The ENGAGE Podcast
Subscribe to The ENGAGE Podcast to hear experts from across the social good community share best practices, tips and must-know trends that will help organizations increase their impact. Formerly called The sgENGAGE Podcast.
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Episode 250: How to Respond to Crises While Avoiding Mission Creep
07/10/2023
Episode 250: How to Respond to Crises While Avoiding Mission Creep
They say that the only constant is change, and change is often brought on by crises. In this panel discussion, Blackbaud’s Melissa Furr talks with two veteran grantmaking professionals to discuss how their organizations manage their mission while staying in tune with the needs of their communities. Lisa Tacker from the Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Beth Broomall from the Charles H. Dater Foundation share their best practices and advice for organizations on things to do before, during, and after a crisis to make sure your organization avoids mission creep.
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Episode 249: Your Blueprint for Engaging Supporters
05/25/2023
Episode 249: Your Blueprint for Engaging Supporters
When is the last time you took a bird’s eye view of your engagement strategy? From how many solicitations to send a year to maintaining your donor database and keeping your message aligned across teams, engagement can quickly become stale or ineffective without a tested strategy. In today’s episode, Kate Averett Anderson of the Blackbaud Institute sits down with fundraising experts Lawrence Henze and Nathalie Highland to discuss best practices for engagement and tools you can use to communicate with your supporters more efficiently. After the conversation, check out the free from the Blackbaud Institute to fill out your own Engagement Strategy framework and put what you’ve learned into practice! This episode of the ENGAGE podcast features excerpts from the webinar . Catch the full discussion, on demand, now. Topics covered in this episode include: The pitfalls of an unexamined engagement strategy Breaking down silos for more effective engagement The benefits of reduced solicitations to supporters Tips for testing new approaches and conducting donor surveys Resources: Quotes: “Through those direct and personal interactions with our staff and our experts, donors were given the opportunity to understand not just what we do, but how and why we do it. And so that has been a real benefit and jumpstarted our major gift program and has helped to spur our growth over time.” – Nathalie Highland “I've always asked my clients to put me on their mailing list, and I would typically make a donation to them to see how they communicated with me as a donor. And I spent eight years tracking those communications. What I found was that there were some organizations that sent me at least at least 36 direct mail pieces per year!” – Lawrence Henze
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Episode 248: A Conversation Exploring Women’s Generosity as a Catalyst for Change
05/18/2023
Episode 248: A Conversation Exploring Women’s Generosity as a Catalyst for Change
As women wield greater economic power and harness their influence to lead change, their generosity is rapidly transforming the philanthropic landscape. What is possible when women are active participants in philanthropic work, engaging all the levers available to advance the public good? The (WPI), part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI, increases understanding of women’s philanthropy through rigorous research and education with the vision of empowering women to use their wealth and power to uplift others. Following WPI's sixth national symposium All In, All Rise, WPI Associate Director Jacquie Ackerman sat down with three symposium participants to discuss how women’s involvement in philanthropy influences and strengthens communities, encourages greater strategic giving and builds a more diverse community of engaged citizens. This is an excerpt of a conversation that was part of the Blackbaud Grantmaking 2023 Thought Leadership Webinar series. For the entire thought-provoking discussion, please watch . Guests: Moderator: Jacquie Ackerman, Associate Director, Women’s Philanthropy Institute Dr. Monique Couvson, President and CEO, Grantmakers for Girls of Color Natanja Craig-Oquendo, Executive Director, Boston Women’s Fund Marsha Morgan, Board Advisory Member, Community Investment Network and Black Women Give Back honoree Resources: : The All-In Woman Philanthropist
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Episode 247: Volunteering and Wellbeing
04/03/2023
Episode 247: Volunteering and Wellbeing
How much impact does volunteerism have on our wellbeing? Hear from , CEO of VolunteerMatch, as he talks with Blackbaud's social responsiblity manager about how volunteerism is closely tied to personal health and wellbeing. Jude and Melissa share how you can incorporate volunteering in the workplace and acheive the feeling of being connected to something larger than oneself. Topics covered in this episode: What is VolunteerMatch? A longing for community The four pillars of wellbeing Best practices Employee Input Physical, Financial, Emotional, Social, and Intellectual wellness VolunteerMatch's new campaign Get that Grin Resources: Quotes: "One best practice is to think beyond the volunteer day." "We shouldn't underestimate employees themselves being the key motivator for other employees." "Most people rely on colleagures and their employer for information that they trust the most."
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Episode 246: Future of Nonprofit Finance: Cyber Security
01/13/2023
Episode 246: Future of Nonprofit Finance: Cyber Security
As part of our series on the Future of Nonprofit Finance, Blackbaud’s Sarah Curry sat down with George Werbacher, the Senior Manager for Information Security at Blackbaud, to discuss how nonprofit organizations can prioritize cyber security in 2023. George talks through how organizations can see data security as an investment and highlights how implementing controls helps the organization do more to drive impact. He explains how organizations can do a “threat model” to start an open dialog about where the risks are, including who is using data and how that’s being used. Resources:
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Episode 245: Future of Nonprofit Finance: Cryptocurrency
12/29/2022
Episode 245: Future of Nonprofit Finance: Cryptocurrency
As part of the series Future of Nonprofit Finance, Blackbaud’s Sarah Curry sits down with , the Co-Founder of The Giving Block to discuss why the conversation around cryptocurrency matters for nonprofit finance teams. They touch on some of the cryptocurrency trends and why organizations should think about owners of cryptocurrency as a donor demographic as well as a way to diversify revenue streams. Topics covered: Is cryptocurrency safe? How does it work? How is it tracked? How do taxes work? Resources:
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Episode 244: Are You Stewarding Responsively? The Art of Managing, Rather than Mitigating, Risk
12/20/2022
Episode 244: Are You Stewarding Responsively? The Art of Managing, Rather than Mitigating, Risk
In this excerpt of a conversation with , President and CEO of PEAK Grantmaking, she encourages grantmaking organizations to rethink their relationship with risk. Instead of focusing on being responsible for the foundation, she recommends looking to how organizations build deeper relationships with applicants and grantees and be poised to be responsive to the needs of the community. Resources:
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Episode 243: The Shifting Demographics and Perspectives of Donors
12/09/2022
Episode 243: The Shifting Demographics and Perspectives of Donors
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $51 billion from over 8,500 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between , Vice President of Product Management with Blackbaud and a senior advisor to the Blackbaud Institute, and . A global expert on philanthropy and social innovation, Dr. Osili has more than two decades of experience in leadership, economic policy and research across the public and private sectors. She serves as the Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy, and Dean’s Fellow for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. There is no doubt that the giving landscape is shifting—from the donors who are responding to the way they want to be engaged. In this excerpt from , Steve McLaughlin and Dr. Una Osili break down the data on the changing demographic in charitable giving and how fundraisers can leverage this information to grow alongside this new generation of donors. Topics Covered in this episode: The latest data on who is giving to charitable organizations, how they choose to give, and what drives them. Strategies to engage with a new generation of donors and prepare for the future. Resources:On demand, To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to newsletter. Quote: “There's a bit of a call to action for nonprofits and fundraisers: how do we engage the next generation of donors? We have four generations in the charitable landscape and a big part of our job ahead, our task ahead, and the work ahead–for all of us–is engaging that next generation of donors.” – Dr. Una Osili
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Episode 242: Becoming a Changemaker
12/01/2022
Episode 242: Becoming a Changemaker
Alex Budak, UC Berkeley faculty member and author of , joins Blackbaud’s Rachel Hutchisson to discuss how to develop your mindset and leadership skills to make positive change as part of our CSR Book Club Series. Topics discussed in this episode: What is a changemaker? How to drive change Humility in Leadership Changemaker Index Leadership book recommendations Resources: Quotes: "Leaders might be scarce, but leadership is abundant."
