Successful Nonprofits Podcast

Successful Nonprofits, LLC
  • 4.7 (71)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

With more than half a million downloads, the Successful Nonprofits Podcast helps nonprofit chief executives lead effectively and build stronger organizations. Hosted by Dolph Goldenburg, a consultant, coach, and confidant to nonprofit leaders across the country, the podcast helps nonprofit executive directors navigate board relationships, staff leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising pressure, strategic planning, leadership transitions, and the hard decisions only the CEO can make. Each episode is created for busy nonprofit chief executives leading through complexity, often without a deep bench of finance, HR, fundraising, or operations support. Through conversations with nonprofit leaders and experts, along with practical episodes drawn from Dolph's three decades of nonprofit leadership, the Successful Nonprofits® Podcast offers clear-eyed guidance to help you and your organization thrive.

  1. The Three Roles of an Executive Director

    2d ago

    The Three Roles of an Executive Director

    Many executive directors spend their days in meetings, emails, staff questions, funder requests, budget tweaks, and personnel issues. At the end of the day, they have been busy. They may even feel productive. But they still have the nagging sense that the most important CEO level was untouched. I share the three roles on you as the CEO can fulfill: futurist, steward, and optimizer. These three roles help executive directors step out of operational gravity, protect time for long term thinking, steward the organization's people and trust, and make the high stakes decisions that move the organization forward. This episode answers the following questions: What should I focus on as the CEO of a small nonprofit? How do I make time for strategy as a nonprofit an executive director? Why do I feel stuck? How do nonprofit CEOs balance strategy and operations? How can nonprofit leaders avoid getting trapped in busywork?

    13 min
  2. 70% of nonprofit CEOs get fired or forced out!

    3d ago

    70% of nonprofit CEOs get fired or forced out!

    While the nonprofit sector rarely talks about it openly, 35% - 70% of executive directors are forced out — usually without even realizing the warning signs. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on why board confidence erodes, which issues risk accelerating your departure, and steps you can take to ensure you leave on your own terms after a long and successful tenure.    This episode answers the following questions: How can I improve my relationship with the board? How do I build and maintain the trust of my board? Am I at risk of being fired or forced out? How do I ensure a long and successful tenure as CEO? Do I need a nonprofit CEO coach?

    25 min
  3. The Lifecycle of an Executive Director with Claudius Hildebrand

    4d ago

    The Lifecycle of an Executive Director with Claudius Hildebrand

    Claudius Hildebrand, co-author of the best selling book Life Cycle of a CEO, explores the five stages of a nonprofit executive director's tenure, revealing how these insights apply to your nonprofit leadership journey. Discover practical strategies for launching into new roles, reinvention during your tenure, and intentional succession planning. This episode answers the following questions:         What can I do to have a strong and impactful start as a new executive director?           How do I know if it's time to reinvent myself as a nonprofit leader?         Do I need to change my leadership strategy?         How do I strengthen my Board relationships?         How can I foster innovation at my organization?   Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes or blog posts:          The Unintentional Interim Executive Director          The CEO Next Door with Kim Powell

    39 min

  4. May 28

    The Podcast Returns June 16th!

    New episodes will be released on June 16th with a sharper focus on providing actionable advice and support for nonprofit executive directors.   If there's a CEO-level topic you'd like covered, email me at dolph@successfulnonprofits.com.

    5 min

  5. 12/03/2024

    World-Class Benefits for Nonprofit Teams with Curt Ellis

    Could your nonprofit offer staff benefits they couldn't even get working for a Fortune 500 employer? Curt Ellis, co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps, joins Dolph Goldenburg to share the secret sauce behind FoodCorps' jaw-dropping benefits package. From a $3,000 401(k) match to 16 weeks of paid parental leave to sabbaticals, FoodCorps is setting new standards in the nonprofit sector. Ellis explains why offering these benefits isn't just about employee satisfaction—it's a business strategy that strengthens FoodCorps' mission to connect children to nourishing food. Discover how FoodCorps' approach to sabbaticals, half-day Fridays, and family planning support boosts morale and retains talent in the high-turnover nonprofit workforce. Whether you're tackling employee burnout or seeking donor buy-in for better benefits, this episode is your blueprint for success. This episode answers the following questions: How can I implement competitive benefits at my nonprofit? Why are sabbaticals a game-changer for retention? How can I approach funders about improving staff benefits? Links mentioned in this episode: FoodCorps Looking for More? Check out these amazing episodes: Our Unlimited PTO Experiment with Dolph & Lexie on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes. Beyond Money: Incentives That Work with Uri Gneezy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes.

