NP Local

By Jason Cass & Scott NiermannBusiness Careers Management Non-Profit

NP Local episodes

May 04, 2021Membership Organizations, Featuring Joy Duling
Join host Scott Niermann as he talks with Consultant and Speaker Joy Duling about the importance of nonprofit membership, trade, and professional associations. Consider some key points from Joy that can help build your membership organization following the pandemic, as people again seek connections to impact the local community you serve.

Episode Highlights:
Joy shares her work with membership nonprofits. (2:58)
Joy explains why some people are not joiners. (4:39)
Joy mentions the software platform she constructed. (5:55)
Scott mentions the first time he met Joy. (8:51)
Joy shares the model she utilizes when talking with her clients. (9:42)
Joy shares how membership organizations adjust. (12:14)
Joy mentions why strategic alliances could be beneficial. (15:07)
Key Quotes:
“If you are offering something of value, providing a member experience that is meaningful to someone and it's having an impact in their life or their business, they will join.” - Joy Duling
“I believe that organizations need to be intentionally designing a journey for their members. They need to understand what people want coming in and how to deliver that in a way that gets their members closer to the result that they're looking for.” - Joy Duling
“When you show the people that you're serving that you care in that way, it really makes a big difference in building that relationship. It shows them that you actually value them and that you're trying to provide something that they will appreciate and enhance the relationship.” - Joy Duling
Resources Mentioned:
Joy Duling LinkedIn
The Joy Of Membership
Directory Of Associations
6 Things Members Actually Want from Your Nonprofit—But Probably Aren’t Telling You
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
21 min
April 20, 2021Nonprofit Insurance: What You Need To Know
In this episode of the NP Local podcast hosted by Jason Cass and Scott Niermann, they discuss what kind of insurance is appropriate for nonprofits.

Episode Highlights:
Jason shares what the traits are that a person must have when an executive is looking for an agent. (3:34)
Jason mentions why he fell into nonprofits. (4:31)
Jason shares some of the companies that he works with. (7:25)
Jason mentions the only reason why they're usually writing the nonprofit. (7:48)
Jason explains the two types of liability. (8:15)
Jason mentions what workers comp is and why they do what they do. (12:10)
Jason shares a scenario where he has seen huge claims for nonprofits. (13:51)
Jason shares the significance of claims on workers comp. (16:37)
Key Quotes:
“We have this misconception about how we quote and we have a misconception as to the way we should quote. Sometimes it's our own fault because we get comfortable with the agent we have.” - Jason Cass
“When we started to figure out how to help organizations lower their workers comp, we looked at other industries and said, Who else has high work comp issues?” - Jason Cass
“There's only a 1 out of 6 chance that you'd have somebody get hurt and workers comp and that's your biggest one. There's a 230 to 1 chance that your building is going to burn down, but 2.7 to 1 that you'll have a cyber attack.” - Jason Cass
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Managing the Non-profit Organization: Principles and Practices
23 min
April 06, 2021Policies: What's Most Important and Why
In this episode of the NP Local podcast hosted by Jason Cass and Scott Niermann, they discuss the different types of board policies and what it’s all about.

Episode Highlights:
Scott mentions why crafting policies is not his favorite as a nonprofit director. (5:23)
Jason shares why business owners try to avoid working on policies. (6:54)
Jason mentions the definition of wrongful acts. (7:50)
Scott mentions the Association of Fundraising Professionals website. (9:12)
Scott shares that a conflict of interest policy is required for incorporation. (10:01)
Scott shares what is the gift acceptance policy. (12:47)
Scott mentions what is an investment policy and spending policy. (15:58)
Scott mentions the whistleblower policy. (16:45)
Key Quotes:
“A lot of times we as business owners avoid stuff that's unknown to us. When it's unknown, it builds anxiety. When it builds anxiety, it builds fear.” - Jason Cass
“Just because someone has a conflict, they have an outside business or something, does not mean that it's perceived or will become a problem for your organization. It just means that it needs to be disclosed. It needs to be open and out front.” - Scott Niermann
“If we can't be trusted to keep financial information or otherwise personal information secure, then that creates problems. Then, down the road could grow to some significant fundraising or legal issues.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Managing the Non-profit Organization: Principles and Practices
23 min
March 23, 2021Strategic Planning: Putting Your Mission Into Action
Does your organization use a strategic plan to implement your mission? Do you set goals with board and constituent buy-in? Join Jason Cass and Scott Niermann for a discussion about the importance of strategic planning, and why it is essential for your team accountability, your organization's success in reaching your vision for a better world.

