Beta
Logo of the podcast Connected Philanthropy

Connected Philanthropy (Foundant Technologies)

Explorez tous les épisodes de Connected Philanthropy

Plongez dans la liste complète des épisodes de Connected Philanthropy. Chaque épisode est catalogué accompagné de descriptions détaillées, ce qui facilite la recherche et l'exploration de sujets spécifiques. Suivez tous les épisodes de votre podcast préféré et ne manquez aucun contenu pertinent.

Rows per page:

1–50 of 105

DateTitreDurée
05 Dec 2022How to Keep Yourself Safe00:20:51

Learn how to build a cybersecurity plan that will keep you and your organization protected.

Lynn Soeths, Manager of Security Services | Highpoint Networks

Lynn oversees cyber and physical security teams located in North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado but spans the US in the scope of her work. Lynn also enjoys project management and pre-sales engagements.

Links: 

● CIS Controls links: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-list

● Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhdspud

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-soeth-543997bb/

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com


14 Mar 2022Building Relationships: Advice From Funders00:37:10

Hear ideas and strategies from funders on how they are maintaining human connection in the time of COVID.

Topics:

  1. How are you building relationships with Grantees
  2. How are you building relationships with Funders
  3. How are you building relationships within your Organization

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

08 Jul 2020COVID-19 Concerns In Scholarship Management (Session 2)00:29:57

Continuing the conversation on how scholarship providers are responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

Topics Covered:

  • How student interviews will be handled
  • How committee's will come together to make decisions
  • Transition from discussion to scoring for selection

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

14 Sep 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Donor Management (Session 3)00:52:20

This is the third discussion on how donor management has changed in the wake of COVID-19.

Topics Covered:

  • Funding in the future- Has anyone started thinking about the next 16-18 months?
  • Donor Fatigue- How to prevent it
  • Donor Engagement

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

25 Oct 2021Nonprofit Accounting and the Benefits of Active Preparation00:21:06

Christian Spearow | Jitasa

Christian is the General Manager, Bookkeeping & Accounting Services, and has been with Jitasa since the summer of 2010. It was his first ‘real job’ and he’s never left. He currently works as the General Manager of Bookkeeping & Accounting Services, overseeing all accountants here at Jitasa. Previously, Christian was the Director of Client Services, supervising a team of accountants that work with our +70 Boy Scouts of America councils and another team dedicated to serving Unions.

In his spare time, Christian enjoys basking in the great outdoors, playing with his horses and dogs on his little piece of land, and indulging in his passion for the drums. He also serves as Treasurer for the Idaho Diaper Bank, which helps provide diapers to families in need at little to no cost.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

16 Nov 2020Pursuing Federal Grants01:05:44

Applying for federal grants can – to put it mildly – be daunting. In this training, presenter Julie Assel, GPC makes it easier by guiding participants through the major components, the key similarities and differences between foundation and federal grants, and how policy can impact the timelines of federal grant opportunities and deadlines. She then guides you through some of the pitfalls and highlights of writing federal grants, including planning, writing, submission, management, and the hotly debated topics of writing styles and budgets/finances.

Topics:

  • Examine major trends in federal funding and how to find appropriate grant opportunities for your organization as an awardee or as a partner agency
  • Examine key similarities and differences between foundation and federal grants
  • Learn about whether federal grants are more difficult to manage
  • Learn about federal planning approaches and writing styles
  • Learn about factors impacting budgets

Speaker:

Julie Assel | President/CEO, Assel Grant Services

Julie has written awarded grants totaling more than $100 million since 2003, writing both federal and foundation grants for non-profit organizations, healthcare organizations, universities, and school districts. She currently serves as Board President for the national Grant Professional Certification Institute and holds a Fundraising Certificate from the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership and a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Luther College. Her organization, Assel Grant Services , takes the mystery out of the grant process, including research , proposal creation, and application process. Assel Grant Services is a GPCI Accepted Provider and Julie Assel is one of 10 GPA Approved Trainers who is also a credentialed grant professional (GPC).

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

07 Jul 2020COVID-19 Concerns In Grantseeking (Session 1)01:15:27

Listen to a panel of experienced grant consultants discuss:

  • The impact to existing grantseeking efforts
  • Tips & recommendations on how to respond and work with funders moving forward
  • Q&A from the live audience regarding their specific questions and concerns

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Resources from the panelists, the audience, and more >>>

Q&A from the audience during the live session >>>

Chat log from the audience during the live session >>>

 

PANELISTS

Amanda Day, GPC | Co-host, Fundraising HayDay Podcast

Amanda is a Grant Writing USA trainer and former municipal grants administrator turned consultant with 17 years’ experience. She’s the Fundraising HayDay Podcast co-host and Board Member of the Grant Professionals Association. Amanda is a total book nerd, grant geek, and music lover. Follow her and her podcast on Twitter: @wholewheatgirl & @fundinghayday. [Read More]

Kimberly Hays de Muga | Co-host, Fundraising HayDay Podcast

Kimberly is the co-host of the Fundraising HayDay podcast, successful grant writer, fundraiser, and national speaker and trainer. She has more than 22 years of fundraising and grantseeking experience focused on health and human service nonprofits, from hospitals to food banks to programs supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities. Her passion is coaching and training nonprofits and funders toward successful fundraising that better serves their communities. [Read More]

Jo Miller, GPC, SMS | Managing Director and Founder, SmartEGrants

Jo is the founder and Managing Director of SmartEGrants and the SmartE Learning Center, a professional development and training organization, and owner / principal of J Miller & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in grants, fund development, social media strategy, program design, team development, and online communications. Jo has more than 25-years experience in grants, fund development, social media strategy, program design, team development, and online communications working with nonprofits and government agencies. [Read More]

Johna Rodgers, GPC | Founder, Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC

Johna has been there and done that. And almost every step of her divergent path included grants. For nearly 30 years, Johna has helped organizations of all types and sizes address their most critical needs—at the federal, state, corporate, and grassroots levels. In 2015, she opened Johna...

14 Nov 2020Handling the Year-End Spike in a Virtual World00:16:45

With this year ending different than normal, many foundations are rethinking what year-end looks like for them.

Topics Covered:

  • Scholarships - how is your organization handling students taking a gap semester due to COVID?
  • Is your organization expecting year-end to look different from prior years?
  • Has your organization started planning for year-end? If so, what are you doing to manage this typically busy season?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

19 Aug 2020Continuing COVID-19 Concerns in Scholarship Management00:44:21

In this episode of Scholarship Coffee Talks; we're continuing the conversation on how COVID-19 has effected the world of scholarships and scholarship management

Topics Covered:

  • Changes to renewable scholarships
  • Learning more about your own community and familiarizing yourself with tuition prices
  • Proactive communication
  • Emergency funds
  • Changing applications
  • Assessing financial need in the current landscape

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

12 Sep 2022Nonprofit Consulting: A Powerful Option for Organizations00:34:22

This episode covers important details you should know if you are considering hiring a nonprofit consultant or becoming one.

Amanda Pearce, CFRE

A grant writing expert, executive and development coach, fundraising consultant, and national fundraising trainer, Mandy Pearce, launched Funding for Good, Inc. in 2009 to equip organizations with the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. Mandy has taken her passion and expertise for fundraising to the development field and shared it with individuals and organizations for over 23 years through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, capital campaign planning, seminars, and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style brings thousands of people annually to her presentations at conventions, trainings, and workshops, in person and online. Her business model is centered on her key values: honesty, efficiency, direct communication, and bringing dollars to local communities.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

09 Jul 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Day-to-Day Accounting Functions (Session 1)00:31:03

How are funders responding to COVID-19 in their day-to-day accounting functions?

Topics covered:

  • Working Remotely
  • ACH Payment Documentation
  • Bill Paying Services
  • Processing Transactions
  • Change In Volume
  • Mail
  • Electronic payments in the long-term

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

29 Aug 2022Working With Colleges and Universities00:30:59

In this Coffee Talk we discuss communication with colleges, who owns scholarship requirements adherence, and tips for working with colleges and universities.

Topics:

  1. Communication with colleges and students about scholarships.
  2. Different colleges rules and systems with scholarships.
  3. Tips for better communication for students and universities.

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

30 Jan 2023Prioritization00:35:45

Say NO to what is not essential, so that you can say YES to the work that matters most. Prioritization is not about getting more things done, it is about getting the RIGHT things done. Learn strategies and frameworks to help you better prioritize in this episode.

Andrea Stevenson | Solutions Engineer, Foundant Technologies

Drea is a dynamic and analytical professional with 15+ years of experience in operations management and marketing/communications across a variety of industries. She has held just about every position one can hold in the nonprofit world including Executive Director. She is a natural leader with a proven history of driving revenue, executing successful projects, and strengthening positioning by navigating the intersection between business strategy development, integrated marketing, and operations.

Drea's Strategy Screen:

  • Does this align with our mission and support our strategic plan?
  • Must leverage our mission advantage
  • Does this communicate our vision?
  • Must engage our key stakeholders
  • Is this accessible/ inclusive?
  • Must support people in reaching their full potential beyond meeting their basic needs
  • Impact must be measureable (both qualitatively and quantitatively)
  • Must be financialy sustainable through earned or contributed revenue
  • Strategic consideration of the allocation of our resources must be determined before a program is added.

Topics:

  1. Saying no
  2. Making time for self-care and letting your mind wander
  3. Email
  4. Trade-offs

Links:


Books Mentioned:


26 Jul 2021Creating a Fundraising Board00:38:35

Darian Rodriguez Heyman | Facilitator, Fundraiser, Social Entrepreneur, and Author

Darian is an accomplished facilitator, fundraiser, social entrepreneur, and author. After co-founding, globally scaling, and ultimately selling Beyond Interactive, one of the first digital advertising agencies, he began his life’s work of “helping people help.” This started during his five-year tenure as Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation, after which he was appointed as a Commissioner for the Environment in San Francisco, and authored the best-selling Nonprofit Fundraising 101 and edited the best-selling Nonprofit Management 101 (Wiley & Sons). In addition to his active consulting, facilitation, and public speaking work, Heyman currently serves as the part-time Executive Director of Numi Foundation, Editor-in-Chief of the popular nonprofit online magazine Blue Avocado, and Co-Producer of the GenderSmart Investing Summit.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

20 Aug 2020Building a Fundraising Board00:56:22

Is your nonprofit struggling to secure donations from your board of directors? Are you having a tough time getting them to open doors to potential donors, funders, and partners? Listen to this highly practical, tactical episode where our dynamic presenter will share concrete tips and tools designed to help your organization get more dollars in the door.

