Have you ever had people in your network who are excited about your mission and work, but who don’t totally fit on your board? Enter: the Advisory Council. A well designed and executed advisory board can provide a unique blend of expertise, experience, and expanded networks — without the formalities of governance. In this episode, I delve into how to design, structure and implement an effective advisory council to bolster your credibility, offer invaluable advice, and act as ambassadors for your cause.

Here’s what you’ll learn by tuning in:

• The Role and Value of Advisory Boards: Understand how an advisory board differs from your board of directors and its unique value in driving your nonprofit forward.
• Crafting Your Advisory Board: Learn how to identify the purpose of your advisory board, select members, and set clear expectations to ensure alignment and impact.
• Maximizing the Impact: Strategies for effectively managing your advisory board to foster engagement, leverage their expertise, and achieve your strategic goals.

Key Takeaways:

1. Advisory boards are not governance bodies; they're strategic allies.
2. Select members for their expertise, networks, and passion for your mission.
3. Establish clear goals and expectations to guide your advisory board’s focus and activities.
4. Regular communication and engagement are crucial for maintaining an effective advisory council.
5. Consider multiple, focused advisory boards for different strategic areas rather than one with a broad, undefined purpose.

Step-by-Step Guide to Forming and Managing an Advisory Council:

1. Identify the Purpose: Define the specific strategic reasons for forming the council.
2. Select Members: Choose individuals whose expertise and networks align with your council’s purpose.
3. Communicate Expectations: Clearly articulate the council’s goals, member responsibilities, and meeting cadence.
4. Engage Regularly: Maintain ongoing communication and involve council members in meaningful activities.

Resources Mentioned:

• Related Podcast Episodes: Leveraged Networks 

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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This week I’m bringing back one part of my 3-part series on how to unlock the power of ChatGPT. I’m bringing it back into the rotation because I just launched a new ChatGPT resource for nonprofits that I’m so excited about — the Nonprofit ChatGPT Headquarters.

ChatGPT isn’t some fancy, super-techie tool that needs to be built out and figured out. It should be as integrated and simple as Google Docs. It’s a capacity builder and a time saver and my goal is to make it easy for organizations to tap into its power. If you aren’t you’re leaving capacity on the table.

So I took the questions and conversations I’ve been having with nonprofits and I turned it into a concrete tool, which is one of my favorite things to do.

The ChatGPT HQ is an all-in-one workspace that supports you at every phase of using ChatGPT from giving you ideas, to giving your prompts, to giving you an already built out place to save and organize your prompts.

So if you’re still on the fence about ChatGPT, listen to this episode to get inspired, and if you’re ready to take the next step and start saving you and your team hours of time and brain energy every week, head over to brookerichiebabbage.com/chatgpt-hq and grab your workspace!

Want to work together?

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In this episode, I walk through the 4 core metrics vital for your nonprofit's success. I can't overstate the importance of tracking and understanding your organization's health, effectiveness, and alignment with its mission. Yet, for many nonprofit leaders, navigating this terrain can feel overwhelming and perplexing, leaving them unsure of where to begin.

I'm sharing a four-part, structured approach to tracking and measuring your organization's health on a month-to-month basis.

While the concept of metrics may seem daunting, they are simply a targeted set of data that you and your team choose to track and analyze. Much like numbers on a dashboard, these metrics serve as quick and efficient indicators of your organization's overall health and performance. By paying attention to these metrics, you can identify areas that require further attention and ensure that your organization remains on the path to success. Remember, you don’t need to track every metric; instead, focus on selecting 1-3 key metrics in each of the four crucial areas of your organization’s health and operations.

What Listeners Will Learn:

• How to select and apply 1-3 crucial metrics in four pivotal areas to monitor your nonprofit's health and operations effectively.
• The significance of aligning your resources and activities with your strategic goals through Strategic Alignment Metrics.
• Strategies for maintaining your nonprofit's financial health and ensuring long-term sustainability with Financial Performance Metrics.

Key Takeaways:

1. Program Impact Metrics: Understand the direct effects of your work by tracking the right program outcomes.
2. Strategic Alignment Metrics: Ensure your activities and resources are laser-focused on your strategic objectives.
3. Financial Performance Metrics: Keep your organization financially healthy with key indicators like liquidity and fundraising efficiency.
4. Stakeholder Engagement Metrics: Gauge the strength of your relationships with donors, volunteers, and the community.
5. Simplicity is Key: Focus on a few significant metrics rather than getting overwhelmed by data.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Identify Key Areas: Program Impact, Strategic Alignment, Financial Performance, and Stakeholder Engagement.
2. Select Metrics: Choose 1-3 metrics in each area that best reflect your nonprofit's goals and challenges.
3. Implement Tracking: Set up systems to regularly collect and analyze data on these metrics.
4. Review and Adjust: Regularly review metrics to ensure they remain aligned with your strategic goals and adjust as necessary.

Resources Mentioned:

• Nonprofit Template Vault: A comprehensive resource with a detailed overview of recommended metrics, calculations, and a model dashboard for your team.
• 4 Parts of a Strong Financial Dashboard Episode: An in-depth discussion on key financial metrics for nonprofits.

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 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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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.

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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