The Power Of Nonprofit Storytelling Through Books
Exploring a whole new dimension of nonprofit storytelling. The potential of nonprofit organizations writing books. We uncover the transformative power of storytelling through the lens of publishing, with host Julia Patrick and guest, Ben Gioia, author of “Influence With A Heart,”.
Ben’s journey, from facing mortality in India to a galvanized commitment to serve, forms the backdrop of his message. As he shares, “Influence With A Heart is the ongoing invitation to offer someone to say yes to you,” encompassing communication, leadership, and impact.
In this fast-paced learning episode, they highlight the unique challenges and opportunities nonprofits face, especially in a global context where structures vary widely. As Ben puts it, “The nonprofit sector is a remarkable thing, drawing from cultures worldwide, each with its legislative nuances.”
The conversation expands to the nuts and bolts of book creation. Ben shares a process, emphasizing collaboration with a coach and publisher. From concept to publication, he outlines a strategic timeline, pointing to the importance of leveraging the book before and after its release.
Touching on the role of AI in storytelling and it’s potential as a tool for research and organization, Ben warns against using it as a writing substitute, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of authentic human voice in storytelling.
On the economics of book creation, Ben provides his insights into costs and timeframes. He demystifies the process, describing a streamlined approach that can yield a manuscript in as little as 5 to 13 weeks, depending on collaboration and dedication.
The conversation concludes with reflections on the journey of nonprofit storytelling through books, with Julia sharing anecdotes of nonprofits commemorating milestones . . . . . . . . .
Headhunting In Today’s Nonprofit Sector
Insights into the complexities of labor and executive recruitment (aka headhunting or poaching) within the nonprofit sector. Led by Katie Warnock, CEO and founder of Staffing Boutique. Host Julia Patrick sets the stage by reflecting on the tumultuous changes the nonprofit workforce is witnessing, describing it as “incredibly diverse” and almost “schizophrenic.” Katie echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the drastic transformation from the past to the present, wondering if the nonprofit labor force will ever return to its previous state.
Katie highlights a significant shift in work ethic, noting that prioritizing mental health, family, and home has become a cross-generational trend, challenging traditional notions of commitment and consistency in the corporate world. As she puts it, “People do not care, and it doesn’t matter what age you’re at.” This observation leads to a discussion about the challenges faced by both employers and staffing firms like Staffing Boutique in navigating this landscape.
The conversation transitions to the topic of headhunting, a crucial aspect of executive recruitment, particularly in the nonprofit sector. Katie provides a look into the process, emphasizing the importance of industry-specific expertise and confidentiality, especially when replacing key leadership positions. She sheds light on the fee structure of headhunting services, outlining the typical payment model based on a percentage of the hired candidate’s first-year salary.
Julia raises questions about the relevance of regional and sector-specific experience in executive recruitment, to which Katie offers nuanced perspectives. She emphasizes the significance of balancing familiarity with fresh perspectives and the challenges posed by board involvement in the recruitment process.
The discussion concludes with reflections on the current job market . . . . . . . . .
10 Epic Fundraising Failures (Part Two)
Discover key insights from “10 Epic Fundraising Fails – Part 2”. Unpacking the most common mistakes in nonprofit fundraising. Practical advice on how to avoid common pitfalls in fundraising, ensuring your nonprofit can engage donors effectively and secure essential funding. Host Julia Patrick and fundraising expert Jack Alotto discuss donor presentations, the importance of making the ask, mastering donor stewardship, maintaining ethical standards, and developing a personal fundraising philosophy.
Failure to Tailor Presentations to Donors: Jack emphasizes the importance of customizing fundraising pitches to align with the interests and motivations of potential donors. He shares a personal anecdote where he mistakenly offered to name a building after a major donor who preferred anonymity, highlighting the need for understanding donor preferences to effectively engage and secure support.
Failure to Ask: A significant challenge in fundraising is the reluctance or fear of asking for donations. Jack stresses that donors are not mind readers; fundraisers must make explicit asks. He argued that asking for a donation should be viewed not just as a transaction but as an invitation to the donor to join in the organization’s mission.
Failure in Stewardship: After securing a donation, the relationship management (stewardship) that follows is crucial. Jack criticizes the common error of neglecting this phase, which should involve thanking donors and showing the impact of their contributions. Effective stewardship reinforces the donor’s decision to support the cause and sets the stage for future contributions.