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Episode 241: Leadership and the Surprising Gift of Doubt
11/04/2022
Episode 241: Leadership and the Surprising Gift of Doubt
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between Blackbaud Institute managing director, , and leadership expert and coach . Marc helps high performers keep their edge, emerging leaders maintain their momentum, new leaders confront the demands of their position, and established leaders find fresh strategies. In this excerpt from their longer conversation, Marc and Ashley explore the concept of doubt and how it can be embraced as a framework for developing your skills and becoming an exceptional leader. Topics Covered in this episode: Leveraging your strengths and weaknesses to become an effective leader Storytelling as a tool for identifying your unique contributions Resources: To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to newsletter. Quotes: “My premise in my working with leaders has proven that sometimes, ‘what am I missing?’ isn't the right question; that doubt can push us and can get so big that it pushes us to ask, ‘what if I'm the right person for this role?’ ‘What if I'm exactly what the team needs?’ ‘What if this organization is exactly the voice the sector needs?’” – Marc Pitman
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Episode 240: From Awareness to IMPACT: How Your Brand Can Drive Higher Value
10/24/2022
Episode 240: From Awareness to IMPACT: How Your Brand Can Drive Higher Value
For the past 10 years, the has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode features a conversation between brand strategist and the Blackbaud Institute’s . At The Smithee Group, Ben Smithee has been helping leaders and businesses dream bigger and achieve more. In this excerpt from their conversation, Ben shares his expert advice on how a powerful brand allows for organizations to drive higher value and cataclysmic demand. Unfortunately, as Ben points out, powerful branding like this is one of the biggest areas where organizations fall behind today. He and Ashley connect on current trends in philanthropy and the for-profit sector to outline how you can get ahead of the curve by creating a relevant, legacy-focused brand in today’s digital ecosystem. Topics Covered in this episode: What is a brand and, more importantly, what isn’t? Building equity by delivering on your brand’s promise Growing your legacy alongside a new generation of donors Resources: To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to newsletter. Quotes: “A brand is a promise that an organization has the opportunity to deliver upon.” – Ben Smithee “How do we become relevant to the future of the organization and create a legacy? By focusing on the future stakeholders of the organization. We can't fall in love with how we've always done things.” – Ben Smithee
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Episode 239: The Science of Philanthropy
10/13/2022
Episode 239: The Science of Philanthropy
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! We couldn’t have kicked off the series with a better guest than Chuck Longfield, renowned data scientist, philanthropy strategist, and the creator of the Blackbaud Institute Index! Now retired, Chuck allowed us to steal him from the golf course for a little while to sit down for a conversation with Steve MacLaughlin—lucky us! In this excerpt for the sgENGAGE podcast, Chuck shares the inspiration behind the Blackbaud Institute Index and the value of such a significant and diverse data set when determining current trends and best practices in the sector. After the podcast, check out the full webinar, available on demand, where the two discuss the lessons Chuck has learned over his 40 year career, and put their heads together about how these lessons can help organizations navigate the road ahead. Topics Covered in this episode: Origins of the Blackbaud Institute Index The Importance of benchmarking Applying academic rigor to the study of philanthropy Resources: To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to newsletter. Quotes: “Because there really wasn’t any gold standard, different organizations can pick and choose their metrics can pick and choose the definitions of their metrics. And it causes organizations I think, too often, to come to the wrong conclusion about maybe what their next step should be. And so, for many of the years that I've been working in this area, I wanted to try to standardize these metrics.” – Chuck Longfield
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Episode 238: Creating an Advocacy Agenda
09/14/2022
Episode 238: Creating an Advocacy Agenda
Many foundations face hurdles in creating advocacy agendas whether it be convincing a board of directors, finding the time and resources, or seeking funds from grantmakers. Chynna A. Phillips, senior director of policy and research at Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, and Melissa Levesque, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Coastal Community Foundation, spoke with Blackbaud’s Sally Ehrenfreid, government relations lead about implementing advocacy in foundations and their respective journeys. Topics covered: Introducing advocacy and policy to boards Building advocacy into your organizational infrastructure Creating an advocacy agenda rooted in core values The distinction of advocacy and policy versus politics Advice for nonprofit organizations seeking funding from grantmakers Resources: Quotes: “Boards decide how fast you’re going to move as an organization.” “We had our grantmaking and community leadership committee really own sort of the nuts and bolts of developing our advocacy agenda.” “A great grant proposal is really just exceptional storytelling that matches a need for financial support.” “Stay connected to your ‘Why?’, build trust with your community leaders, and have honest conversation.”
