#335- Celebration + Joy as Resistance with Yully Cha

This week on Nonprofit Lowdown, I had the absolute pleasure of reconnecting with my friend Yully Cha, SVP of Research & Policy and Senior Advisor at Embrace Boston. We dove into a deep and inspiring conversation about what it really means to lead equity work in today’s climate—and why joy and belonging are central to the fight for justice. 💥We talked about: ✨ The story behind the Embrace MLK monument in Boston ✨ The power of public space in shaping belonging and democracy ✨ Fundraising as storytelling (and yes, I coached her through it back in the day!) ✨ Why we must be LOUD and unafraid in this political moment ✨ How we get young people engaged in democracy againThere’s so much heart in this one. Yully is brilliant, bold, and deeply committed—and I know you’ll walk away feeling fired up.“You can always get another dollar—but never another moment of time.” That hit me hard.🎧 Take a listen and let me know what you think!Important Links:Yully’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yullycha/  Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

If you’re struggling with donor retention (let’s be real — who isn’t?), you need to hear this convo I had with my friend Sean Littman, founder of GiveSuite.com.We got into the real talk about why retention in the nonprofit sector is so dismal (below 40% — yikes), and more importantly, what to actually do about it. 💡Here’s a taste of what we covered:  -Why “continuing the conversation” works better than traditional follow-up -How to build trust before you ask someone to coffee -Why your quarterly impact report isn’t moving the needle -How storytelling emails and small, creative offers can transform donor relationships -The power of giving first to create real reciprocitySean dropped so many gems in this one — if you want to raise more money without burning out constantly chasing new donors, give it a listen. 🎧Important Links:Sean’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-littman-catch22nonprofit/ Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Nonprofit fam, you do not want to miss this one.On the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sit down with the brilliant, bold, and beautifully authentic Jacob Adams — founder + CEO of Inner Spark — to talk about what it really means to lead and fundraise with authenticity. 🙌🏽🔥We go deep on: Being unapologetically real in funder relationshipsWhy authenticity isn't just a buzzword — it's a strategy Navigating political + environmental uncertainty while staying rooted in equityFundraising as relationship-building, not performanceJacob drops truth bombs about compliance culture in schools, the myth of professionalism, and why he refuses to "obey in advance." You’ll laugh, you’ll nod, you’ll probably rewind a few times.Important Links:Jacob’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobadams706/ Jacob’s Newsletter: https://www.innersparklab.org/ Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Nonprofit Leaders, it's time to wake up and take action! In the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I sit down with two experts, Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan Wildstein, to dive deep into a critical issue facing our sector: nonprofit staffing struggles.They discuss trends from their groundbreaking Social Impact Staff Retention Report, revealing that 7 out of 10 nonprofit staff are actively looking for new jobs in 2025 — a number that's still alarmingly high, and indicative of widespread burnout, insufficient support, and unrealistic workload expectations. In this eye-opening conversation, they explore:The true reasons behind nonprofit staff turnover (hint: it's not just about pay 💸)How to better support your team by letting go of outdated practices and fostering growth 🔄AI in the nonprofit sector: Can it help reduce burnout by taking over repetitive tasks? 🤖One of the most important takeaways? Leaders need to model healthy work-life balance to retain staff and create sustainable success. 🌟Important Links:Evan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-a-wildstein/ Michelle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvryn/ The Nonprofiteers: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/ SISR:https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisr Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey 

In this episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I’m joined by my friend and former student, Kriste Peoples, the Executive Director of Women's Wilderness in Colorado. We talk about the power of community, what it’s like being a BIPOC leader in the outdoor space, and how we’re challenging the idea that the outdoors is only for certain people. 🌿✨Kriste shares the incredible work Women’s Wilderness is doing to create outdoor experiences for women and non-binary folks, especially those from underrepresented communities. From rock climbing to birdwatching, they're making nature more accessible for everyone.We also dive into the impact of community dinners—simple gatherings where people come together, share stories, and advocate for the outdoors. It’s all about lowering barriers and making sure everyone knows that nature belongs to them, too. 🍽️💬This conversation is full of insights on leadership, inclusivity, and how to find connection in times of uncertainty. It’s a reminder that the outdoors is for everyone, no matter your background or where you come from.Important Links:Kriste's LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristepeoples Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

