IMPACTability: The Nonprofit Leaders' Podcast Soukup Strategic Solutions
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"IMPACTability: The Nonprofit Leaders' Podcast" is a dynamic and insightful series hosted by Josh Hirsch, M.S., Senior Strategist for Soukup Strategic Solutions, and created by Sheryl Soukup, President of Soukup Strategic Solutions. Each episode looks at the multifaceted world of nonprofit organizations, offering expert advice on issues ranging from fundraising and management to Board development and marketing. Josh, with his extensive background in the nonprofit sector, engages with a variety of experts to provide valuable perspectives and practical solutions to the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders.
Listeners will find each episode rich with knowledge and inspiration. The podcast covers a wide array of topics, ensuring relevance for a diverse nonprofit audience. Whether it’s discussing innovative fundraising strategies, exploring effective Board governance, or the nuances of nonprofit marketing, "IMPACTability" serves as an essential resource for leaders looking to enhance their organization's impact. This podcast is an excellent tool for anyone in the nonprofit sector seeking to grow professionally and make a more significant impact in their community.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
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Building High-Performing Teams: A Guide for Today’s Leaders
In this episode, the host discusses leadership with Dan Blakemore, the vice president of philanthropy at the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They explore the qualities of a good leader, the importance of adapting to change, and the commitment to learning. They also discuss how leaders can motivate their teams and embrace new technologies. The conversation concludes with a discussion on succession planning and measuring the social impact of nonprofit work.
Takeaways
A good leader is someone who lives the mission, encourages others, and leads by example.Leaders need qualities such as good relationship management, the ability to take direction, strategic thinking, and inclusivity.Leaders must be open to new ideas and adapt to changes in the nonprofit sector.Succession planning is important for ensuring the continuity of leadership within an organization.Measuring the social impact of nonprofit work involves setting smart objectives, distinguishing between outputs and outcomes, and being transparent with stakeholders.
Dan Blakemore, CFRE is Vice President of Philanthropy at the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Throughout his more than 15 years in non-profit fundraising, he has worked in museums, the performing arts and higher education.
Dan is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), where he serves as the U.S. Political Action Committee Vice Chair and a member of the Government Relations Committee. He is a board member and past President of AFP’s Northeast Ohio Chapter.
Dan serves his community as a Diversity on Board Coach with Leadership Akron, as a Trustee of the African American Archives Auxiliary at Western Reserve Historical Society, and on the boards of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and the National Park Friends Alliance. He is a proud graduate of both Howard University and New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
He lives in Northeast Ohio with his wife and three young kids.
Chapters
00:33 Guest Introduction
01:32 Defining a Good Leader
03:09 Adapting to Change
04:03 Commitment to Learning
05:23 Staying Connected in a Pandemic
06:20 Motivating the Team
08:19 Embracing New Technologies
09:37 Succession Planning
16:09 Identifying Future Leaders
35:15 Coaches Corner: “how can we effectively measure the social impact of our nonprofit’s work?“
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Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.
Got a question that you’d like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy -
Choosing AI Wisely: Beyond the Binary of Content Creation
In this episode, host Josh Hirsch discusses the power of AI in nonprofits with guest Cherian Koshy. They explore Cherian's journey into AI and how it can be used to make nonprofits more efficient and effective. They also discuss the steps to getting started with AI and the future of AI integration in the nonprofit sector. They emphasize the importance of responsible use of AI and transparency in its implementation. In the Coaches Corner segment, Jacob Wenge shares insights on building a sustainable volunteer program.
Takeaways
AI has the power to make nonprofits more efficient and effective.Getting started with AI involves aligning values, defining goals, and exploring different tools.Responsible use of AI requires transparency and ethical considerations. AI Usage Policy: https://resources.workable.com/ai-tool-usage-policyBuilding a sustainable volunteer program involves defining goals, aligning expectations, and empowering volunteers.
Chapters
00:34 The Power of AI in Nonprofits
05:25 The Impact of AI on Jobs
07:50 Using AI for Efficiency and Effectiveness
08:18 Steps to Getting Started with AI
09:45 Building Trust and Aligning Values
10:37 The Future of AI Integration
13:29 Responsible Use of AI
14:55 Transparency and Disclosure
37:55 Coaches Corner: “What are the Best approaches on building a sustainable volunteer program?”
