If you’re a nonprofit leader looking for strategies to help your organization retain more employees, then give this episode a listen. I sat down with special guest and founder of Balanced Good, Lacey Kempinski, to chat about how her organization is partnering with nonprofits to provide parental leave coverage. She dove into how she supports nonprofits with parental leave, the implications of a weak parental leave policy, and how to plan for parental leave. Lacey also discussed the challenges of working parents in the nonprofit sector. This was such a good episode that all nonprofit leaders will benefit from. 

About Lacey

Lacey Kempinski is an in-house fundraiser, turned Mom, turned consultant. After more than a decade of in-house fundraising, Motherhood changed the trajectory of Lacey’s career. In 2018, when she was due back to work after her second parental leave, Lacey took a leap and founded Balanced Good.

She’s on a mission to better support parents and organizations in the non-profit sector. Balanced Good provides parental leave coverage – from the day-to-day hands-on work to big picture transition planning – Balanced Good believes that a supported transition to parenthood will benefit both our sector and the parents working in it.

Lacey has a bold vision that all parental leaves are viewed as a celebrated life milestone and not a feared employment gap.

As a graduate from McMaster University, and Georgian College’s Fundraising and Resource Development Program, she loves continuing to immerse herself in all things fundraising. While also balancing that with LEGO building, endless folding of laundry, and a love for hiking, canoeing, and all things outdoors.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for how your nonprofit can support employees with their parental leave, including: 

• Supporting nonprofits with their parental leave journey (4:15)

• How parental leave is typically covered (8:35)

• The process and cost of covering parental leave (11:45)

• The implications of not having a strong parental leave policy (16:40)

• How an organization plans for parental leave (19:20)

• Getting the team up to speed and making a meaningful impact (22:00)

• Upholding strong boundaries (24:30)

• Challenges of working parents in the nonprofit sector (28:05)

• Trends in organizational culture and flexibility (30:15)

Teasers

“It's just repeating this culture of martyrdom that we love to have in our sector of our plates are already full, but we'll take on more because it's for the cause. And that's really not good. And there's long-term organizational cost to that.”

“We put together a couple of recommendations on how that role can be more working parent-friendly. So that person can thrive in their role when they come back. And then we provide some overlap and transition because we know just jumping in is really hard to do.”

“I think a lot of times people think in a short-sighted way, ‘I don't want to have to pay for two salaries for three to six months, so we're just going to deal with it and put more work on other people.’ But I think what they don't understand are the longer term ramifications of that, of continuing to just pile work on your existing team.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

Parental Leave Planning Workbook: https://icy-base-20781.myflodesk.com/1986644d-75ba-476f-a37f-788cd7e5d48d 

Connect with Lacey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceykempinski/  

Follow Balanced Good on Instagram: @balancedgood

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/parental-leave

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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If you’ve been thinking about a career change, but still want to stay in the nonprofit sector, then this episode is for you! I sat down with special guest, Julia Devine, founder of Relatable Nonprofit. She shared her journey from six-figure nonprofit job to consultant including how she made the shift, stepped out of her comfort zone, and what she wished she had done differently. Julia also dove into what kind of people are right for consulting and how to work less while still managing to grow your business. This is a fantastic episode for nonprofit leaders looking to make a pivot and remain in the sector. 

About Julia

Julia Devine quit her six-figure nonprofit job to pursue consulting at 25. After building a successful agency to serve nonprofits, she decided to teach others how to do it. Besides running the business, she is gardening, practicing yoga, or reading a good book. Relatable Nonprofit empowers growth-driven women with nonprofit hearts to succeed in consulting. Motherly, Canvas Rebel, Bloomerang, Bonterra, Keela, Nonprofit Hub, Virtuous, and others have featured Relatable Nonprofit.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for pivoting into nonprofit consulting like:

• Making a shift from nonprofit work to consulting (3:30)

• What is the Relatable Nonprofit? (9:40)

• Nonprofit marketing strategies (13:45)

• Stepping out of your comfort zone (19:45)

• What Julia wished she had done differently (23:45)

• What kind of people are right for consulting (29:40)

• How to work less and still grow the business (35:20)

Teasers

“You never know what could happen in a business. You always have to preempt things and anticipate everything that could go right or wrong in a relationship.” 

