Nonprofit Utopia Podcast

What does it really take to build a fundable, credible, and sustainable nonprofit—especially in today’s uncertain funding environment? In this information session, Nonprofit Utopia Founder Valerie F. Leonard introduces the Nonprofit Utopia Impact Circle, a working community for nonprofit founders and executive directors who want to strengthen fundraising systems and stop doing this work alone. This is not a training or a tactics-heavy webinar. Instead, this session explores: -Why many nonprofits don’t get funded—even when the work is good -The most common fundraising gaps holding organizations back -How leaders move from reactive fundraising to intentional strategy -What changes when nonprofits stop chasing money and start building systems -What the Impact Circle focuses on—and why the real work happens inside community -You’ll also hear about the monthly fundraising-focused themes, the structure of the Impact Circle, and who this community is (and is not) designed for. Who this session is for: -Nonprofit founders and executive directors -Leaders seeking to raise their first $25,000 or increase fundraising by 25% -Organizations ready to strengthen credibility, compliance, and sustainability -Leaders who value integrity, accountability, and peer learning Who this session is not for: -Shortcut seekers -Passive learners -Anyone looking for one-off tips without doing the work The Nonprofit Utopia Impact Circle launches January 5 Learn more: Email [email protected] Important Note The frameworks and concepts shared in this session are proprietary to Nonprofit Utopia, LLC. This video provides an overview of focus areas—not the methods, tools, or processes used inside the Impact Circle. © 2026 Nonprofit Utopia, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Starting a nonprofit organization will require your team's attention to detail, and your ability to fund its mission and meet community needs while adapting to change. It can take nonprofit leaders years to get their organizations off the ground because they don't know where to start, or where to go to get help to keep the organization going. We created this webinar to help you cut to the chase and to decide whether or not to start a new nonprofit. We have also included a complimentary workbook to help you follow along during the webinar and to begin to think through critical issues. Answering these guiding questions will help you save time, money and effort. Whether you decide to start a new organization, put your ideas on hold, or even abandon the idea of starting a nonprofit, you will find that the time you spend answering these questions will be well-spent. -Clarify who you want to serve and why -Identify service gaps in your community -Uncover potential partnerships -Outline your unique approach to solving problems -Determine whether now is the right time to launch Download the workbook here: https://nonprofit-utopia.lpages.co/qu...

Coming July 1, 2025: 90 Days to A New Nonprofit™ – A Clear Path from Idea to Impact You’ve got a vision for change—a nonprofit idea that keeps you up at night because you know the world needs it. But like so many others, you may find yourself stuck before you even start. The legal hurdles, the paperwork, the pressure to “get it right”—it all feels overwhelming.   Join us as we unpack a powerful new resource designed to change that. 90 Days to A New Nonprofit™ is a structured, founder-centered course launching July 1, 2025. It walks you through the entire process of launching a nonprofit—from validating your idea to filing your paperwork, building your board, defining your mission, and laying the foundation for long-term success. This isn’t just theory. It’s a step-by-step framework developed by nonprofit veteran Valerie F. Leonard, whose two decades of experience have helped nearly a thousand founders raise over $100 million.   The LEGACY™ Framework at the heart of this course is built on what actually works in the real world, with tools and guidance that simplify complex processes. In the video, we explore what makes this program so unique—from its weekly structure and practical templates to the support systems that keep you moving forward with confidence. Whether you're new to the sector or finally ready to stop spinning your wheels, this might be the clear starting point you've been waiting for.   If you’ve felt overwhelmed, uncertain, or just unsure of how to move forward with your nonprofit dream, this is your invitation to take that first confident step. We will be launching on July 1, 2025, with the first class starting July 18th. Learn more and get on the waitlist:https://bit.ly/4kyxIJF

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has had far-reaching consequences for the nonprofit sector, as many organizations rely on federal funding, regulatory stability, and government partnerships to fulfill their missions. With mass layoffs, budget cuts, and policy shifts under DOGE, nonprofits are facing significant challenges. Join us for an enlightening conversation on the impact of DOGE on nonprofits, and how they can pivot for success in this current environment.

