Profitable Nonprofits With Bernadette Mack

Bernadette Mack
  • 5.0 (2)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Tired of the endless nonprofit struggle? Frustrated with always chasing funding, juggling too many responsibilities, and feeling like there’s never enough time or money to do the work that really matters? Profitable Nonprofits is the podcast that challenges the status quo and helps you build more a impactful and sustainable organization - without the burnout. Hosted by Bernadette Mack, a nonprofit strategist and consultant with years of experience helping organizations streamline operations, improve fundraising, and create real, lasting success, this show is dedicated to proving that your nonprofit shouldn’t just survive— it should grow, thrive, and be wildly successful. It’s time to ditch the scarcity mindset and embrace smart strategies that actually work. Each week, Profitable Nonprofits tackles the real challenges nonprofit leaders face—like, fundraising that feels impossible, boards that won’t engage, never-ending to-do lists, and the real reasons why you struggle to raise more money. Listeners can expect practical, no-fluff strategies to help raise more funds, build stronger teams, and advance the mission.  For those ready to stop scrambling and start leading with confidence, Profitable Nonprofits offers the insights and strategies needed to make any organization profitable, sustainable, and unstoppable. Subscribe today! Visit www.BernadetteMack.com for more resources or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettemack/n.

  1. JUL 14

    Are You Neglecting the Most Important Part of Your Budget? - Ep. 12

    💡 Episode Summary: Today, we're digging into the budgeting mistake that nearly every nonprofit makes—ignoring the revenue side. While most leaders meticulously track every dollar spent, they often leave income projections vague or nonexistent. Spoiler alert: “Raise as much as we can” is not a strategy. In this episode, Bernadette breaks down how to build a smarter revenue budget—one that’s tied to actual goals, aligned with your programming, and designed to help you fundraise with clarity and confidence. Whether you're a seasoned ED or just tackling your first budget, this one’s for you. Why most nonprofit budgets are glorified expense trackers The danger of budgeting without revenue goals How to reverse-engineer your income needs for real planning Three simple steps to build your revenue budget without guessing A real-world walkthrough of a membership goal—and how to break it down Why missing your goal still counts as a huge win Take a look at your budget—but focus only on the revenue side. Ask yourself: Are you using real goals or just repeating last year’s numbers? Can you break down how you’ll reach those goals? Do you know your targets by month, donor type, or campaign? Pick one program and sketch out a basic revenue plan. Start building from there. Do you have a winning revenue budget strategy? Or a lesson learned from missing the mark? I want to hear it! 📬 Leave me a voicemail at (914) 297-7692 and you might be featured on a future episode.

    21 min

  2. JUN 9

    Profitable or Pointless? Giving Days Edition - Ep. 11

    You stayed up late. You posted nonstop. You wrote email after email. And at the end of Giving Tuesday? You raised $642.13. Worth it? Maybe. Maybe not. In this Profitable or Pointless? episode, Bernadette breaks down the pros and cons of Giving Tuesday and local giving days with clarity, honesty, and zero fluff. Are these campaigns really the high-impact fundraising opportunities they’re cracked up to be—or just shiny distractions pulling your team away from more strategic efforts? This episode helps you evaluate whether these short-term fundraising days are profitable for your organization—or just pointless noise in an already overloaded calendar. The real ROI behind Giving Tuesday campaigns When local giving days do make sense—and when they don’t The subtle risks that can quietly sabotage your long-term fundraising How to run a Giving Day campaign that builds relationships—not just raises cash Why sometimes the smartest move… is sitting it out Did your last Giving Day attract repeat donors—or just one-and-dones? Was your team energized or exhausted by the effort? Did your campaign support your mission—or distract from it? If you’re answering “no,” “burned out,” or “I’m not sure”… this episode is a must-listen. What’s your take? 💬 Was your last Giving Day profitable or pointless? Leave a voicemail at (914) 297-7692 and tell Bernadette what worked (or didn’t). Your insight could be featured in a future episode.