Learn how to engage your board in a process that clarifies exactly what’s expected of each member, creates consensus around board expansion priorities, that completely transform your board meetings and make better use of everyone’s time, and that helps gracefully transition off the “dead weight”.

You'll learn:

  • How to transition legacy inactive or “working” board members into engaged fundraisers
  • How to ensure that all incoming and existing trustees know exactly what’s expected of them
  • How to get your board into lockstep around your top 3-5 recruitment priorities
  • An easy-to-implement tip for moving board meetings from boring updates to dynamic discussions

 

SPEAKER

Darian Rodriguez Heyman | Facilitator, Fundraiser, Social Entrepreneur, and Author

Darian is an accomplished facilitator, fundraiser, social entrepreneur, and author. After co-founding, globally scaling, and ultimately selling Beyond Interactive, one of the first digital advertising agencies, he began his life’s work of “helping people help.” This started during his five-year tenure as Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation, after which he was appointed as a Commissioner for the Environment in San Francisco, and authored the best-selling Nonprofit Fundraising 101 and edited the best-selling Nonprofit Management 101 (Wiley & Sons). In addition to his active consulting, facilitation, and public speaking work, Heyman currently serves as the part-time Executive Director of Numi Foundation, Editor-in-Chief of the popular nonprofit online magazine Blue Avocado, and Co-Producer of the GenderSmart Investing Summit.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

25 Apr 2022Staying Connected With Your Board of Directors00:34:18

In this episode, we discuss strategies and ideas to keep your Board connected and engaged with your important philanthropic work.

Topics:

  1. What are your policies and procedures for your Board of Directors and Committees?
  2. How do you recruit and bring on new members?
  3. How do you structure committees and what responsibilities come with that membership?
  4. Do you have any events or special things you do to engage your Board Members?

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

03 Dec 2020Navigating CARES Act and Other Government Funding Programs00:34:30

The CARES Act has created increased government funding for grantmakers across the country. Listen in to hear how other funders are effectively managing the process of distributing government funds to generate maximum impact in their communities.

Topics:

  • What’s an aspect of your application or administration of funding that is working well?
  • Are you working collectively with others in your state? What does that look like?
  • What are the expectations and standards for reporting that you must meet?
  • How are you managing the high volume of requests?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

07 Oct 2020Community Foundations: Where to go for Additional Accounting Resources00:27:09

With unique business needs and processes, foundations often have to look outside their own organization for help. Listen to your accounting peers discuss where they go for additional resources.

Topics:

  • Outsourced accounting services and outcomes
  • Outsourced CIOs, investment custodians, and local investment managers
  • Where to find relevant Continuing Professional Education

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

06 Jun 2022Nonprofit Impact Funnels and Avatars00:27:40

Boris Kievsky discusses how nonprofits can use storytelling, technology, and marketing principles to achieve their missions.

Boris Kievsky, Chief Storyteller and Nerd for Good | dotOrgStrategy

Boris is dedicated to helping nonprofits harness storytelling and technology to create more heroes for their cause and a better world for all of us. Having spent a decade in computer science and over 15 years in theater, TV and film, he now loves to combine his passions for technology, storytelling, and making a positive difference in the world. Over the last 10+ years, Boris has helped hundreds of nonprofits increase their impact locally and globally through effective use of storytelling across digital media including websites, social media, email, video, advertising and crowdfunding; as well as technology that can reach and help more people without over-stretching an organization's resources. In addition to consulting, Boris teaches Developing High-Impact Websites for Nonprofits at NYU, and hosts The Nonprofit Hero Factory podcast. You can learn more about his work at dotOrgStrategy.com

Links: 


 

Contact Info:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

01 Aug 2022The Great Resignation: Can We Change It To The Great Attraction?00:32:27

Learn how the "Big Quit" is impacting the nonprofit sector and what can folks do to combat the effects.

Mazarine Treyz

Mazarine is the creator of the Asking for More framework and mastermind, a veteran fundraiser with years of experience going from Development Associate to Development Director, host of the Asking for More podcast, and author of the books The Wild Woman’s Guide to Fundraising, Get the Job! Your Fundraising Career Empowerment Guide, and 10+ courses on fundraising.

She has helped thousands of people ask for more, whether in their fundraising work or a business that thrives. She is certified in Transformational Leadership from the Racing to Equity Institute and founder of a woman-owned emerging small business with multiple government contracts under her belt.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

04 Jul 2022Shifting Traditional Power Dynamics: Flexible, Direct Grants to Local Leaders00:32:49

Move92 is a nonprofit organization that partners with and empowers local leaders to solve problems in their communities through simple yet revolutionary tactics; direct unrestricted grants.

Geneva Pritchard , Executive Director | Move92

Geneva has nearly 20 years of experience working in international development. Her varied experience includes involvement in water and sanitation programs with CARE International in Nicaragua, drug-resistant malaria among migrant communities, vocational incentive projects for people living with HIV and innovative education systems for mobile populations on the Thailand/Myanmar border, and diabetic retinopathy among marginalized populations with The Fred Hollows Foundation in Nepal and the Pacific Islands. Geneva holds a degree in International Studies from Seattle University and a Masters in Public Health from Thammasat University located in Bangkok.

Geneva has a wealth of experience working for large NGOs and grassroots organizations. Relationship building has, and always will be, at the center of how Geneva operates. All of the streams of Geneva’s experience have perfectly converged into her current work with Move92. As a philanthropy advisor, Geneva now gets to put relationship building at the forefront of her work, with the aim of curating relationships between openhearted philanthropists and dynamic local leaders in all corners of the world.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

14 Feb 2022How Funders Can Reduce Applicant Burden00:34:32

Trust-based philanthropy is a hot topic these days, and for good reason. Given unprecedented challenges, organizations and applicants are having to work even harder to serve their constituents. Funders are asking how they can help by reducing applicant burden. Listen as funders discuss the following topics...

Topics:

  1. What prompted you as a funder to consider reducing applicant burden?
  2. What is required to make these changes?
  3. What changes have you already made?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

22 Mar 2021Managing Scholarships in a New Normal00:47:46

As we enter a new year, COVID continues to change how we serve students and donors. More students are seeking scholarship deferrals to take gap years or attend community colleges. There is also an increase in non-traditional scholarship applicants as many students return to complete college or decide to delay college. How we manage and communicate these changes to students and donors will be critical in delivering stable funding for students in the future. Listen to this Coffee Talk to hear how others are successfully navigating through these changes.

Topics:

  • What is your current scholarship deferral policy? Has it changed in the past year?
  • How are you managing donor funding expectations as it relates to deferrals?
  • How do you handle scholarships for students taking gap years?
  • Are you seeing a decline in scholarship applications? How is this impacting funding?
  • Are you seeing an increase in scholarship applications for non-traditional students?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

17 Jul 2023Embracing Change00:33:59

Change is the only constant in life. How do you decide which change to embrace and which to dismiss as a fad? Which changes—whether systems or processes—will create space for the essential, impactful work supporting your mission? Tune in to this episode to learn how to identify, prioritize, and embrace it.

Brad Ward, Regional Director, Community Foundations | Foundant Technologies

Brad joined the Foundant team after years at the Council on Foundations as the Lead Strategist for Community Philanthropy, with a keen focus on Community Foundations. Brad is also a former community foundation CEO who led the merger of two community foundations in Indiana and has firsthand experienced with the complexity of big change at a community foundation. With over 2,500 volunteer service hours across Europe, United States, and South America, Brad cares deeply about place, the connections and commitment of the people within their communities, and how important place and belonging matters. Brad resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, two children and rescue dog, and is eager to support community foundations with innovative technological solutions to advance the field.

Links:


18 Feb 2021Building Grant Proposals for Social Change - A discussion with Barbara Floersch00:53:35

Barbara Floersch | barbarafloersch.com

Barbara has over 40 years' experience managing nonprofits, writing grant proposals, and administering grants. She has raised millions of dollars in grant funding, served as a reviewer for federal grant competitions, trained thousands of nonprofit staff members throughout the US and internationally, and has testified before Congress on the reauthorization of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Floersch was a trainer for the Grantsmanship Center from 2000 to 2021 and served as the Center's Chief of Training and Curriculum for 12 years until her retirement in January of 2021. She has published hundreds of articles, has been a regular contributor to the NonProfit Times, and is the author of Grantsmanship: Program Planning & Proposal Writing, the updated, expanded edition of Norton Kiritz's seminal work in the field.

Barbara's new book, You Have A Hammer: Building Grant Proposals for Social Change, was released January 26, 2021 and is available at Amazon and other sites where books are sold. Her new website includes information on her books, a blog, and links to grant-related resources.

Barbara plans to write and speak about topics in which she has a special interest, and will begin offering a newsletter in February 2021. To learn more, purchase her new book, and sign up for her new newsletter, visit Barbarafloersch.com

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

20 Jun 2022Impact Investing: Expanding your outreach in the Community00:24:22

In this episode, we discuss loan requirements, tracking, and different loan repayment plans foundations have for their students.

Topics:

  1. What the foundations loan requirements are.
  2. How loans are tracked.
  3. What loan repayments look like for the foundations.

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

10 Oct 2022Telling The Story00:43:08

In this Coffee Talk, we hear from funders across North America on how they tell the stories behind their grantmaking dollars.

Topics:

  1. What stories do you want to tell?
  2. How do you tell your stories?
  3. Why do you want to tell your story in a better way?

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

29 Mar 2021Should Employees Donate to their own Organizations? A discussion with Ephraim Gopin00:34:36

Ephraim Gopin | 1832communications.com

Over the last two decades, Ephraim has worn all the nonprofit hats. He has been a CEO, fundraiser, event organizer, alumni director, grant writer, marketing director and more. Ephraim also served as global communications director for an international family foundation, giving him a chance to see how things look from the other side of the table.

Three years ago Ephraim founded 1832 Communications, an agency which helps nonprofits use smart and effective marketing to build relationships with donors and raise more money. 1832 partners with nonprofits to advance their fundraising efforts by upgrading their website and digital presence, boosting their email marketing apparatus and improving their marketing and fundraising collateral. 

Ephraim is the publisher of the popular daily e-newsletter Your Daily Dose of Nonprofit. He is also the host of the Your Weekly Dose of Nonprofit podcast.

Ephraim is always happy to connect with nonprofit pros on Twitter and LinkedIn. In his spare time, Ephraim is a new recipe cooker, 80s pop music master, a vocal and lifelong fan of Boston sports teams, a puzzle doer and a Looney Tunes lover. Ephraim is the proud father of three young adults, all of whom enjoy road trips with their dad but disapprove of how he takes selfies.  