Episode Highlights:
Scott mentions the strategic plan he’s working on. (1:16)
Jason mentions the three factors of leadership. (3:05)
Why does Scott think that heads of organizations don't want to necessarily train or hold people accountable to those processes? (5:13)
Jason shares why most people want to be held accountable. (6:28)
Scott mentions the SWOT analysis. (8:26)
Scott shares why some people hire consultants. (9:47)
Scott mentions the article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy. (14:18)
Scott mentions the toughest task of the nonprofit executive. (22:16)
Key Quotes:
“There's a reason why when we look at these large organizations that are built on process, usually operate with people that make 10 to $15 an hour because you don't need somebody great. You need somebody to follow the process that you create.” - Jason Cass
“When you're running a small to medium-sized organization, you're in the trenches, you're the general with the troops. Take an action every day, hopefully meaningful action, moving that ball forward. Also, remove yourself and think from that bird's eye perspective so that you can actually cast that vision and keep people inspired.” - Scott Niermann
“Whatever the human resources are, whatever the leadership issues or board issues might be, everybody's theoretically on the same page after the SWOT analysis.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Managing the Non-profit Organization: Principles and Practices
25 min
March 09, 2021Identifying Your Nonprofit's Core Values, Vision and Mission
In this episode of the NP Local podcast hosted by Jason Cass and Scott Niermann, they discuss why the vision, mission and core values are some of the most significant factors that leaders do and their definitions.

Episode Highlights:
Scott shares a story about Peter Drucker, who is a well-known business consultant. (3:12)
Scott shares why a mission statement should help drive your goals. (10:28)
Scott shares why one of the real problems out there is “mission creep.” (11:10)
Scott explains the “Three Musts” that Peter Drucker developed. (13:24)
Scott shares why core values are significant to consider. (17:11)
Scott mentions the Salvation Army. (18:46)
Key Quotes:
“The vision, mission, and core values are important because it's guiding light to what your organization should be doing. One thing we never think about is the thing we hate the most which is hiring and that bad word firing.” - Jason Cass
“If you do something more than have this set on a shelf or in board minutes, it's going to be meaningful. It may be meaningful at the time you least expect it. So, I encourage you to hang mission and vision values on your office wall. Make it visible for all to see.” - Scott Niermann
“If we are constantly chasing that ball or we're constantly chasing the squirrel, then we're not staying focused on the core things that we do best. Mission creep is exactly that. It is creeping away or veering away from your core purpose.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
Right Attitudes- Make a Difficult Decision Like Benjamin Franklin
Strategic Planning Sucks the Life Out of Nonprofits
22 min
February 23, 2021Decision-Making like Ben Franklin
The simple t-chart, used by Benjamin Franklin himself, can simplify the complex decision-making within any organization. Useful in your personal and professional life, this method can clarify your considerations as a leader and can also help facilitate team/board conversations such as strategic planning. Avoid "mission creep" in your organization by making better decisions- especially in times of crisis where frequent pivoting may be necessary.
Join us for this episode of the NP Local podcast hosted by Jason Cass and Scott Niermann.