Guest Bio
Cherian Koshy is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), & AFP Master Trainer. He founded the NonprofitOS, a generative AI platform designed to help organizations maximize their impact, which was acquired by iWave. Before starting NonprofitOS, Cherian spent more than 25 years working in the nonprofit sector, working with thousands of donors and raising more than 100 million for various organizations and causes. He proudly serves as the Vice Chair of Professional Development on the AFP Global Board. He is a sought-after trainer and keynote speaker, and his thought leadership has been featured in several publications.
Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.
Leave a review! Reviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review.
Got a question that you’d like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy -
Vision and Action: Striking a Balance in Nonprofit Leadership
In this episode, host Josh Hirsch interviews Meredith Rae Feder, Deputy Director for the Museum of Discovery and Science, about vision and action in nonprofit leadership. They discuss starting and completing capital campaigns, building a high-performing team, balancing long-term goals and short-term needs, building a professional network, and hiring team members with complementary skills.
Takeaways
Believing in the mission and having a passion for the work are critical for success in nonprofit management.Building a high-performing team is essential for completing successful campaigns and achieving organizational goals.Striking a balance between long-term goals and short-term needs requires setting aside time for strategic thinking and seeking input from trusted colleagues.Building a professional network and seeking out resources and mentorship opportunities are important for personal and professional growth in nonprofit leadership.
Chapters
05:06 Starting and Completing Capital Campaigns
07:16 Building a High-Performing Team
08:57 Hiring Team Members with Complementary Skills
20:00 Building a Professional Network
24:30 Coaches Corner: How can we engage corporate partners in a mutually beneficial way
Guest Bio
Meredith Ray Feder serves as the Deputy Director for the Museum of Discovery and Science. As a member of the executive team, Feder is responsible for setting departmental goals, generating $12M in earned revenue and philanthropic support annually. During her tenure at MODS, she has also overseen two capital campaigns. By connecting advancement and engagement elements to the mission of the institution, Feder and her team have been successful in enhancing the reputation, relationships and resources of the organization, emphasizing partnerships, outcomes and impact.
Feder is a leader in nonprofit management and brings over 20 years of strategic advancement, operational, marketing and communications experience to the Museum of Discovery and Science. Prior to joining the museum, she was senior director of advancement for Gulliver Schools, one of largest private schools in South Florida. In this role, Feder oversaw development, marketing, branding, publications, web content management, public and community relations, divisional operations, government and community relations, alumni relations, social media and strategic partnerships.
She has also held positions with Pensacola Museum of Art, Northwest Florida Ballet, and Starlight Children’s Foundation. Feder graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in art history and studio arts from the University of West Florida, a certificate in fine and decorative art appraisal from New York University and a master’s in arts administration from Florida State University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) professional and a graduate of the Getty Leadership Institute program for museum professionals.
Her industry contributions have earned the Broward Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals the Ten Star designation for accomplishments toward the association’s strategic plan and have earned institutions various Hermes Creative Awards, Muse Awards, Audio Visual Arts Awards, Communicator Awards and National Medallion by the Institute for Museum and Library Services for excellence in the industry. In addition, Feder was recognized as the Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by the Broward Chapter of AFP, as the Mother of the Year by Health Mothers Healthy Babies and a Distinguished Fellow by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global.
She is a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Broward Chapter as well as the Greater Florida Caucus, a professional mentor in the... -
Bridging the Digital Divide: Making Technology Accessible for All
In this episode, Dave Tinker discusses the importance of accessibility in fundraising. He shares his personal connection to the disability community and explains why making the world more inclusive is his passion. Dave provides practical tips for interacting with constituents with disabilities and highlights the curb cut effect in fundraising. He also discusses the importance of incorporating accessibility features on websites and social media platforms. Dave emphasizes the ethical and strategic importance of accessibility, and encourages organizations to stand out by prioritizing accessibility in their communications. He concludes by providing his contact information for further discussion.
Takeaways
Incorporating accessibility in fundraising is important to ensure inclusivity for all potential donors.Interacting with constituents with disabilities should be done in a way that is accessible and accommodating.Websites and donation pages should include accessibility features such as alt tags and high contrast colors.Direct mail should also consider accessibility through large fonts and clear layouts.Tracking data, on donors with accessibility needs, can help organizations better understand and serve this audience.Building websites and communications with accessibility in mind is both ethical and strategic.There are various tools and resources available to help organizations improve website accessibility.
Guest Bio
Dave is Vice President of Advancement at Achieva and a consultant with GoalBusters Consulting. In these roles he raises funds and helps nonprofits with their communications. He was also an adjunct professor of informatics at Muskingum University for over a decade.
