The Prosperous Nonprofit

The Prosperous Nonprofit is the podcast for leaders who are building financially sustainable and impactful nonprofits and changing the world. On this show, we talk to inspiring leaders who are paving the way in the nonprofit sector in new, innovative, disruptive, and entrepreneurial ways, creating organizations that fuel their lives, their hearts, and their communities. You'll also hear from me. I’m Stephanie Skryzowski, a Chief Financial Officer, and Founder & CEO of 100 Degrees Consulting which provides CFO and bookkeeping services to nonprofits around the globe. This show is an amazing combination of inspiring stories and practical nonprofit leadership tactics to grow their impact and their income.

The Power of a Strong Parental Leave Policy with Lacey Kempinksi 11/18/2024

The Power of a Strong Parental Leave Policy with Lacey Kempinksi If you’re a nonprofit leader looking for strategies to help your organization retain more employees, then give this episode a listen. I sat down with special guest and founder of Balanced Good, Lacey Kempinski, to chat about how her organization is partnering with nonprofits to provide parental leave coverage. She dove into how she supports nonprofits with parental leave, the implications of a weak parental leave policy, and how to plan for parental leave. Lacey also discussed the challenges of working parents in the nonprofit sector. This was such a good episode that all nonprofit leaders will benefit from. About Lacey Lacey Kempinski is an in-house fundraiser, turned Mom, turned consultant. After more than a decade of in-house fundraising, Motherhood changed the trajectory of Lacey’s career. In 2018, when she was due back to work after her second parental leave, Lacey took a leap and founded Balanced Good. She’s on a mission to better support parents and organizations in the non-profit sector. 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 bold vision that all parental leaves are viewed as a celebrated life milestone and not a feared employment gap. As a graduate from McMaster University, and Georgian College’s Fundraising and Resource Development Program, she loves continuing to immerse herself in all things fundraising. While also balancing that with LEGO building, endless folding of laundry, and a love for hiking, canoeing, and all things outdoors. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for how your nonprofit can support employees with their parental leave, including: Supporting nonprofits with their parental leave journey (4:15) How parental leave is typically covered (8:35) The process and cost of covering parental leave (11:45) The implications of not having a strong parental leave policy (16:40) How an organization plans for parental leave (19:20) Getting the team up to speed and making a meaningful impact (22:00) Upholding strong boundaries (24:30) Challenges of working parents in the nonprofit sector (28:05) Trends in organizational culture and flexibility (30:15) Teasers “It's just repeating this culture of martyrdom that we love to have in our sector of our plates are already full, but we'll take on more because it's for the cause. And that's really not good. And there's long-term organizational cost to that.” “We put together a couple of recommendations on how that role can be more working parent-friendly. So that person can thrive in their role when they come back. And then we provide some overlap and transition because we know just jumping in is really hard to do.” “I think a lot of times people think in a short-sighted way, ‘I don't want to have to pay for two salaries for three to six months, so we're just going to deal with it and put more work on other people.’ But I think what they don't understand are the longer term ramifications of that, of continuing to just pile work on your existing team.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Parental Leave Planning Workbook: Connect with Lacey on LinkedIn: Follow Balanced Good on Instagram: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32799312

Making the Pivot to Nonprofit Consulting with Julia Devine 11/04/2024

Making the Pivot to Nonprofit Consulting with Julia Devine If you’ve been thinking about a career change, but still want to stay in the nonprofit sector, then this episode is for you! I sat down with special guest, Julia Devine, founder of Relatable Nonprofit. She shared her journey from six-figure nonprofit job to consultant including how she made the shift, stepped out of her comfort zone, and what she wished she had done differently. Julia also dove into what kind of people are right for consulting and how to work less while still managing to grow your business. This is a fantastic episode for nonprofit leaders looking to make a pivot and remain in the sector. About Julia Julia Devine quit her six-figure nonprofit job to pursue consulting at 25. After building a successful agency to serve nonprofits, she decided to teach others how to do it. Besides running the business, she is gardening, practicing yoga, or reading a good book. Relatable Nonprofit empowers growth-driven women with nonprofit hearts to succeed in consulting. Motherly, Canvas Rebel, Bloomerang, Bonterra, Keela, Nonprofit Hub, Virtuous, and others have featured Relatable Nonprofit. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for pivoting into nonprofit consulting like: Making a shift from nonprofit work to consulting (3:30) What is the Relatable Nonprofit? (9:40) Nonprofit marketing strategies (13:45) Stepping out of your comfort zone (19:45) What Julia wished she had done differently (23:45) What kind of people are right for consulting (29:40) How to work less and still grow the business (35:20) Teasers “You never know what could happen in a business. You always have to preempt things and anticipate everything that could go right or wrong in a relationship.” “The right people to be consultants are highlighter people. People who use highlighters and take good notes.” “When it used to just be a laundry list that you're chipping away at, you end up spending so much more time on needless things. But when you have time blocked on your calendar for what you want to get done in a week, you realize that you're wasting a lot of time that you really don't even need to be working.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Resources for New and Aspiring Consultants: Follow Julia and Catalina on Instagram: Connect with The Relatable Nonprofit on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32799217

Using Cross-Sector Collaboration to Maximize Your Impact with Jennifer Hutchins 10/21/2024

Using Cross-Sector Collaboration to Maximize Your Impact with Jennifer Hutchins If you’re looking for ways to make a massive, lasting impact with your nonprofit, then this episode is for you. I sat down with special guest, Jennifer Hutchins Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and collaboration expert. She spoke on the importance of collaborating across different sectors and how it has transformed nonprofit organizations. She dove into examples of strong collaborations and how organizations are thriving in a post-COVID world. This is a great opportunity to learn strategies for maximizing your organization’s impact. About Jennifer Since July 2016, Jennifer Hutchins has been the Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits, the state’s leading organization for Maine’s charitable nonprofit sector with more than 1,000 members from all 16 counties. She serves on the boards of the National Council of Nonprofits and the Maine Philanthropy Center and the advisory boards of the USM Muskie School of Public Service and the Foundation for Portland (ME) Public Schools. Prior to joining MANP, she was Executive Director of Creative Portland, where she led the City of Portland’s efforts to strengthen the creative economy. Jennifer also served as Director of Communications and External Affairs at the USM Muskie School of Public Service for nine years and as Marketing Director at Portland Stage Company from 1995-2000. After graduating from college, she worked for nonprofit and public institutions in Washington D.C., and France. In May 2020, Jennifer was selected to serve on Governor Mills’ Economic Recovery Committee, tasked with putting forth recommendations to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s economy. Jennifer holds a master’s in public policy and management and lives in Portland with her husband and two daughters. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of cross-sector collaboration and strategies to get started including: The impact of cross-sector collaboration (7:45) Examples of strong collaborations (13:25) Trends in the nonprofit sector (24:20) How organizations are thriving in a post-COVID world (30:35) Benefits of joining a state nonprofit association (36:50) Teasers “What we know about impactful collaboration is it takes people who have skills and the time, and space to be able to develop a really sophisticated partnership.” “Collaboration takes on many, many different forms. We need to really think through how we're looking at our business model. How can we be more entrepreneurial? How can we save resources?” “The thriving nonprofits are the ones that are taking a hard look at compensation and paying attention to how they're being competitive in the marketplace with the types of people that they want to attract to their nonprofits. They are looking at their compensation philosophies. They're looking at their benefits.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: The Maine Association of Nonprofits Website: Follow the Maine Association of Nonprofits on Instagram: Connect with the Maine Association of Nonprofits on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32799137

