Convincing the Finance Person

When the finance person shoots down your program idea because “it’s not in the budget,” what can you do?! There’s just one question this week, but it sounds like somebody is calling Andy out! And Stacey and Andy definitely have some thoughts! Thanks for joining us this week, and be sure to send your questions (and new sticker ideas) to questions@nonprofiteverything.com.

Are Strategic Plans Dead?

Are traditional strategic plans dead? (Before listening, do you think you can guess what Stacey is going to say?) Join us this week to find out. Also, Stacey and Andy talk about what fairness and parity mean in the context of employee pay. Thanks for sending in your questions, we read every single one and put as many as we can on the podcast. Questions@NonprofitEverything.com is the email address! By the way… Episode 200?!

AI Board Minutes

Upcoming tax law changes mean that there could be a lot of unexpected gifts hitting before December 31st this year. How do we keep windfalls from ratcheting up board expectations for years afterwards? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we hear from a volunteer who has been treated very badly, and have an actual disagreement about whether or not to use AI to compile notes from a board meeting! Thanks for joining us, and set your “point of action” to remind yourself to send a question to Questions@NonprofitEverything.com!

Better Funder Site Visits

How do you get funder site visits just right? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about budgeting for grant revenue, and have an interesting discussion about managing end user fraud (and whether it’s something you should be worried about at all!) Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send that question that you wish someone else would ask to Questions@NonprofitEverything.com.

Board Member Burnout

Nonprofits are “business on hard-mode,” and sometimes this can take a toll on board members and staff. Is there something we can do about burnout in this high-stress environment? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about good ways to preserve our organization’s stories, and discuss the tightrope-walk that is determining the first executive director’s salary. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to Questions@NonprofitEverything.com.

Fundraising for Capacity Building

Fundraising for Capacity Building

How do you encourage donors to fund capacity building and not just programs? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about whether or not there is a best practice around reserve spending, and share some ideas about inspiring high school students to join us in our nonprofit missions. Thanks for being here this week, and don’t forget to send your questions 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.

Growing Program Staff into Fundraisers?

Since it can be hard to find development staff, does it make sense to try to convert program staff into fundraisers? Stacey has some thoughts! Also this week, we find out if there are different rules when raising money for a private operating foundation, and what core activities a nonprofit should stick to when facing an economic downturn.

Forcing the ED to Take a Raise

Can a board force an ED to accept a raise? And is a 3-month interim budget problematic for funders? We have opinions! Also, this week we answer a great nonprofit 101 question about whether staff members can be on the board.

Topics:
  • Can a board force an ED to accept a raise? – 0:00
  • If we do a 3-month interim budget, how will funders react? – 7:52
  • Nonprofit 101: Can staff members be on the board? – 20:11
Episode Sponsor:

Today’s episode is sponsored by the HR Collaborative. The HR Collaborative was formed to help build nonprofit strengths through improved human resources. It provides professional development opportunities, networking and sharing of best practices on HR issues faced by nonprofit organizations. The Collaborative meets bi-monthly. Membership is free and open to anyone who works for a nonprofit and has HR responsibilities. For more information or to attend an upcoming meeting, visit their website at www.hrcollaborativelv.org.