A certified Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Master Trainer, Dave received the Outstanding Fund Raising Executive Award from the AFP Western PA chapter in 2013. In October 2016, he was honored by AFP International as one of six in the inaugural class of Distinguished Fellows. Dave has published numerous articles in professional journals and has written fundraising curriculum for The Fund Raising School® at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities.
Dave is a past president of the AFP Western PA chapter and has served in many volunteer roles for AFP International and his own chapter.
In addition to AFP, Dave has served as a member of the Ethics Committee for the Grant Professionals Association where is also an approved trainer.
Dave received a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and English and a Master of Information Strategy, Systems and Technology from Muskingum University. He is also a graduate of Leadership Works - Indianapolis, Class III and the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware, Class 44.
Chapters
02:03 Dave's Passion for Accessibility in Fundraising
03:26 Incorporating Accessibility in Daily Interactions
04:53 The Curb Cut Effect in Fundraising
05:56 Interacting with Constituents with Disabilities
06:04 Technological Considerations for Website Donation Pages
07:36 Using Alt Tags on Social Media Platforms
08:32 The Future of Accessibility in Fundraising
10:45 Tips for Creating Accessible Websites and Donation Pages
12:56 Considerations for Direct Mail Accessibility
17:37 Tracking Data on Donors with Accessibility... -
Partnerships for Nonprofits
On this week’s episode of IMPACTability® we are joined by James Woller, the International Executive Director for Thrive For Good. James discusses partnerships in the nonprofit sector, giving expert testimony on how to find the right partners, the challenges you may face, and the benefits you can gain. By the end of this episode, you'll learn how to change your organization's culture in order to strategically find beneficial partnerships that will grow your nonprofit to a higher level of impact!
Thrive For Good empowers people with the training and simple tools they need to grow an abundance of healthy, organic, disease-fighting foods for life — sustainably. He started his first partnership when he was nine years old, using the money he made from cutting lawns. His experience over the years has helped him take small organizations and scale up, and his work at Thrive is impacting hundreds of thousands of people.
Highlights
Introductions 00:30James Woller - Background info 02:40First steps of finding the right partner 04:50James' 5 signifiers of a successful partnership 07:00Example of how two nonprofits can work together and grow from a partnership 08:40Why are nonprofit organizations hesitant to partner with other organizations? 10:50How can your nonprofit organization be optimized for working with others? 17:00Forecast for the future of nonprofits, will partnerships change the game? 20:10Wanna get started today? Here's what you need to know 21:15Coaches Corner - "Given the recent hurricane, what tips do you have for emergency preparedness?" 24:40
Got a question that you'd like to ask a nonprofit professional? Check out the Coaches Corner in every episode, where our Impact Coaches answer your questions regarding your nonprofit. Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next week’s episode to see if your question gets answered!
Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.
Leave a review: Reviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy -
A Deep Dive Into Data
On this week’s episode of IMPACTability®, we are joined by Liz Liston, Chief Development Officer at HOPE Atlanta. We’ll look at different aspects of data and get expert tips on how it can help you. Get ready for a deep dive into data with this week’s episode of IMPACTability®!
HOPE Atlanta was founded in the early 1900s, and it is the regions most established agency dedicated to fighting homelessness. With over 120 years in service, their mission remains the same. They aspire to end homelessness, one individual at a time. They accomplish this mission through housing and food programs aimed at helping the most vulnerable.
Highlights
Introductions 00:30HOPE Atlanta fundraising backstory 02:18How did you grow your database? 04:21Why should you collect data? 05:22Why nonprofits are behind on data 07:00Where do we start with growing our database? 08:33What type of data should nonprofits be collecting? 10:13Donor management software 12:28Conversion strategy 15:27Best practices for donor data 17:40“People don’t need what we are selling” 19:49Technology tips 20:52One thing to add to donor collection that you might not be looking or asking for 22:07Coaches Corner Question "How do you celebrate your organizations anniversary in order to get the most out of it publicly?" 23:39
Got a question that you'd like to ask a nonprofit professional? Check out the Coaches Corner in every episode, where our Impact Coaches answer your questions regarding your nonprofit. Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next week’s episode to see if your question gets answered!
Engage with other nonprofit professionals by joining our IMPACTability® Facebook community!
Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting
app.
Leave a review: They're extremely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave us a review.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy