Nonprofit411 Podcast

Nonprofit411

The podcast for nonprofit professionals who love the mission and are still figuring out the rest. You care about the mission. You're also the one holding a dozen jobs at once, the fundraising, the board, the programs, the staffing, the wondering where next quarter's money comes from. This show is for you. Every episode brings in people who've done the work, and the thinkers who shape it. Nonprofit leaders and specialists, plus voices from the wider world of leadership and purpose, who can tell you what really worked. Real conversations, real help. What works, what doesn't, and what might be a good next try. Listen on your commute or your lunch break, and leave with one thing you can use. New episodes every week. Listen wherever you get your podcasts

  1. Aug 28

    Gold Mines of Stories - with Don Martelli, PR Bunker | Nonprofit411 Podcast

    Gold Mines of Stories — with Don MartelliEvery nonprofit is sitting on a gold mine of stories. Most never mine them. Don Martelli is a former Boston Globe reporter and longtime PR agency executive who now leads PR Bunker, working with mission-driven, impact-focused organizations. He helps nonprofits tell the stories their communities need to hear so they can engage the people who fuel the mission. He joins Sarah to explain how nonprofit PR actually works: how to find the one human story that carries your whole mission, how to place it with the right reporter at the right moment, and how to turn a single piece of coverage into a campaign that raises real money. He walks through a real example. A woman named Lisa, once homeless, now helping others through the same organization that housed her. That one story, told well, raised nearly a quarter million dollars in a week. If PR feels like a black box, this episode opens it. In this episode: The "micro that fits the macro" method for finding a story reporters actually wantWhy the most positive stories are the hardest to place, and how to place them anywayPaid, earned, shared, and owned media, explained simplyHow to pitch a reporter in 250 words or fewerWhy a fractional expert often beats hiring in-houseA few ideas to steal: The story is the headline. If you have to sell it, it isn't a story yet.Keep the pitch to one paragraph, then follow up until you get a yes, a no, or silence. Silence is a no.End or start each week by asking your team, "What happened this week that made you feel good?" Those are your stories. Someone has to own collecting them.One good story, repurposed across your site, newsletter, socials, and a podcast, is a marketing campaign, not a one-and-done.Connect with Don PR Bunker: www.prbunker.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donmartelliThe PR Bunker podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pr-bunker/id1839463900Connect with Sarah Nonprofit 411: www.nonprofit411.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nonprofit411The Generosity Roadmap for Nonprofits, a free class to explore the systems that keep community at the heart of fundraising: https://nonprofit411.org/generosity_map Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Nonprofit 41102:57 The Power of Impactful Storytelling05:56 Telling Impactful Stories through PR09:06 Advice for Nonprofits on PR17:23 The Role of Consultants in Nonprofits24:09 Utilizing Impactful Stories in Nonprofits

    Gold Mines of Stories - with Don Martelli, PR Bunker | Nonprofit411 Podcast
  2. Aug 21

    Stop Chasing New Donors - Borrow a Crowd with Daryl Hatton | Nonprofit411 Podcast

    The conversation covers the concept of social fundraising, the evolution of fundraising work, engaging donors and advocates, borrowing a crowd and corporate partnerships, media partnerships and retention strategies, the importance of consistent communication, and concludes with a call to action for the listeners. Key takeaways include the importance of social fundraising, understanding the donor journey, and the need for consistent communication with donors and supporters. Connect with Daryl FundRazr: www.fundrazr.comConnectionPoint: www.connectionpoint.comLinkedIn: search Daryl HattonConnect with Sarah Nonprofit 411: www.nonprofit411.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nonprofit411The Generosity Roadmap for Nonprofits, a free class to explore the systems that keep community at the heart of fundraising: https://nonprofit411.org/generosity_map In this episode: Why you should share results 80% of the time and only ask 20%How to borrow a crowd from your board, volunteers, and corporate partnersWhy your best advocate might be your smallest donorThe "forgettable zone," and the simple weekly habit that keeps you out of it Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Alignment02:05 The Concept of Social Fundraising03:37 The Evolution of Fundraising Work06:28 Engaging Donors and Advocates10:07 Borrowing a Crowd and Corporate Partnerships13:24 Media Partnerships and Retention Strategies26:01 The Importance of Consistent Communication32:13 Conclusion and Call to Action

    Stop Chasing New Donors - Borrow a Crowd with Daryl Hatton | Nonprofit411 Podcast
  3. Aug 10

