Successful Nonprofits Podcast

Whether you're grappling with salary negotiations, seeking to enhance donor engagement, or aiming to motivate your team more effectively, Uri's expert analysis provides actionable advice tailored for the unique challenges you face as nonprofit leaders. In this episode, renowned behavioral economist Uri Gneezy and our podcast host Dolph Goldenburg explore the world of incentives and their profound implications for nonprofit leaders. We dive into Gneezy's groundbreaking book, "Mixed Signals – How Incentives Really Work" and uncover the often-overlooked complexities of incentive strategies within the nonprofit sector. From dismantling the overhead myth to harnessing the power of pro-social incentives and understanding the unintended consequences of well-meaning initiatives, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights. This episode answers the following questions: How do incentives impact nonprofit management? What are the most effective incentives for fundraising and donor engagement? What is the overhead myth, and how can my nonprofit navigate it? How can I effectively use incentives to motivate staff and volunteers? What is the best way to negotiate my salary? Links mentioned in this episode: Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Ep 302: Maximize Your Employee Engagement and Retention with Rob Woronoff (Apple | Spotify | Our Home Page) Ep 307: Empower Your Team: Unleashing Leadership Potential with Luis Velasquez & Kristin Gleitsman (Apple | Spotify | Our Home Page)

In this transformative conversation with Bobby Herrera, author of "The Gift of Struggle," Bobby shares his journey from growing up in a large family where struggle was a constant companion, to becoming a leader who views every challenge as an opportunity to grow. Through personal anecdotes and profound insights, Bobby explores how struggles can be our most valuable teachers, guiding us towards empathy, leadership, and success. He helps us discover the profound impact of embracing struggle, not as a burden, but as a gift that shapes our character and destiny. In this episode, Bobby also delves into his leadership philosophy, illustrating through his life's work and stories how one act of kindness can set off a ripple effect, transforming not just individual lives but entire communities. Whether you're a leader seeking to inspire your team, or a single contributor navigating the ups and downs of life, this episode is packed wisdom on turning adversity into advantage. This episode answers the following questions: How can personal struggles serve as a catalyst for leadership growth? What role does empathy play in leadership? How can leaders foster a culture of giving within their organizations? How can I build resilience? What should I do when a key employee leaves? Links mentioned in this episode: Populus Group  Bobby’s Website The Gift of Struggle  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Bonus Break #34: Ten Toxic Trump Traits Every Leader and Manager Should Avoid (Apple Podcast | Spotify | Our Home Page) Ep 169: The Ripple Effect with Natasha Wallace (Apple Podcast | Spotify | Our Home Page)

Russ Finkelstein is a seasoned career coach, social entrepreneur, and advisor to founding executive directors. Together we dive deep into the fears that hold leaders back, the importance of authenticity, and the courage required to lead impactful organizations. Whether you're a new executive director, a seasoned founder, or someone passionate about making a difference in the nonprofit sector, Russ's advice is both practical and profound, offering a roadmap to leadership that's not only effective but deeply fulfilling.  This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to inspire change, overcome challenges, and lead with authenticity.  This episode answers the following questions: How can leaders overcome fear and embrace courage in their roles? What does it mean to lead authentically in the nonprofit sector? How can founders and executive directors set realistic and impactful goals? What strategies can help nonprofit leaders navigate challenges and inspire change? Links mentioned in this episode: Russ’ LinkedIn  Looking for more? Check out these other amazing episodes: Coaching for Nonprofit Leaders with Deb Stallings (Our Home Page) Navigating Nonprofit Leadership Transitions with Dhivya O'Connor (Apple | Spotify | Our Home Page)

Today’s guest, Darren Isom, doesn’t love diversity just for the sake of diversity, but because honoring and celebrating diversity is how we all win. BIPOC leaders bring invaluable lived experiences that offer unique perspectives and insights to our world’s and sector’s problems. By amplifying these voices, we strengthen our teams, our nonprofits, our sector, and ultimately the world. Darren joins us today to share what he has learned about amplifying and honoring diverse voices from his own personal experiences and work in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. This episode answers the following questions: What does winning look like? How are BIPOC leaders navigating the world? How can BIPOC leaders’ own experiences inform others’ leadership journeys?  How can your nonprofit make meaningful change? Links mentioned in this episode: Dreaming in Color Podcast The Bridgespan Group Harvard Business Review Stanford Social Innovation Review The Space Beyond Looking for more? Check out these other amazing episodes: 6 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Be More Trans-Inclusive with Andy Marra on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our website with show notes Gender Matters in Philanthropy with Jeannie Sager on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our website with show notes

It doesn’t take much to build an effective brand. Yet many nonprofits struggle and end up investing a lot of time, energy, and money for little return. Today’s guests, Thom and Jason, specialize in helping nonprofits fortify their brand. Together, we delve into practical steps you can take to make sure your brand resonates with your audience and that your logo is an effective reminder of your new, awesome brand. This episode answers the following questions: What is the purpose of a logo? What are examples of great logos? How can I make my logo great? How can I consolidate my nonprofit’s brands? Links mentioned in this episode: The M Network Website Nonprofits Have The Worst Logos A Word About Logos Looking for more? Check out these other amazing episodes: Crafting Your Brand with Amanda Ross on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Content Marketing Gold with Rick Smith on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

