IMPACTability: The Nonprofit Leaders' Podcast Soukup Strategic Solutions

In this episode, David Targonski, a nonprofit development expert, shares his insights on the power of direct mail in fundraising. He emphasizes that direct mail is not dead and can still be an effective tool for nonprofits to raise funds. He discusses the advantages of direct mail over email, highlighting the tactile nature of mail and the higher likelihood of response. Dave also provides tips on how to make direct mail stand out, such as using different envelope sizes and colors. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and personalization in direct mail campaigns. Additionally, he discusses the role of direct mail in identifying major gift prospects and the importance of stewardship in building donor relationships.
Takeaways
Direct mail is still a powerful tool for fundraising and can be more effective than email in certain situations.Using different envelope sizes, colors, and personalization can make direct mail stand out and increase response rates.Storytelling and personalization are key components of successful direct mail campaigns.Direct mail can be used to identify major gift prospects and build donor relationships.Stewardship is crucial in maintaining and growing donor support.
Chapters
01:04 The power of direct mail in fundraising
14:16 The role of storytelling in direct mail
29:30 Using direct mail to identify major gift prospects
35:19 Tips and techniques for making direct mail stand out
39:36 The importance of stewardship in direct mail fundraising
Guest Bio
David Targonski, Director of Development at St. Michael the Archangel Parish and School, has worked in nonprofit development for more than 24 years serving in various roles and responsibilities from Annual Giving to Planned Giving to Direct marketing. He has raised more than $100 million in his career.
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Got a question that you’d like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!


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Summary 
Amy Brand, CEO of Philanthropy Tank, discusses the organization's mission to empower the next generation of leaders in the nonprofit sector. Philanthropy Tank works with high school students to develop and launch their own social impact programs. The students go through a rigorous application process and receive funding and mentorship to bring their ideas to life. The program focuses on teaching leadership skills, collaboration, and critical thinking. Philanthropy Tank has seen success with many of its programs becoming formal 501(c)(3) organizations. The organization is also expanding to new cities, with plans to launch in Chicago. 
Takeaways 
Philanthropy Tank empowers high school students to develop and launch their own social impact programs. The program focuses on teaching leadership skills, collaboration, and critical thinking. Many of the programs started through Philanthropy Tank have become formal 501(c)(3) organizations. The organization is expanding to new cities, with plans to launch in Chicago. 
Chapters  
00:00 Introduction to IMPACTability and Philanthropy Tank 
06:19 In Pursuit of Greatness: Guiding the Next Generation of Leaders 
13:45 Empowering Change Makers: The Mission of Philanthropy Tank 
26:42 Supporting the Leaders of Our Next Generation 
Guest Bio 
Amy Brand has over 25 years of nonprofit experience in the South Florida community.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her Masters in Nonprofit Management from Florida Atlantic University.  Amy’s first professional nonprofit position was as the Area Development Director of the Broward County American Cancer Society.  In 2001, she moved to Bethesda Hospital Foundation and worked with the organization for almost 13 years serving in various capacities including Special Events Director, Corporate Partners Director and Major Gifts Director. From there, Amy served as the Chief Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County where through strategic partnerships and donor relations, she increased revenue over 500%.  
Amy now serves as the CEO of Philanthropy Tank, an organization dedicated to working with teens to develop student-driven, sustainable programs that create solutions and address issues facing their communities.  She oversees operations in Palm Beach County and Baltimore, as well as future expansion efforts.  
Amy is the past president of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, past president of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC), Atlantic Florida Chapter serving Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties, as well as a past president of the Palm Beach County chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP.)  She is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Boca Raton. She received her designation as a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) in September 2013 and was awarded Outstanding Fundraising Professional in 2020 by AFP Palm Beach County.  
She currently serves as a co-chair of the Leadership Palm Beach County Grow program, a leadership program for high school juniors from area schools. 


