In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts podcast, Mary dives deep into the transformative power of mentorship and the strategic planning process for nonprofits featuring Lisa Humphrey, CEO and President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County.

Lisa Humphrey provides strategic leadership and innovative problem-solving in carrying out the agency’s mission to ignite the power and promise of youth. She brings a wealth of knowledge and innovative programming in the field of mentoring.

This episode covers the significant role of mentorship in empowering youth, the importance of community support, the reciprocal nature of mentor and mentee relationships, and the benefits of strategic planning. 

00:00 Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts Podcast

00:59 The Power of Mentoring

07:03 Impact Stories and the Importance of Mentorship

13:21 Strategic Planning: Why It Matters

17:40 Engaging Stakeholders in Strategic Planning

24:18 Upcoming Initiatives and Final Thoughts

27:17 Conclusion and Tips for Effective Strategic Planning

Connect with Lisa Humphrey:

Visit bbbsflint.org

Connect with the Big Brothers Big Sister of Flint and Genessee County on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bbbsflint 

Reach their office at 810 235 0617

Answering Nonprofit Leaders' Most Pressing Questions of 2024: Year-End Review

In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts Podcast, Mary and Christina address the most frequently asked questions they receive from nonprofit leaders. 

They discuss key topics including:

⭐Diversifying funding sources

⭐Effective strategic planning

⭐Utilizing AI tools

⭐Improving board engagement

⭐Measuring organizational impact

This conversation aims to provide practical tips and insights to help nonprofit leaders feel less isolated and more empowered in their roles. 

Tune into this episode for effective strategies you can implement in your organization today and stay until the end for valuable tips and tricks!

00:42 End of Year Show: Most Asked Questions of 2024

03:17 Highlights from the Past Year

07:04 Diversifying Funding Sources

12:20 Strategic Planning Tips

19:12 AI Tools for Nonprofits

25:33 Engaging Your Board of Directors

37:17 Measuring Impact and Success

42:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mary discusses the importance of year-end campaigns with guest Christina Wood, Executive Director at Educational Child Care Center, EC3. 

Christina Wood is the Executive Director of Educational Child Care Center in Lansing.  

She worked in restaurant management for 20 years before pursuing her passion in early education.

Starting as a classroom assistant, she worked her way up to a lead teacher earning her

Child Development Accreditation, then an associate’s degree in child development and early education.

It was her passion for children and families that led her to pursue her current career.

They explore the challenges and opportunities of these campaigns, focusing on strategy, relationship-building, and use of modern tools such as ChatGPT and Canva to streamline processes. 

Christina Wood shares her experiences and plans for her first year-end campaign, including rebranding and increasing visibility. 

Additionally, Mary and her colleague Christina Wichert offer insights into leveraging AI tools for crafting impactful narratives and managing campaign logistics efficiently.

Listen into this episode for effective strategies for year-end campaigns from these nonprofit leaders.

00:44 Year-End Campaigns: An Overwhelming Task

02:18 Year-End Campaign Insights with Christina Wood

04:31 Challenges and Strategies for Small Nonprofits

07:07 The Importance of Relationship Building

28:12 Using AI Tools for Year-End Campaigns

40:52 Conclusion and Final Tips

Mary welcomes Cindy Hales from the Capital Region Community Foundation for an intriguing discussion on navigating nonprofit collaboration and capacity building. 

Cindy has over thirty years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has served as an executive director of several organizations and has direct fundraising experience in higher education, healthcare, and cultural organizations. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University.

As Vice President of Community Investment, Cindy leads the Foundation's grantmaking programs and builds relationships with nonprofits in the community with support from the community investment team. She works closely with her team and is part of the leadership team.

Mary & Cindy discuss vital strategies for effective nonprofit management, focusing on capacity building and cooperative relationships with funders. Cindy shares insights on succession planning, proactive organization management, and the importance of aligning nonprofit and funder priorities. 

Encouraging nonprofits to build relationships with local community foundations, they offer practical advice for sustainable nonprofit growth. Mary emphasizes the benefits of shifting from reactive to proactive organizational operations through storytelling and real-life examples.

00:00 Introduction to the Nonprofit Experts Podcast

00:34 Celebrating the Success of Season One

02:19 Exciting Plans for Season Two

03:07 Today's Topic: Nonprofit Funder Relationships

03:33 Guest Introduction: Cindy Hale

04:21 Understanding Capacity Building

13:24 Proactivity vs. Reactivity in Nonprofits

17:35 Aligning Priorities with Funders

21:52 Tips for Working with Community Foundations

26:47 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode of "Nonprofit Experts," host Mary Gladstone-Highland delves into the often-misunderstood world of nonprofit lobbying with a true advocate for change, Nick Lutton from Family Voices of California. Together, they explore the transformative journey from hesitation to legislation, revealing the untapped potential nonprofits hold in shaping policy and driving their mission forward.

🌟 Key Takeaways:

Join Mary and Nick on this empowering episode as they inspire nonprofit leaders to embrace advocacy, turning hesitation into a force for legislative change. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or just starting your journey, this episode is a roadmap for transforming your organization's impact through the strategic use of lobbying.

🔗 Connect with Our Guest:

✨ Don't miss this enlightening conversation that proves lobbying isn't just for the big players; it's a valuable tool for every nonprofit ready to make a lasting difference.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts podcast, titled "Leadership in Times of Crisis," we tackle the common struggles of nonprofit leaders who often grapple with feelings of scarcity, whether it's not enough time, donations, or staff. Our expert shares three essential assets that you already possess to bolster your nonprofit work, and they recount an inspiring story of overcoming exceptional circumstances with unwavering resilience. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an interactive poll where you can share your thoughts on this critical topic.

Join host Mary Gladstone-Highland in a compelling conversation with Dorothy Norris-Tirrell, Interim Executive Director at the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, on the Nonprofit Experts podcast. Discover intentionality's pivotal role in hiring, the dangers of hasty recruitment, and the valuable insights offered by interim leadership during times of transition.

In this episode, explore:

For a comprehensive exploration of intentional hiring, interim leadership's transformational effects, and navigating leadership changes, tune in to this enriching episode of Nonprofit Experts. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or an aspiring leader, you'll find valuable insights to elevate your leadership experience.

In this episode, Mary Gladstone-Highland, Christina Wichert, and Katy Stokes share insights from their upcoming book titled Calm: How to End Destructive Conflict in Your Church. The book focuses on providing practical guidance and strategies for addressing conflict within a faith-based organization, although many of the principles can be applied to any kind of organization.

During the discussion, the authors provide a behind-the-scenes look at the process of developing their book. They talk about the personal experiences they drew upon, and the collaborative effort it took to create a comprehensive resource on conflict resolution.

The authors explore different approaches and techniques that can be used to effectively handle conflicts in a productive and healthy manner.

In this episode, you will hear:

Welcome to "The Nonprofit Experts," a podcast where we discuss important topics for nonprofit professionals. In this episode, we explore:

Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical advice to enhance your nonprofit work and make a meaningful impact.