Nonprofit Spark Archives - WebTalkRadio.net

This is my final episode of Nonprofit Spark. Over the three years I’ve hosted the show, I was delighted by my guests who are really good at what they do and so wiling to share it with all of you.Subscribe with your favorite podcast playerAndroidRSS I created Nonprofit Spark because I know how fun and even therapeutic conversations can be with others who do similar work. But those opportunities are rare. I also believe radio interviews are a wonderful way to soak in learning and stimulate thinking. So, I thought, why not use podcasts to bring those both together? Certainly, the fact that I worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years made choosing a nonprofit focus a no-brainer. But personally, I wanted to try something new and decided a radio show would combine my love of journalism and great conversations. Some people golf. Others cook or shoot photos. I love asking questions and learning! My intention for every show, which I shared with every guest, was that listeners walk away with new ideas for taking new actions and causing new results. My guests jumped in every time and they absolutely loved being interviewed. Take a hint: Giving people your undivided attention causes them blossom right before your eyes, or ears, in this case. The formula seemed to work. Nonprofit Spark has been the fifth most downloaded show on WebTalkRadio for almost two years; it’s downloaded nearly 40,000 times per month. Be that as it may, in my heart I know it’s time to try some new things with the 6-10 hours a week I have been spending on the show. Thank you to the show sponsor CliftonLarsonAllen, the national accounting firm that has a strong nonprofit division. I’ve worked with about a dozen of their accountants over the years and not only are they smart, but they all have a great sense of humor which I believe sets the company apart. Thank you, too, for listening and sharing the show. The podcasts will remain on WebTalkRadio for a while but I suggest if you have a few favorites, you download them soon. Remember you can find them on iTunes as well. I wish you prosperity and good health in 2014. In the meantime, enjoy what I consider the quintessential Nonprofit Spark episode of all time which aired the week of March 12, 2012: A primer on managing your nonprofit’s cash flow. The post Nonprofit Spark – A Nonprofit Spark farewell: Quintessential episode on nonprofit cash flow – 12/30/13 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

It’s Christmas week and so I’m replaying one of the most downloaded shows of 2013 – in fact, in Nonprofit Spark’s history. The episode? Six ways to make your case great, which aired the week of May 13, 2013.Subscribe with your favorite podcast playerAndroidRSS My guest is Jennie Winton, a founding partner of Mission Minded, a branding firm that believes that nonprofits, foundations, and other do-gooders can only have an impact if people understand the importance of their work. What it would be like if people couldn’t resist supporting your nonprofit? That’s the result of writing a great case statement that includes stories about the lives and communities you impact. Jennie provides a step-by-step process here for telling a good story. We also talk a bit about how to work with a branding or design agency so you wind up with materials and ideas that aren’t just clever, but actually result in raising more money. This is a fun show that will get your creative juices flowing. Enjoy! The post Nonprofit Spark – Six ways to make your case great – replay 12/23/13 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

When you think about how you’re communicating with your donors, funders, and community, do you wonder whether you’re spending your time and resources well? Do you feel frustrated that you’re communication is scattershot or ineffective? Then you need a communication strategy! My guest this week is James Howe, president of Communicate and Howe based in Kitchener, Ontario. We hone in on six elements of a content strategy that will give you clarity about who you want to communicate with, why and with what tools. Too often, we miss the strategy and jump right into a plan of action and yet, isn’t it critically important to be clear about why you’re doing what you’re doing? In our experience, taking time to develop a communication strategy makes everything else you do fall into place and make sense. What a relief!Subscribe with your favorite podcast playerAndroidRSS James started in nonprofit communications work with the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto and in the development office of the University of Waterloo. He was director of communications for the YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo just before starting his consulting firm. If you want to boost your communications in 2014, then formulate a communications strategy so you can confidently use your time and resources well. It’ll help you justify a bigger budget as well. Enjoy the show! The post Nonprofit Spark – Six elements of a nonprofit communication strategy – 12/16/13 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

This week, we look at fraud because it’s been in the news a lot lately. It all started with a series of stories in the Washington Post the fall, and the tales of woe for organizations large to small are heartbreaking. My guest is John P. Langan, a CPA and managing partner with CliftonLarsonAllen, our show sponsor.Subscribe with your favorite podcast playerAndroidRSS We discuss common ways people steal from organizations and their personality types; accounting procedures that can protect your from fraud; what to do if you suspect fraud; how to think about investments, and more. This interview clips along and is easy to follow for even the most novice nonprofit leader. A related show is a courageous and generous interview with the leader of Open Arms of Minnesota who describes her organization’s experience with fraud. How they handled it is a textbook example of what you should be prepared to do if it happens to you. That show aired the week of March 19, 2012. You owe it to your staff, donors and constituents to be good stewards of your resources. It’s not hard if you use time-tested procedures and create a climate where everyone can ask questions. I hope you enjoy and share the show. The post Nonprofit Spark – How fraud happens and how to prevent it in nonprofits like your own – 12/09/13 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

It’s coming on Christmas and for this week’s show I’ve tracked down Alison Carlman, the senior unmarketing manager for GlobalGiving, an online marketplace that connects you to the causes and countries you care about.Subscribe with your favorite podcast playerAndroidRSS Alison describes how GlobalGiving provides support for people at charities around the world and solutions for people who want to find projects in other countries to support. Since 2002, more than 350,000 donors have given almost $95 million to 8800 projects worldwide via GlobalGiving. Pretty impressive. This show is not just about how this organization facilitates giving, though. You’ll also recognize that GlobalGiving is an organization that truly understands what it means to be responsive and engaging. You can apply to have your organization on the GlobalGiving website and get a lot of training and support in return. But I also know many of you will be interested in reviewing and contributing to international projects who are part of the GlobalGiving community. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did. The post Nonprofit Spark – Engaging, responsive Global Giving – 12/02/13 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.