Failure to Understand the Importance of Ethical Fundraising: Ethics in fundraising was highlighted as critical. Jack points out how fundraisers often handle sensitive information about donors. Maintaining a high ethical . . . . . . . . .
10 Epic Fundraising Failures (part one)
Are you ready to dig into the world of nonprofit fundraising failure? We uncover the top ten fundraising failures and how to sidestep them. We’re joined by the brilliant Jack Alotto CFRE, a seasoned expert from the Fundraising Academy at National University. In this part one of a two-part series, we explore embracing strategic planning, crafting compelling narratives, understanding donor motivations, and prioritizing stewardship.
Jack begins with comments on the importance of strategic planning, stating, “Failure to have a strategic development and marketing plan is a recipe for disaster.” He underscores the significance of a strategic plan as the foundation for future fundraising endeavors, followed by a development plan to outline funding strategies and a marketing plan to communicate with stakeholders effectively.
Continuing, Jack stresses the critical role of a compelling case for support, describing it as the “rationale for philanthropic support.” He highlights the versatility of a well-crafted case for support, which can be repurposed across various fundraising initiatives, from annual campaigns to grant proposals, amplifying its impact on donor engagement.
When it comes to prospect research, Jack advocates for a multi-pronged approach, leveraging existing networks, volunteers, and strategic questioning techniques. He points to the value of building relationships with donors, citing volunteers as potential major donors and emphasizing the need for open-ended questioning to uncover donor motivations.
Jack’s shares specific insights on donor motivations, emphasizing the diversity of factors driving philanthropic giving, from shared values to emotional connections and societal impact. He emphasizes the importance of understanding donor motivations to tailor fundraising approaches effectively, dispelling the notion that donor size equates . . . . . . . . .
Empowering Underrepresented Communities through Advanced Education
Five years ago, Derrick Young, Jr. embarked on a mission to address the lack of diversity in advanced education, particularly in fields like law, medicine, and STEM. Despite facing challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts in corporate support, the nonprofit he founded, Leadership Brainery, has emerged as a beacon of hope for underrepresented communities seeking access to higher education. Co-hosts Julia Patrick and Mitch Stein welcome back Derrick for an insightful discussion on the organization’s journey and impact.
Young’s personal experiences as one of the few men of color in his graduate programs fueled his passion to create change. He emphasizes, “Leadership Brainery increases access to masters and doctoral degrees so that underrepresented communities can establish wealth for themselves and prosperity for their families, but then reinvest back in their communities.” This mission is underscored by the organization’s commitment to fostering diversity at leadership levels, ensuring marginalized voices are heard in decision-making processes.
The conversation dives into the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders like Young, including the need to educate funders about the importance of advanced education and navigating the complexities of HR and finance as a small but growing team. Despite these obstacles, LeadershipBrainery.org has achieved significant milestones. Through strategic alliances with other nonprofits, they’ve expanded their reach to over 50,000 students, guiding them towards educational opportunities beyond college.
The organization’s adoption of project management tools like Asana has revolutionized their operations, streamlined workflows and enhanced productivity. With a budget of $1.2 million and the support of over 850 individual donors, Leadership Brainery is making tangible strides in creating pathways to success . . . . . . . . .
What Nonprofit’s Asked ( On Donor Engagement)
From including both spouses on nonprofit’s campus tours to the effectiveness of donor swag and the choice between upscale venues and authentic experiences for wealthy donors, LaShonda Williams and Julia Patrick share actionable insights on questions from viewers.
When a viewer asks about including both spouses on a campus tour for potential major donors, LaShonda points to the importance of involving both individuals in the relationship-building process. She stresses the need for alignment and engagement from both parties.
Julia prompts a discussion about the role of women in philanthropy, leading LaShonda to explore shifting dynamics in decision-making within families.
The fun discussion then turns to the value of offering swag to donors and potential donors. LaShonda pushes for meaningful and practical items that align with an organization’s brand and cater to donors’ daily lives, emphasizing strategic selection to maximize impact and steward resources effectively.
Next, LaShonda addresses the choice between hosting a donor cultivation event at a shelter versus a more upscale venue. Both Julia and LaShonda amplify the power of firsthand experiences in fostering connections with donors, advocating for authenticity over extravagance.
The episode concludes with insights into sharing enthusiasm and knowledge gained from conferences with colleagues, explaining the importance of maintaining enthusiasm and involving team members in conference planning to foster buy-in and collaboration.
