The Nonprofit Show

American Nonprofit Academy
  • 5.0 (5)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED DAILY

The Nonprofit Show is the nation’s daily broadcast for the business side of nonprofits — bringing you practical insights, expert interviews, and real-world strategies to help your organization run smarter, lead stronger, and fund better. Each weekday, our co-hosts and guests break down the most current topics in fundraising, board governance, leadership, staffing, technology, communications, and financial strategy — giving nonprofit professionals the tools they need to build sustainable, high-performing organizations. With more than 1,400 episodes and growing, our on-demand library is a trusted resource for executive directors, team members, fundraisers, board members, and sector leaders who are ready to move beyond inspiration and into implementation. 🎥 Watch the daily show on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3A0Dqlw

  1. Nonprofit Gift and Donation Acceptance Policies 101

    1D AGO

    Nonprofit Gift and Donation Acceptance Policies 101

    Send a text Gift acceptance policies sound like paperwork—until a donor tries to turn your organization into their personal dare! In this episode, Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall get practical about why this policy is a frontline operating tool for modern fundraising teams: it protects mission alignment, strengthens governance, and keeps staff out of reactive, high-pressure decision-making. Julia opens with a classic “strings attached” scenario that shows why boundaries must be set before the check arrives. “I don’t think you could do that because we make the big donor sign this thing called a gift acceptance policy,” she recalls, describing how even naming rights and donor direction can be clarified in advance. Tony adds real-world texture: unusual asks aren’t hypothetical. Policies exist to protect the organization and the humans raising the money. From there, the conversation shifts into the business mechanics: ethics and values alignment, legal compliance, and the operational difference between restricted and unrestricted gifts. The cohosts stress that gifts are no longer just cash—especially during the Great Wealth Transfer—so nonprofits must prepare for nontraditional assets like real estate, collectibles, royalty streams, and other property types that carry valuation, liquidation, storage, and reputational implications. The conversation gets real about “wackadoo gifts” and the hidden costs that can turn a “donation” into a liability. They also address governance: who drafts the policy (development, finance, CEO), how it gets board approval, and why annual review matters. They’re candid that boards can modify policies “at will,” which makes proactive clarity even more essential. Most importantly, they frame the policy as an empowerment tool. “It empowers you to feel good about how you’re responding… it’s in alignment with senior leadership… it’s in alignment with the board,” Tony says, emphasizing how preparedness reduces risk and speeds decision-making when donor conditions get complicated. Finally, they discuss where the policy should live: typically internal—available when asked, shared in a professional PDF format, but not pushed into donor packets or posted publicly as a default. #GiftAcceptancePolicy #FundraisingLeadership #TheNonprofitShow Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    30 min
  2. Interim Fundraising: From Chaos to Strategy

    3D AGO

    Interim Fundraising: From Chaos to Strategy

    Send a text Leadership transitions don’t have to be terrifying revenue cliffs. In this conversation, Travis Craddock, CFRE and Founder of Craddock Strategies, reframes interim development leadership as a powerful strategic advantage—not a temporary patch. Too often, organizations view interim fundraising support as “a warm body in an empty seat.” Travis challenges that mindset directly. “It prevents rushed or misaligned hires that can be expensive,” he explains, positioning interim leadership as a disciplined pause that protects both donor relationships and long-term revenue health. Fundraising is built on trust. When leadership shifts, donors notice. Travis prioritizes immediate communication, transparency, and clarity so nothing falls through the cracks. Renewals are tracked. Grants are monitored. Donors are reassured. Strategy stays in motion. But here’s where the real opportunity emerges. An interim professional arrives without emotional baggage. That means clearer data analysis, honest conversations about ROI, and strategic evaluation of legacy traditions. Should the gala continue? Is it delivering meaningful return? Are event attendees being cultivated into major donors? These are business questions—asked gracefully, but directly. Travis describes himself as “gracefully honest,” and that honesty becomes catalytic. Interim work isn’t simply maintenance. It’s an opportunity to elevate roles, revise job descriptions, shift from event-driven tactics to relationship-based fundraising, and align hiring with long-term strategic direction. He emphasizes data-driven decisions, CRM fluency, relationship-centered fundraising, and partnership with CEOs and boards. In many cases, he becomes the strategic driver—project-managing fundraising momentum while executives focus on mission execution. Three months may be the minimum engagement window. Six months may be ideal. But within that time, organizations can stabilize revenue, recalibrate strategy, build infrastructure, and hire with intention. Anything is possible when nonprofits embrace transition as transformation!  00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Interim Fundraising  00:02:30 What Craddock Strategies Provides Nonprofits  00:04:03 Interim Leadership Beyond a Temporary Fix  00:06:48 Expanding the Definition of the Fundraising Team  00:09:21 Strategy Versus Firefighting in Development  00:11:09 Evaluating Events and Return on Investment  00:14:18 Communicating with Donors During Transition  00:17:18 Hiring Timelines and Interim Engagement Length  00:18:32 Revising Job Descriptions to Match Strategy  00:23:01 Technology Investment and Infrastructure Mindset  Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    26 min
  3. Your Systems Don’t Agree? How Nonprofits Fix the Source of Truth