Resources:

Employee Giving Ebook

Your Weekly Dose Of Nonprofit Podcast

Your Weekly Dose Of Nonprofit Newsletter

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

15 Aug 2022Recognizing the Need for Nonprofit Systems and Databases00:32:00

A nonprofit's productivity, collaboration, and knowledge sharing can all suffer if the right systems aren't in place. This episode explores some of the tools and technologies nonprofits should be aware of.

Amanda Pearce, CFRE

A grant writing expert, executive and development coach, fundraising consultant, and national fundraising trainer, Mandy Pearce, launched Funding for Good, Inc. in 2009 to equip organizations with the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. Mandy has taken her passion and expertise for fundraising to the development field and shared it with individuals and organizations for over 23 years through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, capital campaign planning, seminars, and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style brings thousands of people annually to her presentations at conventions, trainings, and workshops, in person and online. Her business model is centered on her key values: honesty, efficiency, direct communication, and bringing dollars to local communities.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

31 Jul 2023Dispelling 5 Common Fundraising Myths00:33:11

Thanks to many studies and research, we have much more information about giving trends, donor behaviors, and motivations that can inform how we best engage with our donors. This episode dispels common fundraising myths around recent trends in fundraising, donor motivations, ways donors give, and changing donor demographics.

Barbara O'Reilly, Founder and Principal | Windmill Hill Consulting

Barbara O’Reilly, CFRE understands that fundraising is much more than just raising money. It’s about enabling donors to realize their philanthropic dreams for issues that are most important to them and to be part of the change they want to see in the world. She brings to her clients nearly thirty years of major gifts, annual fund, and campaign fundraising experience at major non-profit organizations including Harvard University, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Oxford University in England, and the American Red Cross. She is an AFP Master Trainer and a frequent guest presenter on various webinars. Her consulting firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, helps non-profit organizations of all sizes cut through the noise and develop a profitable fundraising strategy that focuses on the resources, skills and tactics they need to build more effective donor relationships and catapult their revenue.

Links:


12 Jan 2021How to Find Good-Fit Grantmakers01:15:05

Grantmakers and the organizations they fund are partners. Grants provide the fuel, nonprofits provide the muscle, and together, funders and grantees pursue common goals.

Listen to tips of the trade and straight-forward advice on a proactive approach to developing long-term partnerships with funders.

Topics:

  • What motivates funders to make grants
  • A thorough, methodical approach to finding funders that are a good fit for your work
  • How to turn your funder research into a powerful, flexible plan of action

Speaker:

Barbara Floersch | Chief of Training & Curriculum for The Grantsmanship Center

Barbara has more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit management, grant proposal writing, grants administration, and nonprofit consulting. She has secured tens of millions of dollars in federal, state, and foundation grants; taught hundreds of seminars and classes at conferences, at colleges, and for nonprofit organizations; testified before the United States Congress on the reauthorization of the National Endowment for the Arts; published numerous articles on grant proposal writing and other, related topics; and served as an expert reviewer in many federal grant competitions for the Department of Education, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Family and Youth Services Bureau Barbara is author of Grantsmanship: Program Planning & Proposal Writing, the updated version of Norton Kiritz's seminal work which has guided grantseekers for nearly 50 years. She is also a regular contributor to The Nonprofit Times. Barbara has been a senior trainer for The Grantsmanship Center since 2000 and has delivered training programs throughout the United States and internationally.

To learn more about The Grantsmanship Center training and publications, please visit https://www.tgci.com/. And visit: https://www.tgci.com/training/webinar to see upcoming webinars from The Grantsmanship Center.

Find resources mentioned in the episode HERE

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

29 Jul 2024Leadership and Innovation in Nonprofit Work00:31:12

In this episode of Connected Philanthropy, we welcome Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. Lynn shares her inspiring journey from business consulting to the Clinton White House, and eventually founding a nonprofit that provides essential items to children in need. We dive into topics such as leadership, volunteer engagement, and measuring the impact of nonprofit work. Lynn discusses the power of community in driving change.

Lynn Margherio | Founder/CEO, Cradles to Crayons

Johnna is the CEO, head writer and consultant of J.M. Lacey Communications, LLC, which focuses on writing and brand storytelling, training and coaching. J.M. Lacey Communications empowers business owners to effectively communicate their purpose by teaching them how to find and tell their unique story to impact the world through a systematic process. Built on empathy and the desire to eliminate frustration for business owners, leaders and nonprofits, J.M. Lacey Communications seeks ways to simplify what has been unnecessarily complicated using proven systems to achieve results.

Links:


28 Feb 2022Cybersecurity00:23:37

Human error is what will cause you to succumb to a cyber attack, education and caution are our best tools. In this episode, Cory Brester and Tammy Tilzey talk about the simple but important ways you should be protecting yourself and your organization from cyber attacks.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own. Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support - providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Password managers:

  • LastPass
  • OnePassword
  • PassPack

Password analyzer: https://haveibeenpwned.com/.

Examples and information on: Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks 

Blog articles referenced, etc.


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

14 Dec 2020Adapting Your Programs for COVID-1900:42:29

Are you a board member or nonprofit leader looking to pivot your programs in light of COVID-19? Are you a grant professional struggling with articulating how your organization will meet program goals while accounting for the impacts of COVID-19?

Well, let’s face it, COVID-19 is here to stay. Listen as we discuss what it means to adapt our community programs and tell our ‘COVID-19 updated’ impact story to funders.

Topics:

  • How to pivot your program for greater impact in the community
  • Tips on modifying and communicating goals that take into consideration the impacts of COVID-19
  • The importance of keeping staff, participants, and stakeholders accountable while running a program virtually

Grant professionals, nonprofit leaders, board members, and program managers of all experience levels can benefit from this session.

Speaker:

Shavonn Richardson, MBA | Founder of Think and Ink Grant Consulting™

Shavonn is a grant writer, nonprofit consultant, speaker and an active member of the Grant Professionals Association. In her spare time, she practices yoga, prefers red wine over white, and loves to travel to the most remote vacation spots ever.

To learn more about Think and Ink Grants or to ask Shavonn follow-up questions, please visit https://www.thinkandinkgrants.com/. To view more of Shavonn’s resources on COVID-19, visit https://www.thinkandinkgrants.com/covid19.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

29 Apr 2024Unveiling Brand Stories: A Journey to Trust and Connection00:31:53

Discover how authentic storytelling can build trust, loyalty, and a genuine connection with audiences, forging a path towards meaningful engagement in today's busy world.

Johnna Lacey | CEO, J.M. Lacey Communications

Johnna is the CEO, head writer and consultant of J.M. Lacey Communications, LLC, which focuses on writing and brand storytelling, training and coaching. J.M. Lacey Communications empowers business owners to effectively communicate their purpose by teaching them how to find and tell their unique story to impact the world through a systematic process. Built on empathy and the desire to eliminate frustration for business owners, leaders and nonprofits, J.M. Lacey Communications seeks ways to simplify what has been unnecessarily complicated using proven systems to achieve results.

Links:


21 Nov 2022Nonprofits: Test Your Assumptions00:27:36

Learn how thoughtful questions can help you attract and retain donors of every capacity (small to major).

Chris Barlow, Founder and Customer Happiness Director | Beeline

Chris likes multiplication - what does that mean?

He is grateful to help nonprofits use digital marketing to multiply the reach of their mission and the growth of their donors.

Most of all, he's grateful to be the dad to seven kids, and to try to teach them how to live in a way that multiplies good in others.

Links: 

● Email: team@yourbeeline.com

● Other links: https://yourbeeline.com/finding-donors/

● Website to find volunteers with skills that would be interested in helping your nonprofit organization: Catchafire.org

● Blog: https://yourbeeline.com/586/attract-retain-donors/

● Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beeline_Chris

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beeline-marketing/

● Linkedin (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbarlow-nonprofit-marketing/

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

13 Feb 2023Time Management00:29:14

Time is our most valuable asset and we don’t want to give it away without thought. In this episode, we discuss how to use time management strategies to better organize our calendars and make sure we prioritize the work that matters most.

Sammie Holzwarth | Product Manager Grants and Scholarships, Foundant Technologies

In her time with Foundant (since 2011) Sammie Holzwarth has taken on many roles in her path to becoming the Product Manager of Grants & Scholarships. Starting as an intern with Foundant’s Marketing Team, Sammie then moved into a Client Success Manager role - successfully implementing well over 150 clients. Her Foundant adventure next took her to the Sales Team as Foundant’s GLM/SLM Product Implementation Engineer. Her breadth of knowledge and extensive experience working with a plethora of clients and in varying roles at Foundant fuels her passion and excitement to continually improve GLM/SLM, and herself which she now brings to her role as the Product Manager for Grants and Scholarships! Sammie has a passion for youth philanthropy and has spearheaded the Youth Giving Project in Bozeman, MT as well as serving as an Exponent Philanthropy Next Gen Fellow for 2016.

Montana holds a special place in Sammie’s heart as she is a born and raised Montanan; from rolling plains to mountain tops, this is where she feels most at home and takes every opportunity to soak in the outdoors. When traveling beyond the Big Sky State, Sammie loves anywhere with a vibrant culture, and delicious food. Connect with Sammie directly at sammie.holzwarth@foundant.com.

Topics:

  1. The power of the pause
  2. Calendar best practices (blocking off time for tasks and meeting prep/ reflection)
  3. Office hours

Links:


Tool Mentioned:


27 Feb 2023Having Great Meetings00:31:10

How can we plan and facilitate effective and engaging meetings? In this episode, we explore strategies for getting the most out of the time spent together with your teams.

Rachel Myers, Founder | RM + Company

Rachel has over 23 years of experience working on all sides of philanthropy. She served for 12 years as an Executive Director for two nonprofit organizations and has worked for the past 9 years on the funder side at her local community foundation. Along the way, she's also served as a trustee for 11 years for her local public library board. The experience of working both as a staff member, and as a volunteer board member has provided her with unique insights on how boards and staff can effectively work together to make more good things happen.

As a consultant and collaborator, she offers expertise in strategic assessment, board training, communications strategy, fund development, planned giving, meeting facilitation and more.

3 things that need to happen for an effective meeting:

  1. The purpose of the meeting is clearly defined, and we achieve that purpose during our time together
  2. The meeting time is valuable (and enjoyable/energizing/bonding) for all the participants
  3. All the meeting attendees are engaged and contribute to the work and outcomes of the meeting. Researchers have found that the strongest predictor of meeting success is active involvement by the participants!