Implementing Technology and Change in Your Nonprofit Effectively with Christa Stelzmuller 10/07/2024

Implementing Technology and Change in Your Nonprofit Effectively with Christa Stelzmuller If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to make a change in your organization, then this episode is for you! I sat down with Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer of charity:water, to chat about how nonprofits can become more innovative. We dove into how to leverage technology, even if your nonprofit is small. Christa also shares strategies for implementing change like getting everyone on the same page, ensuring your systems are working together, and more. About Christa Christa is the CTO of charity: water, a non-profit organization that offers clean drinking water to individuals in developing countries. Since 2006, charity: water has relentlessly pursued its goal of ending the global water crisis, fueled by optimism, collaborative efforts with local partners, and the generosity of supporters, aiming to ensure universal access to clean water within our lifetime. Throughout her career, Christa has consistently applied a multidisciplinary approach, using data and technology to drive better decisions, products, and delivery. With a strong focus on innovation and mission-driven work, she excels in translating vision into strategy, effectively communicating with diverse stakeholders, and fostering productivity through collaborative leadership. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for implementing technology and change in your nonprofit including: What a CTO (chief technology officer) does (12:00) Leveraging technology to diversify your revenue streams (13:55) Working in new and innovative ways (17:45) Advice for smaller nonprofits (21:00) Opportunities to innovate your organization (27:30) Tying in financial data with other data, information, and systems within the organization (30:10) Ensuring all systems are working together effectively (33:00) Change management tips (36:40) When a nonprofit needs a CTO (39:45) Teasers “It doesn't matter what stage of growth you're in, there will be a moment where change is going to be hard.” “Think early and often about your data and what matters to you about your data. Setting that foundation well early will save you so much time and energy later.” “Don't jump to implementation too quickly.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: charity: water Website: Connect with Christa on LinkedIn: Follow charity: water on Instagram: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32799057

Collecting and Communicating Impact Data in a Meaningful Way with John Mark Vanderpool 09/23/2024

Collecting and Communicating Impact Data in a Meaningful Way with John Mark Vanderpool If you’re looking for a way to improve your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy, then this podcast episode is for you. I sat down with special guest and impact data expert, John Mark Vanderpool. He is diving into how to get clarity on your nonprofit’s big goals, collect and translate data meaningfully, and put the right systems in place. This is a great episode to tune into, especially before the big end-of-the-year fundraising push. About John Mark Donors demand impact data and many organizations need additional resources and training to measure and market their impact. John Mark Vanderpool, co-founder of Social Impact Solutions, works diligently to equip non-profit organizations with essential fundraising and impact tools, facilitating their journey toward growing more effectively. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for collecting and communicating impact data in a meaningful way, including: How to collect data and translate it into meaningful impact data (9:20) Getting clarity on your nonprofit’s big goals (13:15) How to communicate data effectively (18:05) Working together to provide a cohesive picture of social impact data (26:00) Examples of key performance indicators (KPIs) (32:10) Putting the right systems in place (41:05) Teasers “Things get more complicated as time goes on. We want to keep things streamlined and straightforward.” “We're all human and we resonate with stories. If you can back those stories with data points that are substantiated and sound, then that's the magic combination.” “When we get the right people together from ops, from finance programs, and from marketing and communications, in the room once a month is a huge step.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Social Impact Solutions Website: Quiz to Maximize Fundraising Potential: Connect with John Mark on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32733262

Preventing Burnout for You and Your Team with Elle McPherson 09/09/2024

Preventing Burnout for You and Your Team with Elle McPherson Are you a nonprofit leader battling burnout? If you’re working in the nonprofit sector, chances are you’ve had some experience with burnout, which is why I was so excited to sit down with special guest and nonprofit coach, Elle McPherson. She breaks down burnout red flags, contributing factors, balancing woo with logic, and so much more. This is a great episode for leaders looking for practical strategies to overcome burnout! About Elle Elle has over 15 years of experience in coaching, financial management, accounting, fundraising, proposal writing and grant management, and human resources. She has worked with a range of nonprofits including Ashoka, AmeriCorps, Outward Bound, and Heifer International. Elle earned a MBA in Nonprofit Management and MA in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School of Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University and a BA in Political Science from Bates College. Elle is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation and received her professional coach certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), and is certified in the Energy Leadership Index Assessment tool. She is also a Certified Erotic Blueprint Coach™ as well as a Certified Accelerated Evolution™ Trainer-in-Training and RYT-200 Kripalu-trained yoga teacher. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for preventing burnout, including: Coaching nonprofit leaders (5:20) Leadership transformation (8:35) Overcoming burnout (10:45) Contributing factors of burnout (12:35) Shifting your money mindset (15:40) Scarcity ingrained in our culture ( 24:30) Balancing woo with practicality (27:25) Moving from analysis to taking action (30:50) Self-improvement book recommendations (40:15) Teasers “I know what it's like to work in nonprofit. I know the stress, I know the different issues. I know how unique it could be to have really specific funding requirements and certain things that don't even exist in the for-profit world.” “Stress is not conducive to new ideas and getting out there and doing things differently. It kind of puts people in a bit of like a survival mindset.” “In the culture, there is this idea of if you're helping people, if you're a nurse, if you're a healer, if you're a helper, that it should somehow be sacrificing.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Zesto Website: Connect with Elle on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32733212

Raise More Money by Creating Strong Donor Experiences with Barbara O'Reilly 08/26/2024

Raise More Money by Creating Strong Donor Experiences with Barbara O'Reilly Nonprofit leaders, if you’re ready to catapult your revenue, then this episode is for you! I sat down with special guest, Barabara O’Reilly, expert fundraiser and CEO of Windmill Hill Consulting, to chat about what organizations can do to boost their fundraising revenue. We dove into what’s holding nonprofits back and how they can grow to become financially strong organizations. We also discussed the importance of setting realistic goals and expectations when hiring a fundraiser. Plus, why relationship building and consistency are important factors in fundraising. About Barbara Barbara is a seasoned fundraising consultant on a mission to help more nonprofits raise more money by creating strong donor experiences. Whether it was leading record-setting reunion classes, securing tens of millions of dollars from global corporations following some of the most devastating natural disasters around the world, or overseeing a team that grew donor engagement of major individual donors, Barbara knows that fundraising is much more than just asking for money. Her firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, works with organizations giving them the resources, skills, and mindset they need to build stronger donor relationships and catapult their revenue. Barbara serves as past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington DC Metro Chapter. She sits on the board of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and AFP Foundation and chairs the Research Committee for the Giving USA Foundation. In 2020, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute teaching nonprofit fundraising. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn a variety of fundraising strategies, including: What is a fundraising consultant? (4:35) Building strong relationships (12:00) Strategically planning fundraising initiatives (14:00) Realistic expectations when hiring fundraisers (17:15) How to bridge the fundraising gap in small nonprofits (23:30) Staying organized throughout the fundraising process (30:20) Trends in fundraising and philanthropy (35:15) Teasers “Fundraising is about more than just asking for money.” “The real magic happens with conversations and with really understanding who those donors are and what drives them. But the challenge is that it takes time. And nonprofits, most of them, do not have the luxury of time.” “Saying that there are no donors out there is preposterous. There are. We've got to reframe our language to talk about that future state. Because then the donors are going to go in that direction with you if they see there's a path they can take with you.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: The Windmill Hill Consulting Website: Join Barbara’s Coaching Cohort: Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32733172

