Nonprofit Corner Podcast

Can we meet again? Or maybe this is the first time you’re really getting to know The Philantrepreneur Foundation (TPF)!Join Dr. Victoria Boyd, founder of TPF, and in this episode, as she shares who we are, what we do, and why nonprofit systems matter.We take a look at the four pillars of our Nonprofit Operating Systems (OS):Program OS – Build programs that make real impactFundraising OS – Engage supporters and grow your revenueGovernance OS – Strengthen your board, policies, and oversightInfrastructure OS – Streamline tech, workflows, and operationsAlso take a quick Systems Audit to see where your nonprofit shines—and where it could use some love.Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, board member, or service partner, this episode is packed with tips, insights, and tools to help your organization run smarter, not harder.Here's important links I mentioned⁠Systems Audit Interactive Session registration.⁠ Get a jump start, take the ⁠Systems Audit quiz ⁠now. It takes less than 6 minutes and gives you instant insights into your nonprofit’s programs, fundraising, governance, and infrastructure.Discover where your organization shines, and where a few tweaks could make a big difference.Access the Systems Audit Quiz here: ⁠QUIZ ⁠

In this episode, we’re joined by Joshua Altman, an experienced storyteller, strategist, and creative force with more than two decades of experience shaping how people see, hear, and connect with big ideas.Joshua is the founder of beltway.media, a bold, D.C.-based communications firm that helps brands and organizations cut through the noise and actually get noticed. Before launching his firm, Joshua was a multimedia journalist at The Hill, where he covered federal policy and high-stakes election cycles from the front lines. That background gives him a rare perspective on how messages land—not just internally, but in the public eye.Today, Joshua works with everyone from scrappy startups to federal agencies, helping them refine their message, elevate their brand, and build real connections with their audiences—whether that’s customers, investors, donors, or the general public. From reimagining agency websites to crafting magnetic stories, his work has one clear goal: making communications clear, compelling, and impossible to ignore.In this conversation, we break down:What a Chief Communications Officer actually does (and why more nonprofits and businesses need to think this way)The role of corporate communications in both nonprofits and for-profit organizations—and why effectiveness matters more than everOne practical step you can take today to communicate more clearly and confidentlyIf you’ve ever struggled to explain your mission, value, or impact—or felt like your message just isn’t landing—this episode is for you.Resources & Connect with Joshua:Free tools: https://beltway.media/our-free-tools/Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaialtmanTHE UNIVERSAL BOARD HANDBOOK - AVAILABEL NOW. https://BoardHandbook.org

Great leadership alone doesn’t build great organizations.In this episode, Simon Mont, cofounder of Harmonize Consulting, joins us to explore what it really takes to move beyond leadership and build organizations where collaboration, clarity, and impact can thrive. Over the past decade, Simon has helped more than 300 teams develop the structures, cultures, practices, and strategies they need to do meaningful work—and have fun doing it.We dive into the most common pitfalls leaders and visionaries fall into when trying to get people aligned around a shared goal, and why good intentions aren’t enough to create real collaboration. Simon breaks down what actually unlocks teamwork at scale, from organizational design to cultural norms that support—not sabotage—collective effort.This conversation challenges the idea that inspiration alone drives results and instead focuses on how intentional systems and shared practices turn vision into sustained impact.If you’re a leader, board member, or executive trying to build an organization that truly works together, this episode will give you a fresh—and practical—perspective.Resource Mentioned:🔗 Collaboration Manual: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/691cb01450f8b15f9b0cdb15/t/694974a0cb11875a826f351c/1766421664252/Collaboration-Manual-SBWG.pdf🔗 TPF Resource: BoardHandbook.org/Diagnostic

Most leaders aren’t failing, they’re unclear. And that lack of clarity is what keeps teams stuck, disengaged, and underperforming.In this episode, leadership expert Melissa Tassie, creator of the 4T Leadership Method™, reveals why clarity, not effort or motivation, is the missing link in effective leadership. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Melissa brings more than 30 years of experience developing people and leaders through a practical, human-centered approach that helps leaders Teach, Task, Test, and Trust their teams toward meaningful, measurable success.Known for her clarity, candor, and compassion, Melissa teaches leaders how to lead the whole person, tapping into individual strengths while still driving purposeful business results. Her work challenges leaders to lead themselves first, creating the foundation to lead others with confidence and intention.Why Most Leaders Feel Stuck—and How Clarity Changes EverythingWhen leaders don’t teach clearly, assign the right work, calibrate expectations, or intentionally build trust, teams stall. This conversation unpacks how clarity restores momentum, why it’s the first lever leaders must pull, and how the 4T Leadership Method™ helps leaders move from frustration to forward progress.Connect with Melissa:📧 [email protected] Leadership Tool:🔗 https://free.paths2lead.com/optin

Marketing for Small Nonprofits — No Budget RequiredSmall nonprofits often feel invisible — not because their work lacks value, but because their marketing feels out of reach. In this episode, we unpack the “Visibility Trifecta” — a simple, repeatable approach to growing awareness through focused media, speaking opportunities, and podcast appearances — without spending a dime.You’ll hear why this strategy works, how Emily has used it herself (and with her clients), and practical ways to identify the right opportunities for your unique voice. We’ll also talk about how to leverage each appearance into ongoing momentum, deeper credibility, and more support for your mission.We’ll cover:How to use focused media to get seen by the right audiencesWays to land speaking opportunities that build authorityHow podcast guesting opens doors to partnerships and donorsWhat to prioritize when time is limitedSimple ways to repurpose visibility into long-term growthAbout our guest:Emily Green is a TEDx speaker, visibility strategist, and former marketing agency owner who has helped dozens of nonprofits and community-centered organizations grow their impact through story-driven marketing and leadership development.As founder of Grace Communications, she led national campaigns for animal welfare, anti–human trafficking, wellness, and healthcare organizations before selling the agency and launching Love Means Business. Today, through her T.H.O.U.G.H.T. Leadership Program, podcast, and Speaker Support & Referral Community, Emily equips nonprofit leaders to amplify their voice, secure media and speaking opportunities, and lead with clarity and authenticity.She also serves on the Advisory Board for Caregiver Mental Wellness and believes storytelling is the bridge between mission and momentum.Explore more from Emily:Love Means Business: Emily-Green.com/love-means-businessMapping Your Circle of Influence: (Thinkific link)Help a Reporter Out (HARO): HARO.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emily-green

