The Prosperous Nonprofit Stephanie Skryzowski

Are you a nonprofit leader looking to take your leadership skills to the next level? If so, then give this episode a listen! I got some amazing insight from special guest, Erica Rooney, Executive Coach and a Chief People Officer. She shared how she empowers leaders, particularly women, to step into their own and become successful leaders for their organizations. 
We dove into how Erica reinvigorated her passion, and not only recognized symptoms of burnout but also put strategies in place to alleviate it. Plus, we discussed how she’s using her HR background and Executive Coaching skills to help leaders avoid burnout, set healthy boundaries, achieve their goals, and challenge the norms of leadership. This episode is full of strategies nonprofit leaders can use to up their leadership game and become more successful leaders. 
 
About Erica
Erica Rooney is a relatable and impactful Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Consultant, host of the Podcast, Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, and a Chief People Officer. With 15 years of experience in HR leading organizations in gender equality crusades, and coaching Executive Women, Erica has created a framework that empowers women to get seen, get heard, and get promoted by breaking free from the sticky floors that hold us back from busting through the glass ceiling.
As a top Culture Expert, Erica invigorates and educates organizations through change, driving a positive experience for employees, and guiding executives through the process of change to lead to massive success. She is on a mission to bring more women into positions of power and keep them there! Her book, Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors: Shatter Limiting Beliefs and Toxic Behaviors to Uncover Infinite Possibilities will be available for presale soon!
 
Read the podcast transcript here.
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for being a successful leader like:
Becoming a thought leader (5:45)
Reinvigorating your passion (11:25)
Recognizing and alleviating burnout (13:15)
Setting healthy boundaries (16:40)
Challenging the norms of women in leadership (21:25)
Benefits of executive coaching (26:15)
Resources to help achieve your goals (34:25)
 
Teasers
“Sometimes a pivot doesn't necessarily mean a full pivot out. Sometimes it just means expanding what you are doing and how you are doing it in other realms of your life.” 
“As skilled as I think I am and as important as I think I am, if I were to win the lottery tomorrow and quit my job, the business would still run.”
“What I challenge people to think about is if you burn yourself out to the point where it impacts your stress and your relationships and all of that, you're not going to be around to see the success of this nonprofit organization.”
“If there's not an existing resource, then we just have to create it.”

 
Resources
5x5 LinkedIn Strategy Freebie: https://ericaandersonrooney.myflodesk.com/5x5 
Follow Erica on Instagram: @ericaandersonrooney
Connect with Erica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/ 
The Best Tools for an Efficient and Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 
Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting
Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 
Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/become-successful-leader 
 
Want more of the podcast?
New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.
Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!
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Nonprofit leaders, are you wasting money on unnecessary things? I know this sounds like a harsh question, but it’s so important to evaluate. It’s something I see all the time with many of the nonprofits my team and I work with. That’s why, in this episode, I dive into the six main things nonprofits need to stop spending money on and what you can do instead. 
 I’m sharing strategies for evaluating your budget and how you’re allocating precious resources. Plus, a different way of thinking about these expenses and how you can take a new approach. For example, instead of chasing shiny objects and trying to do every new marketing strategy you see other nonprofits doing, do what you know works for your organization. That’s just one of the many different strategies I break down in this episode. Tune in to hear them all! 
 
Read the podcast transcript here.
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for identifying the things your organization needs to stop spending money on, including:
Assessing how effective your programs and initiatives are (1:50)
Staying focused on marketing strategies that work for your nonprofit (4:30)
Using technology efficiently (5:45)
Being strategic about fundraising expenses (8:00)
Conducting thorough executive compensation reviews (12:10)
Evaluating board meeting and travel expenses (15:55)
 
Teasers
“Not all expenses are bad. We are not talking about this because we are trying to get expenses as low as possible.”
“I don't want to just do things because this is the way that we've always done it. I want to do things because we know that we're going to get the return that we are aiming for.”
“We need to be much more strategic with what we are spending money on.”
 
