The Nonprofit MBA Podcast with Stephen Halasnik

Recurring giving is a crucial aspect of sustaining a nonprofit cash flow. To encourage donors to make regular donations, you should build strong relationships with your supporters, provide clear and compelling messaging about your impact, offer convenient donation options, and express appreciation for ongoing support. Technology and automation tools can streamline the recurring giving process and help nonprofits stay connected with their donors. In today’s podcast, Erica Waasdorp from A Direct Solution and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss how to get recurring for your nonprofit.

Member engagement is critical for the success of every nonprofit organization. Member engagement refers to the level of involvement and participation of the members of the nonprofit in the organization's activities and initiatives. Engaged members are more likely to be committed to the organization's mission, goals, and objectives and are more likely to support the organization's activities, programs, and fundraising efforts. Nonprofits can foster member engagement by communicating regularly with their members, providing opportunities for involvement and feedback, and creating a culture of transparency and inclusivity. In today’s podcast, Amand Lea Kaiser from Kaiser Insights LLC and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solution discuss the keys to nonprofit member engagement.

When filling out a Nonprofit 990, there are several key things that you should keep in mind to maintain compliance with IRS regulations and to reap the benefits of increased transparency and accountability. You should accurately report all revenue and expenses, report any significant organizational changes, and be mindful of public disclosure requirements. Properly filling out the 990 can help your nonprofit organization avoid penalties and fees from the IRS and serve as an essential tool for organizational planning and evaluation. In today’s podcast, Joseph Scarano from Araize and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss key things to know when filling out nonprofit 990

For fundraisers, talking about money can be a daunting task. There are several reasons why fundraising can be a scary undertaking for many nonprofits, including feeling uncomfortable requesting donations, being unsure about how to discuss money appropriately, cultural or societal norms that may discourage discussions about money, fear of rejection, and more.  In today’s podcast, Lori Jacobwith from Ignited Fundraising and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss why talking about money is scary for fundraisers.

Fundraising is an essential aspect of running a successful nonprofit organization. Without adequate funding, a nonprofit can hardly sustain its operations or achieve its mission. Smart nonprofit owners strive to figure out ways to go about their fundraising campaigns to get the requisite support to facilitate their numerous operations. In today’s podcast, Chad Barger from Productive Fundraising and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss seven keys to the success of nonprofit fundraising.

Social media has become vital for nonprofits to spread their message and increase their impact. Storytelling is an effective technique that nonprofits can use to engage their audiences and make their message more memorable. By sharing compelling stories about their mission, successes, and the people they serve, nonprofits can inspire empathy and connect with their supporters on an emotional level. In today’s podcast, Julian Campbell from J Campbell Social Marketing, LLC and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss social media and storytelling for nonprofits. 

Nonprofit strategic planning is an essential process that enables nonprofit organizations to set and achieve their long-term goals effectively. It involves defining your nonprofit mission, assessing its current situation, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and developing a roadmap to guide its future direction. Effective nonprofit strategic planning requires a collaborative and iterative approach that involves all stakeholders, including board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries. A well-executed strategic plan can help nonprofit organizations to prioritize their activities, allocate resources efficiently, and measure progress toward their goals.  In today’s podcast, Mandy Pearce from Funding For Good and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss Nonprofit Strategic Planning: Setting Your Organization Up For Success

Streamlining your nonprofit grant writing process can help you save time, reduce stress, and increase your chances of success. By creating a grant calendar, developing a standard proposal template, collecting and organizing your data, and getting feedback from others, you can create strong grant proposals to help your nonprofit achieve its mission. In today's podcast, Lynn Arsenault from LMA Grant Consulting and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss how to streamline your grant writing process for success. 

Nonprofit organizations are increasingly adopting agile methodologies to achieve their mission and goals. Agile leadership in the nonprofit sector involves applying agile principles and values to leadership practices to enhance organizational effectiveness and responsiveness to change.  Agile leadership in nonprofit organizations involves creating a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability. It empowers teams to self-organize and make decisions that align with the organization's goals and values. Nonprofit agile leaders prioritize stakeholder engagement, constituents' satisfaction, and value delivery. They encourage open communication, trust, and transparency to promote collaboration and innovation. In today’s podcast,  Diane Leonard from DH Leonard Consulting and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss how to create agile leadership at your nonprofit.

Branding is ultimately critical to a nonprofit's success, and it can change people's perceptions about your organization, drive donations, and increase your organizational values. Smart nonprofit owners make concerted efforts in their branding strategies so as to remain on top of their niche. However, when branding is done wrongly, it can generate opposite results. In today's podcast, Farra Trompeter from Big Duck and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss nonprofit branding: building and executing excellence.