How do you stay true to your mission and pay the bills? How do you engage your community and challenge them to think differently? And how do you do all that without burning out?

In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, I'm joined by Sara Dean, Artistic Director at The Pear Theatre in Silicon Valley, CA, and a board member of Theatre Bay Area. Sara brings an incredible mix of creative courage, business pragmatism, and heart-centred leadership to nonprofit work, offering takeaways for anyone navigating mission-driven challenges.

We talk about:

• Navigating the tension between program impact and financial sustainability

• Leading through complexity in one of the most expensive regions in the U.S.

• Rethinking traditional nonprofit models to serve evolving audiences and communities

• How storytelling, inclusivity, and data work together to inform programming decisions

• The reality of nonprofit burnout and how Sara holds space for balance and joy

You'll walk away inspired by Sara's leadership journey and equipped with real-world lessons on balancing stakeholder needs, delivering impactful work, and sustaining your own energy and vision as a nonprofit leader.

Plus: Sara shares strategies for achieving representation in casting, insights on the process of reimagining classics such as Henry V, and best practices for listening deeply to audiences to shape future programming.

Looking for a human-centered and ethical way to use artificial intelligence tools in your nonprofit? Email me at [email protected] and I'll share a free action guide + access to a ChatGPT tool we've built just for you, packed with ready-to-use prompts for grants, donor appeals, project planning, and more.

• Visit The Pear Theatre website: https://www.thepear.org/

• Visit Silver Maple Strategies' website: https://www.silvermaplestrategies.com/

• Follow Silver Maple Strategies on LinkedIn and Facebook!

Hosted by Nate Birt, founder of Silver Maple Strategies

Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode and to Audrey Anderson for podcast publishing support!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate & review the show to help us grow!

Artificial intelligence is evolving fast, but today's expert guest tells us AI is also entering a new phase of stability, making now the ideal time for nonprofit leaders to get comfortable and curious with this technology.

In this week's episode, I chat with Aram Fischer, co-founder and CEO of Change Agent AI, an alternative to tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Change Agent AI is purpose-built from the ground up for nonprofits, advocacy groups, and social impact professionals.

We talk about what makes Change Agent AI different: from stronger privacy and anti-bias safeguards to a smaller environmental footprint. And Aram shares how his documentary filmmaking and political communications background informs a tool that supports mission-driven teams rather than replacing them.

You'll learn:

• Why nonprofit leaders should not view AI tools as static or a one-size-fits-all solution

• The importance of values alignment in choosing tech tools

• How Change Agent AI is designed for the real-world needs of fundraising, communications, reporting, and multistakeholder collaboration

• Why the recent slowdown in AI innovation is actually good news for social sector adoption

• What AI trends to watch (and avoid) in 2026 and beyond

We also discuss the tension many social impact leaders feel around AI, especially around data privacy, bias, and environmental impact, and how Change Agent AI is intentionally tackling these head on.

If you've been unsure about how AI fits into your mission-driven work, this episode will give you a values-aligned path forward and some powerful new ideas to scale your team's capacity without sacrificing your impact.

• Try Change Agent AI or learn more: thechange.ai

• Connect with Aram Fischer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aramfisher

• Email Aram: [email protected]

• Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.silvermaplestrategies.com/newsletter

• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/89566490

• 🎧 Lee Williams, for producing this episode

• 🗣 Audrey Anderson, for making sure it reaches the right people

• 💛 And to you—for the impact you're making in your community

In this teaching episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, host Nate Birt, founder of Silver Maple Strategies, coaches nonprofit leaders navigating an increasingly uncertain economy.

What can you as a nonprofit leader do to navigate volatility and come out ahead? A lot, actually! Here are five practical, actionable strategies you can implement immediately whether you're up against government shutdowns, mixed economic signals, or donor unpredictability. And you can take these actions without burning out or losing your mission-driven focus.

