Successful Nonprofits Podcast

A chance encounter with a child without pajamas led today's guest, Genevieve Piturro, to launch a nonprofit from her living room. Today her organization, Pajama Program, has over 40 chapters across the US and has provided children with over 7.5 million pajamas and books. In this episode, she joins us to share the wisdom she gained from building her organization from scratch including:

• Building an effective Board of Directors
• Finding the mentorship and guidance you need
• Harnessing the power of storytelling to build connections
• Structuring a successful leadership transition

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Genevieve's Website
• Pajama Program's Website
• Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection, and Lead with Meaning
• Purpose, Passion, and Moxie: How to Lead the Way and Leave a Legacy: A Workbook to Help You Start a Nonprofit from Scratch to Success

Like this episode and hungry for more?

• Fundraising for Sustainability with Dr. Shantell Chambliss on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website
• Time to Change the Way you Fundraise and Raise More Money with Jack Silverstein on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website

At some point in your nonprofit leadership journey, you will encounter a damaging Board member who needs to be removed. But it's hard to find a playbook for how to handle this delicate situation correctly. In this bonus break, I outline three ways to terminate a problem Board member and answer the following questions:

• How do I fire a Board member?
• Who is responsible for firing a bad Board member?
• How do I handle an underperforming Board member?
• What can I do about an abusive Board member?

This bonus break is loosely based on a Successful Nonprofits® blog post; you can read the full post at https://successfulnonprofits.com/how-to-fire-a-difficult-board-member/.

In this episode, nonprofit leader Kiersten Hill shares invaluable insights from her own experience as an executive director on developing productive, harmonious relationships with Board leadership. She discusses best practices for maintaining a healthy relationship such as clear communication, effective onboarding, annual training, and more. Kiersten also shares tips for what CEOs can do when Board relations deteriorate due to a difficult Board member. This is a must-listen for any ED looking to enhance their Board governance!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Firespring
• Kiersten's LinkedIn

Like this episode and hungry for more?

• · The Supportive Board Chair with Monica Khant on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
• · All Problems are People Problems with Brad Wolff on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website

There are just five weeks left in the year, and there are five fundraising tasks I want you to implement before December 31. If you don't already have an end-of-year campaign, make this your year-end strategy. And, if you do have an end-of-year campaign that is currently rolling out, consider strengthening your strategy by incorporating these tasks.

Each can be planned and launched in just eight hours – making them the perfect way to boost your fundraising before December 31.

This week kicks off the holiday season here in the US, which is a time of reflection and gratitude. It also kicks off giving season. Whether you have a thank-you plan in place or not, make sure you listen in to this montage episode brimming with donor-tested, staff-approved strategies to convey just how deeply you cherish your end-of-year donors.

We know how important it is to thank donors, yet the quest for a thank-you that truly stands out and resonates with your supporters can be a formidable challenge. So, join us in today's episode for a fountain of thank-you inspiration! You'll hear ideas ranging from personalized video messages to bespoke paintings and even heartfelt gifts handcrafted by the very clients whose lives your nonprofit --- and donors --- touch.

Recommended Episodes:

• Unleash Your Donors' Generosity with Brady Josephson on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.
• Help Donors Fall In Love…With Your Organization with Abra Annes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

What if you could ignore the incessant demands on your attention, giving you the time and space to develop and maintain habits that make you more productive and help you care for yourself?

I recently read the books Indistractible by Nir Eyal and Atomic Habits by James Clear, and together these two books answer that important question. That's why this Bonus Break shares three key concepts and four time-hacks from the books that will transform your relationship with work, productivity, and time.

Kristin Sukraw, an award-winning storyteller and film producer with a passion for bringing nonprofit narratives to life, gives us a masterclass in finding and telling our nonprofit's best stories.

Kristin introduces essential interviewing techniques that transform the way stories are told and received. Techniques like 'embracing the pause', 'doing the dip', and 'effective restatements.'

Kristin and Dolph also tackle potential concerns about re-traumatizing former clients and the ethics of asking individuals to recount personal stories. And Kristen outlines how to invite individuals to share their experience in a way that leads to healing and a sense of pride.

The conversation also explores the importance of selecting the right storyteller, advocating for the inclusion of quieter voices that often carry profound stories, and constructing a 'story vault' to organize potential narratives.

This episode is a treasure trove for nonprofit leaders looking to harness the power of storytelling to advance their mission.

Recommended Episodes:

• The Story Your Voice Tells with Tracy Goodwin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website
• Become Your Nonprofit's Brand Ambassador with Rita Soronen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

• Kristin's Website
• Kristin's Instagram
• Atomic Ranch Homes

For five years after Aretha Franklin's 2018 death, her estate couldn't be settled because her heirs had to wait for a judge to decide which of her multiple wills to recognize. Ultimately, the judge accepted a will found in a notebook stuffed into couch cushions as her last will and testament.

Can you imagine your organization being paralyzed for 5 years waiting for a judge to decide which by-laws were the correct version? Unable to take any action – not even able to appoint new Board members or replace an Executive Director who has left? That would be cataclysmic.

And that's why this episode dives into your document retention process. Not the policy that states how long you have to keep documents, but the procedures for ensuring they are actually retained and transferred during leadership transitions.

What we've come to believe are fundraising "best practices" can have a damaging impact on those we serve, our staff, donors, and mission. Join today's guests, Tanya Rumble and Nicole McVan, as they discuss philanthropic practices that cause harm and share steps you can take to challenge and dismantle them. Join us for a transformative conversation that challenges the status quo of fundraising and redefines the future of philanthropy.

Ever accepted a new job then regrated not negotiating enough on your salary and compensation? If so, you're not alone! Navigating job offers and salary negotiations is daunting to most of us because we don't do it every day.

Early in my career, I made a negotiation decision that cost me more $150,000. Fast forward almost 25 years, and I've had significantly more experience negotiating pay – both as the person doing the hiring and the person being hired. And I've learned what works – and what doesn't work.

In this Bonus Break episode, I'll share

• Two secrets hiring managers don't tell you

• Tips on how to interact with your perspective employer when negotiating salary

• Techniques that will help you master the art of salary negotiation

This episode also refers to a Compensation Comparison Worksheet you can download at https://zc.vg/mDNi5.