Capital Campaign Fundraising with Amy Varga 08/12/2024

Capital Campaign Fundraising with Amy Varga Are you a nonprofit leader wondering if your organization should launch a capital campaign? If you’re on the fence about it, then this episode is for you. I’m chatting with special guest, Amy Varga, capital campaign expert and founder of The Varga Group. She dives into what you need to know, including how to leverage your donor base, conduct a feasibility study, and how financial planning plays an important role in campaign planning. She also breaks down how to tell the difference between incremental growth and a campaign. This is such a great episode for leaders looking to learn more about capital campaigns and how to use them in your organization. About Amy For over 25 years, Amy Varga has worked with organizations to strengthen philanthropy, leadership, and boards. Amy founded The Varga Group in 2013 as a management consulting firm specializing in capital campaigns, major gifts fundraising, fundraising training, retreat facilitation, board development, and leadership coaching. The Varga Group has guided over 100 higher education institutions, independent schools, and nonprofits to raise more than $250M. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll get a deeper understanding of capital campaigns including: Amy’s lifelong dedication to nonprofits (6:30) Assessing needs and filling the gap (9:25) Amy’s fundraising journey (14:20) What campaign consulting is (19:35) Leveraging your existing donor base (24:35) Conducting a feasibility study (28:15) Incremental growth vs. a campaign (33:45) The intersection of financial planning and campaign planning (40:50) Teasers “I think there's something magical about practitioners being educators for those programs.” “They're going to need to also grow their operations and their staffing and also potentially their facilities to grow all of those things. So that's what a capital campaign really is about. Sometimes I think people misunderstand a capital campaign to be a building campaign.” “We don't let them waste their money. That’s important as an ethical and integrity thing, for me to tell people upfront so that they can spend their money, building their capacity and doing all the things.” “A good consultant will tell you, no, please don't hire us. This is not the right fit for many reasons.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: The Varga Group Website: Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: Follow Amy on Instagram: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32535197

Implementing a Quarterly Review Process for Your Nonprofit 07/29/2024

Implementing a Quarterly Review Process for Your Nonprofit Nonprofit leaders, are you leveraging the power of a quarterly review in your organization? If you haven’t implemented one yet or are looking for ways to improve your process, then this episode is for you. I’m breaking down strategies for how to effectively conduct a quarterly review. I’m giving you strategies to help you do a deep dive into your financials including establishing benchmarks, setting goals, planning for the future and so much more. Grab a notebook and tune in for a juicy episode! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for implementing a quarterly review process for your nonprofit, including: How to do a deep dive into your financials (1:50) Establishing and analyzing financial benchmarks (3:40) Checking in on progress towards your goals (7:00) Scoring key performance indicators (8:50) Planning for the future (11:00) Identifying wins and challenges (14:40) Setting goals for the upcoming quarter (20:00) Determining your top priorities (25:40) Teasers “Sometimes a month, 30 days, is not really long enough to see the results of your efforts and you need a little bit longer. And that's why looking at this on a quarterly basis is a great idea.” “I really love using a quarterly cadence to look at the big picture of your organization and not get so lost in the details.” “We don't want to set pie in the sky goals and not really identify what's going to hold us back from achieving those goals.” “If you're not currently doing some sort of quarterly review with your leadership team at your organization, I would really encourage you to think about that. Because here's the thing, when everybody understands at least some level of detail on how the organization is performing, they can be an active participant in the solution and working towards the goals.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32320147

Creating Collaborative Environments for Social Change with Topher Wilkins 07/15/2024

Creating Collaborative Environments for Social Change with Topher Wilkins If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to shake up the way you connect and collaborate, then this is the episode for you. I chat with Topher Wilkins, CEO of Opportunity Collaboration (OC), as he shares his journey of building a global community of leaders working to create positive change. Topher also discusses the importance of understanding what people need, disrupting industry norms, and building a strong community collaborative. Plus, he shares how he’s navigating the transition to community ownership. This is a fantastic episode, especially for introverted nonprofit leaders seeking deeper connections with peers! About Topher Topher has been hosting people in collaborative environments for the purpose of social change for two decades. His purpose is to convene and connect nonprofit leaders, for-profit social entrepreneurs, grant-makers, impact investors, and all other agents of positive change, thereby building the ecosystem for the social sector and creating greater opportunities for international social and economic justice. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for creating collaborative environments, including: Topher’s biggest inspiration (5:40) Understanding what people need and shaping a community around it (10:30) Building a global community of people who are building sustainable solutions to poverty (15:15) Disrupting the industry (21:35) The impact of building a strong community-based collaborative environment (24:00) The transition to community ownership (34:40) Teasers “What happens is that it's actually beautiful for somebody who's an introvert because you have opportunities to form deeper connections.” “We're just ready for a new way of bringing people together a new convening model, especially coming out of the pandemic where a lot of us are craving those in-person moments to form those relationships. It feels like an industry that's ripe for disruption.” “No matter who we are, where we come from, how we get to the O.C., or the work we do, we are all human beings, first and foremost. And sometimes that means being parents and bringing the kiddos with us.” Resources Opportunity Collaboration (OC) website: Connect with Topher on LinkedIn: The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/32131437

A Special Update: My Book-Writing Journey 07/01/2024

A Special Update: My Book-Writing Journey In this episode, I’m giving a behind-the-scenes look at a project that is near and dear to my heart, writing a full-length book! I’m diving into why this project is so special to me and what my journey has been like so far, including the ups, downs, and bumps in the road. I’m also sharing a huge mindset shift that helped me get fully aligned with my book concept and navigate the no’s I’m getting from publishing agents. Plus, some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far during this process. This episode is full of important lessons that can be applied not just to writing a book, but to running a prosperous nonprofit! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll get an update on a special project that’s been on my heart for a long time, writing a full-length book, including: Why this project is so special to me (1:45) Exploring different publishing options (5:55) A huge mindset shift (10:45) Navigating the no’s (15: 30) The biggest lessons I’ve learned so far (17:00) Teasers “What is it that I want to be known for? And how does this, maybe even more importantly, how does this tie to my business?” “I'm not very patient. And once I get an idea, I'm ready to go. I'm ready to implement. I'm ready to do it. That has served me really well in many ways and also can really keep me from doing my best work, honestly.” “Just because you think you're not an official writer doesn't mean that you can't get a traditionally published book.” “I probably walked 30 to 40 miles in total when I was in Puerto Rico and I got a whole new idea of a way to shape and structure the book. It makes so much more sense and is going to reach a much wider audience.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/31953727

Using Ethical Storytelling in Your Marketing with Diana Farias Heinrich 06/17/2024

