The Nonprofit Mentor

Tom Iselin
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Daily

Welcome to The Nonprofit Mentor! . . . The show that provides straight talk and practical tools to help you become an outstanding nonprofit leader, run and exceptional organization, and raise a ton of money in the process. Looking for savvy fundraising tips and tactics? . . . check out Tom's other podcast called: The Fundraising Coach. Whether you're an executive, staff member or board member, you'll be learning the inside scoop from one of the nation's leading social entrepreneurs who's been in your shoes and walked in the muddiest of trenches, not from some university professor who spouts theory and has never run a nonprofit. Join us! Because show after show, you'll learn useful information that will help you grow professionally as you build a high-impact nonprofit. About Tom Iselin: Tom has built eight notable nonprofits. He's written six books, sits on six boards, and is considered a leading authority on building gold standard nonprofits. His been on CNN, Nightline, and feature in Newsweek for his impact on the industry. Tom runs First Things First, an organization that provides executive coaching, board retreats, strategic planning, and fundraising services, and is rated, "America's best retreat facilitator." Learn more at: www.tomiselin.com

  1. Jun 5

    Your Board Isn't Working: Why a Board Retreat Might Be the Best Investment Your Nonprofit Makes This Year

    Your Board Isn't Working: Why a Board Retreat Might Be the Best Investment Your Nonprofit Makes This Year Most nonprofit leaders know the scene. You're sitting in a board meeting watching the same three people carry the conversation while two members scroll their phones, one asks a question already answered in the pre-read materials, and another slips out early because "something came up." The meeting ends politely. No one throws a chair. But nothing really moves forward. This is how board dysfunction often shows up—not through dramatic conflict, but through something quieter and more damaging: under-engagement. Board members attend meetings but contribute little. They skim materials, avoid difficult conversations, they fail to respond to staff emails, and they remain observers rather than active leaders. At first glance it seems harmless. Meetings are calm. Disagreements are rare. But the cost is real. A few members end up carrying the entire board. Strategic discussions become shallow. Staff grow frustrated presenting ideas that receive little response. And gradually, expectations decline. Leadership turns into attendance. At that point the board meeting starts to resemble a pleasant dinner party—friendly conversation, plenty of nodding, and very few decisions. And when that happens, the organization begins to drift. When this type of drift happens, one of the smartest investments a nonprofit can make is a well-designed board retreat—an opportunity to step back, address culture, under-engagement, and reset expectations before the board stops leading and starts simply showing up. Listen in!

  2. Jun 5

    Building a Donor Pipeline BEFORE You need It!

    Building a Donor Pipeline BEFORE You need It! Here's a truth most development directors don't want to admit out loud: Your donor base is quietly shrinking. Not because you're doing bad work. Not because your mission isn't compelling. Not because your fundraising team isn't trying. But because donors are human. They retire. They relocate. They redirect their giving. They get distracted by grandkids. They fall in love with a new cause. And sometimes, without warning, they just have a change of heart before writing that six-figure check you were sure was coming. If you are not consistently identifying and cultivating new donors, you are not building stability, you're borrowing time. Savvy fundraisers understand this. They are not paranoid. They are practical. They know fundraising is part math, part psychology, and part ongoing treasure hunt. And they know something else: The organizations that prospect consistently don't panic. The ones that don't . . . eventually do. Let's talk about how to build a donor pipeline that is deep, resilient, and slightly unstoppable.

  3. Jun 5

    Board Retreat Blunders and Mistakes that Sabotage Retreats

    Board Retreat Blunders and Mistakes that Sabotage Retreats Board retreats are supposed to be powerful. They're supposed to create clarity, alignment, momentum, unity, and ownership. They're meant to be the moment when a board steps out of the day-to-day grind and finally gets honest about where the board is—and where it's going. Instead? Too many retreats feel like a long, expensive meeting with better snacks. People show up with good intentions. They sit through presentations. They nod politely. They eat. They participate just enough to feel engaged. And then they leave. And nothing really changes. No meaningful decisions. No real alignment. No unity. No ownership. No movement. Just a lingering sense that "we talked about some good stuff." That's not a retreat. That's a missed opportunity. And after facilitating hundreds of board retreats across the country, I can tell you this with complete confidence: Most board retreats fail for predictable, avoidable reasons. Here are some classic board retreat blunders and mistakes you want to avoid. Listen in!

  4. Jun 5

    Part 3 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies

    Part 3 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies Most fundraisers spend far too much time worrying about the "perfect ask," as if somewhere out there is one magical sentence that makes every donor instantly reach for a checkbook. There isn't. Fundraising is not a Jedi mind trick, and donors are not slot machines you jiggle until money falls out.   The truth is much more practical: different donors respond to different types of asks, and the best fundraisers know how to choose the right one for the right person at the right moment.   That's why experienced fundraisers don't fall in love with just one asking style. They build a toolkit. They know when to keep it simple, when to make it visual, when to create momentum, when to lean into competition, and when to invite support without asking for money at all.   In other words, they don't walk into every donor meeting swinging the same hammer and hoping everything turns into a nail. They use judgment, timing, and a little creativity—which, frankly, beats awkward begging every time.   In Part 1 and Part 2, we covered the foundational and scalable ask strategies that drive day-to-day fundraising success.   In this final part of the series, we turn to long-term strategy—exploring the ask types that create stability, permanence, and legacy-level impact.