    43 min

  3. MAY 19

    Nobody's Listening to Your Story - Let's Change That - Ep. 10

    🔥 Episode Summary: Let’s be real—most nonprofit storytelling sounds like it was written by a committee of grant writers. And it shows. In this episode, Bernadette breaks down why your nonprofit’s story might be falling flat, and more importantly, how to fix it. Learn how to craft compelling stories that inspire action, make donors feel something, and actually reflect the heart of your mission. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: Whether you’re reworking your “About Us” page or trying to improve engagement on social media, this episode gives you the tools to make your stories connect—and convert. The 3 essential elements of great nonprofit storytelling Why positioning your donor as the story’s hero (in archetype terms) can increase engagement Quick, practical storytelling upgrades for your website, emails, and social media Why “professional” language might be killing your message ✍️ Episode Challenge: This week’s mission: 👉 Rewrite your “About Us” page using Character, Conflict, and Resolution. 👉 Feeling bold? Shift the spotlight to your donor’s role in the impact. Then call or text (914) 297-7692 and let Bernadette know what you changed—she might feature your rewrite in a future episode! 🗓️ Heads Up: The podcast is taking a two-week break while Bernadette and her family move out of state. New episodes return June 9th!

    20 min

  4. MAY 12

    Your Website is Losing Donors - Here's How to Fix it! - Ep. 9

    Links Mentioned in This Episode: 💻 Jenny Belanger – JennyB Designs – Website strategist & designer 🌐 Kajabi – All-in-one platform for websites, courses, and community If your nonprofit’s website is outdated, hard to navigate, or unclear in its messaging—you’re losing donors. Period. This episode walks you through how to diagnose and fix your site so it becomes a donation-generating machine instead of a digital dead end. You’ll learn: Why your current site might be turning donors away The exact questions to ask in a website audit How to improve your messaging and design without a full overhaul The one expert Bernadette trusts to build sites that actually convert If it’s hard to give, people won’t. Let’s fix that. Segment 1: The Harsh Truth About Your Website Your site is not a brochure—it’s a strategic tool. If you can’t edit your own site, that’s a problem. Outdated or clunky = perceived as untrustworthy. Segment 2: Fix #1 – Audit Your Website Is your donate button easy to find? Are your forms short, mobile-friendly, and fast-loading? Are you converting visitors—or just getting traffic? Segment 3: Fix #2 – Improve Your Website Copy Kill the buzzwords. Make your impact crystal clear. Use direct, compelling language that connects the dots for donors. Segment 4: Fix #3 – Make It Mobile-Friendly 60%+ of donations happen on phones. Is your site ready? Check it yourself: Can you donate on your phone without frustration? Segment 5: Fix #4 – Invest in a Redesign Don’t rely on developers who hold your site hostage. Avoid bespoke nightmares you can’t update. Use flexible platforms like WordPress or Kajabi—with help from trusted pros like Jenny Belanger. 📲 Visit your website on your phone. Try to donate. Was it smooth? Easy? Clear? If not—fix just one thing today. Then email me or leave me a voicemail at (914) 297-7692 to tell me what you changed.

    23 min

  5. MAY 4

    You’re Missing Out on More Opportunities Than You Think—And It’s Costing You! Ep. 8

    Nonprofit leaders are masters of stretching resources, wearing multiple hats, and saying yes to every offer of help. But what if that scrappy mindset is silently sabotaging your mission? In this episode of Profitable Nonprofits, we’re breaking down the hidden opportunity costs that keep your organization stuck in the “doing more with less” trap. From well-meaning volunteers who never finish projects to staff burnout that kills innovation, these invisible costs are draining your time, your team’s energy, and your organization’s reputation. We’ll unpack how to spot these sneaky culprits, reframe the way you make resource decisions, and give you practical tools to reclaim your momentum—without guilt. 🧩 What You’ll Learn: Why “free help” might be the most expensive decision you make The emotional and financial toll of scrappiness and chronic overwork How to recognize burnout as a signal, not a badge of honor A smarter way to evaluate donated services, low-cost options, and overcommitment Your Opportunity Cost Checklist to use before saying “yes” to anything new How to build an on-call crew of trusted professionals (without hiring full-time) Why switching from “Can we afford it?” to “What will it cost us if we don’t?” will transform your leadership