Using Ethical Storytelling in Your Marketing with Diana Farias Heinrich If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to elevate your marketing using storytelling, then this podcast episode is for you. I chat with special guest, Diana Farias Heinrich, CEO of Habrá Marketing and ethical communication strategy expert. We dove into how she became an advocate for ethical storytelling and important lessons she’s learned along the way. Diana also shares the important differences between marketing and fundraising communications and how you can truly build meaningful relationships with donors, instead of transactional ones. She also gives listeners the framework of ethical storytelling and how to fill the most common gaps nonprofits have when it comes to ethical communication. About Diana Diana Farias Heinrich (she/her) is an entrepreneur, speaker, and marketer. As the CEO of Habrá Marketing, Diana helps nonprofits execute effective and ethical communication strategies to raise more money. She is certified as an Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence and for DEI in the Workplace. She holds bachelor's degrees in Literature/Writing and Latin American Studies. Her proudest accomplishments are being a mom and wife, and helping women in Ghana start a sustainable, clean water business. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies to implement ethical storytelling in your nonprofit including: What is ethical storytelling? (4:00) An important lesson in ethical storytelling (5:10) Why Diana quit her job to pursue nonprofit work (8:15) The difference between marketing and fundraising communications (11:40) Tips for effective nonprofit marketing communications (15:45) Ethical storytelling framework (25:05) The missing pieces of ethical storytelling (31:30) Ethical storytelling policies and practices (36:40) Diana’s favorite stories (40:40) Teasers “A lot of the fear that I hear is that we don't want to be transactional with our donors. Unfortunately, if you're not communicating, if you're not marketing in between your fundraising, that's exactly what you're going to get.” “I'm not here to judge anyone, but what I do want to do is raise awareness about ethical storytelling.” “A lot of this conversation around ethical storytelling is new for a lot of nonprofits.” Resources Guide to Informed Consent Conversations: Connect with Diana on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/31766685

Start Spending Money on These Five Things 06/03/2024

Start Spending Money on These Five Things Nonprofit leaders, are you spending enough money on your organization? This probably sounds like a strange question, especially since many of you are looking for ways to minimize your expenses. However, there are five crucial things nonprofit leaders need to invest in in order to have a thriving organization. In this episode, I dive into what these five things are and why they’re so important. I share strategies for how to evaluate different areas of your nonprofit to determine their impact, effort, and mission alignment. These factors will help you determine what areas you need to spend more money on, like fundraising strategies that are low-effort, and high-impact. They can be a game changer for your nonprofit. Listen to hear them all! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for identifying the things your organization needs to start spending money on, including: Investing in hiring and retaining qualified staff (1:45) Ensuring your organization has the right infrastructure and operational support systems in place (3:45) High-impact, low-effort fundraising activities (6:00) Programs that align with our vision have the most impact (8:40) Building a strong financial foundation (10:20) Teasers “Before you invest in that brand new technology, we need to make sure that we can check the box that our team is well paid.” “And you overhead haters, you may come for me thinking, ‘“Are you saying that we need to increase our overhead?’ No, we're not increasing our overhead for the sake of increasing our overhead, but we need to start spending adequate money on infrastructure.” “You're not going to be able to run your programs if you have a shaky financial foundation.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/31521172

How to Become a Successful Leader with Erica Rooney 05/20/2024

How to Become a Successful Leader with Erica Rooney Are you a nonprofit leader looking to take your leadership skills to the next level? If so, then give this episode a listen! I got some amazing insight from special guest, Erica Rooney, Executive Coach and a Chief People Officer. She shared how she empowers leaders, particularly women, to step into their own and become successful leaders for their organizations. We dove into how Erica reinvigorated her passion, and not only recognized symptoms of burnout but also put strategies in place to alleviate it. Plus, we discussed how she’s using her HR background and Executive Coaching skills to help leaders avoid burnout, set healthy boundaries, achieve their goals, and challenge the norms of leadership. This episode is full of strategies nonprofit leaders can use to up their leadership game and become more successful leaders. About Erica Erica Rooney is a relatable and impactful Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Consultant, host of the Podcast, Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, and a Chief People Officer. With 15 years of experience in HR leading organizations in gender equality crusades, and coaching Executive Women, Erica has created a framework that empowers women to get seen, get heard, and get promoted by breaking free from the sticky floors that hold us back from busting through the glass ceiling. As a top Culture Expert, Erica invigorates and educates organizations through change, driving a positive experience for employees, and guiding executives through the process of change to lead to massive success. She is on a mission to bring more women into positions of power and keep them there! Her book, Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors: Shatter Limiting Beliefs and Toxic Behaviors to Uncover Infinite Possibilities will be available for presale soon! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for being a successful leader like: Becoming a thought leader (5:45) Reinvigorating your passion (11:25) Recognizing and alleviating burnout (13:15) Setting healthy boundaries (16:40) Challenging the norms of women in leadership (21:25) Benefits of executive coaching (26:15) Resources to help achieve your goals (34:25) Teasers “Sometimes a pivot doesn't necessarily mean a full pivot out. Sometimes it just means expanding what you are doing and how you are doing it in other realms of your life.” “As skilled as I think I am and as important as I think I am, if I were to win the lottery tomorrow and quit my job, the business would still run.” “What I challenge people to think about is if you burn yourself out to the point where it impacts your stress and your relationships and all of that, you're not going to be around to see the success of this nonprofit organization.” “If there's not an existing resource, then we just have to create it.” Resources 5x5 LinkedIn Strategy Freebie: Follow Erica on Instagram: Connect with Erica on LinkedIn: The Best Tools for an Efficient and Prosperous Nonprofit: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/31376252

Stop Spending Money on These Six Things 05/06/2024

Stop Spending Money on These Six Things Nonprofit leaders, are you wasting money on unnecessary things? I know this sounds like a harsh question, but it’s so important to evaluate. It’s something I see all the time with many of the nonprofits my team and I work with. That’s why, in this episode, I dive into the six main things nonprofits need to stop spending money on and what you can do instead. I’m sharing strategies for evaluating your budget and how you’re allocating precious resources. Plus, a different way of thinking about these expenses and how you can take a new approach. For example, instead of chasing shiny objects and trying to do every new marketing strategy you see other nonprofits doing, do what you know works for your organization. That’s just one of the many different strategies I break down in this episode. Tune in to hear them all! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for identifying the things your organization needs to stop spending money on, including: Assessing how effective your programs and initiatives are (1:50) Staying focused on marketing strategies that work for your nonprofit (4:30) Using technology efficiently (5:45) Being strategic about fundraising expenses (8:00) Conducting thorough executive compensation reviews (12:10) Evaluating board meeting and travel expenses (15:55) Teasers “Not all expenses are bad. We are not talking about this because we are trying to get expenses as low as possible.” “I don't want to just do things because this is the way that we've always done it. I want to do things because we know that we're going to get the return that we are aiming for.” “We need to be much more strategic with what we are spending money on.” Resources The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/31131943

