In this episode, Kari Anderson, a seasoned nonprofit executive and principal at Incite! Consulting, breaks down the complexities of organizing special events for nonprofits. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Kari offers her insights on how to effectively set goals, increase revenue, and convert event attendees into long-term donors.

Kari addresses the common hesitations nonprofits have about special events, such as staff hours, return on investment, and lack of planning. She provides practical advice on how to overcome these challenges and make your events successful and beneficial for your organization.

Key Episode Takeaways:

1. Setting and Achieving Event Goals: Learn the importance of setting clear goals for your event, whether it's for fundraising, marketing, or education. Kari emphasizes the need to align your event with your mission and target audience to maximize its impact.

2. Generating More Revenue: Discover strategies to boost revenue at your events, including leveraging sponsorships, engaging in friendly competition, and utilizing peer-to-peer fundraising. Kari shares tips on how to make giving easy and fun for attendees.

3. Converting Event Attendees to Donors: Gain insights into how to engage with attendees during and after the event to turn them into long-term supporters. Kari offers tips on building connections, acknowledging contributions, and following up promptly to maintain engagement.

Kari also discusses the importance of evaluating your event's success by setting metrics and gathering feedback from all involved parties. She encourages nonprofit leaders to continuously improve their events by freshening ideas and adapting to their audience's needs.

• Follow Kari on your favorite streaming platforms, including YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.

• For additional resources on organizational storytelling and tools, follow Kari on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

• Visit her website at Incite Consulting Group.

In this episode, Kari Anderson, a seasoned nonprofit executive and principal at Incite! Consulting shares her favorite technology tools to help streamline nonprofit operations. With 25 years of experience in leadership roles across seven organizations, Kari now offers coaching and consulting services to ensure nonprofits have the right structure, systems, and practices to excel.

Kari dives into the importance of using technology in nonprofit work and offers three key takeaways for integrating tech tools effectively:

Key Episode Takeaways:

1. Value of Technology: Technology can help your nonprofit operate more efficiently and effectively. Kari emphasizes the importance of budgeting for the right tools to enhance your operations.

2. Assess Your Needs: Before investing in any product or platform, perform a technology assessment to understand what your organization truly needs. Kari offers advice on how to connect technology decisions to your strategic plan and long-term growth.

3. Training and Usage: Once you’ve invested in technology, it’s crucial to train your team and ensure the tools are used effectively. Kari discusses how to avoid the common pitfall of underutilizing new tech.

Kari also shares her top tech tools:

• Sharecard: A digital business card tool that simplifies building connections and managing contact information.

• Bitly: A URL shortening and customization tool that now includes a link-in-bio feature, useful for nonprofits on social media.

• Boomerang: A CRM tool with excellent communication features, training support, and a mobile app for donor management.

• Motion: A scheduling tool that helps prioritize tasks and limit meetings, boosting time management.

• 17 Hats: An appointment scheduling tool perfect for nonprofits that book appointments.

• Board Management Software: Kari highlights the value of board management tools, especially for long-term board growth.

• Constant Contact: An email management platform that allows segmentation and personalization for more effective communication.

• QuickBooks: Essential accounting software to replace outdated methods like spreadsheets and sticky notes.

Resource Links:

• Follow Kari on your favorite streaming platforms, including YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.

• For additional resources on organizational storytelling and tools, follow Kari on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

• Visit her website at Incite Consulting Group.

In this episode, Kari Anderson, a seasoned nonprofit executive and principal at Incite! Consulting, shares critical insights on adopting successful business strategies within nonprofit organizations. With over 25 years of experience in leadership roles across seven organizations, Kari now focuses on coaching and consulting to help nonprofits build robust structures, systems, and practices.

Kari tackles the reasons why many nonprofits struggle or fail and provides actionable strategies that nonprofits can adopt from the for-profit sector to improve their operations and impact.

Key Episode Takeaways:

1. Why Nonprofits Fail and How to Avoid It: Kari explores the alarming statistics around nonprofit failures and emphasizes the importance of planning, funding, and leadership training as key factors in overcoming these challenges.

2. Applying Business Practices: Learn how adopting business principles, such as consistent evaluation, embracing an entrepreneurial mindset, and strategic planning, can significantly enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of your nonprofit.

3. Regular Evaluation: Kari highlights the necessity of ongoing evaluation of programs, leadership, and operations to ensure your nonprofit remains relevant and impactful in its mission.

Kari also delves into practical strategies nonprofits can adopt, such as:

• Evaluating Program Success: Regularly assess whether your programs still meet the needs of the community and have the funding to continue.

• Operating Efficiently: Avoid limiting access to necessary resources due to budget constraints—invest in technology and tools that improve efficiency.

• Embracing Innovation: Challenge the status quo, think creatively, and seek out cross-sector partnerships to expand your impact.

• Building a Strong Team: Be intentional about hiring and board recruitment, focusing on retention and professional development to maximize your nonprofit's potential.

• Marketing and Communication: Share your nonprofit's story and impact effectively, acknowledging the support of donors, volunteers, and partners.

Kari emphasizes the importance of being accessible and transparent with stakeholders, including donors, partners, employees, and the community. She encourages nonprofit leaders to prioritize decision-making that balances immediate needs with long-term sustainability.

Resource Links:

• Follow Kari on your favorite streaming platforms, including YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.

• For additional resources on organizational storytelling and tools, follow Kari on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

• Visit her website at Incite Consulting Group.