Whether you're in survival mode or looking to build new momentum during choppy economic waters, this episode will offer you both clarity and encouragement for leadership in challenging times.

• The five essential actions every nonprofit leader should prioritize during economic uncertainty

• How to apply the "four walls" budgeting principle from personal finance to your organization

• Why preserving current relationships is often more valuable than chasing new ones

• How to differentiate between a cost and an investment in your budget

• The underestimated power of saying no and practicing deep focus

• How creativity can serve as a survival tool

• Silver Maple Strategies Capacity Pricing Calculator: Get a transparent quote for nonprofit support spanning fundraising, communications and marketing, and artificial intelligence-forward operations in under 3 minutes: https://www.silvermaplestrategies.com/pricing-calculator

• Book Recommendations: Essentialism by Greg McKeown and Deep Work by Cal Newport

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more nonprofit leaders like you discover strategies for navigating uncertainty with confidence and clarity. Thank you!

As always, special thanks to Lee Williams for producing the podcast and to Audrey Anderson for her marketing excellence in reaching the nonprofit leaders who can benefit from it.

How do you lead a nonprofit with clarity, morale, and flexibility when the world around you is rapidly changing?

In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, Nate Birt sits down with Beverly Coberly, CEO of Extension Foundation, for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation on what it means to lead through complexity without losing your values, your vision, or your team's energy.

Bev brings deep insight from her decades-long career in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System. She shares insights about nonprofit leadership from her days growing up on a Missouri dairy farm to leading a national nonprofit that partners with land-grant universities, federal agencies, and local communities. You'll hear about her personal mission, her take on what makes collaboration effective, and her call for the next iteration of nonprofit leadership models.

Whether you're leading a local nonprofit, overseeing a national initiative, or operating from somewhere in between, this episode will give you renewed energy and practical tools for staying resilient, no matter how winding the path to your horizon might be.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why having a point on the horizon matters more than having a perfect strategic plan
• What Extension Foundation is doing to embrace change and lead with flexibility
• How to balance visibility, impact, and humility in community-based work
• Why data isn't enough and what's needed to tell your story effectively
• Bev's take on artificial intelligence (AI), the value of critical thinking skills, and the future of cultivating trust with evidence-based insights
• How nature, pets, and faith can keep you grounded in the ups and downs of mission-driven work

One of our favorite quotes from Bev:

"The path to the horizon isn't straight... But if you stay focused on where you're going, you'll find the flexibility to get there, even if the road bends."

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Extension Foundation
• Take the Nonprofit Resilience Quiz
• Sign up for the Secrets of Social Impact Communicators newsletter

Thanks to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode!

In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, host Nate Birt speaks with Mike Servello, Founder and CEO of Compassion Coalition, Inc. Mike shares how his nonprofit has grown from a providential beginning in Utica, New York, into a model for feeding millions of people without taking on debt or relying on ongoing government funding.

You'll hear how a donated warehouse and early support from Walmart launched an innovative system of community grocery stores that transformed entire neighborhoods once labeled as "food deserts." Mike also unpacks why restoring dignity matters just as much as providing food, how bipartisan collaboration is possible when people unite around shared values, and why entrepreneurial approaches can radically reduce waste and increase access to nutritious food.

This wide-ranging conversation is full of inspiration and practical lessons: from working with policymakers across the aisle, to empowering neighbors to help neighbors, to envisioning what it would look like if Compassion Coalition's model were replicated across the United States. If you're a nonprofit leader, a social entrepreneur, or simply passionate about strengthening your community, you'll leave this conversation inspired with both hope and actionable insights.