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Episode 237: Workplace Wellbeing in a Post-Pandemic World
08/25/2022
Episode 237: Workplace Wellbeing in a Post-Pandemic World
The shift to remote work post-pandemic has caused many employees to feel stressed, burnt out, and out of control of their workplace dynamic. Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder of , shares tools and strategies on how to regain control and relieve the stressors that face us. Topics covered in this episode: Major impacts of the pandemic on wellbeing How values have changed How nonprofit professionals can adjust to the new workplace What leaders can do to protect their employees Tools and strategies to enhance your wellbeing Resources: Quotes: “A lot of organizations are making assumptions of what people want, and I think the first place to start is to actually ask the question.” “You really have to just be human and be very vulnerable about what you're dealing with and to see them as a person versus an employee or a worker.” “practicing social distancing with your technology can support you in having a healthier relationship with technology.”
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Episode 236: Building Trust Through Your CSR Program
08/18/2022
Episode 236: Building Trust Through Your CSR Program
Businesses emerged as the most trusted institutions in the , which also showed that people expect more from businesses in solving the world's problems. So, how can companies step up to lead the charge and maintain that position of trust? , corporate social responsibility manager at UScellular, spoked with Blackbaud's Rachel Hutchisson about the role of CSR and community engagement in building trust with consumers, employees, and community members. Listen in to hear Kendra share her key takeaways from the Edelman Trust Barometer data, how UScellular engages communities and employees, and how companies can make sure that their philanthropic programs truly meet the needs of the communities they are intended to help. Topics covered in this episode: The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer The opportunity for companies to continue to build trust with employees, consumers, and communities The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community connections How UScellular approaches CSR and community engagement How companies can help employees feel a sense of community and purpose Why CSR is important to institutional investors Resources:
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Episode 235: How MilliporeSigma Built Its Employee Volunteer Program
07/15/2022
Episode 235: How MilliporeSigma Built Its Employee Volunteer Program
Employee volunteerism has become an essential component of a company’s corporate social responsibility and employee engagement strategies. In this episode, Melissa Hackmeier, global head of employee & community engagement at MilliporeSigma, joins the podcast to discuss how she launched the company's first ever global volunteer program and the best practices and lessons she’s learned along the way. Topics covered in this episode: How Melissa developed and implemented MilliporeSigma's first-ever SPARK™ global volunteer program, which has more than 9,700 employee participants engaging 235,000 students in 36 countries to date How Melissa secured buy-in for their program The key's to the program's successful launch and lessons learned along the way The role of technology in enabling a successful global volunteer program The SPARK program's biggest impacts, both internally and externally Melissa's advice for other CSR professionals looking to start or grow employee volunteer programs What nonprofits looking to engage with corporate volunteers should consider Resources
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Episode 234: Self-Care for Women in Leadership
07/08/2022
Episode 234: Self-Care for Women in Leadership
Research has shown that women are more prone to burnout than men for a variety of reasons, including societal expectations and imbalances in responsibilities across work and home. This can be further intensified for women working at nonprofits and other social good organizations, which often have higher than average rates of burnout and turnover. Today’s guest, Stacie Barber, is an integrative life coach and the founder of Stacie Barber Lifestyle. She joined host Rachel Hutchisson in a discussion about why it’s important for women leaders, and all women, to engage in self-care practices at work and at home so they are aren’t overburdened and feel healthy and productive. Topics covered in this episode: Stacie’s professional journey Why women often burn out What it means to practice self-care How women can build support systems in the workplace Why it’s important to delegate Taking risks and seizing new opportunities Resources:
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Episode 233: Leading with Transparency in Grantmaking
06/23/2022
Episode 233: Leading with Transparency in Grantmaking
Open, honest, and transparent communication with grantee partners can help minimize power imbalances and help foster a sense of mutual transparency and accountability that is critical to our success as grantmakers. Hear from Shaady Salehi, executive director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Lisa Maloney-Vinz, director of global community relations, Ecolab Foundation, Drexel Owusu, chief impact officer, The Dallas Foundation, and Lauren Scott, executive director, Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund about how their organizations are embracing transparency.
