Nonprofit startup strategy, fundraising, board governance, and leadership—these are the challenges every founder faces. In this episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris talks with Traci DeForge, founder and CEO of Produce Your Podcast and co-founder of the Podcast Professionals Association.

Traci shares her personal journey of moving past 20 years of hesitation to finally launch a nonprofit. Together, she and May dive into the realities of forming a 501(c)(3) versus 501(c)(6), building a board, setting up revenue streams, and navigating nonprofit founder compensation. They also celebrate the release of May’s book How to Start a Nonprofit That Will Change the World—now available in print, digital, and audio formats

Whether you’re intimidated by the IRS paperwork or overwhelmed by conflicting information, this episode lifts the fog and shows you how to start a nonprofit the right way, with clarity and confidence

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ Why starting a nonprofit requires both strategy and respect for regulators
✅ The difference between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) designations and why it matters
✅ How to structure boards, manage conflicts of interest, and set reasonable compensation
✅ Why nonprofits must operate like businesses with clear revenue strategies

Is your nonprofit ready to align investments, policies, and technology with your mission? Visit NonprofitCouncil.com to access strategies and tools to help you build sustainable impact and lead with confidence.

Key Timestamps

• 0:00 Two types of nonprofit founders: fear vs. no fear

• 1:18 Meet Traci DeForge: producer, co-founder, and nonprofit client

• 4:05 How the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast and book were born

• 5:58 Why audio content is critical for reaching today’s audiences

• 8:01 Future resources: courses, webinars, and nonprofit education

• 11:05 Understanding nonprofit revenue streams: gifts, grants, and fee for service

• 14:07 Fundraising events: what C3s vs. C6s can and cannot do

• 15:10 Nonprofits are businesses: the myth of “no profit” debunked

• 18:55 Overcoming 20 years of intimidation to launch a nonprofit

• 21:00 The questions every founder should ask before filing paperwork

• 26:08 Building a board: size, structure, and avoiding conflicts of interest

• 31:38 Founder and co-founder compensation: what’s reasonable and what’s not

• 37:22 Who should read How to Start a Nonprofit That Will Change the World

• 42:16 Final reflections: turning fear into respect and taking action
  
  

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔹If you want to start a non-profit, contact a professional who can help you navigate the steps to avoid future penalties.

🔹Most people are only aware of the designation of a 501C3. However, there are other designations a nonprofit can take. A professional can help you make those decisions.

🔹To begin a nonprofit, one must have a healthy respect for the regulations and the IRS. This isn’t a fear; it’s learning and respecting the rules.

Guest Bio

Traci DeForge is the founder and CEO of Produce Your Podcast and co-founder of the Podcast Professionals Association. With more than 30 years of experience in media and business consulting, Traci brings transparency to her own nonprofit journey, sharing how she moved past fear to build an organization that supports podcast service professionals.

Resources & Links

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

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

• Traci DeForge - Produce Your Podcast - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracilongdeforge 

• Produce Your Podcast - Website - http://produceyourpodcast.com
  
  

#NonprofitStartup #BoardGovernance #NonprofitStrategy #NonprofitFundraising #NonprofitLeadership #StartANonprofit