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode of IMPACTability, host Josh Hirsch interviews Molly Goodman, the Executive Director of the Midas Collaborative. They discuss the importance of grassroots advocacy and empowering younger generations to have a voice. Molly shares her experience in the nonprofit sector and how she got involved in advocacy work. They also discuss the role of social media, particularly Twitter, in mobilizing and engaging advocates. Molly emphasizes the need for collaboration and reaching people where they are, especially through digital platforms. They also touch on the use of data in driving decision-making and fundraising strategies.
Molly Goodman is the Executive Director of The Midas Collaborative. She has dedicated her career to supporting affordable housing, homeownership and wealth building opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents of MA, serving as the Manager of Counseling and Homeownership for Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation, as a Graduate Fellow with the Brookline Housing Authority, and as a founding board member and Board President of Abundant Housing of MA. Molly’s career in public service began in 2014 as a Foreclosure Prevention Associate with Urban Edge, under a program of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Community Based Home Corps. She is a current member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar and a graduate of Boston Latin School, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Suffolk University Law School.
Takeaways
Grassroots advocacy is crucial for empowering younger generations and giving them a voice in important issues.Social media, particularly Twitter, can be a powerful tool for mobilizing and engaging advocates.Collaboration is key in advocacy work, and it's important to reach people where they are, especially through digital platforms.Data-driven decision-making is essential in nonprofit organizations, particularly in fundraising strategies.
Chapters
01:29 Background on the Midas Collaborative
05:52 The Power of Social Media in Mobilizing Advocates
08:42 Collaboration and Reaching People Where They Are
14:04 The Importance of Data in Nonprofit Decision-Making
27:36 The Changing Perception of Nonprofit Careers
31:26 Conclusion and Contact Information
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Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.
Got a question that you’d like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode of IMPACTability, The Nonprofit Leaders Podcast, host Josh Hirsch interviews Tony Beall, a trusted and award-winning social enterprise leader, about creating a philanthropic mindset and cultivating a sense of generosity. They discuss the importance of employee giving, the donor experience, and the need for ongoing professional development in the nonprofit sector. They also explore ways to foster a philanthropic mindset in the next generation and the role of technology in diversifying nonprofit revenue streams. The episode concludes with a Coaches Corner segment on steps to diversify nonprofit revenue streams.

Guest Bio

Tony Beall is a trusted and award-winning social enterprise leader, educator, author, and speaker; celebrating over 20 years of diverse nonprofit experience. He has had the honor of serving organizations across the United States and internationally. His guidance and leadership have catapulted organizations to greater levels of sustainability, community engagement, and mission relevance.

Tony leapt into the nonprofit sector in 1998, after a successful 12-year career with American Express. He has served nonprofit organizations in fundraising, operations, marketing, and senior leadership roles. Fast track to 2010, when Tony realized a vision and launched Mister Nonprofit Consultancy, Inc. A consulting firm focused on social impact through the regional and global development of social enterprise. It is through his work as "Mister Nonprofit" that he connected with National University in 2018, and soon became a full-time team member as the Director of the Institute of Philanthropy. He currently serves National University as the Sr. Director, Center for Development & Advancement at NU Academies.

Tony has an undeniable passion for the nonprofit sector, social impact, and supporting the success of others. He resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Takeaways

Employee giving is important for creating a philanthropic mindset within nonprofit organizations.
Understanding the donor experience is crucial for effective donor stewardship.
Ongoing professional development is essential for nonprofit leaders at all levels.
Fostering a philanthropic mindset in the next generation requires providing access, pathways, and tools for engagement.
Diversifying nonprofit revenue streams can be achieved through grant programs, expanding donor bases, major gifts, planned giving, program fees, and earned income.
Technology can play a significant role in diversifying revenue streams and engaging donors.
Taking calculated risks is necessary for nonprofit growth and sustainability.


Leave a review! Reviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review.

Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Got a question that you’d like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!

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In this episode of IMPACTability, host Josh Hirsch interviews Daniel Samuels, the Director of Philanthropy for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, about sustaining donor relationships. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant increase in donors for the food bank. Dan shares how they adapted their systems, operations, and staffing to engage and steward these new donors. They also talk about the importance of storytelling, personalization, and relationship-building in donor retention. The episode concludes with a segment of Coaches Corner, where Sheryl Soukup discusses balancing mission-driven work with the business aspects of running a nonprofit.

