The podcast

Latest Episodes

Getting the Board to Ask More Questions

Is there a difference between a nonprofit’s “story” and its “elevator pitch?” Stacey has some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about criteria for a recognition wall, and a really big one: how the heck do you get boards to ask more (intelligent) questions!? Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com.

Hiring a First Development Director

After starting a brand new nonprofit and filing the paperwork, what’s next? Stacey and Andy will get you pointed in the right direction. Also this week, we talk about things to think about when hiring your first ever development professional, and whether or not it is appropriate to have a staff member also serve on the organization’s board. Thanks for joining us this week, and please don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com!

Donor Advised Funds

Are donor advised funds good or evil? That’s a big question, and Stacey and Andy definitely have some thoughts. Also, we talk about strategies for filling vacant committee leadership positions (it’s tough!) and Stacey has some tips for getting a geographically dispersed board all on the same page. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send any and all nonprofit questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com!

Founding Executive Director is Resistant to Change

We’ve got a really nice balance of questions this week! Is it possible to get a founding executive director to embrace change? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts on that! Also this week, we brainstorm about how to get new people to come to the same old gala, and talk through a couple of options when your revenue comes in all in the same month. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send any and all nonprofit questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com!

Do you need a strategic planning consultant?

Just two questions for Stacey and Andy this week, but they’re biggies! When creating a strategic plan is a consultant really necessasry, or can we spare that expense? Also this week, a technical question about calculating liquidity gets unexpectedly philosophical really fast. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to send us any nonprofit topic you want us to cover to questions@NonprofitEverything.com.

What Committees Should Be Board Run?

If there’s something more terrifying than having to tell a grantor that they’re wrong, we haven’t heard of it. Is it even possible to push back on a state agency interpreting a federal grant incorrectly? Stacy and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about when it’s appropriate for the board to lead committees, and Andy goes off on a tangent about needing to get three bids for things. Thanks for joining us this week, and please don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com.

Expanding Your Corps of Volunteers

Should the executive director select their own replacement? Andy and Stacey certainly have some thoughts on that topic! Also this week, an organization needs help attracting new and different volunteers, and we discuss whether a nonprofit should set up a for-profit subsidiary. Thanks for joining us this week! Don’t forget to check out the show notes at nonprofiteverything.com, and be sure to send us your nonprofit questions at questions@nonprofiteverything.com.

Converting from All Volunteer Run

If you’ve spent years proudly telling donors that you’re all volunteer run, is it even possible to hire paid staff when you need to level up? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about the possibility and consequences of failing the Form 990’s “Public Support Test,” and Stacey shares some ideas to help celebrate an organization’s tenth anniversary (while Andy wisely stays silent). Thanks for being a loyal listener/nonprofit rockstar, and keep those questions and comments coming. Next week the theme is “things I wish my board would ask me” so warm up your typing fingers and send us stuff at questions@nonprofiteverything.com.

Politics and Nonprofits

Politics and Nonprofits

This week Stacey and Andy delve into the Nonprofit Everything archive to bring you a thematically consistent series of previously aired questions. Which is a fancy way of saying “Hey! It’s a clip show!” From episode 79, we talk about how to handle a board member that’s publicly off mission. From episode 103, we hear from a nonprofit with a board member in the newspaper for the wrong reasons. From episode 89, a board member asks the ED to record a campaign ad for her. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com.

Political Candidates and Events – with Guest Expert April Mastroluca

It’s guest expert time! This week, Stacey is joined by April Mastroluca, Chief Solution Finder at Synergy Nonprofit Consulting to talk about the convergence of political campaign season and gala event season. Are there rules about ads in programs? Should we recognize elected officials and candidates who attend our events? What should we do if a candidate antagonistic to our mission wants to attend an event? Should we ever provide complimentary tickets to elected officials? That’s a lot of questions, but the podcast is even better when you send yours to us: questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Thanks for listening! (And don’t miss the show notes this week. They’re jam packed with good infromation!)

Buying Mailing Lists

Should we be buying mailing lists to expand our reach, or is that a tactic from the olden days? Stacey and Andy certainly have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about how strict to be when using the words “evidence based program” (in that exact order) and disagree strongly on the utility of exit interviews. We’re awarding ten points if you can guess which one of us thinks they’re a waste of time. We’re thankful that you’ve chosen to spend time with us today, and don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com.