    35 min

  6. 11/26/2024

    5 Ways to Raise More Money at the End of the Year

    As the rest of the world counts down the last weeks of the year, this is the perfect time for leaders like you to harness your donors' holiday-giving spirit to generate more dollars, retain more donors, and cultivate even larger gifts for next year.   This episode answers the following questions: How can I engage my nonprofit's Board in fundraising at the end of the year?  What strategies can I use in the last week or month of the year to boost donations?  What are LYBUNT donors and how do I approach them?  What are some easy ways to raise $10,000 or more in a month?  Links mentioned in this episode: Blog Post: 5 Digital Fundraising Challenges and Their Solutions Blog Post: 31 Ideas for Board Member Fundraising Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: 11 Donor-Tested Ways to Say "Thank You" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Podcast: Volunteer Fundraisers Unleashed with Maura McDaniel  on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes

    16 min

  7. 11/19/2024

    Are You an Eagle, Parrot, Owl, or Dove? With Manish Shah

    What if understanding your team could be as simple as recognizing four birds?  In this episode, Manish Shah introduces the "four birds" personality model—a game-changing tool for nonprofits striving to enhance collaboration and solve conflict. From the eagle's boldness to the owl's precision, you'll discover how understanding these personality types can revolutionize your leadership and transform team dynamics. Join host Dolph Goldenburg as he and Manish explore: Why even high-performing teams experience dysfunction. How to decode personality types to foster stronger collaboration. Simple adjustments you can make to turn misunderstandings into breakthroughs. This episode answers the following questions: How is the four-bird personality type different from the other personality assessments? How do personality assessments transform team communication? How can I adapt my leadership style to better connect with diverse personalities? Links mentioned in this episode: Visit EPYX Team Building Manish's Team-Building Workshops Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Ep 268: The Secret to Building a Rockstar Leadership Team with Allison Mayfield  [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes] Ep 307: Empower Your Team: Unleashing Leadership Potential with Luis Velasquez & Kristin Gleitsman [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]

    41 min

  8. 11/12/2024

    Contingency Planning for a Trump 2.0 Presidency

    If you listen to just one episode this year, make it this one. As Donald Trump prepares to take office, the nonprofit sector faces a potential shift that could disrupt services, funding, and the communities you support. In this urgent solo episode, Dolph Goldenburg provides a strategic roadmap to help progressive nonprofits prepare for these seismic changes within the next two months. Goldenburg shares a practical, five-step REACT framework and offers real-world strategies to keep your organization resilient, even under pressure. This episode digs into essential questions, like: What scenarios should I prepare for under a new Trump administration? Who should be involved in creating our organization's contingency plan? How do I ensure that our responses are aligned with our mission and values? You'll also get a downloadable template to guide your own contingency planning sessions. Don't wait—get your organization ready for day one, day 100, and beyond. Links mentioned in this episode: Download the Contingency Planning Session Agenda and two sample scenarios for contingency planning

    30 min
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About

With more than half a million downloads, the Successful Nonprofits Podcast helps nonprofit chief executives lead effectively and build stronger organizations. Hosted by Dolph Goldenburg, a consultant, coach, and confidant to nonprofit leaders across the country, the podcast helps nonprofit executive directors navigate board relationships, staff leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising pressure, strategic planning, leadership transitions, and the hard decisions only the CEO can make. Each episode is created for busy nonprofit chief executives leading through complexity, often without a deep bench of finance, HR, fundraising, or operations support. Through conversations with nonprofit leaders and experts, along with practical episodes drawn from Dolph's three decades of nonprofit leadership, the Successful Nonprofits® Podcast offers clear-eyed guidance to help you and your organization thrive.

Information

  • Creator
    Successful Nonprofits, LLC
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    334
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Successful Nonprofits Podcast

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