Elevating Your Individual Fundraising Strategy with Haley Cooper 04/29/2024

Elevating Your Individual Fundraising Strategy with Haley Cooper Are you looking for fresh, new ways to up your individual fundraising game? This is the episode for you! I chatted with special guest, Haley Cooper, CFRE, about how she is empowering new nonprofits to be strategic with their individual fundraising. We dove into how Haley stumbled into the nonprofit world after one mission trip completely changed the trajectory of her life. Plus, how she is using her experience as both a nonprofit founder and an entrepreneur to help organizations build a strong fundraising strategy, effectively build relationships and communicate with their donors, get buy-in for fundraising initiatives, and create a strong sense of belonging. This episode is full of strategies nonprofit leaders can implement to elevate their individual fundraising and meet their goals. About Haley Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. Haley is a Founding Board Member and past Board Chair for the Orange County Nonprofit Professionals Network, and a board member of OC Advisors in Philanthropy. She has also served on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, OC Chapter, and Impact Giving. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn ways to elevate your nonprofit’s individual fundraising strategy including: Empowering emerging new nonprofits (3:00) How one mission trip completely changed the trajectory of Haley’s life (4:32) Being strategic about fundraising efforts (8:40) Getting buy-in for your fundraising strategy (12:05) Effectively communicating your vision to donors (14:25) Being strategic about building a sense of belonging (19:00) Upping your individual fundraising game (22:50) Ways organizations can build relationships with individual donors (26:10) Teasers “Sometimes fundraising is just a band-aid beyond an issue that's actually there.” “Not all money makes sense for your organization. That $5,000 grant costs way more than $5,000 to apply for, manage, report on, etc.” “Make that space for safe conversations, because it's a strategic imperative. It's a non-negotiable. Your team will become higher performing and you'll see more results.” “You have people in your database. You've been around for a while. You've had board members. You've had those events. You've had volunteers. What if you strategically started investing your time in those people so that no matter what grant contract might end, you'll be able to have that sustainability through those seasons?” Resources The Savvy Fundraiser Website: Haley’s Fundraising Course: Connect with Haley on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30925273

Behind the Scenes of Our 2024 Team Retreat 04/22/2024

Behind the Scenes of Our 2024 Team Retreat Does your organization have team retreats? Whether you’re just beginning to explore them or you’re looking for new ideas for your next one, this episode is for you. I’m diving into a special, behind-the-scenes look at our annual team retreat. I’m discussing the benefits of retreats and why I think they are 100% worth the investment. Plus, the logistics and considerations leaders need to keep in mind when planning them. I’m also sharing the lessons I’ve learned from this retreat and from past years like taking pressure off the team, ensuring we allot enough time for activities, and not having a jam-packed itinerary. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at our annual team retreat, including: The benefits of an in-person team retreat (1:30) Travel logistics to consider (4:45) Why I don’t believe in a jam-packed itinerary (6:40) Taking pressure off of the team (9:20) Finding a balance in the types of retreat sessions (13:50) Considerations for next year’s retreat (19:00) Teasers “We're just trying new things every year and learning what works and what doesn't work, then revising for the next year.” “We tried to have a mix of training sessions where we're introducing new ideas or concepts to the team and they're learning something as well as 100 Degrees sessions where we were really informing the team and gathering feedback around the company.” “I cannot emphasize enough what a great investment a team retreat is. And it is an investment, so you need to budget for it. You need to prepare for it. But it's a fantastic investment into your organization.” Resources Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30925248

Creating an Organizational Culture of Wellness with Melissa Wesner 04/15/2024

Creating an Organizational Culture of Wellness with Melissa Wesner How does your nonprofit take care of its employees? Recent research shows that employees who strongly agree their employer cares about their overall well-being (compared with those who don't) are 71% less likely to report high levels of burnout, leading to happier and more productive employees. In this episode, I spoke with special guest, Melissa Wesner, Licensed Counselor, about how nonprofit leaders can create a culture of wellness that benefits both employees and your bottom line. Melissa shared a ton of strategies and resources leadership teams can use to cultivate this wellness culture like how to prevent burnout, the importance of addressing your own well-being, and setting strong boundaries. She also discussed how this wellness culture benefits the organization financially with lower employee turnover and more productivity. Plus, Melissa debunked one of the most common myths about taking care of your employees. This is a great episode for nonprofit leaders looking for ways to boost employee well-being and impact on the communities their organization serves. About Melissa Melissa Wesner is a Licensed Counselor, Brainspotting Consultant, and Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services a group counseling practice in Maryland. Melissa loves hosting, planning, and bringing people together for meaningful experiences which is one of the reasons that she is now hosting international retreats for entrepreneurs and leaders. She is also the host of the Dreaming & Doing podcast, a podcast for big dreamers and action-takers looking for weekly doses of inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and wellness experts. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for creating an organizational culture of wellness including: What brain spotting is and why it’s beneficial (4:30) The importance of addressing your well-being (7:10) Strategies for preventing burnout in the nonprofit sector (10:20) Setting better boundaries for ourselves (20:10) How building a culture of employee wellness impacts the bottom line of an organization (26:00) Cultivating an organizational culture of wellness (38:30) Teasers “We have this people-pleaser trait, and we want to make everybody happy. We say yes, even when we don't want to say yes. The problem with saying yes when we don't want to say yes is that’s when resentment comes in.” “Give yourself permission to not feel guilty about taking care of yourself.” “Taking care of your employees’ well-being does not necessarily mean that you have to spend all of this money on extravagant things.” Resources Creating Your Burnout Prevention Plan: A Preparation Checklist for Getting Out of the Office: Costa Rica Retreat: Melissa’s Dreaming and Doing Podcast: Follow Melissa on Instagram: Follow Melissa on Facebook: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30647878

Spring Cleaning Your Systems 04/08/2024

Spring Cleaning Your Systems When was the last time you took a long, hard look at your systems and processes? Although this isn’t exactly an exciting process, it is so beneficial for your nonprofit. Organizations that regularly look at how they can improve their processes not only save time but money and resources as well. In this episode, I’m discussing why taking a deep dive into your processes is important, how it builds trust with your donors, and how this can help your nonprofit scale in the future. I’m also sharing my favorite technology solutions, how to review your current tech stack, and how to implement new software. I’m even giving away my favorite tech secret! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn why it’s important to streamline your systems and processes, including: Finding efficiencies in your processes (2:00) Ensuring your data is accurate (3:55) Building trust with transparency (5:05) Optimizing decision making (5:45) Meeting compliance requirements (6:40) Scaling your nonprofit (7:30) Eight different areas of tech solutions for your nonprofit (9:05) My favorite technology secret (22:05) Diving into your current tech stack (23:40) The do’s and dont’s of implementing new software (26:00) Teasers “Having the right systems really helps make sure you're looking at accurate data, accurate financial information, accurate program information, etc.” “Before we run out and get all excited and buy a bunch of new software that we may or may not use, I want you to look at what you already have and see if there are places where you can upgrade your existing subscriptions.” “We can really only do one thing at a time and do it really well.” Resources Tech Soup: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30594863