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Episode 232: Best Practices for Due Diligence in Grantmaking
06/03/2022
Episode 232: Best Practices for Due Diligence in Grantmaking
Why is important in grantmaking organizations? The process of satisfying legal requirements impacts many areas within an organization— mission alignment, stewardship, duty of care, reputation, outcomes & impact, and overall effectiveness to name a few. In this episode, learn from Elizabeth (Liz) Gousse Ballotte, principal at PKF O’Connor Davies, about what the staff at grantmaking organizations need to know to be compliant. Topics covered in this episode: Due diligence models Grant applications and risk identification Governance Financial information, including budgets, financial statements, and IRS Form 990 Information Technology and internal controls Streamlining operations and increasing productivity Resources Webinar: Tip Sheet:
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Episode 231: The Case for ESG in Nonprofits
05/13/2022
Episode 231: The Case for ESG in Nonprofits
ESG (environment, social, and governance) is a hot topic amongst for-profit companies and investors, but is it important for nonprofits and other social good organizations too? Today's guest thinks so. Tim McClimon, principal consultant for The Celeste Group, which specializes in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management strategies and programs, and former head of corporate social responsibility at American Express, joined Rachel Hutchisson to discuss why social good organizations should view ESG as an operating strategy and as a way of being more transparent and accountable to their employees, donors, beneficiaries, communities, and the planet. Rachel and Tim also talked about what nonprofits can learn from companies, including Blackbaud, and how companies can help increase the focus on ESG in the nonprofit sector. Topics discussed in this episode: What is ESG? Why ESG isn't just for companies Why nonprofits need to create strategies for climate and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Why higher education institutions have been paying more attention to sustainability How funders can help nonprofits adopt ESG practices The importance of transparency in social good organizations Expectations for transparency and impact from the newest generation of employees
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Episode 230: Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Wellbeing for Grantmakers
04/14/2022
Episode 230: Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Wellbeing for Grantmakers
Join Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, for an interactive training that will inspire you with mindful approaches for creating sustained balance in your life. Prepare to lower your stress level, focus on getting the important things done, and be more present for yourself, your team, and your family. Topics discussed in this episode: Wellness Survey report findings Impact of the pandemic on wellbeing How grantmakers will need to adapt Setting boundaries Resources: Quotes: "When it comes to preemption, we want to be focused on creating a culture of care (...) that we are building in strong work/life boundaries and not depending on the individual to create those boundaries." "Addressing the organizational and institutional action of this is a longer term proposition." "Many of us are making assumptions of what is required of us, but something that is actually not being expected of us."
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Episode 229: Fixing the S in ESG: CSR Book Club Review
04/07/2022
Episode 229: Fixing the S in ESG: CSR Book Club Review
Rachel Hutchisson is joined by Chris Jarvis, executive director of Realized Worth, to kick off our CSR Book Club Series with an article from Stanford Social Innovation Review called “.” Listen to learn more about quantifying social impact and what the future of S looks like. Topics discussed in this episode: Adapting to changes in world beliefs What does S want to be? Redefining what S means to include room for interpretation Increased accountability puts words into actions How consumers change their behavior according to company values Resources: Quotes: “I think S should call us to move past the signaling to meaningful change that leads the next generation better.” “You have to engage the people on the ground, the people in the community you’re trying to serve.” “Between E, S, and G, S is the way to involve employees at any level, anywhere, anytime.”
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Episode 228: Technology’s Role in Advancing Philanthropy's Mission
04/04/2022
Episode 228: Technology’s Role in Advancing Philanthropy's Mission
Chantal Forster, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), discusses the top areas where grantmakers can make the most impact in 2022 and how technology can help them achieve that impact. Topics discussed in this episode: Who are the members of TAG and how do they impact philanthropy? The rise in the voices of the people we serve post-pandemic TAG’s customer experience model Effectiveness and frequency of surveys Dependency of digital infrastructure Dashboard elements that drive success Resources: Quotes: “Imagine if the private sector only surveyed its customers every three years.” “If philanthropy doesn’t invest in tech infrastructure, then you are enabling inequity.”