4 P's:

  1. Purpose - Why are we meeting? What problem are we trying to solve and could we accomplish this in another way? (Loom, shared doc, online collab tool like Miro, etc.)
  2. Product - What will we produce together? What outcomes will we have from this meeting? Specific decisions, direction, strategy, choice, etc
  3. People - Who needs to be present to make this happen? What’s in it for each of them? What is their role and how will they contribute? Do they need to participate, or can we update them in notes or Loom?
  4. Process - How will we spend our time to meet our purpose and outcomes? AKA: the agenda. Here’s a mind-blowing tip – challenge yourself to never send out a meeting request without including an agenda – or at a minimum a clear summary of the meeting purpose. Another important part of this step is to think through what tools you are going to need for the meeting – if it is virtual, will you need a whiteboard like Jamboard or Miro, do you need to poll the group, or collect notes in some shared format during the meeting? Make sure you have all of the tools you need to be successful. Add a “purpose” column to your agenda – Time, Agenda Item, Presenter/Lead, PURPOSE, Outcome.

IEEI:

  1. Inform – Ensure that everyone in the meeting understands your objectives and purpose. “When we leave this meeting today, we will ___________” 
  2. Empower – Describe the role the attendees will play and the power they will have (you will have articulated that in the 4Ps above). Make sure they understand why they are there and what contributions you need from them. 
  3. Excite – This is the “What’s in it for them” part.  Share the benefits of the meeting and why it is important to each person – and to the organization as a whole. 
  4. Involve – engage attendees early and often with a question or activity that connects them to each other and the meeting purpose.  

Links:

  • Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at
28 Aug 2023What Are Affinity Programs?00:25:45

Join us as we explore the world of affinity programs and how this innovative approach can facilitate stronger connections with donors and save nonprofits time.

Jenni Craig, President | Affinity Makers

Jenni is a skilled fundraiser with 16 years of experience in higher education. Throughout her career, she has successfully raised millions for institutions through strategic, affinity-based programs that focus on donor belonging and retention. Jenni recently launched her own company, Affinity Makers, to share her fundraising strategies and expertise with nonprofits around the country. Together, with her husband Jeremy, Jenni is the co-founder and co-owner of Copper Bottom Craft Distillery, producing award-winning rum and vodka in the Daytona Beach area. They have three daughters: Carmen (8), Mason (6), and Brooklyn (1).

Links: 


28 Sep 2020You are not alone. Burnout is real, relevant, and recoverable.00:48:52

Workplace burnout isn’t just a “thing” to get over. It is real and recognized by the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases with real impacts on professionals everywhere.

But is it real in the grants profession? And is it as rampant as it seems?

Three burnout survivors -- Trish Bachman, GPC, Bethany Planton, GPC, and Johna Rodgers, GPC -- joined forces to research the prevalence of burnout in the grants field. In this empathy- and humor-riddled episode, the trio will share their own twist-filled journeys through burnout along with their research and strategies on how to prevent it from happening to you.

Listeners will learn how to:

  • Define burnout in the workplace, as well as in the grants profession.
  • Identify the common symptoms of burnout in grant professionals.
  • Identify strategies to combat stress in the workplace.

SPEAKERS:

Bethany Planton, GPC, SMS | Founder and CEO, bmpconsulting

Bethany got her start in the grant field as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in 2011 and went on to become the Founder and CEO of bmpconsulting. She also serves as the Communications Coordinator for the Kentucky Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association. She loves reading and talking about it in bmpconsulting's nonprofit book nook, traveling (anywhere and everywhere), and cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes. Follow her on Twitter @bethanymplanton.

Trish Bachman, GPC | Owner and Lead Consultant, The Write Stuff Delaware LLC

Trish’s grant journey began with a volunteer assignment with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and an online writing course. Since then, Trish has worked in every aspect of grant program management, design, implementation, and reporting. She received the Certified Grant Writer credential in 2014 and earned the Grant Professionals Certified credential in 2017. Today, she serves as president of the GPA Delmarva Chapter.

Johna Rodgers, GPC | Founder, Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC

Johna Rodgers, GPC, has been there and done that. And almost every step of her divergent path included grants. For nearly 30 years, Johna has helped organizations of all types and sizes address their most critical needs—at the federal, state, corporate, and grassroots levels. In 2015, she opened Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC, a full-service consulting agency. With more than $162 million in grant awards, she has the competitive experience needed to ensure proposals are fundable; as importantly, she has learned to work efficiently with dozens of partners and their conflicting ideas, missions, and concerns. Johna is a Board Member of the Grant Professional Association (GPA), a member of the National Grant Management Association, a national trainer for Grant Writing USA/Grant Management USA, and a GPA Approved Trainer. She is also a former board member and exam administrator for the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

25 Sep 2020Power Writing for Grants and More!01:07:03

Clear, compelling writing is vital to all your on-the-job writing projects - not just grant proposals. In this value-packed episode, you'll learn simple, powerful, and often overlooked techniques that will have you writing more clearly, quickly, and confidently - right away.

Topics:

  • The big myths and misconceptions that could be sabotaging your writing
  • Three fundamental strategies for getting your message across clearly
  • Key techniques and tools to help you get the results you want
  • Advice from the top writing pros on editing, proofreading, and revising

SPEAKER:

Maryn Boess, Founder and Principal Trainer, GrantsMagic U

Over her 20+ year career in the nonprofit world, Maryn has been an on-staff program developer and grant writer; an independent grants consultant; a grants project manager; a grants trainer; a grants reviewer, author, speaker, mentor and coach; and - yes - for the past 9 years, even a grantmaker. Grants Magic U, launched in fall 2015, is the "virtual academy" she created to make her extensive portfolio of practical and inspiring trainings on successful grantsmanship available (and affordable!) for anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

09 Oct 2023Facebook Fundraising: 8 Tips to Raise 10K+00:28:00

Facebook fundraising can be a rewarding way to involve people in positive change. Learn how it can be used for peer-to-peer fundraising, Giving Tuesday campaigns, birthday fundraisers, and more!

Sean Kosofsky | Mind the Gap Consulting

Sean helps nonprofit leaders develop the mindset, tool set, and skill set to increase funding and impact. he is a strategic advisor offering coaching, consulting, and courses that transform your nonprofit’s capacity and performance. Sean has worked in and led nonprofits for 30+ years and specializes in helping young and small nonprofits accelerate their results.

Links:

Web address: NonProfitFixer.com

Email: sean@mindthegapconsulting.org

Social Info:

  • X: @NonprofitFixer
  • LinkedIn: bit.ly/MTGLINKEDIN
  • Facebook: fb.com/mindthegapc
  • IG: @nonprofitfixer

Free download on how to run facebook fundraisers: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/8-expert-tips-to-raising-10k-with-facebook-fundraisers

https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/best-resources

Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Social: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Instagram

Website: Foundant.com

09 May 2022Top 3 Ways Nonprofit Boards Drive Organization Direction00:35:22

Mission, vision, and strategy are imperative for nonprofit organizations. Mandy Pearce and Marie Palacios discuss the difference between the three and the ways nonprofit boards should realize these important communications

Mandy Pearce, CFRE | Owner | Funding for Good

In 2009, visionary, Mandy Pearce, founded her flagship company, Funding for Good, to equip organizations with all of the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. She continues to enjoy evolving this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world.

For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities.

Mandy lives in Hickory with her husband, Ricardo, and their two furbabies, Dalli and Max. She and Ricardo also own and operate a successful landscaping and custom woodworking company, Two Green Thumbs and More (twogreenthumbsandmore.com). On her decompression days, she enjoys working in their garden, sipping sweet tea on their porch swing with a good magazine and cooking gourmet meals for their family and friends.

Marie Palacios | Lead Consultant | Funding for Good

Marie is an expert facilitator, certified by The Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA, in evidence-based facilitation practices known as the ToP Method. She combines proven facilitation methods and her passion for community to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Marie enjoys facilitating community organizing, advocacy, consensus building, and action planning workshops for diverse organizations across the nation. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the nonprofit world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant.

Her nonprofit specialties include strategic planning facilitation, program design, board development, grant writing, and messaging. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access services for businesses and local government sectors, teach Spanish for Professional Courses, and coordinate missions in Latin America through her consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Links

14 Aug 2023Technology Planning for Nonprofits00:29:08

What is technology planning and why is it important? Learn why this is one of the most neglected aspects of operating a nonprofit and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Karen GrahamKaren Graham Consulting

Karen is a speaker, trainer, writer, and consultant with expertise in technology leadership and innovation, nonprofit software, and digital strategy. Her consulting work includes strategic technology roadmaps, development of knowledge resources, and leadership coaching. Karen was the Executive Director of the national nonprofit Idealware, and has held leadership roles in capacity building, arts, and human service organizations as well as a software startup. She holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of St. Thomas.

Email: karen@karengrahamconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karentgraham

Assessment Links:


●      Specific blogs/webinars on the topic:



31 Oct 2020Non-monetary Grantmaking and Assistance00:27:07

Non-monetary grantmaking traditionally includes in-kind grants of land, equipment, or free space. However, in recent years, an emphasis has been put on providing assistance intended to build a nonprofit’s internal capacity. Grants of succession planning, executive coaching, and program evaluation are just a few examples. Listen to your peers share experiences in the what, why, and how of non-monetary grantmaking.

Topics:

  • How did your organization decide to provide non-monetary assistance? What shaped the conversation?
  • What is your organization’s process for making and tracking non-monetary grants? Is it similar to that of a monetary award?
  • What have been the challenges and results of this type of grantmaking?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

22 Jun 2020COVID-19 Concerns In Grantmaking (Session 2)00:35:13

Episode 2 in a series where Grantmakers discuss how they're adjusting to COVID-19.

Topics Covered:

  • Unexpected needs
  • Different ways funders are supporting grantees
  • What the future of grantmaking looks like

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

02 Jan 2023Work Smarter, Not Harder00:18:31

Introducing "Work Smarter, Not Harder" a collaborative content series to help you better serve your mission, and yourself featuring guest host Rachel Myers.

Rachel Myers, Founder | RM + Company

Rachel has over 23 years of experience working on all sides of philanthropy. She served for 12 years as an Executive Director for two nonprofit organizations and has worked for the past 9 years on the funder side at her local community foundation. Along the way, she's also served as a trustee for 11 years for her local public library board. The experience of working both as a staff member, and as a volunteer board member has provided her with unique insights on how boards and staff can effectively work together to make more good things happen.

As a consultant and collaborator, she offers expertise in strategic assessment, board training, communications strategy, fund development, planned giving, meeting facilitation and more.

Topics:

  1. Leveraging Tech
  2. Prioritization
  3. Great Meetings
  4. Time Management
  5. Getting Work Done

Links:


Tools Mentioned:


24 May 2021Grant writer vs Grant Professional? A discussion with Julie Assel00:47:56

In this episode, we discuss the definition and broader view of what it means to be a grant professional.

