Nonprofit Utopia Podcast

Sales and marketing are the lifeblood of any business—whether for-profit or nonprofit.  Organizational  leaders need a firm grasp of the changes in the marketplace and the implications for their organizations, clients and communities.  At the same time, they must cultivate relationships with funders and a host of other stakeholders to maintain a steady flow of cash, volunteers and goodwill.

Join Shelby Parchman, CEO of InUrban Strategies, and host Valerie F. Leonard to discuss high-impact bootstrap sales and marketing strategies nonprofits and social enterprises can use to penetrate their local markets–quick, fast and in a hurry.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener. Visit Nonrprofitutopia.com. Archived episodes may be found at  iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Today, a successful media relations strategy requires much more than press releases and posed photos... You need to build relationships, be accessible, and offer valuable information and insights to reporters and editors…

   –Kivi Leroux Miller, Founder &CEO,  The Nonprofit Marketing Guide

Peter Panepento and Antionette Kerr, authors of Modern Media Relations for Nonprofits, will join host Valerie F. Leonard to discuss what makes a story newsworthy; how to make your special events media friendly; the relationship between media and nonprofit disclosure and how to manage crises.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener. Visit Nonrprofitutopia.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Nearly 4 years after shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald to death, Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke was convicted of 2nd degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated assault. Most people believed a conviction would be impossible, given our country’s track record with police-involved shootings. They were wrong.

What was it about this case that was different?  What lessons can be learned that transcend police reform?

William Calloway, the activist who filed the lawsuit against the City of Chicago to release the dash cam video of the Laquan McDonald shooting, will talk about the importance of community collaboration in bringing about social justice and police reform. These lessons are applicable to any systems change work.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener. Visit Nonrprofitutopia.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Will your organization be ready?

Join us as Jessica Schneider, Director of Strategy and Collaboration for 92Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact, shares a recommended timeline and strategies for implementing successful #GivingTuesday campaigns. We will share links to a recommended calendar of activities and other resources to check in and keep you on track.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Join us as Xavier Ramey,CEO and Lead Strategist, of Justice Informed, LLC, looks at the intersections of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); community engagement, philanthropy  and corporate responsibility.  We will  examine the current environment and discuss strategies organizations can use to strategically align people, processes and culture to capitalize on changes in a globalized economy, including its workforce and production system.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Writing a compelling case for support is not always as easy as it seems.  In Case Development 201, Communications Consultant Andrew Brommel writes “an organization’s case for support is ultimately ‘your message to your donors—why should they give to your organization?’  In this day and age of increased competition for fewer dollars, your answer to the funders’ question must be stronger than ever before.

Lauren Wesley, Director of Development for the North Lawndale Employment Network in Chicago, will share strategies for developing a case for support in times of change, and how we can dovetail those efforts with electronic peer to peer fundraising campaigns like #GivingTuesday.  Again, we encourage you to call in with questions at the 30 minute mark.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Vivien Hoexter and Linda C. Hartley, principals of H2Growth Strategies LLC, will discuss their new book, Big Impact:Insights & Stories from America’s Non-Profit Leaders. The book highlights nonprofit leaders from the U.S. and abroad who have found solutions to some of the world’s most vexing societal problems. Hoexter and Hartley will also share insights on how these change-makers are implementing solutions in their communities, the qualities these leaders possess, and lessons learned that maybe useful to emerging nonprofit leaders.  

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Even when asked by their funders, organizational leaders are often reluctant to provide candid feedback to foundations, for fear of alienating  them.  As a result, foundations don't always have an accurate picture of what the grantee experience has been with them, while nonprofit organizations sometimes suffer in silence, or decide not to pursue a relationship due to things like, onerous application or reporting requirements.  DonorAdvisor, a new platform that allows nonprofits to provide feedback to foundations anonomously, hopes to eliminate those barriers and improve the grantmaking process for everyone involved. Join Kari Aanestad, Development Manager at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and Andrea Sanow, GrantAdvisor Coordinator at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, for a GrantAdvisor teach in. 

You will:

Learn what GrantAdvisor is, where to find it and how to use the tool.Better understand the roles and impact of transparency and reciprocity between grant making foundations and grantees in the feedback loopExplore how this information can improve the nonprofit sector.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Today’s nonprofit funding environment is characterized by increased competition for limited funding and unfavorable tax laws that could potentially reduce incentives for middle class donors to make gifts to nonprofits.  Now, more than ever, nonprofits must adopt  financial capitalization models that include public and private sources of financing, including grants, private equity investments, loans, and tax credits.  The most nimble nonprofits will also re-structure their organizations and partnerships to maximize their return on investment.

Join Stacee L. Lang, MA, PhD Practitioner, President, and Andrew Buoyae - CFO & Chief Development Officer of Lang Capital, NFP to discuss creative ways of structuring your nonprofit organization and financing to increase long term sustainability.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Peggy Duvette is an international thought leader in technology & social change and women’s leadership.  As Senior Director of Social Impact at Oracle NetSuite, Peggy guides the donation of the Oracle NetSuite products to nonprofits worldwide, and manages a range of capacity building programs, including Suite Pro Bono.  She is committed to helping nonprofits and social enterprises further their social impact.

Peggy will talk about Oracle NetSuite’s tools for measuring financial and social impact; programs for product donations and capacity building and how organizations may apply.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.