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Episode 227: Kicking Off a Virtual Audit
03/25/2022
Episode 227: Kicking Off a Virtual Audit
As we trend towards a sense of normalcy in 2022, the convenience and cost savings of remote audits are here to stay. Whether you began remote audits out of necessity during the pandemic or have been doing them for a while, join us and Paul Preziotti, CPA, nonprofit audit expert, and Partner with Johnson Lambert, for tips on preparing for and running a successful remote audit. You’ll leave knowing how to: Topics Discussed in This Episode: -Is a remote audit what your organization needs? -Plan for what an auditor will need to see -Create a strong audit trail with documentation, naming conventions, and accessible details -Gather what you’ll need and provide secure access to your auditor Resources: Quotes: "As the auditee, you have the ability to mold this relationship however you want it." "I think [hybrid audits] are terrific and I think that could be a good solution for a lot of you that want the best of both worlds." "If we have an audit that's beginning the first week of May, we want to be able to hit the ground running."
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Episode 226: A Survey of Parent’s Expectations in the Digital Age
03/17/2022
Episode 226: A Survey of Parent’s Expectations in the Digital Age
There are a lot of ways to think about how technology impacts things, as well as how different constituent types interact with it and the relationships that it helps them build. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing recent research on how technology improves the relationship between schools and parents. Joining the podcast today is Chuck English, of English Marketing Works, and Linda Lawrence, of Ransom Everglades. Listen to the episode to hear what they have to say about the key findings of the recent Blackbaud study show, the expectations that people have about the technology they interact with, and how the technology profile at Linda’s school came about. Topics Discussed in This Episode Important and key findings of the study of how technology impacts the relationship between parents and schools Linda’s perspective of the daily experiences between parents and technology at schools Whether the current state of the world has made parents more willing to use this technology Chuck’s experience of people's expectations of the technology they use and whether that’s changing. How the technology portfolio at Linda’s school was developed The perspective that Linda is examining technology from The advice that Linda would give schools that have fewer technology resources, but are trying to move in that direction How Linda’s school leadership helped make needed technological changes during the pandemic A change that stands out in Linda’s mind that sticks out as something that’s here to stay Changes Chuck is seeing with the organizations he works with that are here to stay The extent to which parents drive technology offerings Resources: Quotes: “Technology has a huge impact on their experience as parents.” – Chuck English “Parents have learned to become very nimble with what to expect, and we just find ways to ease into those situations at a moment’s notice.” –Linda Lawrence “I think you develop alliances; you identify those super-users that can provide assistance.” –Linda Lawrence
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Episode 225: Best Practices for Creating and Managing Your Team's Goals
03/10/2022
Episode 225: Best Practices for Creating and Managing Your Team's Goals
What do you know about setting goals for yourself and your team and managing those goals? In today’s episode, you’ll hear an excerpt from the Skills UP webinar series. In it, you’ll hear Damaris Herron-Watkins discuss best practices for creating and managing your team’s goals. Listen in to hear what she has to say about the purpose of goal management, the different types of goals, and making goals SMART. Topics Discussed in This Episode What A Better Chance does The purpose of goal management Why goals are important Creating goals for yourself and your direct reports Types of goals Cascading goals Agile goals What to do when you set goals for your team Making sure goals are motivating for your direct reports What SMART means How to make sure your goals are SMART Why you should create between three and five goals How to know if your goals are SMART Manager’s goals Resources: Quotes: “A couple of reasons why goals are important is one, they help to prioritize your work and the work of your team.” “When we’re creating goals for our team, like I said, you have to make sure you know what your goals are for the year.” “SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.”