Leveraging the Power of Donor-Advised Funds with Mitch Stein 04/01/2024

Leveraging the Power of Donor-Advised Funds with Mitch Stein Is your nonprofit getting donations from Donor-Advised Funds (DAF)? Whether your nonprofit is seasoned, brand new, or just looking to start accepting donations from DAFs, this episode is for you! I chatted with special guest, Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy for Chariot, a Donor-Advised Fund solution for nonprofits to maximize DAF fundraising. Mitch shared how he is helping nonprofits leverage the power of DAFs by explaining what they are, why they’re important, and how he is breaking down barriers for donors. He also talked about why it’s important to prevent costly errors and eliminate administrative challenges so that nonprofits can get the most money from DAFs. This is a great episode for organizations looking for a different way to bring in funding and diversify their revenue streams. About Mitch Mitch is a social entrepreneur, community builder and impact innovator. He is currently the Head of Strategy for Chariot, a Donor-Advised Fund solution for nonprofits to maximize DAF fundraising. He previously founded a nonprofit marketplace and community called Pond after leaving his role as a VP on Goldman Sachs' Technology Investment Banking team. He's a long-time board member at The LGBT Center of NYC and an active alum of the Startup Leadership Program NYC. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn about how nonprofits can leverage the power of Donor-Advised Funds to diversify their revenue streams, including: Developing a strategy for generalized funds (4:45) Breaking down barriers for donors (5:55) What Donor-Advised Funds are (9:50) Why Donor-Advised Funds can be seen as controversial (12:40) Making it easy to use Donor-Advised Funds (17:30) Preventing costly errors and getting your nonprofit the most money (21:05) Eliminating administrative challenges (26:40) Adapting an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset (31:50) Creating technology for the nonprofit sector (38:20) Teasers “You’re not too late. It’s the perfect time to start leveling up, planning, and developing a strategy around generalized funds.” “Just imagine you had a gift card that you couldn’t use. You had to log into your bank account to use your gift card at Starbucks. How likely are you to stop in Starbucks versus knowing how usable the gift card is? You’re going to both use it more often and spend more money because the money is already allocated.” “We’ve worked with about 6,000 nonprofits. We ran an aggregate test across our current customers and over 40 percent of them had an inconsistency with their name or address.” Resources Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn: Visit the Chariot website: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30594763

Building Strong Community Relationships to Support Earned Income Initiatives with Megan McNally 03/25/2024

Building Strong Community Relationships to Support Earned Income Initiatives with Megan McNally Are you leveraging the power of strong community relationships? This episode is full of strategies leaders can use to build lasting relationships in their communities and help diversify their funding with earned income. I spoke with special guest, Megan McNally, co-founder of The Foundry, who shared how she’s using the relationships she’s built to fund her nonprofit primarily through earned income. She discussed how she is building a social enterprise, partnering with the community, and not heavily relying on fundraising to operate her nonprofit. Megan also shared what financial management looks like for her, how she came to understand the true cost of things like time and efficiency, and why it’s important to have a strong financial foundation. This is a great episode for nonprofit leaders looking to use the relationships they have with the community to diversify their revenue streams. About Megan Megan is the co-founder of The Foundry. She graduated from Barnard College with a degree in Environmental Policy, has worked on green building construction sites across the country, and gained experience in woodworking at Yestermorrow Design/Build School. She moved back to Buffalo to run a woodworking business from 2011-2014 and is passionate about supporting women and people of color in "non-traditional" career pathways. Megan is active in Big Brothers Big Sisters and encourages everyone to consider mentorship. She has been the recipient of the Women Who Move The City Award, BizJournal's 30 under 30 Award, Protege of The Year from the University at Buffalo’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and one of the finalists in the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo Centennial Awards. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of diversifying revenue streams and how the community can help support your nonprofit’s mission through earned income, including. Providing support and advocacy for creative entrepreneurs (5:00) Creating a social enterprise and new revenue streams (10:45) Leveraging community relationships for earned income initiatives (14:20) The importance of building relationships within the community (18:45) What financial management looks like for a nonprofit leader (24:00) Shifting your mindset to understand the true cost of things (29:15) How a strong financial foundation impacts your mission (35:30) Teasers “I was doing environmental science and learned about a lot of the challenges around the old housing and housing stock in the city of Buffalo. And I ended up convincing my school to buy a house in the foreclosure option.” “In terms of our approach, we really try to look at what sort of earned income can we do?” It’s an opportunity for us to employ our young people who are practicing the skills that they’re developing, and they get paid to do it. It’s justification that the skills that they’re learning can actually give you money.” Resources The Foundry Website: Follow the Foundry on Instagram: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30523068

Scaling Your Nonprofit Using Unique Revenue Streams with Sara Allen 03/18/2024

Scaling Your Nonprofit Using Unique Revenue Streams with Sara Allen Are you looking for ways to scale your nonprofit? This episode is full of strategies leaders can use to grow their organizations and boost their impact on the communities they serve. I spoke with special guest, Sara Allen, Executive Director for Sojourns Community Health Clinic, who shared how she’s managed to do just that by using unconventional revenue streams. She chatted about how she’s shifted her mindset to think of her nonprofit as more like a business, and how this has positively impacted her organization and the community. Sara also shared several different strategies she’s used to scale her nonprofit using unique revenue streams. This is such a great episode for leaders to learn how to grow their organization! About Sara As the Executive Director for Sojourns Community Health Clinic, Sara feels honored to lead a clinic that provides naturopathic primary care, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, and other services to help people feel whole and well. Originally from the West Coast and raised on the East Coast, Sara believes that cohesion can be created across divides. Her sights are set on helping the world to embrace a model of wellness that is holistic, integrative, compassionate, and effective. Sara resided in the Washington, D.C. area for 20 years before relocating to New England in 2022. She holds a master’s degree in public communication with a public health focus from American University, a bachelor’s degree in religion and women’s studies from Duke University, and is a certified life and health coach. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for growing and scaling your nonprofit to boost your impact like: Leveraging different sources of revenue (5:30) Thinking of your organization as both a nonprofit and a business (8:40) Expanding your funding sources (14:10) Thinking outside the box to scale your nonprofit (19:25) Finding a balance when you have multiple responsibilities (26:45) Advice for future nonprofit leaders (30:20) Teasers “I would encourage nonprofits to bring in a bit of a business mindset.” “We operate like a nonprofit, we think like a business, but then we want to serve like a community member.” “This particular program isn't quite as profitable, but we're going to keep doing it anyway, because number one it’s important to our mission, and number two, we know that this program over here is more profitable and can sustain it. I think that's yet another reason that it's so important to really understand your numbers and manage them well.” “Does your calendar reflect your priorities?” Resources Visit the Sojourns website and use code PROSPER for a discount on your purchase: Follow Sojourns on Facebook: Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30341608

The Importance of Cultural Considerations in Nonprofit Communities with Kelly Dumas 03/11/2024