Resources
The Best Tools for an Efficient & Prosperous Nonprofit: https://100degreesconsulting.com/tools/ 
Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting
Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 
Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/stop-wasting-money 
 
Want more of the podcast?
New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.
Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!
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Are you looking for fresh, new ways to up your individual fundraising game? This is the episode for you! I chatted with special guest, Haley Cooper, CFRE, about how she is empowering new nonprofits to be strategic with their individual fundraising. 
We dove into how Haley stumbled into the nonprofit world after one mission trip completely changed the trajectory of her life. Plus, how she is using her experience as both a nonprofit founder and an entrepreneur to help organizations build a strong fundraising strategy, effectively build relationships and communicate with their donors, get buy-in for fundraising initiatives, and create a strong sense of belonging. This episode is full of strategies nonprofit leaders can implement to elevate their individual fundraising and meet their goals.
 
About Haley
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. Haley is a Founding Board Member and past Board Chair for the Orange County Nonprofit Professionals Network, and a board member of OC Advisors in Philanthropy. She has also served on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, OC Chapter, and Impact Giving.
 
Read the podcast transcript here.

 
Episode Summary
In this episode, you’ll learn ways to elevate your nonprofit’s individual fundraising strategy including:
Empowering emerging new nonprofits (3:00)
How one mission trip completely changed the trajectory of Haley’s life (4:32)
Being strategic about fundraising efforts (8:40)
Getting buy-in for your fundraising strategy (12:05)
Effectively communicating your vision to donors (14:25)
Being strategic about building a sense of belonging (19:00)
Upping your individual fundraising game (22:50)
Ways organizations can build relationships with individual donors (26:10)
 
Teasers
“Sometimes fundraising is just a band-aid beyond an issue that's actually there.”
“Not all money makes sense for your organization. That $5,000 grant costs way more than $5,000 to apply for, manage, report on, etc.”
“Make that space for safe conversations, because it's a strategic imperative. It's a non-negotiable. Your team will become higher performing and you'll see more results.”
“You have people in your database. You've been around for a while. You've had board members. You've had those events. You've had volunteers. What if you strategically started investing your time in those people so that no matter what grant contract might end, you'll be able to have that sustainability through those seasons?” 
 
Resources
The Savvy Fundraiser Website: https://thesavvyfundraiser.com/quiz/ 
Haley’s Fundraising Course: https://90-day-fundraising-course.teachable.com/p/fundraisingcourse 
Connect with Haley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-cooper-cfre 
Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting
Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 
Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/elevating-individual-fundraising 
 
Want more of the podcast?
New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.
Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!
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Does your organization have team retreats? Whether you’re just beginning to explore them or you’re looking for new ideas for your next one, this episode is for you. I’m diving into a special, behind-the-scenes look at our annual team retreat. 
I’m discussing the benefits of retreats and why I think they are 100% worth the investment. Plus, the logistics and considerations leaders need to keep in mind when planning them. I’m also sharing the lessons I’ve learned from this retreat and from past years like taking pressure off the team, ensuring we allot enough time for activities, and not having a jam-packed itinerary. 
 
Read the podcast transcript here.
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at our annual team retreat, including: 
The benefits of an in-person team retreat (1:30)
Travel logistics to consider (4:45)
Why I don’t believe in a jam-packed itinerary (6:40)
Taking pressure off of the team (9:20)
Finding a balance in the types of retreat sessions (13:50)
Considerations for next year’s retreat (19:00)
 
Teasers
“We're just trying new things every year and learning what works and what doesn't work, then revising for the next year.”
“We tried to have a mix of training sessions where we're introducing new ideas or concepts to the team and they're learning something as well as 100 Degrees sessions where we were really informing the team and gathering feedback around the company.”
“I cannot emphasize enough what a great investment a team retreat is. And it is an investment, so you need to budget for it. You need to prepare for it. But it's a fantastic investment into your organization.”
 
Resources
Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting
Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 
Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/2024-team-retreat 
 
Want more of the podcast?
New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.
Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!
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How does your nonprofit take care of its employees? Recent research shows that employees who strongly agree their employer cares about their overall well-being (compared with those who don't) are 71% less likely to report high levels of burnout, leading to happier and more productive employees. In this episode, I spoke with special guest, Melissa Wesner, Licensed Counselor, about how nonprofit leaders can create a culture of wellness that benefits both employees and your bottom line. 
Melissa shared a ton of strategies and resources leadership teams can use to cultivate this wellness culture like how to prevent burnout, the importance of addressing your own well-being, and setting strong boundaries. She also discussed how this wellness culture benefits the organization financially with lower employee turnover and more productivity. Plus, Melissa debunked one of the most common myths about taking care of your employees. This is a great episode for nonprofit leaders looking for ways to boost employee well-being and impact on the communities their organization serves. 
 
