Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions for Canadian and American Nonprofits

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Do you remember that icky feeling back in school, when you were assigned a piece of homework that you didn't see the point in doing, but had to do it anyway? Well, I bet that’s the same feeling you get when you’re filling out a program report and are asked to provide evaluation numbers that don’t make sense to you. 

Impact evaluation is one of those things we are told that is good for us, but often feels so disconnected from our day-to-day work. On today's episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast, Jeff Couillard shares with us his journey of helping organizations take back the ownership of their impact data and measure what truly matters.

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Do you ever get that nagging feeling that your voice is not heard or that it’s drowned out? Currently, with everything being communicated online, it’s so easy to feel that what you have to say is going to get buried in a conference call or countless social media posts. And when we do share our voices, we don’t love it. I remembered when I started the podcast, I also struggled with listening to my own voice playing back at me. Being able to express ourselves and communicate clearly is so important to our work and our wellbeing.

I am more than excited to share with you today’s podcast, where Jam Gamble, coach extraordinaire of Slay the Mic program, tells us how to overcome the fear of self-expression and ace public speaking. Let me let you in on a little secret: memorizing the speech does not do the trick. My whole team is loving this podcast episode so I know you will too! What you have to say is so important. Your voice is unique and beautiful. Share it!

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In times like this, it’s so important that we stay connected. The same goes with our donors. They want to hear from you about how you and your organization is doing. I know what you are thinking: donors already have a lot on their plate right now. Why would they want to hear from me?

On today’s podcast, David from The Common Good Philanthropy shares a great story about how donors felt so connected to a small nonprofit that they got upset when they were not called to help in a time of crisis. David wants us to think about fundraising as community building, and offers great advice on how to connect with our donors as our authentic selves. Take a listen!

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During this global pandemic, I know you are holding down the fort for your organization, your community, and your family. So, how can we make sure you have all the tools you need to get through these tough times. Part of that answer is resiliency. What is resilience and how can you build resilience in your everyday life?

On today’s The Small Nonprofit podcast, wellness expert Monica Bodurka shares her step-by-step guide of how we can all build resiliency from everyday habits. All of these habits can be easily incorporated in your daily routines. We are great at caring for others. Let’s take some time and become great at taking care of ourselves.

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These are scary times. The world is in crisis as we work hard to contain the COVID 19 outbreak and minimize its impact. Our organizations are being challenged in ways we could never imagine. For some of us, our clients are at high risk and we are working around the clock to support them. For others, we have been forced to lay off staff because our programs have been cancelled. The emotional toll on each and every one of us is significant, at a time when we are most isolated. 

We’re also seeing stories of hope, community, and caring. I’ve seen breweries turn the alcohol they have into free hand sanitizer. My neighbours created a mini food drive for a local shelter. Communities coming together in song. 

While this podcast episode was recorded a little while ago, the content is perhaps even more relevant now. Our guest is Sam Laprade and we are talking about burnout. Sam has been talking about mental health so that we can better take care of ourselves and our colleagues. Now more than ever. Sam joins me in today’s podcast, talking about burnout, mental health and self-care. So, take a breath and take a listen.

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In our conversation today with Nouman Ashraf, we’ll debunk some myths around what a leader is and how to be a good one. In short - leadership is not a position or title, it’s a way of being and enabling those around you. Anyone can be a good leader. Everyone SHOULD become a good leader. Nouman has some tips on how to get there.

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What causes you to open that envelope from a charity? What is going through your mind as you decide to read on? Or make a donation? Wouldn’t it be great if you could unlock some of the secrets that influence your donors' behaviours as they think about giving to your organization?

Today’s podcast guest is John Lepp and he is going to be sharing how you can use design to influence your fundraising outcomes - ie: raise more money! But good design isn’t what we like, it’s what works. So through away your personal preferences and grab a pen and paper to discover what design can do to help you raise more money.

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I know you have a long list of “to-dos” that never seems to end. I can also guess that on that list, somewhere towards the end (and seemingly never moving) is to create a Case for Support for your organization. 

Well, today you’re in luck because our podcast guest Leah Eustice is a pro when it comes to writing a Case for Support and she’s going to give you all of her tricks and tips. The best part about it - she shows you how you can write your Case quickly and still make it meaningful.

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Guess what - the next generation of workers are not millennials! We’re so past the conversation of millennials in the workplace and now is the time to think about how you’re hiring and engaging the next generation. This new generation values diversity and inclusion, as well as the ability to have an impact. This is in great alignment with the nonprofit sector, but the reality is that as many as 30% of employers struggle to fill their entry-level roles.

Want to build your pipeline of talent in a meaningful and lasting way? Listen to today’s podcast with CivicAction and their HireNext program.

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Are you introverted or extroverted? I’m right in the middle with a sway towards extroversion. It can sometimes look like the modern work environment is created for us extroverts and if you're introverted, it can feel draining or even exclusionary.

Today’s podcast guest, Trina Isakson, spent years working in our sector as an introvert and created the Quiet Changemaker Project - a place for introverted nonprofit professionals to connect. Our conversation is all about thriving as an introvert (and supporting introverts on your team).

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