Topics We Cover

• The remarkable $1 warehouse story that launched Compassion Coalition

• Building grocery stores that bring dignity to people who live in food deserts

• How to sustain your nonprofit without ongoing government funding

• Whether a plan for government-run grocery stores proposed by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would work

• Strategies for engaging policymakers across the political spectrum

• The staggering scale of food waste and how to turn it into opportunity

• How community-led solutions can restore both trust and safety

• The positive ripple effects of affordable, nutritious food on health and neighborhoods

• How the Compassion Coalition model might be applied in rural locations

• Compassion Coalition / Bargain Grocery: distributehope.org

• Free Fundraising Confidence Cheat Sheet: email [email protected] or grab it at the end of our YouTube webinar

• Silver Maple Strategies Website: www.silvermaplestrategies.com

Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode.

Soil health. Sustainable ag. Regenerative practices. These topics are no longer niche. They're front and center in conversations about the future of food, farming, and resilience.

This week on Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, I sit down with Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, president of Field to Market, a nonprofit coalition of nearly 200 organizations working to advance sustainable agriculture. Carrie is a sixth-generation farmer, coalition-builder, and lifelong learner who is passionate about helping farmers thrive while stewarding the environment.

We explore what it means to lead in a complex, often-polarized ecosystem, and how Carrie has learned to build trust, slow down, and focus on long-term impact—lessons every social impact communicator can apply.

• How to listen deeply without losing sight of your mission

• What it takes to convene unlikely partners across a wide value chain

• Why storytelling—especially personal storytelling—can build trust and fuel resilience

• Carrie's inspiring pivot from a would-be college athlete to a nationally recognized ag leader

• Why slowing down can be a surprisingly effective leadership strategy

• How her mom's "say yes and learn as you go" mindset shaped her approach to purpose-driven work

We also discuss the growing interest in soil health, why now is the perfect moment to lean into people's curiosity about food and agriculture, and how organizations can lead with empathy and authenticity.

Plus, Carrie shares the story of how a miscommunication over the word "shed" became a powerful metaphor for listening better in our personal and professional lives.

• Learn more about Field to Market: https://fieldtomarket.org

• Connect with Carrie on LinkedIn

• Take the Nonprofit Resilience Quiz – get your free, personalized roadmap for growing your organization

• Subscribe to my newsletter, Secrets of Social Impact Communicators: Join here

• Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode!

Too many hiring systems are broken, and moms are often the ones getting left behind. But what if there was a better way?

In this inspiring episode, I talk with Mary Kay Ziniewicz, founder and CEO of Bus Stop Mamas, about how she's radically reimagining what work can look like for mothers. From her early career in law firm marketing to building a national platform that connects talented women with flexible, meaningful jobs, Mary Kay is a force for challenging outdated assumptions and rebuilding the hiring process with humans at the center.

You'll hear how Mary Kay's personal transformation led her to purpose-driven work, why remote work isn't the silver bullet we think it is, and the untapped business case for hiring moms. We also explore how employers can be part of the solution, saving money, increasing retention, and building stronger teams by hiring differently.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, a social impact entrepreneur, or a working parent yourself, you'll walk away from this conversation encouraged, challenged, and ready to take bold steps forward.

In this episode, we cover:

• The origin story of Bus Stop Mamas and why it's changing lives
• Why 43% of women still leave the workforce after having children
• How social conditioning and hiring algorithms marginalize moms—and how to fix it
• What employers get wrong about childcare and workplace flexibility
• The power of vulnerability, creativity, and community in leadership
• Why being wrong might be the best thing for your career
• Fast-cash gigs, pinch hitters, and how Mary Kay is redefining modern hiring

Links & Resources:

🔗 Visit Bus Stop Mamas

🔗 Connect with Mary Kay on LinkedIn

📝 Read our related blog post: The Courage to Ask: Rethinking Sales and Your Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy

📩 Subscribe to Secrets of Social Impact Communicators newsletter: Join here

Thank you to Mary Kay and the team at Bus Stop Mamas for this powerful conversation.

Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode!

What if the path to real social impact began with letting go?

In this episode, I sit down with Alfredo Mathew III, founder and CEO of SPCC One—the world's first Shared Prosperity Community Corporation. Alfredo is a former public school educator turned social entrepreneur who's building a bold, transformative model that reimagines capital, ownership, and community.