Episode Highlights:
Jason shares a story about his mentor. (1:15)
Jason mentions the T-Chart by Benjamin Franklin. (2:09)
Scott mentions one of the factors about the nonprofit world. (2:57)
When Scott goes to a board and they have decided that they're going to take a different direction, how does he react? (4:48)
Jason mentions one of the reasons why the T-Chart is beneficial. (6:43)
Scott shares one of the things that’s practical for a nonprofit leader. (10:14)
Scott mentions the SWOT analysis. (13:05)
Jason shares how he utilizes the T-Chart in the agency. (14:53)
Scott shares what he’s currently doing as a consultant for a client. (17:21)
Key Quotes:
“Anything out there in the world can affect the economy or how people give, or how secure people feel in giving. There are several things that we're dependent on in the nonprofit world. Therefore, the decisions tend to be pretty complex.” - Scott Niermann
“If you can't change your people, change your people. Now, that's one of the hard things to do, but remove the emotion out of it. When you start writing those pros and those cons left and right and you start to look at it, it becomes clear real quick. Then you start getting other people's advice.” - Jason Cass
“Sometimes those positives are going to outweigh the negatives and you gotta have that perspective going into the goal-setting planning process first.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
Right Attitudes- Make a Difficult Decision Like Benjamin Franklin
23 min
February 09, 2021Meeting Your Goals in the New Year
Only 8% of us meet our yearly goals each December. Why is that? How can we do better? Listen here to find out how you can set SMART goals, leverage accountability, and shift to a more productive mindset for the year.
Join us for this episode of the NP Local podcast hosted by Jason Cass and Scott Niermann.

Episode Highlights:
Scott mentions an article he posted on his blog. (2:15)
Scott shares one of the first things we must do to increase the chances of meeting our goals. (4:53)
Jason shares the main reason why we don't meet our goals and the four reasons behind it. (6:35)
Scott explains what the SMART goals stand for. (9:48)
Scott mentions the book entitled Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey. (13:33)
Scott shares why he strongly recommends the wheel of your life exercise. (15:03)
Scott mentions the research about the SMART goals, by Dr. Gail Matthews. (19:22)
Key Quotes:
“One of the things that we do is we prepare and have this hopeful beginning but we have to be prepared for the twists and turns that this year is going to bring in. As strange as 2020 was, we know that 2021 is going to certainly bring some twists and turns.” - Scott Niermann
“Some of the goals that we set for ourselves are done in a few weeks or months, and others are done in more than 12 months. Those of you who are discouraged are finding the same goal on your resolution list every year.” - Scott Niermann
“ There are things throughout all of life that we can apply to a business that says, if that works then that could probably work for us.” - Jason Cass
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
Goals & Resolutions - A Journey in Change
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
24 min
January 26, 2021Are You a Fixed Mindset or a Growth Mindset?
In this episode of the NP Local podcast, co-hosts Jason Cass and Scott Niermann, MPA, CFRE, discuss the studies that they found about mindset and the book entitled, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

Episode Highlights:
What was valuable about mindset? (2:26)
Scott shares a story about a photo that has been in his files for a few years that has Dr. Dweck’s name on it. (2:37)
Scott mentions Dr. Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. (2:50)
Scott explains the difference between the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. (3:11)
Scott mentions the Life Leadership website. (7:17)
Jason shares the two types of core values. (13:38)
What’s one of the factors that differentiate the two types of mindsets? (14:01)
Jason shares his opinion about the mindset that’s connected to a denomination. (15:59)
Scott mentions a New York Times bestseller book entitled, Launching a Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five Levels of Influence. (21:10)
Key Quotes:
“As a fundraiser, are we making the pie bigger, or is it a fixed pie? We only get our little slice, and that’s it. As folks who promote philanthropy, we want that pie to be as big as possible, for all nonprofits.” - Scott Niermann
“Mindset doesn't mean you do the job. Mindset means you become a leader and cast a vision to get people to buy into that, and that’s huge.” - Jason Cass
“If we do enough of the right things, that's when the magic happens and that's true in business. Have to have the core processes down, then you can start to take off in the future. When you know you have to do A, to get to B, to hit the target of C, you can set those goals now.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Life Leadership
Launching a Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five Levels of Influence
23 min
January 12, 2021We Learned a Lot in 2020, Right?
In this episode of the NP Local podcast, co-hosts Jason Cass and Scott Niermann, MPA, CFRE, discuss the four different paths that leaders have taken in the last four years and it’s relevance on the nonprofit side.