Avoiding Nonprofit Scope Creep (Staying on Mission)
In the fast-changing world of nonprofits, staying true to mission while resisting the allure of scope creep can be a challenging dance. Miriam Dicks, founder and CEO of 180 Management Group, recently shed light on this topic during a riveting chat with hosts Mitch Stein and Sherry Quam Taylor.
Miriam begins by defining scope creep, drawing parallels to its militaristic synonym, mission creep. She shares the webster definition, “Mission creep is a gradual shift in objectives during the course of a military campaign, often resulting in unplanned long-term commitments.” She then links this definition to the nonprofit landscape, highlighting the challenges of altering objectives mid-campaign, akin to navigating the ever-changing battlefield of nonprofit work.
The interesting interview digs into the root causes of scope creep, with Miriam pinpointing changes in leadership, shifts in board perspectives, and the allure of diversifying revenue streams as common culprits. She points out the need for strategic planning and operationalization, stating, “Having an up-to-date strategic plan that has been operationalized is crucial. It provides teeth to your organization’s direction, ensuring everyone moves towards a common goal.”
Miriam’s insights on wrap-around services further illuminated the discussion. She shares a compelling example, illustrating how organizations must tread cautiously when expanding their services beyond their core expertise. “If you’re magnifying the voice that’s already there, that’s the same voice. But if you change your voice, the impact means people may not be able to hear you because that voice is unfamiliar coming from you,” she wisely notes.
Throughout, Miriam speaks to the importance of maintaining objectivity amidst the passion that drives nonprofit work. “Passion . . . . . . . . .
Developing Nonprofit Professionals (Modern Leadership Style)
The role of leadership development in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the need for leaders to be adaptable, self-aware, and mission-focused to effectively guide their organizations through challenging times, shared in a compelling dialogue with two notable experts in nonprofit leadership development, John Tiso, Director of Client Services at JMT Consulting, and Dr. John Davidoff, founder and Chief Mission Officer of Davidoff Mission-Driven Business Strategy. This dynamic interview explores nonprofit leadership, and the importance of fostering a mission-driven culture and continuous leadership development.
John Tiso shared insights into how JMT Consulting supports nonprofits with comprehensive back-office solutions, highlighting their commitment to enhancing leadership skills within these organizations. Reflecting on his personal growth, he shares, “Leadership started off in the classic perspective of it being about title and role, but meeting Dr. John challenged my assumptions and nurtured my development for over six years.”
Dr. John Davidoff describes his firm’s role in helping nonprofits become genuinely mission-driven by integrating continuous leadership development and a drama-free, high-functioning culture into their strategic planning. Dr. Davidoff offers, “Authentic mission-driven organizations value continuous learning, from the CEO to the executive director, throughout the organization.”
The conversation also explores the idea that effective leadership transcends specific sectors, such as arts and culture or human services. Tiso argues that leadership effectiveness is less about hard skills and more about personal traits that enable leaders to succeed in various roles. Dr. Davidoff supports this by stressing the importance of self-awareness and cultural understanding in leadership, explaining, “Until we even have that exchange, we have two different cultures. We have my culture . . . . . . . . .
Nonprofit’s Transforming Communities (WOW Hall)
The historic venue, Wow Hall, a cherished cultural anchor in Eugene, Oregon, stands as a testament to community resilience and collaboration. Executive Director of the nonprofit, Deb Maher, shared their story, which embodies a vision-driven approach, emphasizing the power of positivity and collective action in transforming communities.
Wow Hall, originally established in 1932 as a fraternity for woodworkers, faced near-demolition in 1975. However, a swift community effort saved the building, transforming it into a nonprofit performing arts center. Deb takes us through Wow Hall’s rich history, emphasizing its evolution into a vibrant hub for cultural expression and community engagement.
Central to Wow Hall’s success is its unique membership-driven model. Deb points to the significance of community ownership, where members elect the board, fostering a sense of belonging and accountability. With over 600 volunteers, Wow Hall thrives on collective passion, offering diverse programs and events to enrich the community.
Deb Maher’s leadership philosophy centers on ‘appreciative inquiry’, a strength-based model that ignites creativity and collaboration. She describes it as, “What are our strengths? The compelling vision is based on our passion. What do we love? What do we care about? And we create where we want to go and we call it forth in present tense we are.” By focusing on shared passion and envisioning a compelling future, Wow Hall cultivates a culture of possibility and abundance.
Deb adds, “You create change by creating the new. You carve out a place to create the new and have success. You create with the new, and in doing that, you do two things. You create the new while . . . . . . . . .