“The right people to be consultants are highlighter people. People who use highlighters and take good notes.”

“When it used to just be a laundry list that you're chipping away at, you end up spending so much more time on needless things. But when you have time blocked on your calendar for what you want to get done in a week, you realize that you're wasting a lot of time that you really don't even need to be working.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

Resources for New and Aspiring Consultants: https://www.relatablenonprofit.com/gifts 

Follow Julia and Catalina on Instagram: @relatable_nonprofit

Connect with The Relatable Nonprofit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/relatablenonprofit

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/pivoting-to-consulting 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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If you’re looking for ways to make a massive, lasting impact with your nonprofit, then this episode is for you. I sat down with special guest, Jennifer Hutchins Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and collaboration expert. She spoke on the importance of collaborating across different sectors and how it has transformed nonprofit organizations. She dove into examples of strong collaborations and how organizations are thriving in a post-COVID world. This is a great opportunity to learn strategies for maximizing your organization’s impact. 

About Jennifer

Since July 2016, Jennifer Hutchins has been the Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits, the state’s leading organization for Maine’s charitable nonprofit sector with more than 1,000 members from all 16 counties. She serves on the boards of the National Council of Nonprofits and the Maine Philanthropy Center and the advisory boards of the USM Muskie School of Public Service and the Foundation for Portland (ME) Public Schools.

Prior to joining MANP, she was Executive Director of Creative Portland, where she led the City of Portland’s efforts to strengthen the creative economy. Jennifer also served as Director of Communications and External Affairs at the USM Muskie School of Public Service for nine years and as Marketing Director at Portland Stage Company from 1995-2000. After graduating from college, she worked for nonprofit and public institutions in Washington D.C., and France.

In May 2020, Jennifer was selected to serve on Governor Mills’ Economic Recovery Committee, tasked with putting forth recommendations to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s economy. Jennifer holds a master’s in public policy and management and lives in Portland with her husband and two daughters.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of cross-sector collaboration and strategies to get started including:

• The impact of cross-sector collaboration (7:45)

• Examples of strong collaborations (13:25)

• Trends in the nonprofit sector (24:20)

• How organizations are thriving in a post-COVID world (30:35)

• Benefits of joining a state nonprofit association (36:50)

Teasers

“What we know about impactful collaboration is it takes people who have skills and the time, and space to be able to develop a really sophisticated partnership.”

“Collaboration takes on many, many different forms. We need to really think through how we're looking at our business model. How can we be more entrepreneurial? How can we save resources?”

“The thriving nonprofits are the ones that are taking a hard look at compensation and paying attention to how they're being competitive in the marketplace with the types of people that they want to attract to their nonprofits. They are looking at their compensation philosophies. They're looking at their benefits.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

The Maine Association of Nonprofits Website: https://www.nonprofitmaine.org/support-us

Follow the Maine Association of Nonprofits on Instagram: @mainenonprofits 

Connect with the Maine Association of Nonprofits on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mainenonprofits/ 

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/cross-sector-collaboration 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to make a change in your organization, then this episode is for you! I sat down with Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer of charity:water, to chat about how nonprofits can become more innovative. We dove into how to leverage technology, even if your nonprofit is small. Christa also shares strategies for implementing change like getting everyone on the same page, ensuring your systems are working together, and more.  

About Christa

Christa is the CTO of charity: water, a non-profit organization that offers clean drinking water to individuals in developing countries. Since 2006, charity: water has relentlessly pursued its goal of ending the global water crisis, fueled by optimism, collaborative efforts with local partners, and the generosity of supporters, aiming to ensure universal access to clean water within our lifetime.