Links:


Julie Assel, GPC | asselgrantservices.com


Julie Assel, GPC, is the President/CEO and a Senior Writer for Assel Grant Services. Julie has a varied background in grant writing including writing for school districts of varying sizes, universities, and non-profit organizations. So far, she has written awarded grants totaling more than $145 million since 2003.

Her expertise is in federal level grants with the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency. At the state level, she has successfully written to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, and the Missouri Technology Commission among others.

Julie earned the Grant Professional Certification (GPC) in January 2010 from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute. The GPC is a certification program that measures an individual’s ability to provide quality grant-related services within an ethical framework. Julie served as the President of the national Grant Professionals Certification Institute Board of Directors from 2018-2020 and is a current board member. She is the past President of the Heart of America GPA Chapter in the Kansas City area and past facilitator for the GPA Consultants Special Interest Group.

She holds a Fundraising Certificate from the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, a service and outreach unit of the Department of Public Affairs in the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri Kansas City and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Prior to starting her own business in 2008, she worked as the Grant and Medical Writer/Quality Assurance Officer for Cardiovascular Imaging Technologies and the Coordinator of Grants and Special Projects for the Kansas City Missouri School District. She has also worked as the Grant Writer for KidsTLC (formerly TLC for Children and Families).

Want to see additional resources?

10 Apr 2023Going Beyond Scarcity00:33:50

Learn how an abundance mindset can help reduce burnout, underinvestment, and high turnover within your nonprofit organization.

Brittny Wilson and Nia Wassink | The Nonprofit Reframe

Between them, Brittny and Nia have over 30 years of working in nonprofits. They’ve worked on the program side, the business side, fundraising, and even sat on Boards of Directors. Their vast experience, primarily with local and regional organizations, gives them an authentic voice on behalf of the sector.

Brittny and Nia are able to bring forward topics and discussions that are often hidden or not discussed within the sector.

Links:


03 Dec 2020Learn from the past and look to the future00:26:21

Scholarships run annually for most scholarship providers. The new year means getting your calendar in order to ensure success. Though some of you may have already opened your applications, there are lessons to be gathered, reminders to be made, and new ideas to talk through. This coffee talk is a brain storming session from your peers. We learned this year that we can’t plan for everything, but we will all feel a bit better with a few preparations in place. 

Confession Time:

  • What activities have fallen off your radar in the past?
  • What activities/tasks seems to always be a struggle?
  • What is a kink in your system that you feel like you’ve worked out?
  • Are there any new activities/tasks that you’re trying out next year?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

22 May 2023Getting Buy-In For a New Software Tool00:20:36

Calculating and communicating the return on investment for a large software purchase is no easy task. This episode explores some useful marketing and selling strategies that can be applied to internal purchasing decisions.

Lori Finch, Director for Nonprofit Sales and Sales Enablement | Foundant Technologies

Lori is a dynamic and creative executive, strategist, and builder with an entrepreneurial spirit and skilled in sales, coaching, partner development, relationship/account management, and communications View her LinkedIn here

Links:  


26 Sep 2022Work-life and tech-life balance: Are you struggling with collaboration overload?00:37:38

A former software developer, now Founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, shares how to live a more balanced life in a digital world.

Meico Marquette Whitlock | Founder and CEO, Mindful Techie

Meico helps changemakers create work-life and tech-life balance so they can do their best work better while living their best lives. He is the founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, author of the Intention Planner, and a certified trauma-informed mindfulness teacher.

Through speaking, training, and coaching, he facilitates transformative experiences that foster wellbeing in a hyperconnected and distracted world.

He has worked with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cigna, and Greenpeace, and has been a featured speaker on ABC News, Fox 5, and Radio One. He’s a former triathlete, loves salsa dancing, and makes the world’s best vegan chili!

He holds an M.S. in Information Science from the University of Michigan and a B.A. Political Science and Spanish from Morehouse College.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

23 May 2022Staying Connected with Scholarship Donors00:32:24

In this episode, we discuss how to stay connected with your Scholarship Donors, through thank you notes from recipients, donor impact stories, and setting donor expectations. 

Topics:

  1. Having scholarship recipients sending thank you notes to scholarship donors.
  2. Scholarship recipients sharing the impact of scholarships from donors.'
  3. Establishing donor expectations.

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

24 Jun 2020COVID-19 Concerns In Scholarship Management (Session 1)00:36:58

Hear how scholarship providers are responding to the COVID-19 Crisis

Topics Covered:

  • Adjusting deadlines and required materials
  • Online evaluation
  • Committee meetings and selection

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

26 Oct 2020Managing Competing Priorities and Tasks00:42:26

Picture this – you were hired to do one job only to find out later that you also have many unexpected "other duties as assigned". What do you do when you are expected to manage tasks and team members in a deadline and priority-driven environment, yet many other tasks and meetings continue to creep up on your calendar?

In this session, we discuss key strategies, tools, and tricks to help you feel more in control of your time so you can manage your projects and programs more effectively. You will walk away with tools and techniques you can use immediately so that your project management role is contributing 100% to your mission.

Topics:

  • Identifying internal and external factors that impact our completion of key deliverables
  • Strategies to reduce surprises, and maintain greater work efficiencies
  • Ideas to balance and prioritize what is currently on your plate with new and unexpected changes
  • Tips you can use immediately to take better charge of your time

Speakers:

Linda Howard, PMP, CMC | Founder, Howard Consulting, LLC

Linda helps nonprofit leaders who want to improve the performance of their projects and teams so they can have greater mission impact. Linda is also a Project Management Professional, a Certified Management Consultant, and an Everything DiSC and 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team facilitator. On a personal note, Linda is absolutely in love with the outdoors and can often be found wandering in the woods, kayaking on a lazy river, or searching for a quiet place to enjoy the next sunset.

Rachel Werner | CEO, RBW Strategy, LLC

Rachel provides grants and project management consulting support to nonprofits, government and business entities. If you are interested in learning how RBW Strategy can maintain and build your organization’s charitable investments through fundraising or project management, please contact us at info@rbwstrategy.com or check out our website.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

15 Dec 2020Learning to Love Your Finance Team01:01:24

Grant writing is a misnomer. Half of putting together a winning proposal is building and collecting all the budget and financial documents that help tell your story. Learn tips and tricks from two highly successful grant writers who learned the power of collaboration when you partner with your financial team, because who knows numbers better than finance?

Topics:

  • Tips for successful communication between accountants and grant writers;
  • The importance of building the budget first; and
  • Tools for internal collaboration that lead to successful proposals.

Speakers:

Amanda Day, GPC | Board Member of the Grant Professionals Association and  Fundraising HayDay Podcast co-host

Kimberly Hays de Muga, GPC | Board Member of the Grant Professionals Association and  Fundraising HayDay Podcast co-host

Listen to Fundrasining HayDay: fundraisinghayday.podbean.com

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

29 Dec 2020Universal Application and Communication00:25:56

As scholarship providers, we balance the needs/wants of many different groups. Donors want one thing, students need another, and we as administrators have our own preferences. Common/Universal Applications are a big topic in simplification, as are automated check-ins. In this episode, we walk through what we have heard, what we have experienced, and what we see as the pros and cons.

Topics:

  • Common/Universal Applications
  • Creative ways to connect with donors after award selection
  • Getting information from students after award selection

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

11 Apr 2022Values in Trust Based Grantmaking00:30:48

Diversity and inclusion is an important value in everyday life and in Trust Based Grantmaking. In this episode of Connected Philanthropy, we discuss our values in Grantmaking, and how they help our foundations and their applicants.

Topics:

  1. What does value base grantmaking look like in your practices?
  2. What does this look like for applications?
  3. What changes have you already made based on your values?

Additional links mentioned:


Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

26 Feb 2024Grantee Perspectives: Maximizing Funders' Impact00:21:57

In this episode, our speakers discuss how funders can maximize their impact and improve their processes, all from the perspective of grant professionals. 

Laura Cochran, GPC | Senior Development Associate, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) 

Laura is the Grants Manager for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has been a grant professional for nearly 20 years, a member of the Grants Professional Association (GPA) for 13 years, and a Grant Professional Certified (GPC) for 12 years. For the last 13 years, while working at INHP, Laura’s work in grants has focused on raising programs and lending dollars to support affordable housing access. She lives in a suburb of Indianapolis with her husband, son, daughter, and dog. 

Brendan McCormick | Associate Director, Exponent Philanthropy 

Brendan is the Associate Director, Research and Publications for Exponent Philanthropy. In this role, Brendan works with staff, members, and partners to develop resources grounded in research. He leads our efforts to learn more about our community of lean funders. Brendan focuses his research on how foundations approach impact and evaluation, investments, operations, demographics, and equity practices. Brendan has worked in philanthropy and grantmaking with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. He earned his master’s degree in public policy at the University of Maryland, where he focused on nonprofit management and social policy. In his free time, he enjoys cooking new recipes and finding a quiet place to read a good book. 

Links:


06 Nov 2023Strengthening Connections With Your Nonprofits (Part 1)00:37:03

Are you looking to improve your grant process, application, and relationship with applicants? Does your organization want to integrate more trust-based practices into your philanthropy and be more transparent? Listen to a panel discussion with several nonprofit professionals and hear them describe ideal connections and relationships with funders.

Stephany Hessler, Grants and Foundations Manager | Save the Bay

Nonprofit professional with expertise in: volunteer management; grant research, budgeting and writing (corporate, foundation, and federal); experiential learning program development; project management; relationship building; recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers and staff; public relations/media relations; internship program development and management; community outreach and sponsorship; event planning; creation of public programs for nonprofits; group training and facilitation; board development and leadership.

Laura Cochran , Senior Development Associate | Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP)

Laura Cochran has been a grant professional for over 14 years, a member of GPA for over 11 years and a GPC for 10 years. For the last 11 years, she has worked for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP), helping to increase access to affordable housing in Indianapolis.

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, Founder | DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Approved Trainer of the Grant Professionals Association, and a Registered Scrum Trainer. Diane began her career as a Program Officer for a state-wide grantmaking organization and she continues to serve as a reviewer for a variety of grantmaking organizations. Since 2006, when she formed DH Leonard Consulting, Diane and her team have secured more than $98 million dollars in competitive grant awards and Diane has personally trained more than 69,978 nonprofit professionals. When not working with her team, Diane can be found in the 1000 Islands, out for a run, or drinking a strong cup of coffee.

Links:


20 Dec 2021Building Sustainability and Resilience with Lessons Learned from Disaster Response00:29:40

Sharmila Rao Thakkar, MPH, MPA | SRT Advising & Consulting, LLC

Sharmila is a nonprofit & philanthropy professional with more than 20 years of experience in social services, public health and education. Utilizing expertise in leadership development, program implementation, resource development and evaluation, she coaches and advises clients on operations and administration, board development, grantmaking, next-gen engagement, communications, program development and community outreach activities.

