Most nonprofit leaders want more unrestricted revenue - but few have a strategy for building it.
In this episode, The Charity CFO’s Tosha Anderson and Aaron Landis explain why unrestricted funds are the true fuel behind nonprofit growth, stability, and innovation. Drawing on conversations with hundreds of CEOs and EDs, they highlight why organizations with the highest unrestricted percentages are often the most resilient and mission-aligned.
You’ll learn:
• Why unrestricted revenue is essential to scaling programs
• The risks of relying on restricted grants or government funding • How unrestricted dollars improve staffing, operations, and long-term planning
• How boards and CEOs can shift the fundraising mindset
• Practical ways to increase unrestricted support in your next budget cycle
A must-listen for CEOs, CFOs, development leaders, and board members serious about financial health.
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoReach out and connect with Aaron Landis: https://www.thecharitycfo.com/contactJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint#nonprofitfundraising #unrestrictedrevenue #nonprofitleadership #financialsustainability #thecharitycfo
Why do people really give? It is not logic. It is not spreadsheets. It is not persuasion.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Tosha talks with fundraising strategist and neuroscience expert Cherian Koshy about the biology and behavior behind generosity.
Together they explore how the brain rewards giving, why relationships matter more than transactions, and how nonprofit leaders can create emotionally resonant donor experiences.
Cherian shares insights on donor identity, digital fatigue, donor retention, and how to ethically communicate urgency during uncertain times. This episode offers a practical and science-informed look at what motivates people to be generous.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – 02:00Introduction and context for why neuroscience matters in fundraising.
02:00 – 09:30How generosity shows up in the brain and why giving is a biological event.
09:30 – 17:30Behavioral finance principles and why money decisions rarely follow logic.
17:30 – 23:00A new understanding of donor fatigue and why emotional connection matters most.
23:00 – 29:30Identity theory and how reinforcing donor values builds long-term relationships.
29:30 – 33:00Digital fatigue and how to create messages that activate attention and memory.
33:00 – 41:30Creating ethical urgency during uncertain times while maintaining trust.
41:30 – EndWhere listeners can find Cherian and final thoughts from Tosha.
Follow Cherian Koshy Online
🌐 Website: https://www.cheriankoshy.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/
📘Book: https://neurogivingbook.com/
Follow Us Online🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo
Join our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Check out these blogs next:
Nonprofit Communications: Navigating Donor Conversations
Resources Mentioned:
Book: Your Money Has Feelings by Shannon Ryan
Are you walking into a financial mess without realizing it? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson shares the five critical financial questions every new nonprofit CEO should ask in their first 90 days.
You’ll learn how to:
Spot hidden red flags in budgets and audits
Understand what funders, auditors, and reports are really saying
Build early trust with your board and financial team
Protect your organization from preventable financial risk
Whether you’re a first-time CEO or stepping into a new nonprofit, this episode will help you lead with clarity and confidence from day one.
🎧 Listen now or catch the full webinar at https://www.thecharitycfo.com/resources
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
#nonprofitfinance #nonprofitleadership #thenonprofitceo #thecharitycfo #nonprofitmanagement #financialoversight
Your finance committee can be your nonprofit’s greatest asset—or its biggest headache.
In this episode, host Tosha Anderson and CFO Trina Owens-Rogers dive into the do’s and don’ts of creating an effective finance committee. From micromanaging boards to committees that never meet, they’ve seen it all, and they share what actually works.
You’ll discover:
The true role of a finance committee
How to spot when your committee is too hands-off or too controlling
Real-world examples from nonprofits that got it right (and wrong)
Practical steps to build a finance committee that strengthens your organization’s financial oversight
🎯 Perfect for Executive Directors, Board Treasurers, and Finance Leaders who want to lead with confidence.
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Repost: Grant Writing 101 for Nonprofits: How to Find and Win the Right Grants
Finding and managing grants is one of the toughest parts of nonprofit growth. In this conversation, Tosha and grant writer Kate Hephner break down how to:
Identify the right grant opportunities
Write stronger, more organized proposals
Collaborate effectively with your team
Build a reputation as a trustworthy funding partner
This episode is perfect for new nonprofit leaders, founders, and development staff ready to elevate their grant strategy.
📍 Subscribe for more conversations with experts helping nonprofits work smarter, not harder.
If you need a freelance grant writer to help you win more funding, you can reach out to Kate through her LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-hephner-019a522/
Links to the grant directories mentioned by Kate:
Want to learn more about finding grants for your organization? Check out our episode with the founder of Grantwatch here: https://thecharitycfo.com/libby-hikind-how-to-find-grants/
Follow Us Online
🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com
📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo
📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo
💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo
🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo
Join our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1
Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Most nonprofits struggle to understand why their fundraising isn’t working. In this episode, Tosha Anderson, Founder of The Charity CFO, talks with Jeff Schreifels, Principal and Owner of Veritus Group, about what it takes to build a fundraising strategy that truly connects with donors.