In this episode, Dolph and Lexie dig into some of the most commonly asked questions they receive from listeners and clients. Listen in for expert advice on staffing, podcasting, and partnerships. This episode answers the following questions: Can a paid staff member join the Board? How do I handle a staff member with a bad attitude? What equipment do you recommend I purchase to start a podcast? How can I build and maintain partnerships with other nonprofits? Links mentioned in this episode: Discipline Without Punishment Blue Yeti Microphone Audio Hijack Looking for more? Check out this other amazing episode: Dolph and Lexie's Mailbag Extravaganza: Launching your Nonprofit, Navigating Career Transitions, & Engaging Your Board in Fundraising on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Understanding the true worth of an hour can transform how you prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and, ultimately, how you contribute to your organization's mission. In this bonus break, Dolph shares practical advice, stories from the field, and an online calculator designed to help you quantify the value of your time. Whether you're an executive director, a development professional, or play a vital role in operations, this episode will equip you with the tools to make more informed decisions about where to focus your efforts for maximum impact.  Links mentioned in this episode: Value of Your Time Calculator

When the country shut down in March 2020, Kia Croom realized the shift to remote work also shifted justice, equity, and inclusion dynamics. Racial discrimination, racial trauma, and microaggressions didn’t go away, they just changed a little. And now they were happening in her home. Since then, Kia has been working to disrupt and challenge the norms that lead to lack of inclusion in the nonprofit sector. She joins us today to share why this is an essential conversation for your own nonprofit and steps leadership can take to build an inclusive organization. This episode answers the following questions: How did COVID and working remotely impact justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion dynamics? How can I help my nonprofit be more inclusive? What does an inclusive organization look like? Links mentioned in this episode: Kia’s Website Fundraising in Black Website Looking for more? Check out these other amazing episodes: Women in Nonprofits with Jess Cooper on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Become a Competitive (and Equitable) Employer with Kevin Dean Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

What if you could personally spend time with hundreds of your nonprofit’s supporters every week? Joining them on walks, grocery shopping trips, commutes, dinner preparation, or even whispering in their ear at the gym?  For years, I’ve said that your nonprofit can do just that by starting a podcast. And, in addition to spending quality time with your supporters, you will also strengthen relationships, find new donors, and gain greater influence in your community.  In this episode, Thomas Murphy tells us about the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s podcasting journey. Now in its second season, the Legacy podcast has significant momentum and is generating new supporters, connecting people within its community, amplifying its mission, and even raising more money.  This episode answers the following questions: What are the benefits of starting a podcast? How do I determine my podcast’s schedule and format? What are the costs associated with producing a quality podcast? What should my nonprofit expect from its first year of podcasting?  Links mentioned in this episode: Francis Ouiment Scholarship Fund Legacy on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Thomas Murphy’s LinkedIn The Podcast Consultant  Looking for more? Check out these other amazing episodes: Podcasting for Nonprofits with Kristan McMahon on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Attention-Grabbing Marketing with Dan Schepleng on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