    Stop Calling It Fundraising with Tim Sarrantonio | Nonprofit411 Podcast

    STOP CALLING IT FUNDRAISING — with Tim SarrantonioWhat if fundraising isn't really about money at all, but about generosity, trust, and the ways people choose to participate? Tim Sarrantonio joins Sarah to rethink what fundraising actually is. They get into why generosity and identity are tied to trust, why creative play matters for understanding it, and how a role-playing game might be one of the best professional development tools the sector has. Along the way: the state of nonprofit education, budgeting under pressure, using feedback and data to make better calls, and what AI is changing. Tim Sarrantonio is the founder of The Generosity Spectrum and the creator of The Generosity Roundtable, the nonprofit sector's first role-playing game designed to help organizations practice decision-making together. He has spent nearly fifteen years working at the intersection of generosity, technology, and nonprofit practice, supporting organizations as they navigate participation, trust, and change. In this episode: Fundraising, redefined as generosityHow role-playing sharpens nonprofit learning and decision-makingConnect with Tim The Generosity Spectrum: www.generosityspectrum.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timsarrantonioEmail: hello@generosityspectrum.orgConnect with Sarah Nonprofit 411: www.nonprofit411.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nonprofit411The Generosity Roadmap for Nonprofits, a free class to explore the systems that keep community at the heart of fundraising: class.nonprofit411.org/fundraising_roadmap-440406Chapters 00:00 — Redefining Fundraising as Generosity02:33 — Journey into the Nonprofit Sector04:07 — Challenges in Nonprofit Education06:10 — The Role of Generosity in Community Resilience07:08 — The Need for Practical Application in Nonprofit Education07:29 — The Importance of Professional Development08:59 — Budgeting Challenges in Nonprofits10:37 — The Role of Role-Playing in Nonprofit Learning16:27 — Feedback and Data in Nonprofit Decision-Making23:00 — The Impact of AI on Nonprofit Dynamics30:09 — The Generosity Roundtable Game

  4. Feb 2

    Michelle Riley on The Impact of Pictures | Nonprofit411

    Harnessing the Power of Ethical Photography in Nonprofit Storytelling In this episode of Nonprofit 4 1 1, Sarah Barton hosts Michelle Riley, founder of Lens for Change, to discuss the importance of ethical photography in nonprofit organizations. Michelle explains how authentic and ethical images can significantly impact fundraising, expand an organization's reach, and maintain credibility. They delve into the principles of ethical photography, the pitfalls of using stock and staged photos, and the process of planning an effective photo shoot. The conversation highlights the value of visual storytelling in building trust and emotional connections with donors.   00:00 Welcome to Nonprofit 4-1-1 00:28 Meet Michelle Riley: Ethical Photography for Nonprofits 04:34 The Importance of Authentic Visual Storytelling 08:03 Ethical Photography: Principles and Practices 10:17 Challenges and Solutions in Ethical Photography 18:18 Building a Photo Library for Your Nonprofit 29:05 The Visual Truth Matters Campaign 34:31 Final Thoughts and Resources   The importance of curiosity in donor relationships: Fundraising isn't about selling but building genuine connections with community members. Phone calls as an effective tool for engaging mid-level donors: Personal connections and voicemails can foster trust and increase donor retention. Systems and strategies that work: How having the right tools in place can make a huge difference in donor engagement and nonprofit growth. Show Links: Find more of Michelle's work at: linkedin.com/in/michelle-riley-56866714 lensforchange.net (Company) visualtruthmatters.com (Other) Find more about Nonprofit411 at: linkedin.com/in/nonprofit411 www.nonprofit411.org Listen to other episodes of Nonprofit411 Podcast(RSS Feed) Check out our partners: Give Suite AI For Anyone | Discount Code: NONPROFIT411 Hoot Host | Affiliate Code NONPROFIT411

  5. 06/09/2025

    Kelly McLaughlin on Building Individual Giving Programs | Nonprofit411 Podcast

    In this episode of the Nonprofit411 Podcast, Sarah Barton is joined by Kelly McLaughlin, founder and CEO of From Scratch Fundraising. They discuss building individual giving programs from scratch, the importance of community-driven fundraising, and the unique approaches Kelly uses to help small organizations create sustainable funding strategies. Kelly also shares insights on engaging donors and making marketing an integral part of nonprofit success. Kelly McLaughlin is the founder and CEO of From Scratch Fundraising, specializing in helping nonprofits build individual giving programs from the ground up. She brings years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and focuses on creating systems that enable smaller organizations to scale their donor engagement and fundraising efforts efficiently. Key Takeaways: Building sustainable individual giving programs from scratch is essential for nonprofits, and starting with simple systems can set the foundation for long-term success. A focus on donor relationships and understanding how to make fundraising personal and mission-driven leads to higher donor retention and engagement. Nonprofits need to show their donors who they are and build community with them, rather than just focusing on asking for donations. Show LInks From Scratch Fundraising (https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com) Nonprofit411 Website (www.nonprofit411.org) Find Kelly on LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-mclaughlin-funds/) Visit Our Sponsor GiveSuite: (https://sales.givesuite.com/get-a-demo?am_id=sarah7593h7593)

About

The podcast for nonprofit professionals who love the mission and are still figuring out the rest. You care about the mission. You're also the one holding a dozen jobs at once, the fundraising, the board, the programs, the staffing, the wondering where next quarter's money comes from. This show is for you. Every episode brings in people who've done the work, and the thinkers who shape it. Nonprofit leaders and specialists, plus voices from the wider world of leadership and purpose, who can tell you what really worked. Real conversations, real help. What works, what doesn't, and what might be a good next try. Listen on your commute or your lunch break, and leave with one thing you can use. New episodes every week. Listen wherever you get your podcasts