The Importance of Cultural Considerations in Nonprofit Communities with Kelly Dumas Are you a nonprofit leader searching for ways to better serve your community? Look no further! I chat with special guest, Kelly Dumas, about how you can have a bigger impact on the people you serve. She discusses the importance of cultural considerations, going beyond “checking the box” and truly understanding your community. Kelly shares her first-hand experience of this when an individual came to her organization after a hallucination misdiagnosis. In reality, this person was performing a spiritual practice that is common in their culture, but no one took the time to become aware of these cultural differences. There are so many powerful lessons nonprofit leaders can take away from Kelly’s experiences. About Kelly Kelly Dumas is a licensed clinical social worker and serves as the Executive Director of the Healing Hub of New York, Inc. She holds over 20 years of experience in behavioral health and nonprofits. Her work has included providing clinical services, executive and senior leadership, and overseeing the operations of the largest behavioral health organization in Western New York where she developed and led many programs, including the Black Mental Health Team which she brought together to meet the needs of the community following the racially motivated TOPS shooting that took 10 precious lives and left many scarred. A subject matter expert in community Black mental health, Kelly has traveled abroad to learn about indigenous practices that can be incorporated into the work she does within the community. She has also facilitated trainers to come to Buffalo and train 22 individuals in Indigenous Psychotherapy, an approach that centers people of color. She is a woman of faith and serves as the Director of Mental Health at Zion Dominion Global Ministries where she has worshipped for 22 years. Kelly is also an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She enjoys spending time with her husband Reggie and two children Denise and Dennis. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of cultural considerations in the nonprofit sector, including: Why nonprofits need to know and understand the people they serve (6:00) Understanding cultural practices in the communities you serve (10:10) Supporting communities healing from trauma (17:40) The power of hope (21:00) How understanding your finances supports your leadership efforts (25:20) The impact of a strong financial management system (31:00) Teasers “Indigenous psychotherapy really just teaches how you kind of incorporate the differences that may exist and often exist when you are working with people of color.” “I just felt this calling that my assignment, which I'm very clear on, is centered around addressing the mental wellness of the people.” “A nonprofit is not for the weak at heart. There are rough days, but hope keeps me going.” Resources Donate to the Healing Hub of New York, Inc.: Follow the Healing Hub of New York, Inc. on Instagram: Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30314728

Breaking Nonprofit Norms to 4x Your Fundraising with Christina Edwards 03/04/2024

Breaking Nonprofit Norms to 4x Your Fundraising with Christina Edwards If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to 4x your fundraising revenue, then this episode is for you. I chat with special guest, Christina Edwards who shares how she is teaching nonprofit leaders to break industry norms to skyrocket their fundraising. We dive into the importance of investing in professional development, nonprofit “rules” Christina wants us to break when it comes to social media and email outreach, how to leverage social media influencers, and so much more! About Christina Christina Edwards is the Founder & CEO of Splendid Consulting and the host of the Purpose and Profit Club Podcast. Christina is more than just a lifelong entrepreneur; she's a trusted marketing expert, a passionate business coach, and a catalyst for positive change. With her innovative Profit & Impact Flywheel Method, Christina has empowered thousands of ambitious social impact businesses and nonprofits to achieve remarkable success. Her clients consistently experience extraordinary revenue growth, often doubling or even quintupling their income. This is a testament to Christina's unwavering expertise and the transformative power of her programs. Christina's mission is clear: she's dedicated to helping purpose-driven founders like you achieve your boldest dreams. She believes that success should be enjoyable and scalable, and she's here to guide you every step of the way. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies you can implement to 4x your organization’s fundraising, like Resources and tools for boosting your fundraising efforts (6:00) Why you need to invest in professional development (9:20) The power of accountability (13:10) The difference between a coach and a consultant (15:30) How mindset can directly impact your revenue (17:50) Determining your tolerance for risk (23:40) Building your entrepreneurial skills as a nonprofit leader (27:50) Turning nonprofit rules on their head (31:00) Leveraging the power of social media influencers (39:55) The most scalable fundraising strategy (42:00) Changing up your nonprofit’s email strategy (48:15) Teasers “Investing in coaching has been like going for a walk versus going on a jet.” “A consultant is typically a subject matter expert on what they do. A coach tends to be a little bit more agnostic and they can help you get to where you want to be.” “It's that mindset piece that is really a huge part of coaching and a big part of what I think people miss as being pivotal to their revenue.” “I never want organizations to tout their low overhead. Do you know what you're also saying? Great news. We pay our staff at poverty level… You can pay people well. You can pay them a better salary and it will make your organization more money.” Resources Christina’s FREE Prospecting List: Follow Christina on Instagram: Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: Follow Christina on Facebook: Check out Christina’s Podcast: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30212583

Setting the Intention for 2024 02/26/2024

Setting the Intention for 2024 Have you settled on a word of the year for 2024 yet? This is one of my favorite ways to prepare for the upcoming year. It helps me set an intention and gives me something to work towards. However, choosing a word was a struggle for me this year. I wasn’t resonating with anything, and I didn’t want it to feel forced. In this episode, I’m diving into how I set my intention for the new year, even when choosing a word was a struggle. I’m sharing important lessons I’ve learned from unexpected places, like a snow globe, that resonated with me on a deep level. Plus, I’m chatting about my big goals for 2024 and giving you strategies for achieving your goals this year. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for setting your intentions and working towards your 2024 goals including: Setting intentions for 2024 (1:00) Lessons we can learn from a snow globe (5:15) My big goals for 2024 (6:55) How to achieve your big goals (10:20) Sharing your word of the year (17:30) Teasers “I hope beautiful things fall into place in a thousand little ways you didn't expect.” “It's not just a life of coincidence and sitting back and passively letting things happen to you. You have to actively be aware, walking towards your goals, towards those things you want to accomplish, and even towards those little daily habits.” “I am going to take action and then I am going to sit back and have the presence and the calm to watch the magic happen.” “I consistently get myself in the room where it happens with people who inspire me, who are further along in their journey than I am, who can teach me, and who will absolutely challenge me.” Resources Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30007618

Rapidly Growing your Nonprofit with Ali Rabe 02/19/2024

Rapidly Growing your Nonprofit with Ali Rabe As nonprofit leaders, we are always looking for ways to grow our impact on the communities we serve. It can be a challenge especially when we’re depending on government funding, which can be unpredictable and limited. My podcast guest, Ali Rabe, is sharing how she managed to 10x her nonprofit in under 5 years, even with government funding. Ali is diving into strategies she’s used to get creative with her fundraising, marketing, and growing her nonprofit, Jesse Tree. Her organization went from 2 staff members, including herself, in 2019 to 18 employees today. Ali is also sharing her favorite time management tips to avoid the burnout that so many people in the nonprofit sector experience. About Ali Rabe Ali is the Executive Director at Jesse Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing eviction and homelessness in the Treasure Valley. Ali has spent most of her career supporting local governments and nonprofits in their efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Ali is a proud alumnus of The College of Idaho and holds a J.D. from William & Mary Law School. She is the State Senator for District 16 in Idaho. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for growing your impact and diversifying your funding sources like: Lessons from international nonprofit experiences (4:00) The long-term impact of local nonprofit work (9:00) Navigating government funding with changing political administration (23:20) Managing the growth of your organization (31:00) Strategies for rapidly growing your nonprofit (35:30) Time management tips (40:20) Teasers “She just looked me in the eye and she said, ‘Why are you here? Where's your family? Go home to your family.’ I heard that constantly from people.” “I got really angry and ran for office.” “We were able to maintain our entire staff, even when that 3 million grant was gone.” “I was really intentional about hiring and who I brought on with my staff and my board. And I'm proud to say that a majority of our staff, more than 90 percent, are still with us.” Resources Visit the Jesse Tree website: Follow Ali on Instagram: Follow Jesse Tree on Instagram: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/30007538

