Building smart nonprofits requires a focus on sustainability and mission success, not just short-term fundraising. In this episode of the Nonprofit Council Podcast, host May Harris talks with David O’Brien and Matthew Craig, co-authors of Building Smart Nonprofits: A Roadmap for Mission Success, about how nonprofit leaders can align money with mission, build stronger organizations, and thrive in today’s changing landscape.

What you will learn in this episode:

• ✅ Why sustainability matters more than short-term fundraising

• ✅ How to align money with mission for long-term impact

• ✅  Lessons from real nonprofit success stories in San Diego and beyond

• ✅ The risks of “Franken nonprofits” and how to avoid mission drift

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Key Timestamps

• 00:00 David O’Brien and Matthew Craig

• 04:01 David O’Brien’s journey from finance to the nonprofit sector

• 05:15 Why nonprofits must define sustainability and impact

• 10:55 The rise of social enterprise and new forms of capital

• 17:12 Trust-based philanthropy and breaking the starvation cycle

• 18:33 AVID: scaling a mission through monetizing intellectual property

• 28:00 Feeding San Diego and the future of food rescue models

• 33:50 Why storytelling plus data is the winning formula for fundraising

• 39:00 Saying no to misaligned funding and avoiding mission drift

• 45:00 The importance of reserves, strong balance sheets, and sustainability

Key Takeaways

💎Mission must match money: sustainable nonprofits don’t chase funding that pulls them off course.

💎Trust-based philanthropy is growing:  unrestricted support empowers organizations to innovate.

💎Storytelling backed by data builds credibility with funders and stakeholders.

💎Nonprofit sustainability = reserves + innovation + collaboration

Guest Bios

David O’Brien is a retired finance professional turned nonprofit board leader and co-author of Building Smart Nonprofits. He brings decades of experience in financial leadership and nonprofit governance.

Matthew D. Craig is a banker and advisor to nonprofits who co-authored the book alongside O’Brien. Together, they combine financial expertise with nonprofit research to provide a practical roadmap for mission success

Resources & Links

• For Profit Law Group - Website - https://www.fplglaw.com

• Nonprofit Counsel - Website - https://www.nonprofitcounsel.com/

• Building Nonprofits, a Roadmap for Mission Success - Book - https://www.amazon.com/Building-Smart-Nonprofits-Roadmap-Mission/dp/1538118238#:~:text=Building%20Smart%20Nonprofits%3A%20A%20Roadmap%20for%20Mission%20Success%20is%20a,leaders%2C%20board%20members%2C%20funders%2C

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#Sustainability

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