    28 min

  6. APR 28

    Small Team, Big Mission? Here’s How to Make It Work - Ep. 7

    Head to BernadetteMack.com for more resources. Nonprofit leaders are famous for doing all the things—but when everything is a priority, nothing gets done well. In this episode of Profitable Nonprofits, we’re tackling the real reasons you’re stuck in the spin cycle of doing-too-much and showing you how to break free with strategic delegation, smart prioritization, and a little automation magic. You’ll learn: ✅ Why the phrase “just delegate” feels like a joke for small teams (and how to rethink it) ✅ What delegation actually looks like when you’re not passing off a task—but a goal ✅ The unexpected benefit of having clear KPIs: permission to say no ✅ Why “not now” is sometimes the smartest delegation strategy there is ✅ How batching, scheduling, and AI tools can give you time back to focus on what matters This episode is part real talk, part strategy session—and it’s made for the nonprofit leader who’s tired of running full-speed just to keep up.

    17 min

  7. APR 21

    Board Meeting Hacks that Get Stuff Done - Ep. 6

    If your board meetings feel like a never-ending slog of reports, updates, and confusion—and then end with no real decisions—you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This week on Profitable Nonprofits, we’re sharing practical, proven strategies to tighten up your board meetings, boost engagement, and actually get things done. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why poor meeting design leads to disengaged board members (and wasted time) ✅ How to implement a consent agenda and cut your meeting time in half ✅ The #1 thing you should stop doing immediately (hint: it's live committee reports) ✅ Why doing pre-work before the meeting leads to better votes and better results ✅ How to work with your board chair to make meetings more strategic This isn’t about micromanaging your board—it’s about giving them a reason to show up, speak up, and stay involved. If your meetings have ever ended with someone thinking, “That could’ve been an email,” this episode is for you. 💬 Leave a voicemail with your favorite takeaway: (914) 297-7692 🔗 Explore more nonprofit resources: BernadetteMack.com

    18 min

  8. APR 14

    The Simple Email Trick That Will Bring in More Donations - Ep. 5

    🔗 Resources & Links: 📌 Get my Free Email Writing Prompts List → Here 📌 Watch my full email marketing training → https://www.bernadettemack.com/offers/rJ8oxfNZ/checkout 📌 More fundraising & nonprofit strategy at BernadetteMack.com In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ Why most nonprofit emails get ignored (and how to fix it) ✅ The 3:1:1 Email Strategy for donor engagement ✅ How to structure a simple, effective email sequence without overthinking it ✅ The power of sending value-packed, non-ask emails to build trust ✅ Easy ways to batch, automate, and test your emails for better results Key Takeaways: 🔹 Stop only emailing when you need money. Build relationships with your donors year-round. 🔹 The 3:1:1 Email Strategy: 3 value-packed emails, 1 donor story, and 1 fundraising ask. 🔹 Keep emails short, easy to read, and from a real person—not a faceless organization. 🔹 Batch and automate your emails to stay consistent (because life gets busy!). 🔹 Test different subject lines and email formats to see what works best for your audience. 💡 Challenge for This Week: Try the 3:1:1 Email Strategy for your next donor email campaign. Does it change how donors engage with your emails? Message me on LinkedIn or leave me a voicemail at (914) 297-7692—I’d love to hear your results! 📌 Subscribe for future episodes → 🎧 Loved this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review—it helps more nonprofit leaders find this show!

    13 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Tired of the endless nonprofit struggle? Frustrated with always chasing funding, juggling too many responsibilities, and feeling like there’s never enough time or money to do the work that really matters? Profitable Nonprofits is the podcast that challenges the status quo and helps you build more a impactful and sustainable organization - without the burnout. Hosted by Bernadette Mack, a nonprofit strategist and consultant with years of experience helping organizations streamline operations, improve fundraising, and create real, lasting success, this show is dedicated to proving that your nonprofit shouldn’t just survive— it should grow, thrive, and be wildly successful. It’s time to ditch the scarcity mindset and embrace smart strategies that actually work. Each week, Profitable Nonprofits tackles the real challenges nonprofit leaders face—like, fundraising that feels impossible, boards that won’t engage, never-ending to-do lists, and the real reasons why you struggle to raise more money. Listeners can expect practical, no-fluff strategies to help raise more funds, build stronger teams, and advance the mission.  For those ready to stop scrambling and start leading with confidence, Profitable Nonprofits offers the insights and strategies needed to make any organization profitable, sustainable, and unstoppable. Subscribe today! Visit www.BernadetteMack.com for more resources or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettemack/n.

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