When the Power Goes Out: Strategic Planning Shapes Operational Decisions Strategy in Practice, Not Just on Paper When I was CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden, we had a strategic plan, “Keep Growing,” that was the outcome of a robust executive team and board effort. We made a decision early in its roll-out to try to communicate the plan to every stakeholder and have it inform every action we took. We held all-staff, all-volunteer, and […] The post When the Power Goes Out: Strategic Plann...| InsideCharity.org
Breaking Barriers: How Digital Accessibility Can Transform Nonprofit Impact In this eye-opening conversation, Rebecca Prejean, CEO and founder of EB Graphics Consulting, reveals a critical gap in nonprofit work that’s keeping organizations from truly serving their communities. Driven by her personal journey as a mother of a child with autism, Rebecca discusses how 14% of working-age African Americans have disabilities, yet this intersection of race and accessibility remains largely invisibl...| InsideCharity.org
How to Build a Stewardship Matrix for Your Nonprofit Read any nonprofit fundraising guide, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: Personalization is the key to truly connecting with donors and securing their long-term support. However, trying to build personal relationships with hundreds or even thousands of donors can easily overwhelm your fundraising team. A stewardship matrix is like your nonprofit’s cheat sheet for delivering the right touchpoints to the right donors at the […] Th...| InsideCharity.org
Leadership in Crisis: Managing Dysfunction and Conflict In this episode, host Meghan Speer sits down with Chris Wong, founder and executive coach at Leadership Potential and a featured main stage speaker at this year’s Cause Camp. Drawing from his background as a licensed therapist turned leadership and organizational development expert, Chris shares practical strategies for nonprofit leaders—especially those who identify as “chronic people pleasers”—to navigate difficult conversati...| InsideCharity.org
Escaping The Busy Trap What if the key to greater nonprofit impact isn’t pushing harder—but leading differently? In this refreshing and deeply honest conversation, Kishshana Palmer—veteran fundraiser, founder of ManageMint, and author of Busy is a Four-Letter Word—challenges the toxic myth that busyness equals effectiveness. After a debilitating injury forced her to confront her own unsustainable pace, Palmer began reimagining leadership rooted in wellbeing, not overwork. She shares ...| InsideCharity.org
5 Ways to Get Parents Involved in School Fundraisers Instability in government funding leads to budget shortfalls for public schools, resulting in fewer extracurricular opportunities, outdated educational materials, and teachers providing supplies out of pocket. To prevent these issues and maintain a high standard of education, many schools are raising revenue through school-wide fundraisers, from classic walk-a-thons to t-shirt sales. However, many parents dread the fundraising season at the...| InsideCharity.org
Why Passion Isn’t Enough: The Hidden Reality of Nonprofit Leadership In this episode, Meghan talks with David Rhode, author of Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders, about the often overlooked realities of nonprofit leadership. David offers practical, hard-earned insights on everything from board engagement and leadership isolation to managing the everyday chaos of running a small organization. With real talk on setting expectations, evaluating (and even letting go...| InsideCharity.org
4 Ways to Decide On Your Annual Nonprofit Fundraising Events When you sit down with your team to plan the year’s fundraisers, where do you start? Do you prioritize finances, donor behavior, marketing opportunities, or something else? How do you choose fundraisers that bring in the funds your nonprofit needs to thrive, engage supporters, and inspire lasting support? The truth is, there’s not one right answer. There are several effective ways to evaluate your options, […]| InsideCharity.org
Secure your Nonprofit Website with Confidence Website security is a critical component of your nonprofit’s digital strategy. It ensures that your data, donors and mission are protected while allowing you to focus on making an impact. At Firespring, we’re committed to taking the hassle out of website security by providing secure nonprofit websites that are regularly updated and maintained, so you don’t have to fret. Here’s a focused look at key website-specific cybersecurity tips to […]| InsideCharity.org
Grant Funding in Crisis: Navigating the New Landscape In 2025’s shifting nonprofit funding landscape, many organizations face steep federal grant cuts, prompting a pivot toward overlooked private foundations. In a timely discussion, Rachel Fidler Cannella of Instrumentl joins Megan Speer to share insights on navigating this challenge, highlighting examples like Second Harvest Food Bank. She debunks the myth of grants as “easy money,” noting most professionals spend 40+ hours per applica...| InsideCharity.org
4 Tips for Maximizing Your Association’s Membership Value Why do members join your association? Are they looking to expand their professional networks? Do they need to develop skills and earn credentials? Or do they want a reliable source of information about news in your field? Whatever the reason, members join your association because they think your organization can provide them with valuable offerings. Studies agree, with associations claiming to have a compelling or very compelling […]| InsideCharity.org
Navigating Funding Uncertainty: What Nonprofits Can Do Right Now Late last week, I answered a somewhat panicked phone call from a client and friend who works with one of my favorite nonprofit organizations. (I know, I shouldn’t have favorites, but…) The tone of the call was heartbreaking—frustration, exasperation, overwhelmed and a strange mix of defeat and optimism. This organization is owed three-quarters of a million dollars on a government contract signed well before the 2024 […]| InsideCharity.org
Plan Perfect: Transforming Nonprofit Strategic Planning Join me as we explore how nonprofits can break free from the limitations of traditional strategic planning. In this engaging episode, we delve into the valuable insights of Sophia Shaw and Adam Wolford from PlanPerfect, who discuss how their innovative tool empowers organizations to create dynamic plans that grow with their mission instead of collecting dust. We begin by addressing the pain points of static planning processes often seen ...| InsideCharity.org
Next–Gen Fundraising: How Salesforce EmpowersNonprofits of All Sizes Author: Rob Leighton, Executive Director, iMission Institute For successful fundraising, personalized communication has always been key.Connecting with donors on a personal level, based on their individual interests andgiving history, builds strong relationships and encourages generosity. However,achieving this kind of personalization on a large scale has traditionally been achallenge. Salesforce, the world’s leading CRM...| InsideCharity.org
Empowering Nonprofits: Integrating Technology and Human Strategies for Scalable Impact David Watters, CEO of Simple and Engaging, joins us for an enlightening conversation about the powerful intersection of technology and nonprofit growth. Discover how nonprofits can unlock new levels of efficiency and impact by aligning tech solutions with their core missions. David shares his transformation from corporate project management to founding a company dedicated to guiding nonprofits through infor...| InsideCharity.org
The Future of Social Philanthropy – John Del Bello Social media platforms can be enjoyable, but are not always beneficial for building diverse communities, as younger generations are often not actively engaged with the content nonprofits are putting out. Younger generations seem to want to be generous, but don’t often use social platforms for that kind of connection. Is it due to the fraudulent past of some organizations? Is it because older organizations have more […]| InsideCharity.org
From securing and managing grants to strategic planning to stewarding supporter relationships, board members are key players in facilitating your nonprofit’s operations and upholding your mission. Your organization relies on them for their governance, oversight and nonprofit expertise. To maximize your board’s effectiveness, you need to build a solid, healthy foundation for your relationship with board members. That way, your board will be more productive and work in tandem with your n...| InsideCharity.org