    4D AGO

    Your Systems Don’t Agree? How Nonprofits Fix the Source of Truth

    Send a text A visit with Doug Chapiewsky, CEO & President of Kanso Software, and Cameron Bowman, CAAS Solutions Consultant at JMT Consulting, for a fast-moving, systems-first conversation on one thing every nonprofit runs on: trustworthy data. Cameron frames the moment we’re in as “the golden age of software”—more tools, more dashboards, more integrations, and more AI than ever before. But that abundance comes with a price: fragmented systems, duplicated entries, and competing versions of the same truth. His fix is refreshingly operational. Data integrity isn’t a buzzword; it’s a checklist: accurate, complete, consistent across systems, timely, and traceable/auditable. When any one of those breaks, nonprofits pay for it in grant compliance headaches, restricted-fund confusion, audit stress, and board decisions made on shaky information. Doug brings the lens of housing—where data errors don’t just create inconvenience; they disrupt funding, compliance, and real people’s stability. Kanso’s mission is to simplify a highly regulated, high-stakes domain where sensitive data is everywhere and staffing capacity is often thin. As Doug puts it, “Trust outweighs technology… and if we don’t have that trust, it really gets right to your mission.” The episode drills into the reality that single-vendor “one system does it all” is fading fast; modern organizations operate in an ecosystem. That’s why both speakers prioritize open systems paired with serious guardrails—especially when handling social security numbers, income data, and family composition. The conversation turns tactical with a Business Process Review (BPR): mapping where data originates, how it moves, who owns it, what controls exist, and where manual workarounds (shadow spreadsheets, email approvals, offline tracking) weaken audit trails and invite risk. Cameron lands a line every operations leader should post near their monitor: “Technology will amplify your process. It won’t correct your misaligned workflows.” Finally, the duo urge nonprofits to build a cadence—monthly, quarterly, at least annually—to revisit processes, configuration, and integrations as funding rules, reporting needs, staff, and tech keep shifting. The message is clear: clean data isn’t a finance luxury—it’s a mission accelerant. #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitTechnology #DataIntegrity Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    28 min
  4. Community Building: Making Your Nonprofit The “Third Space” People Trust

    5D AGO

    Community Building: Making Your Nonprofit The “Third Space” People Trust

    Send a text We lean into a timely business truth: nonprofit sustainability is built as much through belonging as through budgets. Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tim Sarrantonio welcome Rachel D’Souza, Founder and President of Gladiator Consulting, for a conversation that reframes community-building as a practical growth strategy for donors, volunteers, staff cohesion, and long-term resilience. Rachel describes nonprofits as one of society’s last best “third spaces”—those informal gathering places that used to create trust across differences. With remote work, the pandemic’s aftershocks, and algorithm-driven polarization, many people have fewer natural pathways into civic life. That shift creates risk for organizations relying on legacy participation habits. It also creates opportunity: nonprofits can intentionally become the place where people reconnect around shared purpose and shared outcomes. The discussion moves from theory into operating reality: boards at impasses, teams facing funding gaps, and leaders stuck in fight-flight-freeze. Rachel offers a pragmatic path forward—start with shared facts, clarify who holds which decisions, and practice disagreement before the stakes spike. “If you want to be better at conflict, that means you have to practice it, just like anything else,” she said, recommending simple meeting exercises that build the muscle of respectful debate. Tim grounds this in organizational dynamics leaders recognize instantly: misalignment between finance and fundraising can derail systems decisions, contracts, and staff trust—without anyone “hating” anyone. The fix is not heroics; it’s earlier conversations, shared language, and a commitment to being in the room together. Rachel draws a bright line leaders need: discomfort is part of growth, but it is not the same as harm. When emotions run hot, the first move is often a pause—reset the temperature so people can listen to process, not just respond. This convo offers a hopeful business case: build community on purpose, and capacity follows.  00:00:00 Welcome and why community building matters right now  00:02:10 What Gladiator Consulting does and why “belonging” drives results  00:04:30 Nonprofits as “third spaces” and the business opportunity  00:06:10 Tim’s real-life example of nonprofit spaces creating connection  00:08:00 Invitation culture making people feel welcome  00:10:10 People give through nonprofits and identity-based connection  00:11:30 Practicing conflict in meetings before stakes rise  00:14:05 Finance and fundraising misalignment as an operational risk  00:16:20 Shared clarity who decides what and why it matters  00:22:20 Pause tactics discomfort vs harm and moving forward  #TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityBuilding Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    30 min
  5. Starting A Development Job? The First 30 Days Playbook