Throughout her career, Christa has consistently applied a multidisciplinary approach, using data and technology to drive better decisions, products, and delivery. With a strong focus on innovation and mission-driven work, she excels in translating vision into strategy, effectively communicating with diverse stakeholders, and fostering productivity through collaborative leadership.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for implementing technology and change in your nonprofit including:

• What a CTO (chief technology officer) does (12:00)

• Leveraging technology to diversify your revenue streams (13:55)

• Working in new and innovative ways (17:45)

• Advice for smaller nonprofits (21:00)

• Opportunities to innovate your organization (27:30)

• Tying in financial data with other data, information, and systems within the organization (30:10)

• Ensuring all systems are working together effectively (33:00)

• Change management tips (36:40)

• When a nonprofit needs a CTO (39:45)

Teasers

“It doesn't matter what stage of growth you're in, there will be a moment where change is going to be hard.”

“Think early and often about your data and what matters to you about your data. Setting that foundation well early will save you so much time and energy later.”

“Don't jump to implementation too quickly.” 

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

charity: water Website: https://www.charitywater.org/our-approach/100-percent-model  

Connect with Christa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cstelzmuller  

Follow charity: water on Instagram: @charitywater

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/implementing-technology-and-change 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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If you’re looking for a way to improve your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy, then this podcast episode is for you. I sat down with special guest and impact data expert, John Mark Vanderpool. He is diving into how to get clarity on your nonprofit’s big goals, collect and translate data meaningfully, and put the right systems in place. This is a great episode to tune into, especially before the big end-of-the-year fundraising push. 

About John Mark

Donors demand impact data and many organizations need additional resources and training to measure and market their impact. John Mark Vanderpool, co-founder of Social Impact Solutions, works diligently to equip non-profit organizations with essential fundraising and impact tools, facilitating their journey toward growing more effectively.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for collecting and communicating impact data in a meaningful way, including:

• How to collect data and translate it into meaningful impact data (9:20)

• Getting clarity on your nonprofit’s big goals (13:15)

• How to communicate data effectively (18:05)

• Working together to provide a cohesive picture of social impact data (26:00)

• Examples of key performance indicators (KPIs) (32:10)

• Putting the right systems in place (41:05)

Teasers

“Things get more complicated as time goes on. We want to keep things streamlined and straightforward.”

 “We're all human and we resonate with stories. If you can back those stories with data points that are substantiated and sound, then that's the magic combination.”

“When we get the right people together from ops, from finance programs, and from marketing and communications, in the room once a month is a huge step.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

Social Impact Solutions Website: https://socialimpactsolutions.com/

Quiz to Maximize Fundraising Potential: https://www.fundraisingquiz.org/ 

Connect with John Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mark-vanderpool-521485184/ 

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/communicating-impact-data 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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Are you a nonprofit leader battling burnout? If you’re working in the nonprofit sector, chances are you’ve had some experience with burnout, which is why I was so excited to sit down with special guest and nonprofit coach, Elle McPherson. She breaks down burnout red flags, contributing factors, balancing woo with logic, and so much more. This is a great episode for leaders looking for practical strategies to overcome burnout!

About Elle

Elle has over 15 years of experience in coaching, financial management, accounting, fundraising, proposal writing and grant management, and human resources. She has worked with a range of nonprofits including Ashoka, AmeriCorps, Outward Bound, and Heifer International. Elle earned a MBA in Nonprofit Management and MA in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School of Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University and a BA in Political Science from Bates College. Elle is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation and received her professional coach certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), and is certified in the Energy Leadership Index Assessment tool. She is also a Certified Erotic Blueprint Coach™ as well as a Certified Accelerated Evolution™ Trainer-in-Training and RYT-200 Kripalu-trained yoga teacher.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for preventing burnout, including:

• Coaching nonprofit leaders (5:20)

• Leadership transformation (8:35)

• Overcoming burnout (10:45)

• Contributing factors of burnout (12:35)

• Shifting your money mindset (15:40)

• Scarcity ingrained in our culture ( 24:30)

• Balancing woo with practicality (27:25)

• Moving from analysis to taking action (30:50)

• Self-improvement book recommendations (40:15)

Teasers

“I know what it's like to work in nonprofit. I know the stress, I know the different issues. I know how unique it could be to have really specific funding requirements and certain things that don't even exist in the for-profit world.” 

