Why Every Nonprofit Needs a Donor-Advised Fund Strategy NonProfit MBA 8.26
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
Release Date: 11/24/2025
Your Nonprofit Staff: Building Your Strategic Asset - NonProfit MBA 8.33
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
In this episode of the Nonprofit MBA Podcast, Stephen Halasnik sits down with nonprofit HR expert Allison Wyatt, from Edgility Talent Partners, to explore why an organization’s staff should be viewed not as an expense, but as a strategic asset. Wyatt explains how intentional hiring, clear role design, and ongoing staff development directly impact mission effectiveness, financial sustainability, and organizational culture. The conversation covers common nonprofit staffing mistakes, the hidden costs of turnover, and how leaders can better align people strategy with long-term goals—even with...
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How Nonprofits Can Survive Tough Grant Cycles and Reduce Staff Burnout - NonProfit MBA 8.32
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
In this episode of the Nonprofit MBA Podcast, Stephen Halasnik talks with Michael Toguchi, Chief Strategy Officer at eResources, about how nonprofits can streamline grantmaking and donor programs to save time and reduce staff burnout in a tighter funding environment. They explore how recent economic and political shifts have made grants harder to secure, pushing organizations to apply for more funding with limited resources. Michael explains how combining strong internal processes with nonprofit-specific software can create efficient, repeatable workflows for grants and donor management,...
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How Nonprofit Arts Organizations Evolve for Community Impact- NonProfit MBA 8.31
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
In today’s rapidly changing nonprofit landscape, nonprofit arts organizations are facing significant challenges. Traditional models of fundraising, ticket sales, and audience engagement no longer meet funder expectations. The conversation between Stephen Halasnik and Alan Harrison highlights a core shift taking place: arts organizations and community impact must now be directly connected. Organizations that can measure and demonstrate their impact are the ones best positioned to survive and thrive. Harrison’s career spans more than 300 theater productions on and off Broadway. He is the...
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How Nonprofits Can Grow Faster by Taking Risks Like For-Profit Businesses- NonProfit MBA 8.30
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
Nonprofits have traditionally operated with a mindset of caution, focusing primarily on mission-driven work while avoiding While this approach promotes stability, it often limits growth and long-term impact. On a recent episode of the Nonprofit MBA Podcast, host Stephen Halasnik, co-founder of Financing Solutions, discussed this topic with Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development. Together, they explored how nonprofits can grow faster by taking strategic risks similar to for-profit businesses.
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Nonprofit Marketing Strategy: Modernize Your Messaging- NonProfit MBA 8.29
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
For many nonprofit leaders, communication feels like an afterthought, something to address once the real work is done. Yet, in today’s media-saturated world, a clear, emotional, and strategic message is not just a “nice to have.” It is the heartbeat of organizational growth. As Jason Clark, President and CEO of VIA Studio, told Stephen Halasnik in their conversation for The Nonprofit MBA Podcast, “It is really hard to read the label from inside the jar.” That metaphor captures a common problem: many nonprofits are too close to their own mission to communicate it effectively to...
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High-Net-Worth Donors and Major Gifts Fundraising: What Really Works Today- NonProfit MBA 8.28
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
The New Era of Nonprofit Fundraising: Fewer Donors, Bigger Gifts In today’s nonprofit landscape, one thing is clear: major gifts are driving the deepest impact. According to research from the Giving USA 2024 Report, individual giving dropped 3.4% last year, but donations from high-net-worth individuals and foundations increased significantly. This shift has created a paradox: fewer donors overall, but larger contributions from the top tier of philanthropists. This shift is reshaping major gifts fundraising across the nonprofit sector. Fundraising expert Gail Perry, founder of the Gail Perry...
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Building Revenue Streams to Help Fund Your Nonprofit NonProfit MBA 8.27
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
The New Reality for Nonprofit Funding For decades, nonprofits have relied heavily on a mix of grants, donations, and government funding to sustain their missions. But as global philanthropy evolves, those traditional sources are becoming less predictable. According to The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2024 State of the Nonprofit Sector Report, nearly 56% of nonprofit leaders said funding uncertainty is their biggest operational challenge. On a recent episode of the Nonprofit MBA Podcast, host Stephen Halasnik and guest Joe Reed, founder of the Exponent Group and SolveLine, discussed an urgent...
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Why Every Nonprofit Needs a Donor-Advised Fund Strategy NonProfit MBA 8.26
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
The Quiet Revolution Reshaping Charitable Giving In recent years, one of the most powerful forces shaping philanthropy hasn’t come from a new fundraising platform or viral campaign—it’s come from an investment account. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), once the domain of the ultra-wealthy, are now a mainstream tool for charitable giving. For nonprofits, understanding and integrating a DAF strategy is no longer optional—it’s essential. According to the National Philanthropic Trust’s 2024 DAF Report, assets in donor-advised funds have surpassed $230 billion in the United States, with...
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Navigating Nonprofit Leadership in Uncertain Times Nonprofit MBA 8.25
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
The year 2025 has brought unprecedented turbulence to the nonprofit sector. Political shifts, funding cuts, and widespread economic uncertainty have placed extraordinary pressure on executive directors, boards, and fundraising teams. In a recent episode of the Nonprofit MBA Podcast, host Stephen Halasnik sat down with Marc A. Pitman, founder of the Concord Leadership Group, to unpack the leadership skills and strategies that nonprofit executives need to thrive during these challenging times.
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Nonprofit Gifts: When is the Right Time to Ask? NonProfit MBA 8.24
The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik
In today’s unpredictable landscape, nonprofit organizations face both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges. Economic shifts, global crises, and cultural changes have altered the way people give. Yet at the heart of this transformation lies a timeless truth: donors want to feel connected to a cause. That means nonprofit leaders must adapt—by weaving data, storytelling, and human connection into every aspect of fundraising. Stephen Halasnik, co-founder of Financing Solutions, sat down with Tim Sarrantonio of Neon One, a leading nonprofit software company, to explore the future...
info_outlineThe Quiet Revolution Reshaping Charitable Giving
In recent years, one of the most powerful forces shaping philanthropy hasn’t come from a new fundraising platform or viral campaign—it’s come from an investment account. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), once the domain of the ultra-wealthy, are now a mainstream tool for charitable giving. For nonprofits, understanding and integrating a DAF strategy is no longer optional—it’s essential.
According to the National Philanthropic Trust’s 2024 DAF Report, assets in donor-advised funds have surpassed $230 billion in the United States, with annual grantmaking exceeding $50 billion. These numbers represent a 30% increase in just five years, signaling a major shift in how Americans prefer to give. For nonprofits that fail to adapt, this change could mean missing out on the next generation of major donors.