You’ll learn:
If your fundraising team is feeling stuck, burned out, or disconnected from donors, this conversation will change how you lead, ask, and grow.
🎧 Listen to more episodes at https://www.thecharitycfo.com
Connect with Jeff Schreifels
Principal and Owner of Veritus Group
🌐 Website: https://veritusgroup.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffschreifels/
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
#nonprofitfundraising #nonprofitleadership #thecharitycfo #major gifts #fundraisingstrategy #donorrelationships #veritusgroup
Why are marketing metrics so confusing and how can nonprofits make smarter decisions about where to invest their dollars?
Join Tosha Anderson, Founder of The Charity CFO, as she talks with Jeff Greenfield, CEO and Founder of Provalytics, about how nonprofits can finally get clarity on their marketing data.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
If your nonprofit struggles to measure marketing ROI or to convince your board that marketing is an investment, this episode will help you see your data in a whole new way.
Connect with Jeff Greenfield
🌐 Website: https://provalytics.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Most nonprofits try to scale by adding more people, but that often makes the chaos worse. In this episode, Tosha Anderson and Dr. Andrea Ortega uncover how to scale your nonprofit through systems, not stress. Learn how to build SOPs, create repeatable workflows, strengthen board engagement with useful dashboards, and handle the challenges that come with federal grants and rapid growth. If you’re a nonprofit leader ready to move from reactive to proactive, this conversation is for you.
Connect with Andrea Ortega
Founder and CEO of Palante Nonprofits, LLC.
🌐 Website: www.palantenonprofits.com
📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/palantenonprofits
💼 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/palante-nonprofits-llc
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
New nonprofit CEO? Don’t inherit a financial mess. In this solo episode, Tosha breaks down the exact questions to ask in Week 1 and the first 90 days so you can quickly assess risk, read audits + 990s with confidence, pressure-test budget assumptions, verify restricted funds, and fix delayed or conflicting reports. You’ll learn how to evaluate your finance team, set a cadence for monthly close, and own the financial story with your board and funders.
Grab our free Financial Blueprint and avoid painful surprises.
The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
You’ll learn:
🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1
Networking is not a box to check. It is how modern nonprofits fuel mission, board growth, fundraising, and talent. Tosha Anderson sits down with Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, to break down how to prepare for events, find common ground quickly, tell sharper stories, and follow up with discipline. They cover board dynamics, scaling programs without losing focus, and why curating your network beats collecting contacts.
If you lead a nonprofit, this playbook will help you build real relationships that move your mission forward.
Connect with Anne Marie Dougherty
📸 Instagram: @ammdougherty
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-dougherty-75340125/
Twitter: @AMDougherty
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Beyond Staff: Engaging Your Full Nonprofit Workforce - Board Members and Volunteers Included
Nonprofit engagement cannot stop at staff. In this episode, Tosha Anderson and leadership expert Rhonda Travers show you how to engage employees, board members, and volunteers with a simple lifecycle approach. Learn to define volunteer roles, onboard and offboard board members, build a basic governance dashboard, and communicate across channels so your mission stays top of mind.
Connect with Rhonda Travers
Travers Training & Consulting - Founder & President
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondatravers/
🌐 Website: www.traverstraining.com
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Strong nonprofit leadership isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about building trust, empowering teams, and leading with integrity.In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Karen Leies, President & CEO of The Seeing Eye, the world’s oldest guide dog school. Together they explore:
🔗 Learn more about The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint and how strong leadership drives nonprofit sustainability: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint Connect with Karen LeiesWebsite: https://www.seeingeye.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheSeeingEyeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-seeing-eye/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeeingEyeTwitter: SeeingEyeIncFollow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Scarcity in nonprofits isn’t just about money. In this powerful conversation, Pierre Berastain of The Centre for Public Impact joins Tosha Anderson to explore financial, structural, and psychological scarcity, and how they shape nonprofit culture, leadership, and sustainability.You’ll learn:-Why scarcity creates cycles of burnout and underinvestment-The difference between a crisis-driven vs. clarity-driven culture-Practical tools like decision filters and personal boards of directors-How nonprofit leaders can reclaim focus, set boundaries, and build resilienceIf you’re a nonprofit leader navigating limited resources and constant demands, this episode will help you step out of survival mode and into clarity.👉 Subscribe for more strategies on nonprofit finance, leadership, and sustainability.Connect with Pierre Berastain🌐 Website: https://pierreberastain.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierreberastain/Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Tosha Anderson sits down with Dr. Dustin York to explore nonprofit marketing trends you can implement without a big budget. They cover AI agents for SEO, video podcast strategy, free Apple Wallet passes, content repurposing into 60 assets, thought leadership hacks via Qwoted and a 90-day action plan to boost visibility. Perfect for nonprofit leaders seeking tactical, scalable marketing strategies.
Connect with Dr. Dustin YorkLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryork/Website: https://www.drdustinyork.com/Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Are restricted grants helping your nonprofit—or silently hurting it?In this solo episode, Tosha Anderson, CEO & Founder of The Charity CFO, dives deep into the complicated world of restricted vs. unrestricted grants. You’ll learn when restricted funds are a smart move, when they create cash flow nightmares, and how to release them quickly so they actually work for your mission, not against it.Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Only 22% of nonprofit Executive Directors are women—yet 75% of nonprofit employees are.
Why aren’t more women making it into leadership roles?
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Shilpa Alva, Founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and long-term impact of women in nonprofit leadership.
You’ll learn:
What’s stopping women from climbing the nonprofit ladder
How systemic funding gaps hold women (especially women of color) back
The power of leading with empathy and feminine energy
Why centering women in solution-building drives stronger impact
Whether you're a founder, board member, or team leader—this conversation will make you think differently about leadership and sustainability in the nonprofit sector.
Connect with Shilpa Alva
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpa-alva-858b841/
Website: https://surgeforwater.org/
Shilpa's story: https://surgeforwater.org/our-story/founders-story/
Follow Us Online
🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com
📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo
📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo
💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo
🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo
Join our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1
Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson talks with Courtney Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Culinary Care, a nonprofit that delivers meals and comfort to cancer patients undergoing treatment. Courtney shares what it's really like to start a nonprofit from scratch at just 23 years old, and how advocacy—both for her mission and herself—was the key to getting in the door with hospitals, donors, and volunteers.
You’ll learn how she built a sustainable fundraising model, why she ignored the naysayers, and what every aspiring founder needs to know before launching a nonprofit. If you’re starting out or scaling up, this episode will re-ignite your passion and give you practical tools for finding your people.
✅ Topics Covered:
Linked In- https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-s-white/
Is your nonprofit brand outdated—or just unclear? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, branding expert Steven Picanza joins Tosha Anderson to explore what modern branding really means for nonprofits. Discover why your brand is more than a logo, how to simplify your messaging without losing impact, and why your website might be pushing people away.Steven breaks down the key differences between voice and tone, how to build brand culture internally, and how to attract individual donors in a world where grant funding is increasingly unstable. Whether you're just starting to think about your branding—or planning a full rebrand—this episode offers a clear roadmap for nonprofits ready to modernize.Topics covered:How to serve multiple audiences without overwhelming themClarifying your verbal identity and toneBranding as an internal culture-building toolBudget-friendly tips for evolving your brand without a full overhaul#nonprofitbranding #nonprofitmarketing #brandstrategy #donorfocused #verbalidentity #thecharitycfo #anewbrand
Connect with Steven Picanza
Website: https://www.stevenpicanza.com/
Youtube: @Picanza
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenpicanza/
Follow Us Online
🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com
📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo
📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-charity-cfo
🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo
📬 Join Our Newsletter https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1
Download The Charity CFO Blueprint https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Federal grants are more chaotic than ever. Delays, shifting executive orders, compliance confusion—and now, questions about what language nonprofits can or can’t use in applications. But should you give up on federal funding altogether?In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson is joined by Fielding Jezreel, federal grant strategist, Founder & President of Jezreel Consulting, to unpack what’s really happening with federal grants in 2025—and why walking away could hurt your mission more than help it.You’ll learn:How to assess whether your nonprofit is ready—and willing—to pursue federal fundsWhat’s changed (and hasn’t) in compliance and DEI-related requirementsHow advocacy and funding strategy are now deeply connectedWhy applying might be your loudest form of protestWhat to do before your first applicationWhether you’re already in the federal grant game or standing at the edge of it, this is the clarity and strategy you’ve been craving.#federalgrants #nonprofitfunding #grantwriting #nonprofitstrategy #nonprofitleadership #thecharitycfoContact Fielding Website: https://www.jezreelconsulting.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fieldingjezreel/Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo 📬 Join Our Newsletter https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1
Every nonprofit builds a budget. But only the most effective leaders use forecasts to steer their organizations forward. In this episode, A Modern Nonprofit Podcast host Tosha Anderson is joined by David Steffens, CPA to break down the difference between budgeting and forecasting—and why both are critical for financial health and sustainability.
They discuss:
What a budget really is (and isn’t)
How forecasts go beyond “what happened” to show “what’s next”
Common mistakes in budgeting and how to fix them
How to build a basic forecast, even with limited resources
Why forecasting prevents financial surprises (and panic)
If you’ve ever looked at your budget and thought, “This isn’t telling me what I need to know,” this episode is for you.
Follow Us Online
🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com
📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo
📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-charity-cfo
🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfo
📬 Join Our Newsletter
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Download The Charity CFO Blueprint