Did you know that tax-exempt organizations are 2 times more likely than tax payers to be late with filing annual returns with the IRS? According to the IRS, there are about 2.95 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States. Of this number, 1.065 million registered organizations, or 36%, lost their tax exempt status because they didn’t file Form 990 for three years in a row. While the remaining 1.88 million registered organizations are still eligible to receive tax-exempt contributions there is a strong likelihood that they still may have compliance issues. In comparison, about 85% of individual and corporate taxpayers file their income taxes (Form 1040) on time. Filing annual 990’s with the IRS is only one piece of the compliance puzzle. You also have to follow your organization’s own policies and procedures, and funders’ grant agreements. On top of that, you should be concerned with following federal and local regulations and maintaining transparency with the public. The consequences of noncompliance include strained relationships with funders and regulators; loss of funding; loss of standing with your clients and community; difficulty attracting funding; loss of tax-exempt status; tax liabilities and paying penalties and interest. I have found in my experience that all roads lead to compliance. It doesn’t matter what the assignment involves—program development, strategic planning, board development—or what have you. At one time or another we are all confronted with compliance issues and challenges. I will share a checklist of the filings that Illinois nonprofits need to maintain compliance. Be sure to check with your own state’s requirements and consult an attorney if needed.. Let us help you bring your filings current. https://nonprofit-utopia.teachable.co... Check out our blog post here https://nonprofitutopia.com/just-chec... Download a complimentary copy of "31 Questions You Need to Answer Before Starting A Nonprofit https://nonprofit-utopia.lpages.co/qu... Download a complimentary copy of "Nonprofit Resource Mapping On Steroids" https://nonprofit-utopia.lpages.co/no... Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/64324963...

Often called the personality of an organization, organizational culture is a shared set of workplace beliefs, values, attitudes, standards, purposes, and behaviors. It reflects both the written and unwritten rules that people in an organization follow. Your organization’s culture is the sum of all that you and your colleagues think, say, and do as you work together. If that sounds important, it is. (Bamboo HR) For our purposes, when we speak of toxic nonprofit cultures, we are speaking of environments that stifle creativity and productivity, and prevents organizations from making the maximum impact on clients and the communities they serve. We will talk about 12 signs that your nonprofit's culture is toxic, and strategies you can use to make improvements.

The nonprofit employee handbook can be used to support operations, communicate benefits and other employment retention policies and minimize risks that might arise from lawsuits and failure to comply with state and federal regulators. We will show you how to develop an employee handbook, what should go into it, and refer you to professionals who can review your finished product. If you are a member of the Nonprofit Utopia community, we will share templates and free and low-cost resources you can use to develop employee handbooks that create winning situations for your organization's board and staff.

Sankofa is a word in the Twi language of Ghana meaning “to retrieve" More commonly, it symbolizes taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge. Sankofa is often symbolized by a mythical bird with its head turned backwards while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth.   As we finish out the year in the Nonprofit Utopia community, we are taking stock of our wins, our losses and challenges in 2022 so that we can finish the year strong, and hit the ground running in 2023. One of our first steps is to use assessment tools to gauge our leadership styles and skills and organizational skills in order to get a true sense for where we are. Indeed, we believe that we can’t really know where we should be going until we know where we are and where we have been. Even if it means peeking through our fingers because the truth is so glaring that we could be startled into paralysis.   This podcast will help you understand   1. The power of assessments 2. How to use assessments to chart your professional course 3. How to use assessments to help your organization navigate community change Nonprofit Utopia community members will also have access to individual and organizational assessments and a members-only group coaching session to get answers to questions and draw from support of their peers.

I have worked with a number of nonprofit leaders who live by the adage, "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." Often, when it comes to volunteer management, they don't pay quite as close attention. After all, volunteers are not salaried employees, and they are often brought on for ad hoc projects. The tendency is to give higher priority to processes that have greater budget impact. However, leaving volunteer management up to chance is doing your organization and volunteers a great disservice. The organization misses out on opportunities to leverage volunteers to grow capacity. At the same time, volunteers who are looking at volunteerism as a way to develop professionally are left feeling unfulfilled. Careful planning is necessary to create win-win situations for your organization and volunteers.   This session will show you how to assess your organization's readiness for volunteers, develop a volunteer management plan and develop policies and procedures. Nonprofit Utopia members will be able to download sample documents from the online community. SHOW LESS