This month I’m doing a mini-series called Lessons from COVID that are still relevant today. Pulling together collections of conversations that I had with sector leaders called the Next Normal. We were deep in the days of COVID, and heading into a difficult election season, and everything felt fraught and difficult. And no one knew what our organizations and our work and our sector would look like on the other end of it all.

Now, here we are 4 summers later, and we’re starting to see which shifts stuck and which learnings from those difficult times actually reshaped how we operate together and as a sector. We saw that there are some fundamental questions and truths - about community, leadership, partnerships and sustainability - that endure.

I’m bringing you snippets of conversations that illuminate some of those questions and truths.

These conversations are with Tarik Ward, Director of Global Strategic Operations and U.S. Programs for the ELMA Philanthropies Services.

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In this episode, I'm diving into the often overlooked but critical elements of effective leadership: bravery and grace. While I usually focus on the skills and strategies for launching and scaling high-impact nonprofits, today I'm shedding light on the mindset shifts that can propel your organization forward. Tune in to discover why acting before you're comfortable and giving yourself grace when things don't go as planned are just as important as any strategic plan.

What You'll Learn:

• The importance of bravery and grace in leadership.
• How to act with confidence even when you don't feel it.
• Strategies for giving yourself grace and moving forward after setbacks.

Key Takeaways:

1. Bravery is essential for taking action before you feel ready.
2. Grace allows you to forgive yourself when you fall short.
3. Effective leadership often requires acting "as if" you are confident.
4. Tough conversations are a part of leadership and shouldn't be avoided.
5. Every leader faces fear and doubt; overcoming these is part of the journey.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Identify the Challenge: Recognize when a situation requires bravery, such as having a tough conversation with your team.
2. Act As If: Ask yourself, "What would the confident version of me do?" and act accordingly, even if you don't feel confident.
3. Take Action: Implement the decision or have the conversation, embracing the discomfort.
4. Reflect: Assess how the action went, regardless of the outcome.
5. Give Grace: Forgive yourself for any perceived shortcomings and plan your next steps with a clear mind.

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In this episode, I dive into the essentials of creating a high-impact strategic plan for your nonprofit. Last week, we explored the importance of a well-structured planning process and clarity about your end goal. This week, we focus on the content of your strategic plan, ensuring it’s both inspiring and actionable. Whether you're leading the process or working with a facilitator, understanding these elements is crucial.

What You'll Learn:

• How to articulate a 10-year guiding vision that serves as your organization's North Star.
• The importance of defining 3-year strategic priorities and goals.
• Effective strategies for engaging stakeholders and maintaining flexibility in your plans.

Key Takeaways:

1. 10-Year Vision: Define a long-term vision that inspires and guides your team.
2. Strategic Priorities: Choose focus areas that maximize your impact over the next 3-5 years.
3. Goals vs. Activities: Set strategic goals as end results, not just a list of tasks.
4. Core Strategies: Outline broad approaches instead of detailed activities to stay flexible.
5. Stakeholder Engagement: Involve key stakeholders in the planning process for better buy-in and support.

Resources Mentioned:

• Self-Facilitated Strategic Planning Kit: A comprehensive toolkit with video trainings, step-by-step guides, worksheets, model agendas, and sample plans. Grab it here
• Leadership Forward 321 Newsletter: Subscribe for weekly insights and examples of strategic plans in action. Subscribe here

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In this episode, I demystify the strategic planning process for nonprofit leaders. Facilitating your own strategic plan doesn't have to be daunting or time-consuming. With the right structure, you can create a plan that not only guides your organization but also gets used effectively. Tune in to learn how to engage your team, gain stakeholder buy-in, and develop a strategic plan that serves as a powerful marketing and fundraising tool.

What You'll Learn:

• The essential components of a successful strategic planning process.
• How to build momentum and buy-in from your team and stakeholders.
• Practical tips for creating a plan that is easy to implement and use.

Key Takeaways:

1. Facilitating your own strategic planning can be straightforward and efficient.
2. Engaging internal stakeholders leads to better understanding and implementation of the plan.
3. A well-structured process fosters momentum and sustainability.
4. Clear structure and understanding of goals are crucial for effective planning.
5. A strategic plan should serve as both a guiding document and a marketing tool.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Facilitation Team: Form a small, nimble group of trusted individuals to lead and organize the process.
2. Time Frame: Aim for a 3-5 month planning period, balancing depth with momentum.
3. Meeting Cadence: Schedule 2-4 planning meetings with your full board and staff, plus additional meetings for the facilitation team.
4. Core Questions: Center discussions around five key questions to ensure a robust, inquiry-based process.

Resources Mentioned:

• Self-Facilitated Strategic Planning Kit: A comprehensive toolkit with video trainings, guides, and templates to streamline your planning process. Get it here
• Free Planning Readiness Checklist: Evaluate your preparedness for the planning process with this handy checklist. Download it here

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What you do in July, August, and September lays the foundation for the kind of year-end you're going to have. In this episode, 4 nonprofit experts share their advice about what you can do to make this summer a success.

