Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications

Nov 09 2024 218 ep. 43 mins 2.8k
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications Podcast artwork

Hosted by Joan Garry, the “Dear Abby” of the nonprofit world, Nonprofits Are Messy is a discussion of the most pressing issues faced by nonprofit leadership. Joan and her guests tackle topics like the overhead myth, the best way to run special events, how to make a big fundraising ask, board-staff relations, and so much more. At times hilarious, uplifting, and frustrating, the stories told in this podcast should feel very familiar to anybody working in a nonprofit today.

Topics include fundraising, leadership development, building a great board, Executive Director / Board relations, communications and messaging, staff management, nonprofit career advice, crisis management, digital marketing, social media, and so much more.

Listen to real stories of nonprofit leaders like you and how they handled the mess. Because the truth is, nonprofits ARE messy. There’s not enough money, too many cooks, and an abundance of passion. Leading nonprofits isn’t easy. This podcast will help.

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Ep 215: The Worst Headline Just Hit The New York Times. Now What? (with Seth Chalmer)

Nov 09 2024 48 mins  
Seth Chalmer’s insights on crisis management will help you navigate today’s challenging social landscape as a nonprofit leader. This conversation gives tools to spark valuable conversations that can create clarity and confidence the next time your organization faces a hot-button topic and needs to respond.

Ep 214: Productive Conversations in Polarizing Conflicts (with Parisa Parsa)

Oct 26 2024 48 mins  
Nonprofit Leadership Lab CEO, Glennda Testone, and Parisa Parsa explore how nonprofit leaders can have productive conversations amidst polarization and division. Parisa shares practical strategies for addressing power dynamics and leading productive conversations across differences.

Ep 213: Racial Dynamics in Nonprofit Fundraising (with Mikaela Levons + Jamila Hodge)

Oct 12 2024 57 mins  
Jamila Hodge and Mikaela Levons from Equal Justice USA join the podcast to discuss the challenges and strengths of fundraisers of color. We explore how race, white supremacy power dynamics, and lived experiences shape their approach to fundraising and leadership.

Ep 212: Street Cred, Trust Capital, and Impact-Focused Fundraising (with Michael Thatcher)

Sep 28 2024 53 mins  
I sat down with Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator, to explore how nonprofits can use data to build trust with donors and move beyond the outdated focus on overhead. Michael shared valuable insights on how nonprofits can better engage donors, make the right asks, and thrive in today’s challenging giving environment.

Ep 211: The Maverick Marketing Approach (with Seth Godin)

Sep 14 2024 45 mins  
Seth Godin, the marketing GOAT, shares a fresh, transformative approach to nonprofit marketing. He reveals how understanding and aligning with your donors' emotions can significantly enhance your strategy.

Ep 210: Scaling Social Impact: Strategies for the Small Nonprofit (with Scott Curran)

Aug 31 2024 51 mins  
One-third of all nonprofits fail within 10 years, and 30% of the 1.5 million nonprofits in the U.S. have budgets under $100,000, putting them at significant risk of failure. To address this challenge, Scott Curran, CEO of Beyond Advisors, shares his expertise on how growth-stage social impact enterprises can strengthen their core, define their unique value, and strategically scale.

Ep 209: Finding the Courage to Say No

Aug 17 2024 50 mins  
In this episode, Glennda Testone and I dive into real-life scenarios where we've had to make tough decisions and say no. Our intimate conversation offers practical tips on navigating common leadership challenges with confidence and diplomacy.

Ep 208: Bring Back the Joy of Giving (with Allison Fine)

Aug 03 2024 43 mins  
Allison Fine and I discuss the need to transform nonprofit fundraising from a transactional to a relational model, leverage technology to build meaningful donor relationships, and create a more sustainable and joyful fundraising environment.

Ep 207: From Walmart to Feeding America (with Claire Babineaux-Fontenot)

Jul 20 2024 48 mins  
Like me, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot moved from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector with zero previous experience in nonprofit work. In this episode, she shares her inspiring story of how and why she shifted her focus to step into her most impactful work yet.

Ep 206: The Nonprofit Sector’s PR Problem – And How We Can Fix It

Jun 22 2024 10 mins  
The nonprofit sector has a serious PR problem that impacts its ability to garner adequate support. Nonprofit leaders have a powerful opportunity to be ambassadors and advocates for the sector as a whole. In this episode, I make a poignant call to action for nonprofit leaders everywhere to rally to the side of saving public perception of the important work they do.