Do you ever feel like your passion for nonprofit work has wilted? Are you constantly exhausted, overwhelmed, and struggling to find the motivation to keep going?

You're not alone. In this episode, Kishshana Palmer and I dive into the pervasive issue of burnout in the nonprofit sector. We explore its causes, its impact on our work and well-being, and most importantly, practical strategies to reclaim your energy, passion, and joy.

Kishshana, an expert in leadership and organizational development, shares her insights on self-care, setting boundaries, and finding your "sit in the sun" moments. We discuss the importance of prioritizing rest, nutrition, exercise, and reconnecting with activities that bring you joy. This episode is a must-listen for any nonprofit leader who wants to break free from the cycle of burnout and create a more sustainable, fulfilling career.

Curious about balancing experience and fresh ideas on your nonprofit board? Seeking ways to keep fundraising events engaging in the digital age? Join a candid conversation with a mother-daughter duo as they share their diverse experiences and perspectives on board service, fundraising, and community engagement.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio sits down with Suzy Wilcox, Director of Development at Evergreen, and her mother, Martha Schwieters, an active donor and experienced board member. They delve into the generational divide in board service, the importance of community-centered fundraising, and the evolving landscape of philanthropic events. Suzy and Martha also share personal anecdotes and insights from their unique journeys in the nonprofit sector.

Don’t chase money - have it chase you! In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, fundraising expert Michelle Benson reveals the tool nonprofits are most overlooking: LinkedIn.

Transform your LinkedIn profile into a powerful fundraising tool with Michelle’s tips. She shares her proven strategies for optimizing your profile, creating engaging content, and building authentic relationships with potential funders. Learn how to attract high-value partnerships, secure grants, and even cultivate legacy donors.

Michelle also provides valuable insights on personal branding, using LinkedIn for stewardship, and differentiating your content across various platforms.

Does your org face the frustration of constantly losing your best fundraisers? Higher salaries, the pressure of unrealistic expectations, feeling undervalued, and being micromanaged are driving talented fundraisers out of the sector. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, fundraising expert Laura Vitelli shares practical insights on how small nonprofits can break this cycle. We discuss the current challenges nonprofits face with attracting and retaining top fundraising talent, and how a focus on values alignment, flexibility, and collaborative leadership can make all the difference.

Laura Vitelli is a seasoned fundraiser with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Staiger, VITELLI & Associates. Laura and her business partner Sarah Staiger specialize in helping nonprofits create sustainable fundraising systems through value-based strategies. Together, they provide coaching, training, and strategic planning support to small and mid-sized organizations.

Nonprofit workplaces often come with an expectation of self-sacrifice. Staff are expected to work long hours, accept below-market pay, and tolerate unfair conditions – all in service of the mission. But what if there was a way to uphold that passion for the cause while also ensuring fair treatment of workers?

That's where unions come in. This episode explores the world of unionization with Christina Rousseau. Having led a successful unionization effort in her former nonprofit role and now working as a union representative, Christina offers a unique 360-degree view of the possibilities and challenges unions bring to the nonprofit sector. You are going to love how Christina and I met.

Does your nonprofit seem to be just scraping by, even though everyone is working harder than ever? It's not just your organization. The nonprofit sector is in crisis, facing issues like shrinking revenue, chronic underfunding, staffing struggles, and increasing demands from the community. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, strategic consultant Nicole Gagliardi examines the broken model and warns that the sector needs a major overhaul.

Nicole brings over 18 years of experience working in and alongside nonprofits. She offers a sober view of the sector's challenges and provides actionable insights on how organizations can start adapting. Whether you're a board member, executive director, or a dedicated staff member, you'll gain powerful knowledge to help you navigate the current nonprofit climate.

Does your nonprofit talk a good game about diversity and inclusion, but the action never seems to follow? Maybe you've been part of mandatory trainings that left you asking, "Okay, but now what……?"

I'm excited to have Jade Pichette from Pride at Work Canada on today's episode of The Small Nonprofit! Jade is breaking down why that "emergency response" mindset around issues like racism and homophobia just doesn't cut it – and spoiler alert, it might actually be doing more harm than good. But don't worry! Jade's got the insider scoop on how nonprofits can proactively build more inclusive, equitable workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Sometimes you feel like you're constantly chasing, juggling, and maybe even losing ground. It's difficult not to get extremely overwhelmed, but Maryanne says it is time to break those patterns! We dive deep into the art of influence with Maryanne Dersch. “It's not about mind control or manipulation. This is about stepping into your own power, crafting a vision, and inspiring your team, board, AND donors to get on board with excitement”

Maryanne Dersch has three decades of experience helping organizations connect authentically. She's a consultant, coach, teacher, podcaster, purple-enthusiast – she does it all! In this episode, learn how to shift from a scarcity mindset to a place of empowerment by managing fear, building confidence, and mastering that magnetic, influential leadership style.

Are you the only one in your nonprofit who understands fundraising? You spend hours crafting proposals, building donor relationships, and strategizing, while your colleagues think it's as simple as posting on Instagram. Well, today's episode is for YOU. We're diving into the power of creating a culture of philanthropy, where everyone in your organization understands and supports sharing your mission, leading to incredible fundraising success.

I'm thrilled to have Tammy Ebuen, a fundraising superstar with over 15 years of experience, join me on the show. As the Senior Director of Development at Visions of Science, she's coming on to chat about what it looks like when everyone understands fundraising. Tammy shares her insights, success stories, and tangible tips on how your nonprofit can cultivate that collective understanding, creating a more sustainable – and enjoyable! – fundraising environment.