Listen in as Kel Haney, Jordana Merkin, Perry Radford, and Emily Taylor pull back the curtain on everything from how to bring joy to your team, to how to set yourself up for successful year-end fundraising!

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Summer is officially here -- are you starting to have that sinking feeling that you're falling behind?

Did “January-You” make exciting and bold plans for 2024 but “Mid-Year You” is nowhere near achieving them?

I see you 👀

And I have good news for you: You don't have to feel guilty for changing your plans!

It’s not too late to save your year.

During this info-packed workshop, I share actionable strategies to:

• Reset your goals: Gut-check what’s still realistic and important for the rest of the year
• Engage current and potential donors effectively: Prime your donors to be ready to give this year-end
• Plan for the capacity you'll actually need: Focus your small team & identify additional resources to achieve your goals.

You’ll leave with a roadmap to strategically prepare and focus your team and raise more money, all without burning out. 💥

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In this episode, I break down how to get the opportunity to speak at a conference to do double duty as a cultivation vehicle also! By focusing on pre-event preparation, engaging interactions during the event, and personalized post-event follow-up, you can transform conference opportunities into meaningful donor engagement opportunities.

What You'll Learn

• How to prepare for a conference to maximize donor cultivation
• Effective strategies for engaging potential donors during the event
• Best practices for post-event follow-up to build lasting relationships

Key Takeaways

1. Research Your Audience: Understand who will be attending and what they care about to tailor your message effectively.
2. Develop Relevant Messaging: Craft presentations that address the specific interests and questions of your ideal supporters.
3. Engage During the Event: Use interactive elements and connect personally with key attendees.
4. Prepare a Strong CTA: Offer valuable content that aligns with your audience's interests to encourage further engagement.
5. Follow Up Effectively: Send personalized emails and share additional resources to keep the conversation going.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Pre-Event Preparation

• Research Your Audience: Identify key attendees and understand their interests and reasons for attending.
• Develop Compelling Messaging: Tailor your presentation to address the specific concerns and questions of your audience.
• Prepare a CTA: Create a valuable offer, such as a PDF or slide deck, that encourages attendees to connect with your organization.
• Use Social Media: Announce your participation and tag relevant organizations to attract interested attendees.

2. During the Event

• Engage with the Audience: Incorporate interactive elements like polls or questions to make your session engaging.
• Connect with Key Attendees: Use tailored talking points to network with the specific people you’ve identified.
• Include Your CTA: Ensure your call to action is part of your presentation and personal interactions.

3. Post-Event Follow-Up

• Collect Email Information: Offer a content bonus or request emails to share your presentation.
• Send Tailored Emails: Follow up with personalized messages to those who showed interest or asked questions.
• Share Additional Resources: Provide PDFs, video footage, and related articles to your new contacts.
• Schedule Personal Meetings: Arrange follow-up meetings with high-interest attendees to deepen their connection to your organization.

Resources Mentioned

1. Donor Attraction Toolkit
2. Mini-Series on Donor Cultivation
   • Donor Cultivation 1: Knowledge
   • Donor Cultivation 2: Understanding
   • D

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In today’s episode, I conclude our mini-series on donor cultivation by exploring the crucial fourth dimension: trust. If you missed the earlier episodes, I highly recommend starting there for a comprehensive understanding. Today, we'll discuss how to demonstrate your organization’s impact, strategic planning, and trustworthiness to potential donors.


What You'll Learn:

• How to prove your organization's impact with data and stories.
• Strategies for showcasing your clear and strategic planning.
• The importance of social proof and sharing success stories.

Key Takeaways:

1. Use data and impact reports to show the solvability of your mission's problem.
2. Share specific and strategic plans to demonstrate thorough preparation and action.
3. Highlight success stories and case studies to show real impact.
4. Leverage social proof by celebrating your network of supporters and partners.
5. Illustrate the positive changes brought by your work through testimonials and stories.

Steps to Build Donor Trust:

1. Show Impact with Data: Regularly publish impact reports with statistics and evidence of your organization's achievements.
2. Share Strategic Plans: Be transparent about your goals and the strategic decisions behind them.
3. Use Case Studies and Stories: Share real-life examples of how your work has positively affected individuals and communities.
4. Demonstrate Social Proof: Highlight endorsements and support from other donors, partners, and advisory boards.
5. Illustrate Outcomes: Show the tangible improvements your organization has made through testimonials and stories from those impacted by your work.

Resources Mentioned:

• Impact Reports: Regular publications detailing your organization’s achievements and statistical evidence of impact.
• Case Studies: In-depth examples of specific instances where your work has made a significant difference.
• Social Proof Elements: Endorsements from donors, partners, and advisory boards that build credibility.
• Testimonials: Personal stories from individuals and communities positively impacted by your organization’s efforts.

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