I’m so excited to share the latest episode of Nonprofit Lowdown where I sit down with my good friend and former student, Faith Galati, Executive Director of Breakthrough Sacramento. She’s here to talk about her incredible journey of turning her nonprofit’s fundraising around, and how she more than doubled her budget!💡 What we dive into:Shifting your mindset: Faith shares how she went from a place of fundraising fear to an abundance mindset, unlocking new opportunities.Building a high-performing board: She breaks down how to recruit, train, and hold your board members accountable (without doing everything yourself).The $50,000 rum cake 🥮: Trust me, it’s not what you think, but it helped Faith land some serious funds.The power of asking: Faith learned the importance of confidently making the ask and how it changed everything for her nonprofit.Faith’s story is truly inspiring, and you’ll want to hear how she landed a $900,000 grant and turned a fear-based approach into a fundraising machine! 🌟Important Links:Free Training for Community Dinners: https://courses.rheawong.com/offers/4686d410-8de8-4605-8cb5-1cbf8bd39c24Link to connect with Faith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-galati-2400b3239/Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Hey, nonprofit fam! It's Rhea Wong here, bringing you an exciting new episode featuring insights from my recent webinar with the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference's Tactical Tuesdays. This one is all about major gift fundraising and why you should be leaning into your major donors NOW.Plus, I’m starting something new on my podcast—answering YOUR burning questions!  Have a question about nonprofit fundraising or anything else? Email it to me at [email protected] and I may feature it in an upcoming episode! 🙌In this episode, I dive deep into: ✨ The power of major gifts and how they fuel transformative change ✨ The importance of building relationships with your donors, not just their wallets ✨ How to qualify prospects the right way for your nonprofit's success (Hint: It’s not just about wealth screenings)If you’ve been thinking about how to take your fundraising strategy to the next level, this one’s for you! Let’s co-create something amazing. Catch the full episode now, and don't forget to send in your questions! 🎧Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

It’s Rhea Wong back with another episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, and today, we’re diving deep into a topic I’m passionate about—MARKETING! If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I don’t have enough prospects in my pipeline,” or “Why are my donors not responding?” then this episode is for YOU. I’m breaking down two key issues that nonprofits face:1️⃣ Why your donor pipeline is running dry. 2️⃣ Why the donors you DO have are ghosting you.Let’s face it—donors aren't ignoring you because they’re too busy; they’re ignoring you because you haven’t given them a compelling reason to engage! In this episode, I share actionable strategies on: ✨ How to fill your pipeline with new prospects. ✨ How to make your donors feel like they matter—so they’ll actually engage with YOU. ✨ Why marketing is your fundraising secret weapon. Want to hear more? Tune in and start building stronger connections with your donors TODAY!Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Hey Nonprofit Lowdown listeners! Rhea Wong here with an episode that’s all about shifting your mindset from fear to possibility. 💡I’m sharing a powerful story about a farmer and his horse, illustrating how we often jump to conclusions, but we don’t truly know if something is “good” or “bad” until we look at the bigger picture. It’s time to ask: What could go right? In a world filled with crisis, it’s easy to catastrophize, but what if we embraced challenges as opportunities for growth? Let’s focus on what’s working, stay proactive, and stay grounded in times of uncertainty. 🎧 In this episode, I talk about: The nature of luck & how to increase your chances of success. Shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance. Action steps to stay proactive, including creative financing and leadership investment.Are you ready to take action and flip the script? If you’re ready to take your nonprofit to the next level, join me for a FREE Board Fundraising Training on March 4th. We're in this together! 💪Important Links:Upcoming Events and Webinars: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/ 

Are you feeling the stress of federal funding uncertainty? You're not alone. In this  episode of Nonprofit Lowdown, I dive into how you can take control of your nonprofit’s financial future—even with all the unknowns in the air.I walk you through diversifying your revenue and engaging your board in major gift fundraising. Plus, I share a step-by-step playbook on how to build resilience and secure financial stability, no matter what happens in Washington.PLUS – Don't miss out on my free training on March 4th to help your board members become active fundraising allies.Tune in for practical strategies that will prepare your nonprofit to thrive, no matter what the future holds.Important Links:Upcoming Events: https://www.rheawong.com/events/ My Big Ask Gifts Program: https://go.rheawong.com/big-ask-gifts-program My Book, Get That Money Honey: https://go.rheawong.com/get-that-money-honey My Newsletter: https://www.rheawong.com/