Think you know how donors behave? Think again! I had the best conversation with Tim Sarrantonio from Neon One about the realities of monthly giving and donor retention. We busted some common myths (even ones I believed!), talked about the psychology behind giving, and got a sneak peek at the groundbreaking report Neon One is just released.

Tim is a powerhouse in the nonprofit world, known for his insights on fundraising trends and tech. He's passionate about helping smaller nonprofits have access to the same powerful data as the big guys. This episode is full of actionable takeaways that will help you build stronger relationships with your donors and create a more sustainable fundraising program.

This one gets me to my core. I sat down with Marisa DeSalles, a Black fundraiser creating and moderating spaces for other Black fundraisers and leaders, to dive deep into trends she sees through her work.

Marisa leads a cohort of Black fundraisers. She is uniquely positioned to provide key insights on the state of the sector, its treatment of racialized leaders, and the exodus of fundraisers. Racialized leaders do not have the same access to wealth, connections, or power as white leaders. However, like all EDs, they feel the entire mission's weight resting solely on their shoulders. We'll unpack how this impacts the sector, and most importantly, what we can do about it.

Tired of the same old fundraising that just doesn't reflect your community? Wish you could break free from the stuffy, traditional approaches and find ways to authentically connect with your donors?

In this episode, we ditch “best practices” and dove headfirst into fundraising in the queer community with Madeline Taylor, Development Manager at Out On Screen. Madeline, a passionate community builder and champion for equity, shares the strategic thinking behind their approach and how to channel the vibrant energy of your community into impactful fundraising. Out On Screen throws fundraising events true to them - drag shows, burlesque, 20-minute land acknowledgements, storytelling, and more.

Does making your nonprofit feel inclusive seem impossible? Today, we're getting real about diversity, equity, and inclusion in our sector. I spoke with Michelle Okere, an inclusion specialist and nonprofit powerhouse, about how to build anti-racism into your organization's core.

Michelle shared her own experiences facing systemic barriers, strategies for meaningful communication, and why empowering your frontline staff is the key to success. An accomplished leader with a strong commitment to community, Michelle's insights will help you take actionable steps toward a more inclusive workplace.

Scandals, harmful practices, and image-obsessed leaders plague our sector, but it doesn't have to be this way. My candid chat with Liz LeClair, a fearless fundraiser, feminist, and disruptor, is a breath of fresh air.

We discuss the lack of accountability in our sector, why real change is hard, and how we MUST do better. Liz calls out the sector (and herself!) for past failings. We discuss boardroom complacency, centering BIPOC voices, and why white moderates need a rethink.

This episode might leave you uncomfortable – and that's the point. Let's demand a truly accountable nonprofit world.

What if you could tap into the enthusiasm of your biggest supporters and turn them into fundraising rockstars? That's where peer-to-peer fundraising comes in!

I had a blast chatting with Tess Conrad of Full Potential Fundraising, a fundraising pro who's passionate about helping small nonprofits do big things. Tess shared her wealth of experience on all things peer-to-peer – setting realistic goals, finding the perfect fundraisers, creative campaign ideas, and the importance of treating those new donors like the gems they are.

Why do those "big nonprofits" use those emotional, tear-jerking stories? Well, it's complicated and has a long history. But today, we are sharing a much better (and more ethical) way to inspire donors. We're debunking harmful fundraising and storytelling myths to give you the tools to tell dignifies stories that get results.

My guest is the brilliant Diana Farias Heinrich, the CEO of Habrá Marketing. Diana is passionate about helping nonprofits share their work in ways that empower both clients and donors. With certifications in DEI and as an Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence, she brings essential expertise to our sector. We talk about the long-term harm of those guilt-driven appeals, how to build trust with clients, and the transformative power of letting people share their stories on their own terms.

In this episode, we delve into the critical importance of aligning your nonprofit's actions with its core values. We're joined by Hoang Murphy, CEO of People Serving People, who brings a wealth of experience from his journey as a teacher, a Foster, and a leader in the nonprofit sector. Hoang shares his expertise on creating impactful solutions for those affected by inequality and emphasizes the role of lived experiences in decision-making processes.

The nonprofit-industrial complex - are we stuck?

In this episode, we delve into the intricate - and evolving - world of ethical fundraising within the nonprofit sector, featuring insights from Marie-France Roche, the Director of Community Engagement and Major Gifts at TNG Community Services. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in adopting Community-Centric Fundraising.

Are you feeling torn between supporting your team's work-life balance and striving to hit those all-important organizational milestones? For those managing small nonprofits, where every hour and every dollar counts tenfold, balancing personal growth and professional success can be a challenge.

Today, we dive deep into creating a workforce that thrives on the “leading human-first” approach with Lacey Kempinski, CEO and Founder of Balanced Good. Balanced Good provides parental leave coverage – from the day-to-day hands-on work to big picture transition planning. Balanced Good believes that a supported transition to parenthood will benefit both our sector and the parents working in it. Lacey has a big vision, she wants parental leave to become a celebrated life milestone, not a feared employment gap.

Are you leaving the 'dirty work' to others? It's time for leader to embrace the saying, "no task is too small!" In this episode, we'll delve into the art of leading by example, fostering a culture of collaboration, and the transformative power of saying "yes and" to opportunities.

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Lanrick Bennett to The Small Nonprofit. Lanrick is not only the executive director of Charlie’s Free Wheels, a nonprofit teaching young people leadership through bicycles, but also Toronto's first bicycle mayor, a comedian, and a champion of community engagement. Our conversation promises to be an insightful journey into what it means to be a hands-on leader who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty – quite literally!