission and vision.
• Learn how the RACI Matrix can streamline decision-making and enhance project efficiency within your nonprofit.

Key Takeaways:

• Implementing the Balanced Scorecard provides a comprehensive framework for assessing and improving organizational performance in finance, stakeholder satisfaction, operations, and growth.
• OKRs foster a culture of clarity and alignment, enabling nonprofits to set ambitious goals and track progress with measurable outcomes.
• The RACI Matrix clarifies roles and responsibilities, optimizing teamwork and resource allocation for enhanced project execution and decision-making.
• Embracing the Flywheel concept enables nonprofits to build momentum and efficiency by aligning and reinforcing their activities for sustained growth.
• Applying the Pareto Principle allows nonprofits to focus efforts on the most impactful activities, maximizing results with minimal resources.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Balanced Scorecard:
   • Evaluate your nonprofit's performance across finances, stakeholder satisfaction, operations, and growth.
   • Use the insights gained to prioritize strategic initiatives and allocate resources effectively.
2. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results):
   • Define clear objectives aligned with your organization's mission and vision.
   • Establish measurable key results to track progress and ensure accountability across your team.
3. RACI Matrix:
   • Identify roles and responsibilities for each project or decision within your nonprofit.
   • Ensure clear communication and streamline workflow by defining who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.
4. Flywheel Concept:
   • Align your nonprofit's activities to create a self-reinforcing cycle of growth and efficiency.
   • Fine-tune initiatives to minimize effort while maximizing impact, fostering sustainable growth over time.
5. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule):
   • Identify the most impactful activities or resources that contribute to the majority of results within your nonprofit.
   • Focus efforts on these high-yield areas to optimize resource allocation and drive missi

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

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I'm resharing one of my most popular podcast episodes: A fantastic conversation with Cindy Wagman,  Founder and President of The Good Partnership, best-selling author of Raise It! The Reluctant Fundraiser’s Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul, and host of the top-rated podcast, The Small Nonprofit. 

Cindy offers a mini-masterclass on how to build your fundraising team as your organization grows, before you have the budget for a full-time development director.  She shares: 

• Why it’s dangerous to hire a junior development person first, 
• How to figure out the type and level of fundraising support you need on your team
• What it means to hire a "fractional fundraiser,"  and
• The difference between a fractional fundraiser and a consultant.

Plus, Cindy breaks down how to know when you’re ready to build your team, what to look for in a fractional fundraiser, and how to integrate external development support into your team for maximum impact.

Links Mentioned

==> RAISE IT!: The Reluctant Fundraiser's Guide to Raising Money Without Selling Your Soul 

Now is the time to invest in smart, strategic redesign of what's blocking your org's growth. Set yourself up for a poweful 2026 - apply to join the Next Level Nonprofit. brookerichiebabbage.com/nextlevelnonprofit

Want to work together?

Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Accelerator, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations that want a smart, powerful playbook for taking their growing organization to the next level.

Connect with me!

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