Nonprofit Nuggets with Jennifer Yarbrough

Does 'nonprofit' mean that you're not earning revenue? Many nonprofit leaders start a nonprofit organization without a clear understanding about the nonprofit business model. In this episode, I'm setting the record straight and explaining the nonprofit business model and the financials involved in running it. 

As a nonprofit leader, one of your primary tasks is to communicate effectively if you want your nonprofit to succeed. But who are you supposed to communicate with? How do you do it? Where do you start? Listen to this episode to find out! 

A fundraising plan is an essential part of a nonprofit organization. Here are my tips on how you can create one. 

In this episode, I talked about the realities of starting and sustaining a nonprofit—the things that people don't really talk about. Grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and take notes! ☕

Let's get something straight: how and where does the funding come from? If you're a nonprofit organization that needs revenue, listen to this podcast to find out!

Nonprofits are one of society's pillars during natural disasters, economic downturns, and other difficulties. Our organizations fill in the gap that the government and private businesses cannot serve. How can we make sure that we are prepared for these kinds of circumstances so we can still continue serving the community?

If you're a nonprofit leader who's feeling stuck about your fundraising efforts, then this podcast is for you. In this episode, I'm outlining the different steps on how you can gain momentum and be successful in growing your dollars.

Nonprofits can have nine different streams of income, and one of them is from grants. In this episode, we'll talk about how to get grants and the ways you can incorporate your grant funding into your program budget.

Your donors deserve to be treated more than a walking checkbook! Get ready to take down notes as we talk about the key to being fully funded this year: learning how to value your donors and funders.

#GivingTuesday is one of the biggest philanthropic events where you can potentially raise a significant amount of funds for your nonprofit. It's never too early to prepare your #GivingTuesday campaign! This comprehensive training details how you can prepare as early as now for your #GivingTuesday campaign next year.

Why do you want to start a community-based organization? In this episode, we'll discuss the importance of your drive, motivation, and reason for starting a nonprofit.

Let's deep dive into the process of starting a nonprofit with a strategy and a plan to be fully funded. In this episode, we'll walk you through the basics of securing resources to deliver your programs and achieve your organizational goals.

It's easy to come up with the idea of starting a nonprofit. You've got the passion for helping people, but do you have what it takes to sustain and fully fund your organization? In this episode, I'll discuss the most important things to keep in mind—and put into action—when starting your nonprofit.

In today's economic climate it is important for nonprofit organizations to have the right plans and strategies to continue to raise money for their programs and organizations. Today I am sharing some strategies that nonprofits should implement right away if you are looking to avoid having to reduce program or organizational plans the remainder of the year.    

Starting a nonprofit is NOT just filing your From 1023. It is SO MUCH MORE to do when you are starting your nonprofit.  Listen to this and make sure you are starting your nonprofit the right way.

Donor cultivation is the most underappreciated and misunderstood part of the fundraising funnel.  Of the four primary components of the fundraising lifecycle (prospecting, cultivation, asking, and stewardship), it is cultivation that most often trips up most fundraising efforts. For most nonprofits, there is no real clue of what “donor cultivation” really means.  Cultivation is everything that happens between the time you identify a person as a prospect for your organization until the time you make the first ask.  Cultivation is the process of building a relationship with your prospect, communicating with them, and ultimately moving them down the road towards that ask. Donor cultivation is basically building a relationship with a prospect. You don't simply call someone up and ask for $10,000 at the end of the conversation. You have to get to know the donor, and the donor has to get to know you and your nonprofit. Today I am going to break down how to do this quickly, effectively and successfully. 

Nonprofit grant writing is a vital part of any smart and healthy fundraising strategy. However, before we jump into the fine details of successfully writing grant proposals, let’s review exactly what it is.  During this discussion, you will learn what grant writing is;  the process of applying for funding provided by a private, corporate, or government grant-maker; and what goes into consideration of who gets funding.  Also, I will be answering questions and sharing how brand new organizations position themselves to get grant funding. 

Remember that fundraising is simply inviting people to be supportive of your nonprofit organization. You do that through personal contact and by educating and involving them. The following are truths you should incorporate into whatever fundraising you do: People give to people and because of people. People who don’t know you or your organization probably will not give. People that are connected to your cause, and are concerned about the problem that you are solving, are more likely to give more quickly when asked The best time to ask for a gift is after you have had a chance to inform and educate a prospective donor. Listen as I share several more fundraising basics to help you successfully raise money for your programs and operations.

The number one predictor of fundraising success is the fundraising plan. It's not just the fundraising plan itself, but the act of planning. Simply taking time to reflect and put goals in writing is the leading indicator of how much you’ll bring in this year, be it donors or dollars. Today I am breaking down the 5 Simple "Steps to Making" the fundraising plan. The time to start your plan is now...the reward (money raised) is your benchmark.   I would love to hear your feedback on anything that stood out for you after listening.   

Giving isn’t a business transaction. It’s a human connection. To inspire donors to give, you need to make a meaningful connection by showing them why they matter and how they can make a difference. When you understand why your donors give, you’ll be able to make a more effective appeal. The Top 4 Reasons People Give to Nonprofits They believe there is a need for the nonprofit’s mission in the community and they are confident the organization does good work They believe the nonprofit will use their gift to stabilize or expand programming The nonprofit communicates about the impact of giving by sharing program outcomes They want to be associated with the organization and its brand If you take this information to help you craft your social media posts, your email drafts, your face-to-face meetings, and your campaign asks...you will be fully funded before you know it. REMEMBER: People act from the heart, not the head Giving is a personal act Let donors support your cause long-term I hope that this episode was helpful and meaningful. Please visit my website if you would like to schedule time to talk about your fundraising next steps and donor engagement systems to move people to give, and keep giving, to your nonprofit.