Alfredo shares how his work empowers small businesses—especially Black and Brown-owned enterprises—to band together, unlock capital, and drive systemic change through shared prosperity models rooted in economic democracy and collective ownership.

We also dive into:

• What small businesses and nonprofits get wrong about capital
• The mindset shift founders must make to stop playing small
• How to spot when your business model needs a pivot
• What it takes to build local economic engines that last
• Why ego is holding the social sector back—and what to do about it
• A life-threatening health scare that gave Alfredo powerful clarity on impact, legacy, and humility

Alfredo doesn't just talk systems change—he's living it. You'll walk away from this episode challenged, inspired, and equipped with actionable ideas for growing your impact while staying grounded in purpose.

More from our conversation:

• Connect with Alfredo Mathew III on LinkedIn
• Visit Alfredo's website: alfredomathew.com
• Email him: [email protected]
• Learn more about SPCC One

Related Resources:

• Read my article: "Breaking Through Bottlenecks"
• Watch recent webinars on the Silver Maple Strategies YouTube Channel
• Sign up for my free newsletter, Secrets of Social Impact Communicators: Subscribe here

Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode!

Visit the Silver Maple Strategies website

Follow Silver Maple Strategies on LinkedIn

Book Nate Birt as a speaker or facilitator

Do you ever feel like you're encountering a series of neverending bottlenecks within your nonprofit? Here at Silver Maple Strategies, we see this all the time - and it's nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, it's part of the natural growth of any purpose-driven organization. The best part? There are tremendous solutions available to any leader looking to break through bottlenecks and deliver increasingly higher levels of impact. In this episode, I'll teach you how. It really boils down to focusing your attention and strategy in three key areas:

• Mindset: Erase doubt, stop denying your own value, and avoid sabotage
• People + Machines: Shift away from analog-only systems and toward human-centered, digitally streamlined processes, embrace automation where sensible, and encourage your team to cross-train
• Money (aka Fundraising): Focus attention versus spreading it broadly over many areas, bias toward action (rather than primarily research) and navigate tricky predicaments with an eye toward financial sustainability.

I hope these insights can be helpful to you in determining which bottleneck you'll break through next.

And if you're curious to explore what this could mean for your own nonprofit's health and growth, I'd love to visit with you. Book a free, no-pressure consultation to dive deeper on your nonprofit's specific needs. You can simply schedule a time to talk with me, CEO Nate Birt, at www.SilverMapleStrategies.com/Contact.

Are you struggling to get noticed by funders and strategic partners — even though your nonprofit is doing critical, impactful work?

In this episode, I'll walk you through the essential keys to making your nonprofit brand unforgettable. Drawing on insights from more than 17 years in communications and 8+ years advising nonprofit leaders, I share the most common branding challenges nonprofits face today — and the exact steps you can take to rise above the noise.

You'll learn how to shift your mindset from "surviving" to "thriving" and build a brand that funders remember, partners rally behind, and your team is proud of.

• Why caution-mode branding holds nonprofits back — and what to do instead

• The top five branding pitfalls that make nonprofits invisible

• How to reframe your narrative to emphasize transformation, not just activity

• Why audience clarity is the new brand superpower

• Five "Invisible No More" branding keys you can implement today

Plus, listen in as I reveal the action steps you can take right now to start moving the needle on visibility, funding, and influence.

Whether you're leading communications, fundraising, or executive strategy — this episode will give you the clarity and momentum to lead with confidence.

• Schedule your free 30-minute consultation with me: www.silvermaplestrategies.com

• Reach out directly for your copy of the Invisible to Visible Messaging Clarity Checklist: [email protected]

Subscribe to Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, my weekly newsletter full of tools, case studies, and inspiration for nonprofit leaders: Join here

Visit Silver Maple Strategies to learn more about our work.