In this episode of The Nonprofit Corner Podcast, Dr. Victoria Boyd sits down with Sean Littman, Founder and CEO of GiveSuite, for a candid conversation about creativity, digital strategy, and how nonprofits can finally leverage technology to grow.
Sean shares how his unconventional path through sales, digital marketing, and tech startups led him into the nonprofit sector — and why he saw such massive gaps around Google Ad Grants, websites, and audience nurturing. Together, he and Victoria dig into what organizations get wrong about marketing, why social media alone isn’t enough, and how simple tools like email automation and donor education can transform engagement.
From building better donor journeys to turning everyday nonprofit work into powerful storytelling, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples to help organizations think smarter, not harder.
Perfect for: nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, marketing teams, and anyone who wants to build sustainable growth through smarter digital strategies.
Sean Littman is the founder and CMO of Givesuite.com. Aninnovator in nonprofit digital marketing, he built Givesuite to help nonprofits leverage powerful marketing and business tools all in one place without breaking the bank.
GiveSuite.com
Sean@GiveSuite.com
Without a plan, donations usually come from scrambling events, last-minute appeals, chasing grants. A development plan maps out:
what revenue streams you’ll focus on
when each activity happens
who is responsible
what success looks like
Relying on one big grant or one annual gala is risky. A development plan intentionally spreads revenue across:
individual donors
monthly giving
grants
corporate partners/sponsors
It ensures revenue is diversified
Linda is one of just over one hundred professionals worldwide to hold the ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation. She has helped nonprofits raise more than $100,000,000 and has trained more than 100,000 development professionals worldwide. She holds a master’s degree in theological studies—Franciscan Theology from the Franciscan School of Theology at University of San Diego, is the author of more than forty books, and is active in St Bernadette Catholic Church and the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph.
Joseph Scarano is currently the CEO of Araize, whichprovides SaaS based software solutions and services to nonprofit organizations.
Araize’s FastFund Online was designed by CPAs and fund-raising professionals for small to medium size nonprofit organizations. His responsibilities are carrying out thecompany vision; including business growth, product development, marketing, sales and customer relations.
Joe was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Stateof New York for 10 years, with a focus on auditing and consulting nonprofit organizations. In 1997, Joe took hisexperience working with nonprofits and transferred it to providing software solutions to the nonprofit sector.
www.araize.com
Quick Start Kit link:
https://go.aiforsocialgood.ai/quick-start-for-nonprofits
On this episode of the Nonprofit Corner Podcast, Dr.Victoria Boyd interviews Kevin Hardin, an AI specialist and founder of AI for Social Good, about how nonprofits can adopt AI to improve efficiency, reduce burnout, and strengthen fundraising.
Kevin shares how he moved from tinkering with 3D printers tobecoming an AI expert, noting that AI’s rapid evolution makes it critical for nonprofits to stay informed. He addresses common fears around AI—like transparency and fairness—and explains that today’s tools can support staffrather than replace them.
A major focus of the conversation is understanding AIassistants (built-in tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini) versus AI agents, which can take more complex actions such as interacting with CRMs, invoicing systems, and donation platforms.
Kevin offers practical examples of AI in action:
• turning spoken stories into polished impact narratives,
• drafting donor emails,
• improving donation pages,
• staying on top of email, and
• generating structured, time-saving board reports.
He and Dr. Boyd emphasize that even small steps—like usingAI meeting note-takers—can help build a culture of AI across departments.Encouraging board members to interact with AI tools themselves can also strengthen governance and engagement.
Kevin closes with simple starting points:
Chris Troka is the owner of Focused-Biz.com specializing in technology-based solutions for businesses and nonprofits.
Chris is a VIP Speaker at The Philantrepreneur Foundation's Nonprofit Impact Summits: AI & Technology for Nonprofits event April 16, 2025.
On this podcast, we discuss the value of understanding essential terminology necessary to successfully implement AI strategies. AI strategies that must be added to your operations to not only survive but thrive. And yes we say, Must be added. Those that don't will fail to be relevant and fall further behind.
Don't miss Chris Troka's session and get connected with at any of the links below.
#PhilantrepreneurFoundation #Nonprofitimpactsummits
#NonprofitCornerPodast
Shaté Hayes shares tips on How to Tell Winning Stories
Key Takeaways
1. The importance of alignment and strategic direction
2. How to tell stories from the "inside out"
3. How to tell stories beyond traditional long-form writing
Tips:
Blogs are important
Videos are powerful
Know your target audience – where are they?
Stephanie Schweitzer Dixon has worked in the nonprofit sector for twenty-five years. She began her career as a grant writer and consultant assisting nonprofit organizations in program development, fundraising, grant writing, and the management of grant-funded programs. She then served as the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization for thirteen and a half years. Her duties included raising money, leading the grants management process, managing a volunteer first response team, and teaching suicide prevention, mental health, and crisis intervention training.
Stephanie is the CEO and Owner of SSD Consulting, providing consulting and training services to professionals working primarily within the nonprofit and government sectors.
This episode identified key challenges grant writers face:
5 Key Concepts & Steps for Successful Grant Writing
Takeaways
Grants are NOT free money. There are task and responsibilities before, during, and after receiving grant funding.
Develop - Good communication, a good team, and nurture partnership.
Stephanie’s book:
CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE
https://www.facebook.com/ssdconsulting/ ;
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssdixon45/ ;
https://twitter.com/ConsultingSsd
Learn more about the Logic Model Program Planning Framework https://LMPP.now.site
Stephanie Skryzowski is a visionary Chief Financial Officer who helps nonprofit leaders better understand and use their numbers to make smart decisions to grow their bottom line and their impact. She is the Founder and CEO of 100 Degrees Consulting which provides financial strategy and bookkeeping services to nonprofits around the globe. Stephanie is passionate about educating leaders to understand, use, and communicate their numbers to build sustainable nonprofits and increase their impact on the world. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University, focusing on nonprofit management and finance, and is the creator of Master Your Nonprofit Numbers, an online course in financial management for nonprofit leaders. When she is not crunching numbers, Stephanie is exploring the world with her husband and two young daughters.
How to Lead a Financially Healthy Nonprofit
Key Takeaways
Get this free Financial Health Calculator to assess your financial health. Grab it at: http://100degreesconsulting.com/health
Contact or follow Stephanie
stephanie@100degreesconsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski
https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.skry/
https://www.instagram.com/100degreesconsulting/
LOGIC MODEL PROGRAM PLANNING INFORMATION
The Nonprofit Corner Podcast is excited to kick off Season 4! Brett Mayer, MBA - Life’s Synergist
Brett has been involved with almost every possible nonprofit mission and has more than 15 years invested in nonprofit operations and fundraising with multiple organizations. Residing in the state of Pennsylvania, he has helped organizations such as the YMCA of Reading & Berks County, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Red Cross, Penn State Health, and most recently, Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN). In addition to leading these efforts, he has consulted organizations across the country in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, global issues, and educational initiatives.
He is a graduate of Kutztown University with a B.S. in Music Education and earned an M.B.A. from Grand Canyon University.
TODAYS TOPIC TAKEAWAYS
Relationships are keys to success so strengthen your partnerships and create a win for everyone. Remember these tips:
1. Keep an Open Mind: Stop worrying about competition but focus on how we can collaboratively best serve the community.
2. Relationships aren’t just for fundraisers! Everyone in the organization plays a role in building relationships.
NEVER SAY: WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY.
Brett’s contact info:
lifesynergist@gmail.com
@lifessynergist (IG & FB)
Logic Model Program Planning Training? https://LMPP.now.site
XayeFaith and Devann founded Total Freedom Network and are global business consultants who help entrepreneurs optimize their businesses through accountability. From experience, XayeFaith & Devann learned that it wasn't the "new info" that changed their business trajectory, but the accountability and community that supported their growth. They support productivity, efficiency, and profitability in nonprofits and companies, aiming to empower them to achieve their potential and create a life of total freedom.
This episode's topic is: “The Key to Success Is ACCOUNTABILITY”.
Key points:
· To be effective prioritize and thrive,
· Accountability Equals Profits - time management, planning,
· Get Unstuck by Getting Focused,
· Create Clarity with Time Management, and
· Complete Your Commitments.
FREE WORKSHEET
https://totalfreedomevents.com/thenonprofitcornerpodcast
This valuable episode shares numerous resources for nonprofit professionals and organizations. Featuring host Dr. Victoria Boyd sharing resources from The Philantrepreneur Foundation and the Nonprofit Corner. https://PhilantrepreneurFoundation.org Find: o Website content and assessment o Concierge Services o Google Ad Grants o Starting a Nonprofit o Logic Model o SUPERDONOR Fundraising – attracting an keeping individual donors o Training https://Nonprofit Corner.org Find: • TOOLS • BOOKS • How to apply to BE A GUEST • PODCAST LINKS • TRAINING LINKS AND CALENDAR SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS OR A TOPIC YOU WOULD LIKE DISCUSSED. TEAM TRAINING The Logic Model has remained a valuable tool to use in program development and planning. Especially with its emphasis on demonstrating IMPACT. Programs and their impact are the heartbeat of organizations. However, many aren't taking advantage of the other powerful ways it can be used. This training explores application and implementation beyond programs. Patrick Kirby – Do Good Better Consulting. "I do love a logic model, and I think it's ALWAYS a fantastic idea that nonprofits are continuously using it to measure success throughout the year, not just in Q1!"
Rooney Akpesiri through trial and error learned what it really means to run a nonprofit. He now is dedicated to helping others thrive. He created the Nonprofit School (http://Nonprofit-School.com) which provides you with the clarity, knowledge, tools, and support necessary to transform your vision into reality. Whether you're starting a nonprofit, seeking personalized solutions, or embarking on strategic planning with your board, Rooney is committed to your success.
In his words, " I provide nonprofit founders and leaders the knowledge, tools and support they need to successfully raise money and achieve their mission."
#Fundraising, #Nonprofit Startup Process, #Board Recruitment, #Corporate Sponsorship.
Here's the link to his Fundraising Planning Workbook (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AX_r98eZz2kx1pwGZBo7LgpNnjeGLfqx/view?usp=drivesdk)
Rooney@nonprofit-school.com
http://nonprofit-school.com/
Deborah Finestone - Finestone Marketing Solutions
Deborah Finestone has a 20-year career in communications and marketing and has spent the last 7 years focusing on social media marketing. She’s a certified social media marketer who helps small business and nonprofits have a bigger impact in the world. Her strategies help clients stop being the best thing in town that no one has heard of by building relationships on platforms where their ideal clients already are.
Today's topic is 5 Simple Steps to Creating Engaging Social Media Posts Every Time
In this episode Deborah will share a checklist that simplifies social media posting. It will ensure you include the essential elements to make your post effective and have impact. It will help small organizations maximize their efforts with a simple method that won't waste time and cause frustration, but will make social media work for you.
Grab the checklist here:
https://http.dfinestone.com/nonprofits-engaging-post-checklist
Sign up for the SM 5 Day Challenge - Jan 22, 2024
https://http.dfinestone.com/5daychallange
Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, LLC, and host of Mission: Impact podcast, facilitates whole-brain equity-focused strategic planning, impact mapping, service audits and organizational assessments for nonprofits and associations.
She combines left-brain strategy and analysis with right-brain wisdom about human complexities for a proven, whole-brain, whole-organization process through which every stakeholder thrives. She is also a member of a consultant collective focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion that has a particular focus on racial equity, All In Consulting.
Today's topic: Strategic Planning - why it doesn't have to be painful
· Strategic planning that doesn't end up on the shelf
· Centering equity and belonging in the process
· Benefits of engaging in the process
RESOURCES
https://www.lapiana.org/insight/strategy-screen/
FREE TOOL: https://www.gracesocialsector.com/store/p13/strategic_plan_mistakes.
#nonprofitstrategicplanning
#nonprofitmanagement
#nonprofittraining
#ThePhilantrepreneurFoundation
#NonprofitCornerPodcast
Find Program Planning Training at: https://NonprofitCorner.org
MEGAN JOSEPH
http://www.impactlaunch.org/
Megan is the CEO of Impact Launch, a collective of social impact professionals that work with individuals, organizations, and initiatives for equitable and sustainable outcomes.
Megan has worked for over two decades with community-based organizations and multi-sector collaboratives to facilitate leadership development, strategic planning, capacity building and project design.
As Executive Director of Rise Together, a multi-county initiative in the Bay Area, Megan implemented a 250-member coalition for policy and systems change, addressing issues of employment, affordable housing and early childhood education.
Megan was recognized with the 2015 National Community Indicators Consortium Emerging Leader award for her work using community indicators as a catalyst for change to reduce youth violence.
Megan is a practitioner of Radical Transformational Leadership with Dr. Monica Sharma, and over the last 10 years launched several leadership programs that have trained over 1,500 change makers to design and implement change in their organizations and communities.
Megan serves on the Board of the Community Foundation of Nevada County and is an advisor for One of Us Foundation.
Today's Topic
How to make strategic planning fun, focused and effective!
1. Strategic planning is a key antidote to fundraising issues, burnout, scatter, wasted time and not getting the results we want.
2. Strategic planning can and should be focused, fun and effective - without ending in a plan that sits on a shelf
3. Get the results you want with less effort! Don't let traditional strategic planning keep your organization from getting what it needs to thrive.
Take advantage of Megan's free assessment quiz.
Don L. Gleason
Don found his passion early in life to Clean America’s Waters, which led him on a journey that included a 36-yrs in both the military and corporate life. These experiences brought many valuable lessons that grew him into who he is today. It provided him with a vision to help others and he created Achieve New Heights, LLC, where he focuses on helping people find the career that energizes them so they can have the life that fulfills them.
Today episode taps into Don’s experience serving on 5 separate non-profit boards such as Board Chair for the San Antonio Red Cross Chapter. In each, he found the organization was not always clear on the qualifications they were looking for, nor clear with members on their role and expectations.
Our conversation will touch on topics such as board members that took the role to advance their career, disengaged members, and especially the vetting process and finding alignment of non-profit and personal missions.
Question to answer
What does your organization need?
What is your board vetting process?
Is the board operational or fundraising?
Takeaways
If the board members are misaligned – not doing what they love. They will lose confidence and energy.
Be clear what role the board performs. To be unclear – is to be unkind.
Be clear with members on the board expectations.
Hold people to their commitment. Inspire them versus force them.
Learn to have meaningful conversations.
Don.Gleason@AchieveNewHeights.com
Connect with https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-gleason/
Achieve New Heights, LLc
Find recommended books at: https://NonprofitCorner.org/Book
Ideal Team Player, Patrick Lencioni
Crucial Conversations, Patterson-Grenny-McMillian-Switzler
EntreLeadership, Dave Ramsey
EMyth Revisited, Michael E Gerber
Michelle Chenault, owner of M Chenault Management Consulting, LLC, brings more than 16 years of expertise to business consulting.
Michelle's professional journey includes working in the non-profit sector, where she provides technical writing and meticulously crafts grant proposal responses, comprehensive program plans, and organizational policies and procedures. She collaborates passionately with non-profit organizations that share the mission of nurturing entrepreneurs such as the Houston Women's Business Center (WBC) and the Small Business Development Center. Her commitment to these roles underlines her dedication to fostering innovation and progress within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In this episode we discuss the importance of a program plan, internal documentation, and when should Policies and Procedures be developed.
Policies and Procedures help facilitate staying compliance, establishing processes, and makes operations more efficient.
Takeaways
Free 30-minute Organization Assessment! https://calendly.com/mchenault/non-profit
#philantrepreneurfoundation
#nonprofit systems
#nonprofitmanagement
#nonprofitoperations
Katherine Lacefield is a well-versed ‘Nonprofiteer’ with 20 years of experience providing direct services to her local SPCA, leading the fundraising, and being the spokesperson of an animal rights nonprofit. She then went on to found her fundraising consulting practice Just Be Cause Consulting.
For the past six years she has been at the forefront of grantmaking research as coordinator of Canada’s leading grantmaking research Lab, PhiLab (https://philab.uqam.ca/en/about-us/philab-network/)
In this episode of the Nonprofit Corner Podcast we discuss:
1. How the term Non-human philanthropy has been misused and applied in the sector.
2. There is no such thing as non-human philanthropy, we are part of an ecosystem in which everything has an impact on all aspects of existence.
3. Strive for a more holistic vision of philanthropy, in deciding how to support the sector. One big need is operational support through training and services.
RESOURCES
http://www.justbecauseconsulting.com/
Grants pipeline spreadsheet:
https://mailchi.mp/83cdeb7410d8/grant-pipeline-template-freebie
Free 30-minute fundraising training call: https://justbecauseconsulting.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e0e6206ea09742a32ab2de38&id=dc71a7968c&e=39c848d8bd
Effective Nonprofit Leaders Success Toolkit – https://DrVictoriaBoyd.com/GIVEAWAY
This episode is jammed packed with valuable tips and strategies from Sarah Olivieri, a true business visionary in the nonprofit space. She’s an international best-selling author, globally renowned speaker and Founder of PivotGround, which supports nonprofits to become financially sustainable world-changers.
She created The Impact Method®️ - a powerful framework that helps nonprofits and for-profits alike simplify their operations, improve their capacity, build aligned teams, and make a bigger impact without getting overwhelmed or burning out.
In this episode we discuss some key concepts that you should ensure become a part of your planning process.
Grab her Leadership Blueprint during the Giveaway or afterwards visit her website.
The Giveaway 11/6-26: https://DrVictoriaBoyd.com/Giveaway
Sarah's books can be found at: https://NonprofitCorner.org/books
https://NonprofitCorner.org is your hub, Learn how to be a podcast guest' find books, resources, and tools.
Stan N. Shields has been working in the Marketing Automation and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) field for over 40 years. With his wealth of experience and expertise, he’s dedicated to helping businesses (and nonprofits) improve their marketing efforts and drive better results.
Some Useful Benefits
GREAT tool - MailBox Power $79/month - you just cover postage.
Benefits:
DIY Cost Comparison to send 1000 4x6 (5 x 7) postcards