  5. Jun 5

    Part 2 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies

    Part 2 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies Most fundraisers spend far too much time worrying about the "perfect ask," as if somewhere out there is one magical sentence that makes every donor instantly reach for a checkbook. There isn't. Fundraising is not a Jedi mind trick, and donors are not slot machines you jiggle until money falls out. The truth is much more practical: different donors respond to different types of asks, and the best fundraisers know how to choose the right one for the right person at the right moment. That's why experienced fundraisers don't fall in love with just one asking style. They build a toolkit. They know when to keep it simple, when to make it visual, when to create momentum, when to lean into competition, and when to invite support without asking for money at all. In other words, they don't walk into every donor meeting swinging the same hammer and hoping everything turns into a nail. They use judgment, timing, and a little creativity—which, frankly, beats awkward begging every time. In Part 1, we covered five foundational ask tactics that help you start conversations and create momentum. In this part of the series, we shift from momentum to structure—focusing on the ask tactics that build consistency, loyalty, and scalable revenue across your donor base.

  6. Jun 5

    Part 1 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies

    Part 1 of 3: Ask Better, Raise More Money -- Fundraising Ask Tactics and Strategies Most fundraisers spend far too much time worrying about the "perfect ask," as if somewhere out there is one magical sentence that makes every donor instantly reach for a checkbook. There isn't. Fundraising is not a Jedi mind trick, and donors are not slot machines you jiggle until money falls out. The truth is much more practical: different donors respond to different types of asks, and the best fundraisers know how to choose the right one for the right person at the right moment. That's why experienced fundraisers don't fall in love with just one asking style. They build a toolkit. They know when to keep it simple, when to make it visual, when to create momentum, when to lean into competition, and when to invite support without asking for money at all. In other words, they don't walk into every donor meeting swinging the same hammer and hoping everything turns into a nail. They use judgment, timing, and a little creativity—which, frankly, beats awkward begging every time. This three-part series breaks down 14 proven types of fundraising asks you can use to raise more money more effectively. In this first installment, we'll cover five foundational ask types that every fundraiser should have ready at all times.

  7. Apr 6

    Unresponsive Donors: A Smarter Way to Respond

    If you've spent any time in fundraising, you know this moment well.   You send the email, make the call and follow up—politely, professionally, thoughtfully. And then… nothing. No reply. No acknowledgment. No signal of interest or disinterest. Just silence.     For many fundraisers, donor silence feels personal. It triggers doubt. Did I say the wrong thing? Did I wait too long? Did they lose confidence in us? Should I push harder—or back off completely?   Here's the truth most fundraisers need to hear—and hear often: Donor silence usually has very little to do with you. But what you do after that silence? That part matters a lot. This podcast will help you separate what's outside your control from what absolutely isn't—and show you how to respond in ways that build trust, loyalty, and long-term generosity. Listen and learn!

  8. Apr 6

    The Year-End (Holiday) Fundraising Secrets Nobody Uses

    The "Notify First" Trick There's one move that can turn your ho-hum year-end appeal into a home run: notify first! Before you send a single email or stuff a single envelope, reach out to donors—by phone or email—and announce your campaign is coming. This one act can boost your response rate up to five times higher. If you actually reach a donor and they feel connected to your cause, half of them will give. Do it well, and that number can soar 70%. Incredible. But skip the notification and rely only on a generic appeal letter or email? Expect a limp response rate of just 1–3%. Maybe 5% if you're lucky. (It's like brewing coffee without heating the water—you'll still get something brown, but nobody's drinking it.) Listen in and Learn!

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Nonprofit Mentor! . . . The show that provides straight talk and practical tools to help you become an outstanding nonprofit leader, run and exceptional organization, and raise a ton of money in the process. Looking for savvy fundraising tips and tactics? . . . check out Tom's other podcast called: The Fundraising Coach. Whether you're an executive, staff member or board member, you'll be learning the inside scoop from one of the nation's leading social entrepreneurs who's been in your shoes and walked in the muddiest of trenches, not from some university professor who spouts theory and has never run a nonprofit. Join us! Because show after show, you'll learn useful information that will help you grow professionally as you build a high-impact nonprofit. About Tom Iselin: Tom has built eight notable nonprofits. He's written six books, sits on six boards, and is considered a leading authority on building gold standard nonprofits. His been on CNN, Nightline, and feature in Newsweek for his impact on the industry. Tom runs First Things First, an organization that provides executive coaching, board retreats, strategic planning, and fundraising services, and is rated, "America's best retreat facilitator." Learn more at: www.tomiselin.com

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Iselin
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 Tom Iselin. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Nonprofit Mentor