Sharmila specializes in visioning/ planning, grant program development, content development, start-up operations and establishing governance structures for nonprofit and philanthropic endeavors, including foundations and individual donors.


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

18 Jul 2022Grant Consulting: What It Takes To Be Successful00:39:22

Hear about the opportunities available for freelance grant writers, as well as the "hows" and "whys" behind becoming a grant consultant.

Holly Rustick , CEO & Bestselling Author | Grant Writing & Funding

Holly has been writing grants for 15+ years, immersing herself in the grant world and securing millions of dollars for nonprofits around the world! Holly is also an Amazon bestselling author, podcast host of Grant Writing & Funding, and world-renowned grant writing expert.

Holly has been on both sides of the grant writing coin – writing them and winning grants as well as managing and reviewing them on behalf of numerous organizations. Using this experience, she has created an extensive database of grant writing and funding-related online courses. she also offers workshops and provides coaching for people who want to transition into freelance grant writing to earn a full-time income.

On the nerdy side, she holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She is also a professor at the University of Guam, Past President of the Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce, and editor of the Storyboard journal.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Want to make grant managment easier? Learn how we can help.

24 Apr 2023Grant Trends: What Data Uncovers About the Future of Philanthropy00:39:23

In this episode, we dive into the numbers and data behind grants, uncovering some interesting philanthropic trends.

Holly Rustick , CEO & Bestselling Author | Grant Writing & Funding

Holly has been writing grants for 15+ years, immersing herself in the grant world and securing millions of dollars for nonprofits around the world! Holly is also an Amazon bestselling author, podcast host of Grant Writing & Funding, and world-renowned grant writing expert.

Holly has been on both sides of the grant writing coin – writing them and winning grants as well as managing and reviewing them on behalf of numerous organizations. Using this experience, she has created an extensive database of grant writing and funding-related online courses. she also offers workshops and provides coaching for people who want to transition into freelance grant writing to earn a full-time income.

On the nerdy side, she holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She is also a professor at the University of Guam, Past President of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and editor of the Storyboard journal.

Links:  

09 Oct 2020COVID-19 Recovery Initiatives in Donor Management00:42:53

During this Donor Engagement Coffee Talk we cover COVID-19 recovery initiatives looking at the rest of 2020. We identify strategies that are working well in our current climate, and ways in which people are learning and improving.

Questions covered:

  • Has your Donor Engagement strategy changed from month 1 to month 4? What’s working, what isn’t?
  • What do you deem as your organizations greatest achievement in the current climate? What do you wish you knew before going into this time?
  • How are people managing their relationship with their boards? Are their questions/concerns different? What’s your approach?
  • Sector by Sector Impact – are you seeing donors more/less interested in different areas? Are they still funding their favorite pet projects or shifted focus to human services?
  • What does next step in COVID-19 response look like?

This forum brings professionals from across the sector together to share experiences and best practices.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

07 Nov 2022Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking00:21:27

Learn about the risks associated with web applications and learn how you can make the right decisions to keep yourself and your organization safe.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own. Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support - providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

07 Aug 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Day-to-Day Accounting Functions (Session 2)00:24:07

How are funders adjusting in day-to-day accounting functions during the COVID-19 crisis?

In this episode of Community Foundation Coffee Talks, we hear from different funders about how their work has changed and the resources, experiences, and creative solutions that are helping them maximize their impact.

Topics Covered:

  • Managing an Emergency Response Fund if one has been established
  • Is your organization granting already, and if so, are you granting individually or to nonprofits? What is your organization doing to respond to current events?
  • What kind of budget detail are you asking for in your application?
  • Internal control in a remote environment
  • Has anybody sought the advice of their auditors or touched base with their auditors?
  • Monitoring market conditions
  • Making Adjustments for Budgets

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

07 Jun 2020Connected Philanthropy Trailer00:01:49

Introducing Connected Philanthropy - A Podcast for the Philanthropic Community

Listen to discussions with experts from funding organizations, nonprofits, and more to learn about out-of-the-box programs and initiatives that are successfully tackling today’s biggest challenges.

New episodes every other Monday!

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Join Foundant's online community at: community.foundant.com

21 Aug 2020Being an Agile Leader In Your Nonprofit (Regardless of Your Title)01:04:07

How can YOU, an amazing nonprofit professional, regardless of your title, embrace the role you can play as a leader within your team? Listen to this episode to learn how.

About the speaker:

Diane H. Leonard, GPC is an experienced and respected grant professional who has provided grant development counsel to nonprofit organizations of varying size and scope for more than a decade. Clients she serves include health care providers, advocacy organizations, social services agencies, elementary and secondary schools, and municipal corporations.

Books:


Other Resources:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

27 Sep 2021What does it mean to be an Agile Nonprofit?00:40:53

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, STSI | dhleonardconsulting.com

Diane is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC) and Approved Trainer of the Grant Professionals Association. Diane has recently become a Certified Virtual Presenter through espeakers.

She is also a Scrum Trainer by Scrum Inc, Scrum Master by Scrum Inc, and Scrum Product Owner by Scrum Inc. credentialed by the Agile Education Program powered by Scrum Inc.™

Since 2006, Diane and her team have secured more than $86 million dollars in competitive grant awards for the clients of DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services. She is an active member of the Grant Professionals Association. She is a graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations. 

When not working with her team on grant applications for clients, Diane can be found in the 1000 Islands, out for a run, or drinking a strong cup of coffee.


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

08 May 2023How To Write For Good: Tips From a Copywriter00:20:53

Hear expert insights from Foundant's copywriter on how to craft compelling copy. In this episode we cover the importance of considering your audience, writing for different mediums, where to find inspiration, adding personality when you are writing for an organization, and the power of stepping away.

Katie Sproles, Marketing Copywriter | Foundant Technologies

Throughout her 30-year career in marketing and communications, Katie feels fortunate to have been able to dedicate her skills to writing compelling copy about organizations that serve others or enable the work of those who do. Before joining Foundant’s team in 2021, she focused her efforts on writing about the programs and services offered by a public university art museum, a customer-owned utility, and local government in Eugene, Oregon—all of which make a difference in the lives of those they serve. That’s what brought Katie to Foundant.

She is energized every day by the work its clients are doing to make the world a better place. A mountain girl at heart, Katie is happy to have finally planted her roots in the city of Foundant’s headquarters, Bozeman, Montana. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Katie outside, looking for different ways to explore the local trails, rivers, and lakes. It’s hard to say whether she has more photos of Bozeman’s breathtaking sunrises and sunsets or her beloved dogs, Moby and Max. One thing is sure—she has fewer photos of her husband and two teenage daughters whom she loves deeply but are far less willing subjects.

Links:  


19 Jun 2023Connecting Beyond The Check: Building Grantor/Grantee Trust00:50:00

Building grantor/grantee trust is a process that goes far beyond writing a check. It takes intention and thoughtful connection. A panel of private funders share stories about unique ways they are bringing community members into the grantmaking process and building better relationships with their nonprofit partners.

From community involvement to focus groups to centering racial equity in their granting work, these funders are tackling difficult challenges with small changes while working within the constraints of their “traditional” funder role. Instead of saying, “we can’t change because we have to answer to our board,” they’re saying, “we can make small, creative changes when we are patient and focus on the outcomes the board expects instead of the things we’ve always done.”

Speakers:

Danyelle O’Hara | Community Relationship Officer, Mortenson Family Foundation

Ambar Hanson | Community Relationship Officer – Philanthropy, Mortenson Family Foundation

Karyn McKelvey | Grants and Program Manager, Laird Norton Family Foundation

Topics:

  • Doing away with written applications in favor of a video call to reduce the applicant burden
  • Implementing declination grants of up to $2,500 for applicants who don’t receive funding
  • Bringing community members onto grant committees to represent populations served
  • Understanding how to move slowly but with intention

Links:




11 Sep 2023Strategic Insights: How Funders Leverage GLM/SLM for Optimal Results00:13:01

Hear new granting strategies, and hear from other GLM/SLM users on some of the processes and tactics they are using to get maximum value out of their Foundant solutions.

Links:


26 Aug 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Grantmaking (Session 3)00:39:00

In this third episode of Grantmaker Coffee Talks, we discuss how grantmakers can help their grantees during the COVID 19 crisis.

Topics Covered:

  • How to assist grantees with their immediate financial stability or sustainability?
  • How to adjust grantmaking for the rest of the year?
  • How has relationships with other funders changed?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

04 Dec 2023Collaboration Unleashed: Trends That Defined Philanthropy in 202300:50:02

Discover the real-world stories and examples that showcase successful collaborations, demonstrating the power of unity in addressing the challenges of our time. Whether you're a funder or a nonprofit organization, this episode offers invaluable insights and inspiration to fuel your own collaborative endeavors.

Speakers:

Brad Ward, Regional Director, Community Foundations | Foundant Technologies

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, Founder | DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

Andrea Dicks, President | Community Foundations of Canada

Cesar Del Valle, Director of Partnerships | Candid

Links:


28 Apr 2020COVID-19 Concerns In Grantmaking00:49:19

How are funders adjusting to help their Grantees during the COVID-19 crisis?

In this episode of Grantmaker Coffee talks, we hear from 12 different funders about how their work has changed and the resources, and creative solutions that are helping them maximize their impact.

Topics Covered:

  • Virtual meetings
  • Funding cycles and deadlines
  • Grantee needs

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

07 Aug 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Scholarship Management (Session 3)00:30:20

In this episode of Scholarship Coffee Talks; we discuss summer melt programming, award recipients, and university timelines.

Topics Covered:

  • Have you done “Summer Melt” programming in the past to keep students engaged with their upcoming college endeavors?
  • Will you be doing anything (new or established) to celebrate your award recipients this year?
  • What are we learning about timelines for universities for Fall and how does that affect your work?
  • Q & A

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

26 Apr 2021Nonprofit Leadership00:45:48

Marc Pitman | concordleadershipgroup.com

Concord Leadership Group founder Marc A. Pitman, CSP® has been leading organizations and teams for decades. His failures and successes have caused him to study leadership for over 30 years, including earning a Masters in Organizational Leadership and certification as a FranklinCovey Coach. Combining his ongoing education with his own experience, Marc helps leaders lead their teams with more effectiveness and less stress. His latest book is The Surprising Gift of Doubt: Use Uncertainty to Become the Exceptional Leader You Are Meant to Be. He’s also the author of Ask Without Fear!® – which has been translated into Dutch, Polish, Spanish, and Mandarin. He’s also the executive director of TheNonprofitAcademy.com and a former Advisory Panel member of Rogare, a prestigious international fundraising think tank.