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Episode 224: Women’s Rights: Remaining Obstacles and the Path Ahead
03/03/2022
Episode 224: Women’s Rights: Remaining Obstacles and the Path Ahead
International Women’s Day is on March 8th, 2022, and it’s a good time to think about the state of women and girls worldwide, how current events may make violence and abuse even worse than they were, and how to move forward by empowering each other. Today’s guest is Vesna Jaric, the Interim Chief of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Listen to the episode to learn about Vesna’s role at the Trust Fund and how current events affect the state of women and girls around the world. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Vesna’s role at the UN Trust Fund to end Violence Against Women The state of women and girls around the world How the pandemic has exacerbated violence against women The universality of violence against women How the organizations the UN Trust Fund is supporting has stepped in for women and girls The lagging of representation and resources for organizations that address violence against women How to increase resources for organizations that help women and girls How listeners can follow the research that Vesna is involved in Resources: Quotes: “So far, the fund has supported more than 600 organizations in 140 countries and territories across the world.” “I would argue that violence against women and girls is probably the oldest and most persistent problem the world is dealing with.” “Women’s rights organizations have been the first responders.”
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Episode 223: Setting Yourself (and Your Candidates) Up for Success in the Hiring Process
02/24/2022
Episode 223: Setting Yourself (and Your Candidates) Up for Success in the Hiring Process
Many organizations are struggling to hire right now. Is there a way you can set yourself and your candidate up for success? We are highlighting an excerpt from the Skills UP Webinar Series where Deb Taft, CEO of Lindauer Global, will be talking about the dynamics of hiring and how you can achieve success in effective retention. Listen to what she has to say about the Great Resignation, the rise of freelancers and gig workers, and the remote/in-person hybrid. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Why talent is more complex than ever The Great Resignation Lack of loyalty Freelancers and gig workers making up more of the workforce 2020-21 Employee PTSD Reevaluation of life and work, work/life balance The remote/in-person hybrid recalibration Multiple interviews. Staying in communication with candidates Tax laws and wages for remote workers Pre-COVID norms have been profoundly changed Expect disruptions and plan interventions Resources: for nonprofit managers Quotes: “I think one of the dynamics to think about is that there is very little loyalty.” “So, hiring is on steroids, and if you are struggling to retain and hire, you are not alone.” “I just need people to understand, that employees will choose you, talent will choose you, or not, depending on what’s possible.”
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Episode 222: U.S. Public Policy: Look Ahead for 2022
02/17/2022
Episode 222: U.S. Public Policy: Look Ahead for 2022
Public policy impacts decisions made around charitable giving. These policies can influence how people give, when they give, and how much they give. So what are the likely effects for 2022? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Brian Flahaven to learn how policies have impacted giving over the past few years and what’s ahead for the coming year. Listen in to hear what Brian has to say about his role in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and what they do, what current legislation is on the table, and whether Brian believes it will gain traction this year. Topics Discussed in This Episode: What CASE does How charitable giving has been impacted by change over the past couple of years How current legislation can encourage donation Whether Brian expects legislation that positively impacts giving to gain traction by the end of the year Trends that CASE is seeing in giving to education Call to action for listeners Resources: Quotes: “Having an incentive there, sending that signal, will encourage more Americans hopefully to give even more to charitable organizations during these difficult times.” “In the tax world, it’s pretty much been a partisan game over the past few years.” “A lot of institutions are actually creating their own giving days.”
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Episode 221: Why You Need a Mentor
01/27/2022
Episode 221: Why You Need a Mentor
Do you need a mentor? Do you know what kind of mentor you need, or what you’re looking to gain from a mentoring relationship? In today’s episode, Tiffany Crumpton, Vice President of Renewals and Retention at Blackbaud and active member of Blackbaud's Senior Women's Community, joins the podcast to discuss mentorship. Listen in to learn about what mentorship means and how it differs from sponsorship, the different kinds of mentors out there, and how to get the most out of a mentor. Topics Discussed in This Episode: How Tiffany defines mentoring and what it means to her What sponsorship means The different kinds of mentors What to think about identifying a mentor How to get the most out of a mentor The importance of checking back in One of Tiffany’s experiences with a mentor relationship Resources: Quotes: “When you’re identifying a mentor, be really upfront with them about why you’re asking them, why you thought of that person.” “I also believe that the best mentors are always mentees themselves.” “Look for the type of sponsor you want, the gender doesn’t matter.”
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