    FEB 20

    Starting A Development Job? The First 30 Days Playbook

    Send a text Starting a new role as a nonprofit’s fundraiser can feel like stepping onto the field mid-game—high expectations, limited time, and a lot of “what happened before I got here?” On this Fundraisers Friday, cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall offer a practical, confidence-building roadmap for what a new development officer should focus on in the first 30 days—with the business realities of nonprofit revenue, relationships, and systems front and center. Julia sets the tone with honesty and heart, and Tony brings the steady reassurance every new fundraiser needs: “It’s all about listening, learning, and building trust in your first 30 days.” From there, they lay out the early priorities that protect both results and stamina. First: get anchored in the mission. Tony makes the point that mission alignment isn’t sentimental—it’s operational. If you don’t truly connect with the purpose, the work becomes an uphill climb. Next, they move into relationship strategy: creating a thoughtful internal and external “relationship tour” so you can meet leadership, board members, and key stakeholders the right way. The emphasis isn’t speed—it’s sequence, context, and smart preparation so those early conversations build momentum instead of misunderstanding. Then comes the systems side: CRMs, reporting, access issues, and the real-world obstacles that appear when prior staff have departed. Tony offers a realistic view of getting up to speed quickly, and Julia adds the on-the-ground reminder that you’ll be meeting people immediately—so you’ll need to document interactions in the CRM from day one. Finally, they elevate culture as a performance driver. Julia notes how pressure often lands on the development officer as “the savior,” and Tony reframes it: fundraising works best as a team effort, not a solo canoe trip. As Julia puts it, “It’s the nucleus of the whole organization.” If you’re new in the seat, this episode gives you both direction and permission: respect the past, build trust first, and then earn the right to recommend change.  00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday  00:01:00 First 30 days focus for a new development officer  00:02:40 Mission alignment why it matters on day one  00:06:40 Relationship tour CEO board and key stakeholders  00:11:50 Systems and CRM access reporting and ramp up  00:15:40 Visibility scan marketing segmentation and social presence  00:18:00 Respect history build trust then recommend change  00:19:40 Fundraising pressure and why it must be a team sport  00:21:20 Culture shifts and board leadership impact  00:24:00 How to learn culture by asking better questions  00:26:10 Tony offers a 30 60 90 plan for development roles  00:28:10 How to request the PDF and episode close  Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    30 min
  6. When Is It Time to Close Your Nonprofit?

    FEB 18

    When Is It Time to Close Your Nonprofit?

    Send a text Sunsetting a nonprofit is one of the most difficult decisions a board and executive team can face. Erin McPartlin, Principal of Erin McPartlin Consulting, guides leaders through the strategic and compassionate realities of organizational closure. Host Julia Patrick opens the conversation by acknowledging the emotional weight of the topic. Closing an organization can feel like failure. Yet Erin reframes the discussion: sometimes the healthiest business decision is an intentional ending. Whether an organization has achieved its mission, become operationally stagnant, or reached financial unsustainability, the question is not just when to close—but how to do so responsibly. Erin outlines three common scenarios: mission accomplished, operational decline with weak infrastructure, and full financial unsustainability. In many cases, boards wait too long to confront the truth. “If you get to that point where you're now saying, we need to look at should we stay open or not, you're probably past the decision point,” she explains. That delay often stems from intermittent success—a returning donor, a new grant, a compelling impact story—that keeps leadership hoping for a turnaround. From a governance standpoint, Erin emphasizes four pillars: people, communication, finance, and risk. Boards must fully engage, understand cash flow, assess liabilities, calculate burn rate, and evaluate runway. The most important question becomes, “What is the cost of our inaction?” Rather than allowing an abrupt collapse—locked doors and shocked staff—Erin advocates for a structured 4–6 month minimum runway. This deliberate process allows nonprofits to respect employees, honor donor commitments, manage restricted funds, and protect community trust. The episode closes on a powerful idea: the “elegant ending.” By planning intentionally, nonprofits can celebrate their impact, transfer knowledge, mentor peer organizations, and potentially redistribute remaining funds to aligned missions. “It’s preserving the public perception and preserving the positivity in the work that this organization did,” Erin shares. Closing well is not defeat. It is stewardship. #NonprofitManagement #BoardGovernance #TheNonprofitShow Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    29 min
  7. Data, Trust, and Fundraising: The Ethics Every Nonprofit Must Face