Marc’s expertise and enthusiasm engages audiences around the world both in person and with online presentations. And has caught the attention of media organizations as diverse as The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Real Simple, SUCCESS Magazine, NBC, Al Jazeera, and Fox News. Marc tweets regularly at @marcapitman.

Over the past 18 years, Marc’s organizational and leadership coaching and trainings have helped tens of thousands of nonprofits advance their missions, meet revenue goals, and improve the lives of their staff and supporters including clients like the Maine Public Broadcasting, Georgetown University, In Defense of Animals, Habitat for Humanity, Chabad on Campus, Islamic Relief USA, and the Association of the U.S. Army.

He is the husband to his best friend and the father of three amazing kids. And if you drive by him on the road, he’ll be singing 80’s tunes loud enough to embarrass his family!

Links:

Marc's new book: The Surprising Gift of Doubt: Use Uncertainty to Become the Exceptional Leader You Are Meant to Be

Connect on twitter @marcapitman

Increasing Influence - 9 types of stories to help you become more influential

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

24 Jul 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Grantseeking (Session 2)01:20:07

In this second session of our Grantseekers and COVID-19 webinar series, our panel of experienced grantseekers discuss:

  • Available programs, assistance and resources
  • Funder responses, adjustments and trends
  • Tips and advice: How to move forward in this time of crisis
  • Q&A session with panelist in addition to participants sharing through chat

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Resources from the panelists, the audience, and more >>>

Q&A from the audience during the live session >>>

Chat log and polls from the audience during the live session >>>

 

PANELISTS

Amanda Day, GPC | Co-host, Fundraising HayDay Podcast

Amanda is a Grant Writing USA trainer and former municipal grants administrator turned consultant with 17 years’ experience. She’s the Fundraising HayDay Podcast co-host and Board Member of the Grant Professionals Association. Amanda is a total book nerd, grant geek, and music lover. Follow her and her podcast on Twitter: @wholewheatgirl & @fundinghayday. [Read More]

Kimberly Hays de Muga | Co-host, Fundraising HayDay Podcast

Kimberly is the co-host of the Fundraising HayDay podcast, successful grant writer, fundraiser, and national speaker and trainer. She has more than 22 years of fundraising and grantseeking experience focused on health and human service nonprofits, from hospitals to food banks to programs supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities. Her passion is coaching and training nonprofits and funders toward successful fundraising that better serves their communities. [Read More]

Jo Miller, GPC, SMS | Managing Director and Founder, SmartEGrants

Jo is the founder and Managing Director of SmartEGrants and the SmartE Learning Center, a professional development and training organization, and owner / principal of J Miller & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in grants, fund development, social media strategy, program design, team development, and online communications. Jo has more than 25-years experience in grants, fund development, social media strategy, program design, team development, and online communications working with nonprofits and government agencies. [Read More]

Johna Rodgers, GPC | Founder, Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC

Johna has been there and done that. And almost every step of her divergent path included grants. For nearly 30 years, Johna has helped organizations of all types and sizes address their most critical needs—at the...

23 Oct 2023Ethics In Fundraising00:29:55

Grant professional have grant-related ethics to protect donors, organizations, and themselves—all at the same time. It’s important to adhere to these ethics, which reflect the highest standards in professional behavior. Come away from this episode with a deeper understanding of grant ethics and how to apply them throughout the grant cycle.

Topics:

  • Why ethics are important to the grant profession.
  • How the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Code of Ethics applies to both consultants and staff members.
  • How to discuss grant ethics with your donors, organization, and other constituents.
  • The #1 grant-related ethics question and how to answer it.

Dave Tinker, VP of Advancement and Consultant | GoalBusters Consulting

Dave brings more than 30 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit management. Dave has worked with education, health, and disability nonprofits throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Dave served on the Grant Professionals Association’s Ethics Committee. In 2016, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International recognized Dave as one of the first six Distinguished Fellows of AFP (FAFP). In 2013 Dave was honored as AFP Western Pennsylvania Chapter’s Outstanding Fundraising Executive. Dave was appointed to the Brentwood School Board in 2020 and was elected to his first full term in 2021.

Links:


27 Mar 2023Communicate for Good00:38:39

Whether you work with a nonprofit organization, community foundation, grantmaker, or scholarship provider, the key to maximizing your impact is the same: building meaningful relationships through successful communications.  

Learn tangible tips and resources to help you better serve your mission by communicating in ways that are good for yourself, your team, your organization, and the world.

Erica Mills Barnhart, Founder & CEO | Claxon Communication

Erica Mills Barnhart is a communication expert, speaker, author, and coach. She is Founder & CEO of Claxon, a company focused on teaching companies and leaders how to use words to change workplaces and the world. Erica also serves as an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington. She now calls Seattle, Washington home, but a piece of her heart will always be in Vancouver, Canada, where she was born.

Links:


do-si-do

/ˌdōsēˈdō/

noun

(in square dancing, and other country dancing) a figure in which two dancers pass around each other back to back and return to their original positions.

22 Nov 2021Balance of Power: Understanding Where the Nonprofit Board Roles End and Staff Begins00:37:23

Mandy Pearce, CFRE | Owner | Funding for Good

In 2009, visionary, Mandy Pearce, founded her flagship company, Funding for Good, to equip organizations with all of the skills and tools needed to become successful and sustainable. She continues to enjoy evolving this company to meet the changing demands of the nonprofit world.

For over two decades, Mandy and her team of experts have shared their proficiency in fundraising through executive coaching, strategic and development planning, seminars and specialized consulting programs. Mandy’s dynamic teaching style has brought thousands of people to her presentations at conventions, training workshops and online platforms. Mandy established Funding for Good, Inc. upon the core values of honesty, efficiency, direct communication and bringing sustainable dollars to local communities.

Mandy lives in Hickory with her husband, Ricardo, and their two furbabies, Dalli and Max. She and Ricardo also own and operate a successful landscaping and custom woodworking company, Two Green Thumbs and More (twogreenthumbsandmore.com). On her decompression days, she enjoys working in their garden, sipping sweet tea on their porch swing with a good magazine and cooking gourmet meals for their family and friends.

Marie Palacios | Lead Consultant | Funding for Good

Marie is an expert facilitator, certified by The Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA, in evidence-based facilitation practices known as the ToP Method. She combines proven facilitation methods and her passion for community to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Marie enjoys facilitating community organizing, advocacy, consensus building, and action planning workshops for diverse organizations across the nation. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the nonprofit world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant.

Her nonprofit specialties include strategic planning facilitation, program design, board development, grant writing, and messaging. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access services for businesses and local government sectors, teach Spanish for Professional Courses, and coordinate missions in Latin America through her consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit...

01 Feb 2022ANNOUNCEMENT00:02:08

Announcement: This podcast is now "Connected Philanthropy" (formerly known as "Nonprofit Coffee Talks")

Listen to discussions with experts from funding organizations, nonprofits, and all walks of philanthropy to learn about out-of-the-box programs and initiatives that are successfully tackling today’s biggest challenges in the philanthropic sector as a whole.

New episodes will be released every other Monday. This RSS feed will remain the same so if you are already subscribed you will remain subscribed and can continue listening on Apple Podcast, Spotify or foundant.com/podcast/

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

20 Nov 2023Q&A: Strengthening Connections With Your Nonprofits (Part 2)00:21:35

This is part 2 of a panel discussion with several nonprofit professionals answering Q&A questions about ideal relationships with funders. Learn what nonprofits wish funders knew.

Stephany Hessler, Grants and Foundations Manager | Save the Bay

Nonprofit professional with expertise in: volunteer management; grant research, budgeting and writing (corporate, foundation, and federal); experiential learning program development; project management; relationship building; recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers and staff; public relations/media relations; internship program development and management; community outreach and sponsorship; event planning; creation of public programs for nonprofits; group training and facilitation; board development and leadership.

Laura Cochran , Senior Development Associate | Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP)

Laura Cochran has been a grant professional for over 14 years, a member of GPA for over 11 years and a GPC for 10 years. For the last 11 years, she has worked for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP), helping to increase access to affordable housing in Indianapolis.

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, Founder | DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Approved Trainer of the Grant Professionals Association, and a Registered Scrum Trainer. Diane began her career as a Program Officer for a state-wide grantmaking organization and she continues to serve as a reviewer for a variety of grantmaking organizations. Since 2006, when she formed DH Leonard Consulting, Diane and her team have secured more than $98 million dollars in competitive grant awards and Diane has personally trained more than 69,978 nonprofit professionals. When not working with her team, Diane can be found in the 1000 Islands, out for a run, or drinking a strong cup of coffee.

Links:


16 Jan 2023Leveraging Technology00:22:43

Working smarter, not harder means knowing how to get the most out of technology. Learn strategies for better evaluation, adoption and cohesion of your software tools.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own.

Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support - providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Topics:

  1. Getting the most out of the technology you using
  2. Evaluating new software
  3. Being open to new tools and ways of working

Links:


Tools Mentioned:


17 Dec 2021Scholarship Communication00:34:47

Listen to this Scholarship Coffee Talk where we will discuss how you are getting the word out about your scholarships. 

  • Do you need the general community to better understand how you serve the community? 
  • Do you need applicants, evaluation committee members, or new donors?
  • How do students learn about your scholarship offerings?
  • Do you solicit your community for new evaluators to participate? How do you find new evaluation committee members?
  • What information is important to communicate to your donors at the start of your scholarship season?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

23 Oct 2020The Art of Securing Local Business Support01:18:33

How does your organization identify and secure resources - cash and in-kind donations - from your community? Perhaps you’ve identified local business support as an untapped source for funding your cause.

Topics:

  • Understand the current trends in corporate giving
  • Apply these trends to your advantage at the local level
  • Assess your internal needs before you begin solicitations
  • Implement helpful guidelines when making the ‘ask’
  • Utilize the 4 key steps to building a strong corporate solicitation program

Speaker:

Cynthia Adams, Grantstation Founder

Cynthia has been dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations identify and secure the funding they need to do their good work for well over 40 years. She founded GrantStation because she believes that grantseeking requires a thorough understanding of the funders and sound knowledge of the philanthropic playing field. Her life's work has been to level that playing field, creating opportunities for all nonprofit organizations, regardless of size or geographic location, to secure grant support.