 “Stress is not conducive to new ideas and getting out there and doing things differently.

It kind of puts people in a bit of like a survival mindset.”

“In the culture, there is this idea of if you're helping people, if you're a nurse, if you're a healer, if you're a helper, that it should somehow be sacrificing.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

Zesto Website: https://www.zestso.com/about 

Connect with Elle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elle-mcpherson/ 

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/preventing-burnout 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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Nonprofit leaders, if you’re ready to catapult your revenue, then this episode is for you! I sat down with special guest, Barabara O’Reilly, expert fundraiser and CEO of Windmill Hill Consulting, to chat about what organizations can do to boost their fundraising revenue. We dove into what’s holding nonprofits back and how they can grow to become financially strong organizations. We also discussed the importance of setting realistic goals and expectations when hiring a fundraiser. Plus, why relationship building and consistency are important factors in fundraising. 

About Barbara

Barbara is a seasoned fundraising consultant on a mission to help more nonprofits raise more money by creating strong donor experiences. Whether it was leading record-setting reunion classes, securing tens of millions of dollars from global corporations following some of the most devastating natural disasters around the world, or overseeing a team that grew donor engagement of major individual donors, Barbara knows that fundraising is much more than just asking for money. Her firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, works with organizations giving them the resources, skills, and mindset they need to build stronger donor relationships and catapult their revenue.

Barbara serves as past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington DC Metro Chapter. She sits on the board of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and AFP Foundation and chairs the Research Committee for the Giving USA Foundation. In 2020, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute teaching nonprofit fundraising.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn a variety of fundraising strategies, including:

• What is a fundraising consultant? (4:35)

• Building strong relationships (12:00)

• Strategically planning fundraising initiatives (14:00)

• Realistic expectations when hiring fundraisers (17:15)

• How to bridge the fundraising gap in small nonprofits (23:30)

• Staying organized throughout the fundraising process (30:20)

• Trends in fundraising and philanthropy (35:15)

Teasers

“Fundraising is about more than just asking for money.”

“The real magic happens with conversations and with really understanding who those donors are and what drives them. But the challenge is that it takes time. And nonprofits, most of them, do not have the luxury of time.”

“Saying that there are no donors out there is preposterous. There are. We've got to reframe our language to talk about that future state. Because then the donors are going to go in that direction with you if they see there's a path they can take with you.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

The Windmill Hill Consulting Website: https://whillconsulting.com/  

Join Barbara’s Coaching Cohort: https://whillconsulting.com/coachingcohort/   

Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boreillywhc/ 

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/strong-donor-experiences 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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Are you a nonprofit leader wondering if your organization should launch a capital campaign? If you’re on the fence about it, then this episode is for you. I’m chatting with special guest, Amy Varga, capital campaign expert and founder of The Varga Group. 

She dives into what you need to know, including how to leverage your donor base, conduct a feasibility study, and how financial planning plays an important role in campaign planning. She also breaks down how to tell the difference between incremental growth and a campaign. This is such a great episode for leaders looking to learn more about capital campaigns and how to use them in your organization.

About Amy

For over 25 years, Amy Varga has worked with organizations to strengthen philanthropy, leadership, and boards. Amy founded The Varga Group in 2013 as a management consulting firm specializing in capital campaigns, major gifts fundraising, fundraising training, retreat facilitation, board development, and leadership coaching. The Varga Group has guided over 100 higher education institutions, independent schools, and nonprofits to raise more than $250M.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll get a deeper understanding of capital campaigns including:

• Amy’s lifelong dedication to nonprofits (6:30)

• Assessing needs and filling the gap (9:25)

• Amy’s fundraising journey (14:20)

• What campaign consulting is (19:35)

• Leveraging your existing donor base (24:35)

• Conducting a feasibility study (28:15)

• Incremental growth vs. a campaign (33:45)

• The intersection of financial planning and campaign planning (40:50)

Teasers

“I think there's something magical about practitioners being educators for those programs.”