    FEB 13

    Data, Trust, and Fundraising: The Ethics Every Nonprofit Must Face

    Send a text On this Fundraisers Friday, our cohosts lean into one of the most nuanced and professionally demanding areas of nonprofit leadership: donor research, privacy, ethics, and gift acceptance policy. For nonprofit executives, development leaders, and board members, this episode functions as a governance workshop disguised as a conversation. The message is clear: professionalism in fundraising is not just about revenue—it is about trust architecture, long-term credibility, and disciplined leadership. In a fundraising ecosystem shaped by rapid technological change, cloud-based systems, and evolving donor expectations, the conversation moves beyond tactics into governance and risk management. Julia Patrick sets the tone by noting that philanthropy is in an exciting era—but it demands more strategic thinking. Tony Beall echoes that reality, sharing that even experienced leaders must continually refine their understanding because the landscape keeps shifting. At the center of the discussion is a powerful reminder: “Research isn’t surveillance so much as it is stewardship,” Tony explains. Just because information is available does not mean it should be used. Fundraising professionals must balance data access with relational integrity. As Tony adds, “A donor doesn’t want to feel studied. They want to feel understood.” The cohosts explore practical implications: • Who has access to donor data internally and externally  • The responsibility of third-party vendors and contract review  • Data breach planning and crisis communication  • Transparency with donors about how their information is protected  • Retention policies for lapsed donors  • Recognition preferences and anonymity in sensitive mission areas Perhaps the most thought-provoking segment addresses gift acceptance policies. Tony offers a clarifying principle: “A gift acceptance policy isn’t anti-donor, it’s pro-mission.” Without policy, organizations invite inconsistency and risk. With policy, staff are protected from making moral judgment calls alone, and mission credibility remains intact. Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    31 min
  8. Cash Clarity for Nonprofits: Your Checking Account Is Lying To You

    FEB 12

    Cash Clarity for Nonprofits: Your Checking Account Is Lying To You

    Send a text If your nonprofit’s checking account looks “healthy,” this episode is your friendly wake-up call: bank balance is not the same as real liquidity. Carole Santilli, CPA, Manager at Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC) Philadelphia, joins us to help leaders, board members, and development teams stop guessing and start managing cash with clarity. Carole lays out why the bank statement can be “the worst place to look” when assessing what you truly have available to spend. The heart of the conversation is the difference between true operating cash and restricted or conditional funds—money that may be sitting in your account but is already spoken for by purpose, timing, or requirements (like matching). A scholarship grant, a multi-year commitment, or a conditional advance can create the illusion of being flush, even when operations are tight. From there, the discussion turns practical: separate accounts for restricted funds, monthly reporting that keeps everyone honest, and board-level transparency that supports smarter decisions and stronger trust with funders. Carole also reinforces a widely used benchmark for stability: nonprofits should aim for three to six months of operating cash on hand—but only after restricted dollars are set aside. Forecasting takes center stage as the real “business muscle” here. Budgets are approved and static, but reality shifts: events move, grants arrive late, reimbursements lag, expenses climb with inflation, and unexpected costs (like snow removal or insurance increases) show up fast. Carole’s message is consistent: forecast monthly, watch variances, and adjust early—before panic becomes policy. And for boards? She makes it plain: financial oversight isn’t a passive role. Ask the “annoying” questions, understand obligations, and engage early in meetings while energy is high. As Carole puts it, “You can’t support the mission if you don’t have the funding and the resources.” She also reframes audits as a credibility asset: “Look at this as another tool in your toolbox” to reassure funders that your organization is well-run. This episode is a strong reminder that calm, disciplined financial practices protect mission momentum—especially when life throws curveballs. #NonprofitFinance #CashFlow #TheNonprofitShow Find us Live daily on YouTube! Find us Live daily on LinkedIn! Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Nonprofit Show is the nation’s daily broadcast for the business side of nonprofits — bringing you practical insights, expert interviews, and real-world strategies to help your organization run smarter, lead stronger, and fund better. Each weekday, our co-hosts and guests break down the most current topics in fundraising, board governance, leadership, staffing, technology, communications, and financial strategy — giving nonprofit professionals the tools they need to build sustainable, high-performing organizations. With more than 1,400 episodes and growing, our on-demand library is a trusted resource for executive directors, team members, fundraisers, board members, and sector leaders who are ready to move beyond inspiration and into implementation. 🎥 Watch the daily show on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3A0Dqlw

Information

  • Creator
    American Nonprofit Academy
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    955
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 American Nonprofit Academy
  • Show Website
    The Nonprofit Show

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