Nonprofit Diaries

What do you do when you pour your heart into a fundraising campaign... and it flops? 💔

For Maria, she didn't let it bring her down.

She shares the Valentine's Day campaign that did not land with her audience and what that taught her about developing appeals, so that years later... she ran the same campaign again with great success.

Connect with Maria 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-rio-ethical-fundraising/

Learn about Further Together's approach to community-centric fundraising 👉 https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/

Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

"We COULD do this... or, I could buy a new lake house." 💰

This was a direct quote Ben encountered when speaking to a for-profit business owner about growth.

Now that Ben works in the nonprofit sector, he's sharing his observations about how nonprofits approach investment vs. for-profits... and what he's learned might surprise you. 👀

Connect with Ben 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminsmithee/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

A Nonprofit Diaries favorite is BACK to help you navigate bosses behaving badly!

In her first episode, we heard how Cindy's boss ambushed her on a long car ride, and she was so rattled that she forgot to lock her car, which was later stolen.

Now, she's spilling the tea on more managers gone rogue..... and offering advice on getting through these moments with your professionalism intact.

Connect with Cindy 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman/

🔗 Learn more about the Nonprofit Fractionals Network 👉 https://www.nonprofitfractionals.com/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

Advice feels different when you're the one living through it.

That's what JB learned when she transitioned from nonprofit consultant to the executive director seat. She shares the realization she made around best practices for board engagement, and how the experience changed her whole approach to advising nonprofit leaders.

Connect with JB 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jb-favour/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

🫣 It was an awkward conversation no leader wants to have...

Early in Jamie’s career, an unexpected wardrobe issue at a fundraising event meant sharing deeply uncomfortable feedback with an employee.

Jamie explains how she approached the conversation with care... the question she suggests asking when there's a power dynamic in the room... and the lesson she learned about the quiet loneliness of leadership.

Connect with Jamie 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamielynnwilliams/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

The plan was to spend her career and retire at the nonprofit she loved.

But after an unexpected separation, Elizabeth Vahey Smith lost her job, home, community, and sense of direction. 💔

She shares how processing that experience guided her down a new path, to help organizations prepare their people to face workplace stress without sacrificing their well-being.

Learn about the RISE Capacity Model 👉 https://elizabethvaheysmith.com/rise-capacity-consulting/

Connect with Elizabeth 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethvaheysmith/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

In fundraising... should you go big or go home?

David’s team traveled to Thailand with an expensive satellite to give donors a live window into a community celebration.

Then the local internet outperformed the equipment, the control room lost control, and the donors starting noticing the chaos. 🫠

After this experience... you might be surprised to hear David's advice for fundraisers with big plans for their next donor experience.

Connect with David 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/digital-fundraiser/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

🛑 "I just had to stop apologizing for who I was and what I was trying to do."

As a military spouse, mother of three and nonprofit founder & executive director, Michelle is a case study on feeling pressure to be everything to everyone.

She shares her approach to balancing her energy between all her passions and how she stays present when it matters.

Connect with Michelle 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-baker-lang/

Learn about Operation Honor: Rural Salute 🫡 https://www.ohruralsalute.org/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

Ever get that feeling in your gut that you need to make a change?

🌎 Kevin acted on that feeling and the world is better for it. 🌎

He explains how a chance meeting in Iowa... led him to Guatemala... where he helped clean 4 MILLION pounds of trash from the waterways... before starting a new nonprofit that's helping to reduce waste, support farmers, give local women jobs and create sustainable textiles.

If you need inspiration to follow you heart - this listen is for you.

Connect with Kevin 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-kuhlow-1b340715/

Learn about PINA&KAKAW 🍍 https://www.linkedin.com/company/pina-kakaw

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

Her team said she lacked integrity. That moment changed her outlook and her career.

When Kathy's colleagues filed a grievance against her, she said it was like a "knife in the heart." 💔

She bravely shares how she slowly lost herself under a mountain of pressure, how she got back to her authentic self, and the steps she believes nonprofit leaders can take to stay true to their values.

Connect with Kathy 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathydarcher/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

From politely asking a donor to put his gun away... to using shoes as a strategy for securing a large gift... Erik has navigated a myriad of personalities and situations in his storied career.

He shares some memorable moments from 5,000+ face to face donor visits - including one full-circle moment that gave him chills.

Connect with Erik 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriktomalis/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

Ever been SO resistant to an idea, but when you gave it a chance, it changed everything?

On the advice of a colleague, Natalie and her fundraising team tried something new... and it QUADRUPLED their results. 🤑

Natalie shares the method that not only transformed her campaigns, but also the course of her career.

Connect with Natalie 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-freckleton/

Learn about what she's building at Velora 👉 https://www.joinvelora.com/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

"You should quit. Your idea is dumb."

After navigating confusing paperwork, investing thousands of dollars and waiting almost a year to start his nonprofit... this was NOT the advice Steven was expecting to get from his peers in veteran's services industry.

Steven's story will remind you that passion, lived experience and perseverance are more powerful than naysayers and negativity.

🇺🇸 Learn about Shields and Stripes 👉 https://shieldsandstripes.org/

🤝 Connect with Stephen 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-nisbet-89b5891a9/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

The body keeps score, even when the mind doesn't. 😅 And for Kiersten, job stress had a visible effect on her health.

She shares the symptom that came out of nowhere, how she healed her nervous system, and the mindset shift she adopted to keep her from overdoing it moving forward.

Connect with and learn from Kiersten here 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillkiersten/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

"I need you to trust me." 🙏

Caleb was brought on to help reach younger donors, but leadership wasn't all in on his approach.

He explains how he convinced a skeptical board to stick with it for 2 years... until he saw six-figure success.

Connect with and learn from Caleb here 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-dansby/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

It was an uncomfortable moment that taught Krista a lot about how she wanted to show up as a nonprofit professional.

She shares how she reacted in the moment, how it shifted her career, and what she believes people need to do more often to help avoid or mange uncomfortable situations in fundraising.

Connect with and learn from Krista 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristafberry/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

A new job. A sick kiddo. A conversation that would set the stage for culture and care moving forward.

In an industry that's seeing so many people leave, Evan shares a moment in time that made him STAY.

🫡 Become a Nonprofiteer™, read the SISR Report, and learn more about the "Dear Nonprofiteer" 'zine 👉 https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

Cindy had a plan to ask for a promotion. What actually happened did NOT follow that plan. She explains the series of events that started with an awkward conversation and ended with a stolen car!

🔗 Learn more about the Nonprofit Fractionals Network 👉 https://www.nonprofitfractionals.com/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

"Nonprofits aren't inherently better than corporate America..." ⬅️ This was the realization Eric DePalma made about work/life balance early on in his career. Eric shares the changes he made to stop the burnout cycle and the green flag moment that showed his employer was on the same page.

🐝 Join the Nonprofit Hive 👉 https://thenonprofithive.com

📖 Read or contribute to the Nonprofit Burn Book 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-burn-book/

✍️ Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

🩷 Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/

Get ready to trauma-bond, because we've all had this moment: your stomach drops, your eyesight gets hazy, and you have NO idea what to do.

For Tremayne, it happened on show night in a brand new theatre with a group of major donors who didn't have seats for the very program they funded.

Hear how a power drill fixed the immediate problem... and how policy changes stopped it from ever happening again.

Meet Tremayne and learn about his tenure in fundraising here 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/tremayneedwards/

Got your own story to tell? Submit a diary entry to be featured on the podcast 👉 https://bit.ly/4tXt0d6

Connect with our community on LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-diaries/