Guest Bio

For the past 5 years, Daniel Samuels has served as the Director of Philanthropy for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. In his role, Dan has the opportunity to engage directly with individual and corporate donors and represent the organization through media and speaking engagements. For the 10 years before joining the Second Harvest team, Dan worked as a fundraising professional at two well-respected organizations in Central Florida, Devereux and Central Florida Hillel. Outside of his professional role, Dan served on the board of directors and is a past president for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Florida Chapter. He has also been an instructor at the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College. When not at work, Dan enjoys spending time with family and friends. He and his wife, Ashley, are animal lovers and have two dogs and two cats. Dan considers himself to be pretty handy and enjoys spending time working on their home.

Takeaways

The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges and opportunities for nonprofits, including a significant increase in donors for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
Adapting systems, operations, and staffing is crucial to effectively engage and steward new donors.
Storytelling, personalization, and relationship-building are key strategies for donor retention.


Leave a review! Reviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review.

Like this episode? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app.

Got a question that you’d like to ask a nonprofit professional? Email your questions to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net and listen to next episode to see if your question gets answered!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode of IMPACTability, The Nonprofit Leaders Podcast, host Josh Hirsch interviews Jessica Cecere, former CEO of Nonprofits First, about nonprofit collaborations. They discuss the importance of partnerships and collaborations in the nonprofit sector, especially during times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. They also explore the difference between formal and handshake partnerships and when each is appropriate. Jessica shares a case study of a collaboration between the Edna Runner After School Center and Families First, highlighting the benefits of immediate partnerships in times of need. They also discuss the value of networking with fellow nonprofits to find potential collaborations.
The conversation then shifts to the taboo topic of nonprofit mergers and when it may be necessary for two organizations to come together as one. Jessica emphasizes the importance of assessing board and staff commitment, organizational capacity, and the alignment of strategic plans before considering a merger. They also discuss the challenges and benefits of mergers and the need for professional guidance throughout the process.
The episode concludes with a segment of Coaches Corner, where Stanton Cadow, CFRE, discusses how to assess the feasibility of a capital campaign for a nonprofit, including the importance of board and staff commitment, crafting a compelling narrative, and seeking professional guidance.
Guest Bio
Jessica Cecere is the Chief Executive Officer of Nonprofits First, Inc. and has over 32 years of nonprofit leadership experience. Ms. Cecere has also been a small business shareholder, a consultant, and an active community volunteer. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University. She is a BoardSource Certified Governance trainer and a Certified True Colors Facilitator. In years past, Jessica was also a Certified Consumer Credit Counselor and a Certified Counselor for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Ms. Cecere is an expert in board governance, nonprofit management, leadership facilitation and personal finance and has appeared in numerous local and national publications. Cecere was a long time local television media source in the area of credit and personal finance, as well as, serving as a frequent guest host on Clear Channel Radio’s WJNO morning news.
Jessica Cecere has a long history of community involvement with many community service and nonprofit organizations. She is a graduate and active alumnus of Leadership Florida and Leadership Palm Beach County. Jessica also serves as a volunteer on numerous committees. Jessica has served on 12 plus nonprofit boards and advisory councils from 1992 – 2023. Jessica is currently serving as a Board member for the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida and the Caribbean and Leadership Palm Beach.
Jessica is a recipient of the 2022 Women in Leadership Award for the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation and a recipient of the 2022 Leadership Palm Beach County Presidents Award.
TakeawaysPartnerships and collaborations are crucial in the nonprofit sector, especially during times of crisis.Formal partnerships are necessary for long-term collaborations, while handshake partnerships can be suitable for short-term projects.Networking with fellow nonprofits is essential for finding potential collaborations and expanding your organization's reach.Nonprofit mergers should be considered when there is a financial or operational need, and when the missions of the organizations...