About Melissa
Melissa Wesner is a Licensed Counselor, Brainspotting Consultant, and Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services a group counseling practice in Maryland. Melissa loves hosting, planning, and bringing people together for meaningful experiences which is one of the reasons that she is now hosting international retreats for entrepreneurs and leaders. She is also the host of the Dreaming & Doing podcast, a podcast for big dreamers and action-takers looking for weekly doses of inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and wellness experts.
 
Read the podcast transcript here.
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, you’ll learn strategies for creating an organizational culture of wellness including:
What brain spotting is and why it’s beneficial (4:30)
The importance of addressing your well-being (7:10)
Strategies for preventing burnout in the nonprofit sector (10:20)
Setting better boundaries for ourselves (20:10)
How building a culture of employee wellness impacts the bottom line of an organization (26:00)
Cultivating an organizational culture of wellness (38:30)
 
Teasers
“We have this people-pleaser trait, and we want to make everybody happy. We say yes, even when we don't want to say yes. The problem with saying yes when we don't want to say yes is that’s when resentment comes in.”
“Give yourself permission to not feel guilty about taking care of yourself.”
“Taking care of your employees’ well-being does not necessarily mean that you have to spend all of this money on extravagant things.”

 
Resources
Creating Your Burnout Prevention Plan: https://dreaming-and-doing-podcast.ck.page/business-owner-burnout-plan  
A Preparation Checklist for Getting Out of the Office: https://dreaming-and-doing-podcast.ck.page/travel-prep-list 
Costa Rica Retreat: https://lifespringcounseling.net/small-business-owners-retreat-in-costa-rica 
Melissa’s Dreaming and Doing Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dreaming-and-doing-podcast/id1723843028 
Follow Melissa on Instagram: @melissa_wesner_
Follow Melissa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifespringcounselingservices 
 
Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting
Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 
Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/creating-culture-of-wellness 
 
Want more of the podcast?
New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.
Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!
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When was the last time you took a long, hard look at your systems and processes? Although this isn’t exactly an exciting process, it is so beneficial for your nonprofit. Organizations that regularly look at how they can improve their processes not only save time but money and resources as well. 
In this episode, I’m discussing why taking a deep dive into your processes is important, how it builds trust with your donors, and how this can help your nonprofit scale in the future. I’m also sharing my favorite technology solutions, how to review your current tech stack, and how to implement new software. I’m even giving away my favorite tech secret! 
 
Read the podcast transcript here.
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, you’ll learn why it’s important to streamline your systems and processes, including: 
Finding efficiencies in your processes (2:00)
Ensuring your data is accurate (3:55)
Building trust with transparency (5:05)
Optimizing decision making (5:45)
Meeting compliance requirements (6:40)
Scaling your nonprofit (7:30)
Eight different areas of tech solutions for your nonprofit (9:05)
My favorite technology secret (22:05)
Diving into your current tech stack (23:40)
The do’s and dont’s of implementing new software (26:00)
 
Teasers
“Having the right systems really helps make sure you're looking at accurate data, accurate financial information, accurate program information, etc.”
“Before we run out and get all excited and buy a bunch of new software that we may or may not use, I want you to look at what you already have and see if there are places where you can upgrade your existing subscriptions.”
“We can really only do one thing at a time and do it really well.”

 
Resources
Tech Soup: https://techsoup.org 
Keep up to date with the podcast: @100degreesconsulting
Follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephanie.skry/ 
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowski/ 
Visit the podcast page: https://100degreesconsulting.com/spring-cleaning-systems 
 
Want more of the podcast?
New episodes are released weekly! Find them all plus show notes and exclusive bonus content at 100degreesconsulting.com/podcast.
Leave us a review! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you loved most about this episode!
Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss a thing!