“They're going to need to also grow their operations and their staffing and also potentially their facilities to grow all of those things. So that's what a capital campaign really is about. Sometimes I think people misunderstand a capital campaign to be a building campaign.”

“We don't let them waste their money. That’s important as an ethical and integrity thing, for me to tell people upfront so that they can spend their money, building their capacity and doing all the things.”

“A good consultant will tell you, no, please don't hire us. This is not the right fit for many reasons.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

The Varga Group Website: https://thevargagroup.com/ 

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyvarga/ 

Follow Amy on Instagram: @thevargagroup

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/capital-campaign 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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Nonprofit leaders, are you leveraging the power of a quarterly review in your organization? If you haven’t implemented one yet or are looking for ways to improve your process, then this episode is for you.  

I’m breaking down strategies for how to effectively conduct a quarterly review. I’m giving you strategies to help you do a deep dive into your financials including establishing benchmarks, setting goals, planning for the future and so much more. Grab a notebook and tune in for a juicy episode! 

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for implementing a quarterly review process for your nonprofit, including:

• How to do a deep dive into your financials (1:50)

• Establishing and analyzing financial benchmarks (3:40)

• Checking in on progress towards your goals (7:00)

• Scoring key performance indicators (8:50)

• Planning for the future (11:00)

• Identifying wins and challenges (14:40)

• Setting goals for the upcoming quarter (20:00)

• Determining your top priorities (25:40)

Teasers

“Sometimes a month, 30 days, is not really long enough to see the results of your efforts and you need a little bit longer. And that's why looking at this on a quarterly basis is a great idea.”

“I really love using a quarterly cadence to look at the big picture of your organization and not get so lost in the details.”

“We don't want to set pie in the sky goals and not really identify what's going to hold us back from achieving those goals.”

“If you're not currently doing some sort of quarterly review with your leadership team at your organization, I would really encourage you to think about that. Because here's the thing, when everybody understands at least some level of detail on how the organization is performing, they can be an active participant in the solution and working towards the goals.”

Resources

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/implementing-quarterly-review 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

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If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to shake up the way you connect and collaborate, then this is the episode for you. I chat with Topher Wilkins, CEO of Opportunity Collaboration (OC), as he shares his journey of building a global community of leaders working to create positive change.

Topher also discusses the importance of understanding what people need, disrupting industry norms, and building a strong community collaborative. Plus, he shares how he’s navigating the transition to community ownership. This is a fantastic episode, especially for introverted nonprofit leaders seeking deeper connections with peers!

About Topher

Topher has been hosting people in collaborative environments for the purpose of social change for two decades. His purpose is to convene and connect nonprofit leaders, for-profit social entrepreneurs, grant-makers, impact investors, and all other agents of positive change, thereby building the ecosystem for the social sector and creating greater opportunities for international social and economic justice.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for creating collaborative environments, including: 

• Topher’s biggest inspiration (5:40)

• Understanding what people need and shaping a community around it (10:30)

• Building a global community of people who are building sustainable solutions to poverty (15:15)

• Disrupting the industry (21:35)

• The impact of building a strong community-based collaborative environment (24:00)

• The transition to community ownership (34:40) 

Teasers

“What happens is that it's actually beautiful for somebody who's an introvert because you have opportunities to form deeper connections.”

“We're just ready for a new way of bringing people together a new convening model, especially coming out of the pandemic where a lot of us are craving those in-person moments to form those relationships. It feels like an industry that's ripe for disruption.”

“No matter who we are, where we come from, how we get to the O.C., or the work we do, we are all human beings, first and foremost. And sometimes that means being parents and bringing the kiddos with us.”

Resources

Opportunity Collaboration (OC) website: https://ocimpact.com/ 

Connect with Topher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/topherwilkins/ 

The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 

Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 

Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/collaborative-environments 

Want more of the podcast?

New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.

Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing!