Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
Further Together: Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations
294 episodes
4 days ago
Send us a text Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action? Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change? In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being ...
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Send us a text Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action? Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change? In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being ...
Send us a text Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action? Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change? In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being ...
Social enterprises aren't only about earning or diversifying revenue; they’re key to finding creative, sustainable ways to advance your mission while serving your community with dignity. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio chats with Tom Armitage, who has been leading The SEED, a project of the Guelph Community Health Centre, for almost 10 years. The SEED is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to good food, and along the way they ha...
Relying on a fundraiser’s personal network isn’t a fundraising strategy; it’s a shortcut that can cost your nonprofit big in the long run. In this episode, Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride unpack why this common hiring question is a major red flag, what it reveals about an organization’s approach to fundraising, and how small nonprofits can shift toward healthier, more sustainable donor relationships. Meet the Hosts Maria Rio: Expert fundraiser with 10+ years of experience help...
The nonprofit world is changing FAST - and the way we fundraise, build teams, and connect with communities is being rewritten in real time. If you’ve been feeling the tension between keeping your nonprofit afloat today and preparing for tomorrow, this episode is a must-listen. In this solo episode, Maria Rio dives into five powerful forces shaping the future of the nonprofit sector and lays out what organizations might look like by 2035. From workforce shifts and AI adoption to governme...
About The Episode AI is here to stay, and many nonprofits are already embracing it. In this episode, we break down how you can set up your own custom GPT to save time, boost donor engagement, and make your team’s life a whole lot easier. Whether you're writing thank-you emails, managing volunteers, or brainstorming fundraising ideas, your nonprofit can benefit from an AI assistant that actually knows your mission. Nonprofit AI Use: The Highlights Get Clear on Your Goals ...
Ever tried to juggle visionary ideas, tight budgets, and a team that spans every learning style under the sun? In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria sits down with management coach and EDI powerhouse Marisa Tran (they/them) to unpack what “people-first, consent-based leadership” really looks like when you’re running a small shop. Marisa is an autistic, gender-queer, Irish-Vietnamese settler with 15 years of experience helping organizations clean up their HR, embed equity, and gr...
Good Works estimates that a staggering $280 billion in estate wealth is expected to flow into Canadian charities. That’s not a number small nonprofits can afford to overlook. Planned giving doesn’t have to be exclusive, intimidating, or tax-code-heavy. In this episode, we dive into how small nonprofits can approach planned giving in a way that’s equitable, inclusive, and deeply aligned with community values. We’re joined by Chantelle Ohrling, a thought leader in both the planned giving ...
Too many small nonprofits build their budgets on optimism alone, dreaming big without the strategy or infrastructure to back it up. This episode is all about why that’s a problem, and how to stop the cycle of setting fundraising goals that hurt more than they help. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit, Maria Rio and co-host Caitlin McBride get real about what it means to set realistic, strategic fundraising goals, and what happens when you don’t. From pressure-filled board expectation...
Street fundraising teaches you more than grit, it teaches you the psychology of yes. Maria shares how to use these powers for good. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria shares real-world insights from her time as a face-to-face fundraiser, where she learned the science and subtlety behind why people say yes. It’s about harnessing cognitive biases and psychology to ethically move people toward action. Whether you're fundraising in person, online, or in campaigns, ...
Marketing doesn’t have to mean manipulation. But for many small nonprofits, common practices like donor recognition, emotional appeals, and urgency-driven fundraising can unintentionally cause harm. In this episode, Maria and anti-oppressive marketer Natalia Sanyal unpack how to shift your messaging and methods without compromising your values or your impact. Natalia works with human-first brands, helping for-profit and nonprofit organizations market more ethically. Here she shares her ...
Running a small nonprofit often means juggling strategy, people, programs, and inbox chaos, all while making what feels like a million decisions a day. If you’ve ever felt stuck between leading and just trying to keep up, this episode is for you. In this candid and insightful conversation, Maria chats with returning guest Veronica LaFemina about one of the most overlooked pain points in nonprofit life: how decisions are made, delegated, and communicated. From messy inboxes to that naggi...
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Building a Fundraising Board Fundraising isn’t about money; it’s about PEOPLE. And some of your most powerful people? Your board. In this episode, we dive into the challenges small nonprofits face when trying to activate their boards around fundraising. From fear of asking to a total misunderstanding of what fundraising even is, we’re breaking down the myths, sharing real-world tactics, and giving you the mindset shifts that actually w...
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you want to learn how my company helps nonprofits create a fundraising plan, this link will explain: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/discoverycall How to create a GREAT fundraising strategy for your small nonprofit Every thriving nonprofit starts with a plan, not a guess. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, we break down how a thoughtful, strategic fundraising plan can set your organization up for sustainable growth, sm...
Wondering how to make millions for your nonprofit? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Quilen Blackwell, co-founder of Chicago Eco House and Southside Blooms, as he shares how sustainability and social enterprise can transform communities. Quilen discusses his journey from starting with zero funds to running a $2 million nonprofit. Learn how his organization uses vacant lots to create solar-powered flower farms that employ at-risk youth, creating a self-sustaining business model that ...
Does making your nonprofit feel inclusive seem impossible? Today, we're getting real about diversity, equity, and inclusion in our sector. Join host Maria Rio and Michelle Okere, an expert in nonprofit equity, diversity, and inclusion, as they discuss how communication and belonging play a crucial role in nonprofit success. Michelle shares her lived experience and practical strategies for embedding equity into organizational strategy and nonprofit governance. Learn how to build an inc...
How about turning your LinkedIn profile into a powerful fundraising tool? Join Maria Rio and LinkedIn expert, Michelle Benson, as they share actionable strategies for nonprofits to build their digital presence and attract funders via LinkedIn. In this episode, Michelle discusses how to create content that actually enagges donors and funders as well as how to use the platform for donor prospecting and stewardship. Learn how to connect with funders, enhance your nonprofit’s visibility, and tu...
Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :) Subscribe for more episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Mandatory office returns are back but are they actually helping us work better? In today's episode, we get real about task masking, quiet quitting, and the push-pull tension around remote work that every fundraiser and nonprofit leader is feeling right now. For many, being back at your desk doesn't mean you're actually getting more done; it might just mean you'...
In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with major gifts expert, Emma Lewzey, to bust myths, shift mindsets, and bring some much-needed clarity (and courage!) to one of fundraising’s most misunderstood areas. Whether you’re in a small shop or a national organization, this episode will remind you: you don’t need to be perfect to build authentic relationships; you just need to be curious, strategic, and a little bit brave. Major Gift Fundraising – The Highlights:&n...
In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria unpacks the nonprofit power dynamic we don’t talk about enough: what to do when you need to move things forward, but your Executive Director or board just… won’t. Whether you're tired of chasing down information, being given confusing direction, or trying to navigate an ineffective board, this episode is your tactical guide to managing up. Maria offers no-fluff strategies to help you communicate clearly, influence with integrity, and...
Despite being a sector dominated by women, nonprofit leadership remains disproportionately male. In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Caitlin McBride to unpack the gender gap at the top. They dig into everything from the “motherhood penalty” vs. the “fatherhood bonus,” to sneaky internalized biases and straight-up structural BS. Just because our sector talks about equity, doesn’t mean we're actually living it. Whether you’re climbing the ladder,...
Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
Send us a text Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action? Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change? In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being ...