Calling all nonprofit marketers!If you’ve ever wondered…Am I posting enough on social media?Is direct mail still worth the cost?Should we invest in paid ads — and how do I justify the budget?Why did one campaign crush it while the next one fizzled?…this episode is for you.We dive into the decisions that can make — or break — your next campaign. We’ll challenge the DON’Ts (outdated tools, “we’ve always done it this way,” and inefficient tactics) and spotlight the DOs (smart automations, proven channels, and strategies backed by real data). You’ll walk away with clear ideas and actionable steps to build marketing that’s more impactful, predictable, and scalable.What you’ll learn:How real nonprofits are evaluating and improving their marketing strategiesWhere to double down — and where to pull backTools and channels delivering the strongest resultsMessaging and design tips for ads and email campaignsMeaningful benchmarks to track (because revenue isn’t the only metric that matters)Budgeting approaches — and how to confidently ask leadership for more resourcesAbout our guest:Kimberly Bottom is a storyteller at heart with 15 years in digital media and nonprofit marketing. With a Broadcast Journalism degree and Associated Press recognition, she has produced thousands of hours of content designed to educate and inspire. As Director of Community Engagement at Feathr, Kimberly partners with nonprofits to help them better understand, grow, and engage their audiences — using strategies that are both effective and efficient.Learn more: feathr.coContact Kimberly: [email protected]

In this episode of The Nonprofit Corner Podcast, Dr. Victoria Boyd sits down with Sean Littman, Founder and CEO of GiveSuite, for a candid conversation about creativity, digital strategy, and how nonprofits can finally leverage technology to grow.Sean shares how his unconventional path through sales, digital marketing, and tech startups led him into the nonprofit sector — and why he saw such massive gaps around Google Ad Grants, websites, and audience nurturing. Together, he and Victoria dig into what organizations get wrong about marketing, why social media alone isn’t enough, and how simple tools like email automation and donor education can transform engagement.From building better donor journeys to turning everyday nonprofit work into powerful storytelling, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples to help organizations think smarter, not harder.Perfect for: nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, marketing teams, and anyone who wants to build sustainable growth through smarter digital strategies.Sean Littman is the founder and CMO of Givesuite.com. Aninnovator in nonprofit digital marketing, he built Givesuite to help nonprofits leverage powerful marketing and business tools all in one place without breaking the [email protected]

Without a plan, donations usually come from scrambling events, last-minute appeals, chasing grants. A development plan maps out:what revenue streams you’ll focus onwhen each activity happenswho is responsiblewhat success looks likeRelying on one big grant or one annual gala is risky. A development plan intentionally spreads revenue across:individual donorsmonthly givinggrantscorporate partners/sponsorsIt ensures revenue is diversifiedLinda is one of just over one hundred professionals worldwide to hold the ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation. She has helped nonprofits raise more than $100,000,000 and has trained more than 100,000 development professionals worldwide. She holds a master’s degree in theological studies—Franciscan Theology from the Franciscan School of Theology at University of San Diego, is the author of more than forty books, and is active in St Bernadette Catholic Church and the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph.

Joseph Scarano is currently the CEO of Araize, whichprovides SaaS based software solutions and services to nonprofit organizations.Araize’s FastFund Online was designed by CPAs and fund-raising professionals for small to medium size nonprofit organizations.  His responsibilities are carrying out thecompany vision; including business growth, product development, marketing, sales and customer relations. Joe was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Stateof New York for 10 years, with a focus on auditing and consulting nonprofit organizations.  In 1997, Joe took hisexperience working with nonprofits and transferred it to providing software solutions to the nonprofit sector.   www.araize.com

Quick Start Kit link: https://go.aiforsocialgood.ai/quick-start-for-nonprofitsOn this episode of the Nonprofit Corner Podcast, Dr.Victoria Boyd interviews Kevin Hardin, an AI specialist and founder of AI for Social Good, about how nonprofits can adopt AI to improve efficiency, reduce burnout, and strengthen fundraising.Kevin shares how he moved from tinkering with 3D printers tobecoming an AI expert, noting that AI’s rapid evolution makes it critical for nonprofits to stay informed. He addresses common fears around AI—like transparency and fairness—and explains that today’s tools can support staffrather than replace them.A major focus of the conversation is understanding AIassistants (built-in tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini) versus AI agents, which can take more complex actions such as interacting with CRMs, invoicing systems, and donation platforms.Kevin offers practical examples of AI in action:• turning spoken stories into polished impact narratives,• drafting donor emails,• improving donation pages,• staying on top of email, and• generating structured, time-saving board reports.He and Dr. Boyd emphasize that even small steps—like usingAI meeting note-takers—can help build a culture of AI across departments.Encouraging board members to interact with AI tools themselves can also strengthen governance and engagement.Kevin closes with simple starting points: use meeting note-takers, experiment with the AI tools already available in your software stack,talk to your AI system instead of typing when possible, and let teams explore how AI can enhance their daily work.