In this episode we delve into the crucial topic of team dynamics, uncovering how loneliness can silently sabotage your team and your mission --- and what you can do about it.  Steven Van Cohen is a global leadership consultant, executive coach, and best-selling author. He has spent over a decade working with large companies to improve their worker well-being, reduce employee isolation, and boost team belonging.  He joins us to explore the epidemic of loneliness, how it is impacting your nonprofit, and what you can do to build a culture of togetherness that leads to a productive, high performing, and connected team.  Links mentioned: LessLonely.com  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Preserving Your Office Culture with Pareen Kohlhaas on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Maximize Your Employee Engagement and Retention with Rob Woronoff on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Successful athletes have coaches. So why shouldn’t you? Well, we think you should! Dive into the benefits of executive coaching with Johnny Martinez, Executive Director of Northern Cares. Johnny joins us to discuss the unexpected benefits he received from executive coaching and how it ultimately reshaped his executive director journey. Don't miss this powerful discussion that sheds light on the profound impact coaching can have on your own leadership journey!  Links mentioned: Northland Cares Website  Looking for More? Check out these amazing episodes: Insider Tips from an Executive Assistant with Jeremy Burrows on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Landing Your Dream Job with Kris Holmes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Have you ever attended a gala dinner, art auction, or golf tournament that faded from memory all too quickly? It's a common experience.  If you're tired of your own event's fleeting impact, then you won't want to miss this episode. We are joined by Joey Goone, a true maestro in producing unforgettable live, hybrid, and virtual events nationwide. Joey walks us through the three Cs of event success, all of which are backed by science! Listen in for proven secrets to turn your ordinary event into an extraordinary experience that leaves a lasting impression, ensuring your community returns year after year.  Links Mentioned: Utopia Experience’s Website Utopia Experience’s Slide Deck Schedule your free discovery call  Looking for More? Check out these amazing episodes: Ep 312: Turn Your Next Gala into a Goldmine with AJ Steinburg on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or our website with show notes Ep 241: Content Marketing Gold with Rick Smith on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Tech-savvy nonprofit leaders spill the beans on their favorite apps! Discover the game-changing tools they are using to revolutionize their organizations’ operations. Get ready to boost your own efficiency and productivity with these expert insights! Here are just a few of the apps mentioned in this episode: Pocket Windy Gallup Access app   Todoist Clara Fahlo  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: The Secret to Low Stress & High Efficiency with Susie Hayman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Tools to Fire Up Your Productivity with Peter Chatel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Imagine having a superpower that helps people relate to you and your nonprofit. And that superpower also helps you feel happier and more connected with the world around you! Well, that superpower exists. And guess what, it’s empathy! In this episode, Tim Leon shows us how to strengthen our empathy muscle and infuse empathy into our branding and marketing.  Tim runs the strategic marketing agency Geile Leon Marketing Communications, which is powered by empathy. Geileon serves nonprofits, schools, colleges, and businesses and helps them tap into the power of empathy.  Links Mentioned in This Episode: Geile/Leon Marketing Communications Website Return on Empathy White Paper Tim’s LinkedIn profile Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Attention-Grabbing Marketing with Dan Schepleng on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Crafting Your Brand with Amanda Ross on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Hopefully your nonprofit will never face a suicide among your staff, clients, or constituents. But just as we develop emergency plans for fires and natural disasters, we also need to be prepared in the event of a suicide within our organizations. In today’s episode with Beth Eversole, we discuss suicide postvention. Postvention is an organized response following a suicide to facilitate emotional recovery while also mitigating the negative effects that exposure to suicide brings.  A good postvention strategy can reduce the risk of suicide contagion, support survivors, and address the stigma associated with suicide. Speaking from first-hand experience, Beth shares the immediate, short, and long-term action steps of postvention. She also offers a decision-making flow-chart and specific ways to support the survivors. Links mentioned in this episode: Beth’s LinkedIn Palmer Drug Abuse Program Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Breaking Taboos: Saving Lives through Suicide Prevention with Beth Eversole on Apple, Spotify, or our website with show notes Trauma Informed Leadership with Matt Bennett on Apple, Spotify, or our website with show notes

In this essential Bonus Break episode, Dolph delves into the secret sauce of exceptional board member onboarding. Discover the transformative Triple-I approach - Inform, Initiate, and Inspire - and learn how to elevate your organization's onboarding process from mediocre to magnificent. Join Dolph as he shares personal experiences, debunks common onboarding myths, and provides actionable strategies to enhance your orientation process and the effectiveness of your new board members. Whether you're grappling with uninspiring onboarding or looking to create a board orientation from scratch, this episode is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders needing a dynamic and impactful board. Contact Dolph or Lexie about board onboarding Listen to the prior Bonus Break about onboarding on – Revolutionize Your Board Onboarding Process – on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.  Read the blog post that this bonus break is based on.

Today’s guest, Lindsay LaShell, has an important message: Stop wasting your time on random acts of marketing! Instead, make sure your marketing is so well thought out and so well planned that your audience members (be they clients, volunteers, staff, or donors) don’t even realize they are being led down a carefully cultivated path.  Listen in as we explore the steps Lindsay walks her clients through to develop and implement a marketing strategy that is intentional, efficient, and effective.  Links mentioned in this episode Lindsay’s LinkedIn profile Lindsay’s website  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Unlock the Power of Social Media with Nick Black on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Attention-Grabbing Marketing with Dan Schepleng on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Discover innovative Board onboarding techniques that will revolutionize board member engagement at your organization. Dolph provides a step-by-step guide to effective board member onboarding, revealing a multi-stage process that ensures high-performing, committed board members. These expert insights have the power to transform your nonprofit's leadership landscape. Links:  Read the blog post that this bonus break is based on.  Contact Dolph or Lexie  Fast Friends Exercise

Do you find yourself on auto pilot for days or weeks at a time? Going through the motions of running your organization but not getting joy and awe from your work?  Steve Fredlund, known worldwide as The Safari Dude, helps you bring wonder and excitement back into your daily life. Steve was an actuarial scientist who recognized and escaped the “good life” trap. As an author, two-time TEDx speaker, coach, and keynote speaker, he guides others on their path to greater joy and fulfillment.  In our episode today, he will share with you 5 factors that can bring more happiness to your work, your leadership, and your life.  Links mentioned in this episode The Safari Dude’s website Steve’s LinkedIn  Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: 8 Proven Ways to Feel Happier at Work with Bea Boccalandro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Solving Burnout at Your Nonprofit with Jennifer Moss on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

Are you ready for 2024 to be your best year yet? And I don’t mean just your most productive year. I mean a year with your most rewarding work relationships and healthier work/life boundaries? If you are, then this bonus break is for you! By the end of the episode, you’ll be ready to set five career-changing goals and develop a plan to achieve them.  You can download the goal planning template discussed in the Bonus Break here.