Episode Highlights:
What did Scott learn from 2020, with regards to the leadership of his foundation? (4:10)
Scott shares four different paths that leaders have taken in the last four years. (5:40)
Scott explains why having a survival mindset is relevant to leadership. (6:02)
What does leadership mean, for a nonprofit? (7:23)
Why does Scott see the second path as circling the wagons and sharpening the saw? (9:25)
Scott mentions the article he wrote entitled, Goals & Resolutions - A Journey in Change. (10:10)
Scott shares the third path “We chose to Go! Run! Fight! Through the pandemic.” (12:45)
Why is the last path considered as what all of us aspired to be? (16:19)
Key Quotes:
“Especially if you're dealing with society, with mental illness, and people losing their jobs and needing support at home with their kids, no matter what organization out there, there is a way for you to understand that that wave is coming.” - Jason Cass
“Leadership is about mapping out where you need to go to win as a team or an organization. So when we're planning for the future, and we're casting that vision, we want to look for spots that we can win.” - Jason Cass
“What do we want to be as leaders? We want to be strategic, we want to be skilled, we want to be strong leaders, we want to navigate and innovate and pivot just perfectly. And if there's anybody that did that out there, I'd love to have them on this podcast.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
22 min
December 15, 2020Tips for Cost Savings During COVID
In this episode of the NP Local podcast, co-hosts Jason Cass and Scott Niermann, MPA, CFRE, discuss the actions or elements that could be cut to save money in your organization and those that are not wise to cut.

Episode Highlights:
Scott thinks that many organizations are cutting immediately in areas that may not be wise to cut immediately. (3:11)
Scott mentions that his first recommendation is to look for the waste. (3:55)
Scott shares that for every different type of organization, there are different types of decisions but for most organizations, the small ones probably cannot afford to own. However, if they scale up a bit, it could be in their best interest, to have that asset. (4:30)
Jason mentions that the best action you can do, when your insurance comes up is to call your incumbent. Because your incumbent is going to give you the best prices. (7:24)
Jason shares that in the insurance world, we keep 92% of our business. Therefore, if you're not the incumbent, you have less than an 8% chance of getting that business. But if you are the incumbent, you have a 92% chance that they're going to give you better pricing, better coverage, and they're going to give you more options on your markets. (8:10)
Scott mentions that more organizations should be looking at purchasing cyber liability. (11:24)
Scott shares other information that the Blackbaud Institute report indicated. (16:04)
Scott mentions one of the elements that you shouldn’t cut is the training. (18:28)
Scott shares that instead of cutting the training, look for those lower-cost training, don’t stop training and don't zero out the training budget. (18:34)
Key Quotes:
“I want to do the best for you and keep in mind this is from my heart. Because it doesn't do me any good as far as competitiveness and writing insurance for me to tell you to stay where you are. But right now, I'm concerned about your expenses and making sure that you're looking at things. If you have been with the same incumbent for 10,15, 20 years, I would strongly look at it.” - Jason Cass
“Insurance is not one of those areas to cut. It's about making sure you have the right coverages and the right policies. And I would say right now, you know, more organizations should be looking at purchasing.” - Scott Niermann
“You’ve got to make hard decisions sometimes and this is one of them. And they know this I mean this nonprofit world, smaller the organization, it's about survival. So, it's important then also to nurture those partnerships, your board members, your volunteers.” - Scott Niermann
“Look for those virtual webinars, and presentations that you can do anytime...Don't kill that training budget. Because this is a time for sharpening the saw.” - Scott Niermann
Resources Mentioned:
Reach out to Jason Cass
Reach out to Scott Niermann - Scott can assist with church, nonprofit, and commercial insurance in Tennessee and Georgia.
Nonprofit Insured
The Insurance Alliance serves organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Niermann Coaching and Consulting
22 min

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