Top Book Recommendations for 2024 02/12/2024

Top Book Recommendations for 2024 Nonprofit leaders, when is the last time you set aside time to read? Whether you’re an avid reader like me, or it’s been a while since you picked up (or listened to) a book, you’ll want to give this episode a listen. I’m giving you my top book recommendations for 2024! I read 48 books in 2023 and now I’m diving into my favorites, from fun reads to the most inspiring and impactful. Some of these books have quite literally changed my life and how I’m leading my team. Several of these books are geared towards entrepreneurs, but ring so true for nonprofit leaders as well. I highly recommend you add all of these books to your 2024 reading list. Episode Summary In this episode, I’m diving into the books I read in 2023 and giving you my top recommendations, including: My favorite reading apps (1:10) My top fiction recommendation (4:20) The books that inspired me to have more fun (4:50) An interesting read that combines pop culture and a business case study (8:10) The 3 most impactful books I read in 2023 (11:50) Recap of my top book recommendations (15:00) Teasers “I don't do enough that I really think is fun and I love this book because she really defines fun.” “The idea here is when you have a problem in your organization, instead of thinking, ‘Okay, how am I going to solve this problem?’ The question is, ‘Who am I going to get to help me solve this problem?’ And I just thought it was so powerful.” “I think we all want to achieve more by doing less.” Resources Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/29874198

Knowing Your Numbers and Planning for the Future with Margaret Chapman Pomponio 02/05/2024

Knowing Your Numbers and Planning for the Future with Margaret Chapman Pomponio Knowing Your Numbers and Planning for the Future with Margaret Chapman Pomponio How do you use your nonprofit numbers to plan for the future? Knowing where your organization stands with its finances is so important for continuing to grow your impact on the communities you serve. In this episode, I chat with special guest Margaret Chapman Pomponio about how she’s using this knowledge to plan for the future sustainability of her nonprofit, West Virginia FREE. Margaret dives into how she is stepping outside of her comfort zone and using a unique approach to serving the community. She also shares how her nonprofit has shifted its fundraising strategy after looking at the financial trends. Like how WV FREE went from focusing on large donor contributions to individual, year-round contributions. Margaret also chats about how she is overcoming the scarcity mindset we so often see in the nonprofit sector. About Margaret Before Margaret joined West Virginia FREE in 2002, she had a varied career, from serving two terms in AmeriCorps to working with the Lummi Nation in Washington, waiting tables, and teaching Women and Politics at Western Washington University. When she returned to her native Mountain State, she landed at WV FREE and began to earnestly expand reproductive health, rights, and justice work in her home state. Under Margaret’s leadership, WV FREE has successfully expanded its staff and reach and has experienced significant victories for reproductive health rights and justice policy throughout the state and at every level of government in a very challenging political climate. No stranger to fighting battles uphill, Margaret knows that advocacy for reproductive rights, and racial, gender, and economic justice is best done in partnership. She deeply values working in coalition and lifting up new leaders to build power for transformative social change. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn how the power of knowing your numbers can help you grow your impact and plan for the future, including: Stepping outside of your comfort zone (9:10) Using a unique approach to serve the community (12:30) Leveraging the power of your staff and contractors (17:45) Shifting fundraising strategies to individual contributors (20:50) Incorporating consistent year-round fundraising strategies (23:15) Overcoming scarcity mindset in the nonprofit sector (25:20) Why knowing your numbers grows your impact (32:50) Teasers “As a leader, we have to recognize what our weaknesses are or how we can improve. And my approach to that is recognize it, say it, and ask for help. I’ve always been that person. You’ve got to ask for help.” “It’s been really gratifying to have more support. We know there’s a lot of untapped potential and it has kind of pushed us to that realization. We really do need to build more support right here in our own state and it’s bearing fruit.” “Feeling confident in the numbers is everything. And doing the multi-year outlook gives me so much peace of mind.” “Funders don’t want to invest in an organization that isn’t managing its finance as well. And to be able to tell the financial story to our donors I think gives a lot of peace of mind.” Resources West Virginia FREE Website: Donate to West Virginia FREE: FREE Monthly Finance Routine Checklist: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/29663448

Overcoming the Challenges of Inflation 01/29/2024

Overcoming the Challenges of Inflation Overcoming the Challenges of Inflation Is your organization struggling with the many challenges that come with inflation? The rising cost of everything has been top of mind for most people, including nonprofit leaders. Inflation is impacting our employees, the communities we serve, and our donors. While rising costs are all around us, there are some strategies your organization can implement to overcome these challenges. In this episode, I dive into how you can keep up with rising costs like diversifying your revenue streams and looking at your organization’s cash reserves. These, along with some solid financial planning, can make a big difference for your nonprofit. I also discuss the challenges nonprofits are facing with retaining employees and strategies for raising their salary to market rate. Hint: we’re talking about getting comfortable with asking funders for more money. It may not be easy, but it is doable. Let’s dive in. Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn strategies on how you can help deal with the rising costs within your organization, including: Keeping up with the rising costs of everything: health insurance premiums, audit fees, employee salaries, etc. (1:45) Communicating with funders about increased costs (4:40) Challenges with retaining employees (8:20) Why financial planning is so important, especially during inflation (10:00) Diversifying your revenue streams (12:00) Looking at your organization’s cash reserves (16:10) Getting comfortable asking funders for more money (17:50) Teasers “We need to have a forecast where we are proactively looking at our revenue and our expenses so we can project what our revenue needs to be to match that.” “Who knows what prices are going to turn into? Who knows where inflation is going?” “When we're talking about inflation-adjusted fundraising, we need to ask for more money.” Resources FREE Cashflow Template: Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/29663358

Elevating the ROI of Conferences 01/22/2024

Elevating the ROI of Conferences Is one of your New Year's resolutions to attend more conferences and professional development opportunities? Maybe you’re looking for how to make the most of these experiences. If this is on your 2024 bucket list, then this episode is for you! Your time and money are precious, so you want to be sure you are getting the highest possible return on investment (ROI) from the events you attend. In this podcast episode, I’m diving into ways to elevate your ROI of conferences by telling you the exact steps I take to get the most value from these events. I’m also sharing a few personal stories of how I created lasting relationships by getting out of my comfort zone and fully committing to the conference experience! Episode Summary In this episode, you’ll learn ways to boost the ROI of attending conferences including: Setting clear goals for yourself (2:55) Benefits of planning ahead (5:00) The power of following up (10:20) Pulling yourself out of your comfort zone (12:00) Elevating the ROI of conferences (15:00) Taking action (17:30) Teasers “It was an opportunity to really go deep and share ideas and brainstorm things with people I already know.” “Another favorite part of that conference was having a two-hour conversation while swimming in the ocean with somebody I had never met before. We were able to connect about so many things and share different ideas. It was fantastic.” “What I always do is evaluate the ROI on my experience. And it's not necessarily monetary ROI when it comes to conferences, but really thinking about the experience afterward and thinking, ‘Did I really connect on a deeper level with a number of people?’” “Make sure you've got that one action item from each session that you're actually going to do something about.” Resources Keep up to date with the podcast: Follow Stephanie on Instagram: Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: Visit the podcast page: Want more of the podcast? New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at . Leave us a review! , scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode! Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing! /episode/index/show/100degrees/id/29581098

The Prosperous Nonprofit

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