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Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
Welcome to Small Nonprofit, the podcast designed for leaders, fundraisers, and advocates in the nonprofit sector who want to create real change. We provide small nonprofit organizations with strategies to enhance their fundraising campaigns, improve nonprofit governance, and implement ethical fundraising practices that resonate with today’s values-driven donors.
Hosted by an experienced nonprofit consultant, Maria Rio, this show delves into the unique challenges of nonprofit fundraising and community-centric fundraising, providing tools for donor engagement and major gifts fundraising.
👤 Who Should Listen?
This podcast is perfect for anyone involved in a small nonprofit seeking practical advice on fundraising strategy, nonprofit leadership, and board accountability. Whether you're looking for innovative fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations or trying to create an impact measurement framework that demonstrates your organization’s value, Small Nonprofit is here to guide you.
🎤 Core Topics We Cover
Community-Centric Fundraising: Learn how ethical fundraising practices can strengthen donor relationships, enhance donor engagement, and align your organization with values-based major giving principles. We’ll help you shift from a donor-centric model to one that prioritizes the community.
Systemic Change and Governance: From participatory budgeting to nonprofit board of directors best practices, we explore how to navigate the nonprofit industrial complex and embrace structures that foster diversity in nonprofit leadership and board accountability.
Preventing Nonprofit Burnout: Tackle topics such as nonprofit burnout prevention and learn how to cultivate a healthy, anti-oppressive work culture that supports your team’s well-being.
Nonprofit Storytelling: Understand how to measure your nonprofit’s effectiveness through nonprofit impact measurement strategies and leverage nonprofit storytelling to create compelling narratives that attract donors.
📣 Engaging Conversations and Real-World Advice
In each episode, we bring you insights from experts in fundraising consulting, nonprofit grant writing, and capital campaign strategies. From interviews with fractional fundraisers and major gift officers to deep dives on fundraising tips and innovative fundraising ideas, we offer actionable advice that you can implement immediately to strengthen your organization’s impact.
💰 Learn How to Build a Sustainable Nonprofit
Every nonprofit leader faces the challenge of achieving financial sustainability. Our episodes address critical fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations, providing insights on volunteer management, capacity building, and nonprofit marketing strategy. Gain access to tools that help you execute successful fundraising campaigns and build a foundation for long-term growth.
🤝 Join the Movement for Systemic Change
At The Small Nonprofit, we’re committed to transforming the nonprofit sector from the ground up. Our focus on systemic change and community-centric fundraising aligns with our mission to support nonprofits in creating equitable, sustainable communities. By addressing topics like values-based decision making and nonprofit transparency, we’re working to build a more ethical, inclusive sector.
❤️ Stay Connected
Subscribe to Small Nonprofit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast platform. Don’t miss an episode as we explore everything from fundraising tips to nonprofit social media strategy, and learn how you can become a stronger advocate for your organization’s mission.
Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
Audience Building for Nonprofits
Growing your organization is about smarter, easier touchpoints. It’s about how small nonprofits can show up where people already are, build real connection, and grow a brand that attracts donors, partners, and advocates.
In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at Charity: Water. Christa brings a wealth of experience leading technology, product, and data innovation at one of the world’s most recognized nonprofits. Together, they dig into how nonprofits can use technology and partnerships to deepen empathy, engage new audiences, and grow sustainable revenue.
Audience Building for Nonprofits: The Highlights
- Nonprofits don’t need to compete for scraps:
The real opportunity is to expand generosity overall. Whether through brand partnerships, tech, or social enterprise models, the sector wins when the giving pie gets bigger. - Trust is a built-in nonprofit advantage:
Strict reporting and transparency requirements give nonprofits credibility that influencers or corporations cannot always guarantee. - Technology can drive revenue, not just costs:
At Charity: Water, tech is seen as a way to build donor products, deepen engagement, and grow giving - not just an overhead line item. - Partnerships are powerful growth tools:
From influencers to retail experiences, nonprofits can use creative partnerships to show up in everyday spaces where people already spend their time and money. - Long-term sustainability matters:
Unlike corporate campaigns, nonprofits are designed to deliver solutions that last. We’re experts at building trust with communities and donors who want to see their dollars have real staying power.
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!
Audience Building for Nonprofits: ️ 3 Actionable Tips
- Know your audience
Get clear on who you are trying to reach and where they spend their time. Local nonprofits may focus on community events, while larger ones might lean on digital strategies. - Experiment with partnerships
You don’t need a global brand to start. Partner with a coffee shop, an influencer, or a local business to amplify your message and create new touchpoints. - Lead with transparency
Share stories, impact data, and even challenges openly. Donors want to see not just where their money went, but how it created change.
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