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

03 Jul 2023Strategic Planning: Unlocking Success for Your Organization00:34:36

Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant | Funding for Good

Marie is an expert facilitator, certified by The Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA, in evidence-based facilitation practices known as the ToP Method. She combines proven facilitation methods and her passion for community to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Marie enjoys facilitating community organizing, advocacy, consensus building, and action planning workshops for diverse organizations across the nation. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the nonprofit world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant. Her nonprofit specialties include strategic planning facilitation, program design, board development, grant writing, and messaging. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access services for businesses and local government sectors, teach Spanish for Professional Courses, and coordinate missions in Latin America through her consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Links:


28 Mar 2022Grant Professionals - We are a Community00:36:27

Johna Rodgers shares the importance of community and communication she has observed in her 25+ years working with nonprofits.

Johna Rodgers, GPC | Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC

Johna Rodgers, GPC, has been there and done that. And almost every step of her divergent path included grants. For nearly 30 years, Johna has helped organizations of all types and sizes address their most critical needs—at the federal, state, corporate, and grassroots levels. In 2015, she opened Johna Rodgers Consulting, LLC, a full-service consulting agency. With more than $162 million in grant awards, she has the competitive experience needed to ensure proposals are fundable; as importantly, she has learned to work efficiently with dozens of partners and their conflicting ideas, missions, and concerns. Johna is a Board Member of the Grant Professional Association (GPA), a member of the National Grant Management Association, a national trainer for Grant Writing USA/Grant Management USA, and a GPA Approved Trainer. She is also a former board member and exam administrator for the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Grant Professionals Association (GPA): https://grantprofessionals.org/

GPC (Grant Professional Certified) https://www.grantcredential.org/

Johna’s webinars and blogs with Foundant:


Contact Info:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

26 Aug 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Grantmaking (Session 4)00:40:53

Episode 2 in a series where Grantmakers discuss how they're adjusting to COVID-19.

Topics Covered:

  • Lessons that can be learned from 2008 and other economic downturns
  • How to balance immediate community needs and long term organizational stability of grantees
  • How to support grantees when they can’t pay the bills

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

30 Aug 2021Finding Time to Keep your Grant Pipeline Full00:48:27

Cynthia Adams | Founder and CEO| GrantStation.com, Inc.

Cynthia Adams has been dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations identify and secure the funding they need to do their good work for well over 45 years. Cynthia founded GrantStation because she believes that grantseeking requires a thorough understanding of the funders and sound knowledge of the philanthropic playing field. Her life's work has been to level that playing field, creating opportunities for all nonprofit organizations, regardless of size or geographic location, to secure grant support.

Cynthia also gives back to her community. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Northern Alaska Environmental Center as well as does volunteer work for numerous nonprofits, many of whom serve to protect Alaska's environment.

Links:


Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

09 Jul 2020COVID-19 Concerns in Donor Management (Session 2)00:47:18

Continuing the discussion on how donor management has changed in the wake of COVID-19

Topics Covered:

  • Changes & communication in fundraising
  • Changes & communication in granting
  • How technology is your best friend

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

19 Dec 2022Funders Ending The Year In Style00:13:43

In this Coffee Talk, we hear from Community Foundations across North America on what they are doing to increase year-end donations.

Topics:

  1. Events
  2. Using the Grants Catalogue in CommunitySuite
  3. Year-end initiatives and communications

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

05 Jun 2023Effective Internal Communication00:38:30

Learn from your peers how they have created communication practices across departments and job types at their organizations. This webinar was originally recorded on 5/11/2023 and was moderated by Alyse Braaten

In this coffee talk, we hear grantmakers, scholarship providers, and community foundations share challenges they've faced with internal communication and strategies they use to overcome them.

Alyse Braaten, Manager of Client Success | Foundant Technologies

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Alyse has deep roots and strong connections to the nonprofit sector. Having worked in the field of college access and scholarships for over 10 years, with a focus on students residing in California’s Central Valley, she believes in the power of scholarships to uplift students, families, and communities. Before joining Foundant, Alyse spent three years with the Kern Community Foundation managing their grant and scholarship giving, as well as nonprofit relationships. Alyse joined the Foundant team in 2017 as a Client Success Manager (trainer, consultant, and emergency support provider) for Grants and Scholarships. After training and advising hundreds of clients, she led the Community Foundation Grant/Scholarship Client Services Team. Her passion for community building, professional development, and real-world impact has helped form the service philosophy for Foundant’s Client Success team. Areas of expertise: scholarship and grant process best practices, team building, remote work, and demystifying complex systems to foster accessibility.

Links:


18 Dec 2023Elevating Fundraising With AI00:30:51

Move from skepticism to success by harnessing the power of A.I. in fundraising. This episode highlights A.I.'s ability to optimize processes, reduce time constraints, and magnify impact, encouraging fundraising professionals to welcome this advancing technology as a crucial ally in their philanthropic pursuits.

Maria Newhouse, Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations | Kalamazoo College 

Maria brings her extensive expertise to foster partnerships that drive educational advancement. Hailing from Portage, Michigan, she attended Western Michigan University locally, graduating in 2006 with her Bachelor’s Degree (Spanish, Philosophy and Gender and Women’s Studies) before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work (2010) and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (2013). Prior to joining the team at Kalamazoo College, she served for more than five-years as the grant writer and donor relations specialist at the Smithsonian-affiliated Air Zoo. Beyond her professional accomplishments in the fundraising realm, she is the creative force behind Maria Newhouse Photography, intertwining her artistic passion with family experiences, as she navigates life with her husband and four young children. 

Links:












  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-newhouse-73607589/ 

15 Jan 2024The Benefits of AI00:29:20

While AI brings many risks and uncertainties, it also presents opportunities for the philanthropic sector. In this episode, we discuss AI tools, the importance of being open to new technologies, and AI's potential implications on human interactions and responsibilities.

Cory Brester | Director of CRM and Information Systems, Foundant Technologies

Cory supports a fast-growing team focused on maximizing the philanthropic community. As a software solution provider for grantmakers, grantseekers, scholarship providers, and community foundations Foundant is tasked with supporting the infrastructure of philanthropic programs everywhere; in order to be successful at this, Foundant needs a reliable infrastructure of its own.

Cory manages Foundant’s internal corporate IT infrastructure and systems as well as leads the company initiatives on cybersecurity. Since starting at Foundant in 2011, Cory has spent much of his efforts planning and developing efficiencies and systems to support Foundant’s growth. His 8-year history with Foundant has allowed him to participate in sales and support – providing the internal experience necessary to provide a framework and continuity to information system processes and data integrity. Outside of his daily management work, Cory also enjoys sharing his cybersecurity knowledge through Foundant education resources, such as blogs and hosted webinars. Cory came to Bozeman from the agricultural community of Laurel, MT to pursue degrees in Finance and Accounting at Montana State University.

Tools Mentioned:

  1. ChatGPT
  2. Midjourney
  3. Zoom AI Companion
  4. Synthesia
  5. Descript

Links:



13 Mar 2023Getting Work Done00:30:57

How can you rapidly deliver value to your clients/community? In this episode, Aarron Szalacinski, Director of Engineering, describes how Foundant Technologies uses the Agile framework - and how this methodology could be valuable for the philanthropic sector.

Aarron Szalacinski, Director of Engineering | Foundant Technologies

Aarron is proficient in Domain Driven Design principles, Software Documentation, Web Applications, Micro Service Architecture and Agile Methodologies. An extroverted people person who is always looking for the opportunity to coach and manage team members to maximize their potential and bring value to an organization.

He is a detail-oriented software engineer and leader who is an expert in collaborating with companies to architect full-stack applications and the teams that build them. Aarron's job is to help maximize revenue potential and deliver business value.

Topics:

  1. Agile work methodologies
  2. Value mindset
  3. Daily standups
  4. Monotasking

Links:


20 Oct 2020Grantmaking Revelations from the COVID-19 Pandemic00:42:02

The first wave of funding in response to COVID-19 was largely distributed to nonprofits and businesses for emergency general operating support. As with other emergency situations of national or global scale, successive waves of funding often move beyond immediate needs.

Topics Covered:

  • How is second wave funding adapting to lessons learned and community needs revealed by the pandemic?
  • What changes in funding strategy or priority has data revealing the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations caused, if any?
  • How can funders move beyond normal and use the current crises to get better?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

08 Dec 2020Building Resilience Into Your Year-End Fundraising00:43:18

Listen as your peers discuss building resilience into their year-end fundraising. We identify strategies that are working well in our current climate, and ways in which people are learning, improving, and looking forward.

Topics:

  • How has your organization adjusted your normal approach to year-end fundraising? Are you pursuing any new collaborations?
  • How is storytelling playing a role in your year-end efforts? How are you sharing your COVID-19 story?
  • What are some ways you are working to build confidence among your donors when there is so much uncertainty right now?
  • What are you looking forward to in 2021?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

12 Nov 2020Post-Award Communication… or Lack Of00:33:58

Keeping open lines of communication with your awardees can be difficult - and the award is just the beginning! Once selected, students may need to formally accept the award, confirm their university, and provide proof of enrollment or transcripts prior to receiving funding. Though you hope students will provide what you’ve asked for in a timely manner, there is often more to it than that. If after your efforts, students are still lacking documentation, what happens next? We'll talk about what’s worked, what hasn’t, and learn from each other as we move forward into the coming award season.

Topics Covered:

  • What types of documentation are you asking students for and do you see any patterns in what is easy or what is hard for them to provide?
  • How do you manage your post-award communication with students?
  • If information does not make it to you in a reasonable amount of time and/or students fail to inform you of an important change (school, major, etc.) how do you move forward?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

01 Oct 2020Post-pandemic Strategy00:44:11

As cities begin to re-open and communities regroup across the country, our day-to-day work may look different than we’d envisioned. Upcoming conversations with trustees and grantees could indicate that new funding strategies and partnerships will be necessary in light of lessons learned during the pandemic.

Listen to your peers as they share their experiences emerging from the immediate crisis.

Topics Covered:

  • What will the next phase mean for funder strategies? Will things remain the same, or has COVID-19 changed the way you partner with grantees?
  • What changes are being considered relative to how you work day-to-day?
  • How can you bring lessons learned to light when you are not a decision-maker at your organization?

Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com

Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Améliorez votre compréhension de Connected Philanthropy avec My Podcast Data

Chez My Podcast Data, nous nous efforçons de fournir des analyses approfondies et basées sur des données tangibles. Que vous soyez auditeur passionné, créateur de podcast ou un annonceur, les statistiques et analyses détaillées que nous proposons peuvent vous aider à mieux comprendre les performances et les tendances de Connected Philanthropy. De la fréquence des épisodes aux liens partagés en passant par la santé des flux RSS, notre objectif est de vous fournir les connaissances dont vous avez besoin pour vous tenir à jour. Explorez plus d'émissions et découvrez les données qui font avancer l'industrie du podcast.
© My Podcast Data