Getting Nonprofit Accounting And Development Teams Working Together
Navigating the relationship between nonprofit accounting and development departments. With a focus on collaboration and understanding, how these two essential facets of nonprofit organizations can work harmoniously for success, with our guest, Patricia Withington, Director at Your Part Time Controller (YPTC.com).
Patricia emphasizes the necessity for alignment between the accounting and development departments, debunking some common misconceptions and highlighting the symbiotic nature of their roles. “I think both sides actually complement each other,” Patricia explains, “When you think about it, you know you have the perspective of the left brain, right brain and your right brain is you’re creative, you’re spontaneous, you’re emotional. That’s your Rd. You need them.”
Patricia shares actionable strategies for bridging the gap between accounting and development, such as implementing standing meetings, fostering a culture of shared knowledge, and leveraging external resources like grant opportunities and training programs.
She goes on to address the challenge of resource allocation for smaller nonprofits, offering guidance on when to consider outsourcing financial tasks and the optimal timing for bringing in external support.
Throughout the discussion, Patricia reminds us of the key significance of financial stability and transparency in attracting funders and sustaining nonprofit operations. “It’s such a collaborative effort… Everyone understands the overall mission of the organization,” Patricia adds, “You just bring it back home, bring it to why you’re there and all that other junk, it goes away.”
By aligning financial management with organizational objectives and involving both accounting and development teams in the process, nonprofits can enhance their effectiveness and achieve their mission-driven goals. Watch and learn more!!
Understanding Major Donors (How much can they give?)
Groundbreaking insights behind understanding major nonprofit donors, with a donor research tool that determines how much a donor might give. Donor Abacus operationalizes donor research, providing an objective, bias-free approach to determining the ideal donation amount for major gifts. By analyzing key data points and leveraging subscriber insights, Donor Abacus boasts predictive accuracy within 5% of actual pledges, empowering fundraisers to confidently navigate gift conversations and assess pipeline value. We learn about it all from fundraising expert Larry Ruff.
“We all know you can collect all this information and you never have it all, and then you have to figure out, OK, what are we going to ask this couple for? How much? Well, Abacus, in 21 questions, is the easy online way to get to those numbers…” says Larry. It streamlines the donation solicitation process.
Digging deeper, Larry dismantles the pervasive myth of gut instincts in fundraising, highlighting the negative impact of subjective biases on gift conversations. Through extensive research and case studies, he points to the critical need for objective valuation tools that will arm fundraisers with data-driven insights to navigate donor interactions with more confidence and professionalism.
With host Julia Patrick, they talk about the importance of post-pledge stewardship in fostering long-term donor relationships and ensuring pledge fulfillment. “It’s easier to get the pledge than to get the pledge payment. And you need to steward them once they make a pledge. That’s when the work starts, because you need to keep them engaged,” Larry offers.
Related, Larry speaks about the inherent challenges of fundraising headwinds, from shrinking donor pools to volatile philanthropic . . . . . . . . .
How To Find New Donors In 2024
The transformative potential of strategic fundraising approaches grounded in donor-centricity, digital innovation, and proactive volunteer engagement in 2024. We are led by Katie Gaston, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Bloomerang, and she talks about meeting donors where they are, leveraging technology, and cultivating volunteer support. By embracing these principles, nonprofits can unlock new avenues for growth, sustainability, and mission impact.
As Katie begins, being a storyteller is foundational to effective fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of crafting compelling narratives that resonate with donors’ values and interests. She states, “We have to share the story in a meaningful way…so that it really resonates with what is meaningful to the individual.” This is key for understanding donors on a deeper level and tailoring communications accordingly.
One of the key strategies discussed is the imperative of meeting donors where they are, especially in the realm of digital giving. Katie highlights the potential of digital wallets like PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay in facilitating seamless donations. She notes, “By simply turning on things like Apple Pay and Google Pay, you can increase your donation page conversion rate by 8%.” This statistic speaks to the immense impact of integrating user-friendly payment options to enhance donor engagement and conversion.
Continuing, Katie elaborates on the untapped potential of volunteers as donors. Contrary to common apprehensions, she advocates for actively engaging volunteers in fundraising efforts, citing research indicating that 92% of volunteers are likely to donate to the organizations they serve. She says, “Cultivating them and seeing them as potential donors is a massively missed opportunity.” , highlighting the importance . . . . . . . . .