The Power of Mentoring: A Conversation with Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO
In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts podcast, Mary dives deep into the transformative power of mentorship and the strategic planning process for nonprofits featuring Lisa Humphrey, CEO and President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County.
Lisa Humphrey provides strategic leadership and innovative problem-solving in carrying out the agency’s mission to ignite the power and promise of youth. She brings a wealth of knowledge and innovative programming in the field of mentoring.
This episode covers the significant role of mentorship in empowering youth, the importance of community support, the reciprocal nature of mentor and mentee relationships, and the benefits of strategic planning.
00:00 Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts Podcast
00:59 The Power of Mentoring
07:03 Impact Stories and the Importance of Mentorship
13:21 Strategic Planning: Why It Matters
17:40 Engaging Stakeholders in Strategic Planning
24:18 Upcoming Initiatives and Final Thoughts
27:17 Conclusion and Tips for Effective Strategic Planning
Connect with Lisa Humphrey:
Visit bbbsflint.org
Connect with the Big Brothers Big Sister of Flint and Genessee County on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bbbsflint
Reach their office at 810 235 0617
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32:16
Effective Nonprofit Tips for Increasing Engagement and Strategic Planning: Answering Your Top Questions of 2024
Answering Nonprofit Leaders' Most Pressing Questions of 2024: Year-End Review
In this episode of the Nonprofit Experts Podcast, Mary and Christina address the most frequently asked questions they receive from nonprofit leaders.
They discuss key topics including:
⭐Diversifying funding sources
⭐Effective strategic planning
⭐Utilizing AI tools
⭐Improving board engagement
⭐Measuring organizational impact
This conversation aims to provide practical tips and insights to help nonprofit leaders feel less isolated and more empowered in their roles.
Tune into this episode for effective strategies you can implement in your organization today and stay until the end for valuable tips and tricks!
00:42 End of Year Show: Most Asked Questions of 2024
03:17 Highlights from the Past Year
07:04 Diversifying Funding Sources
12:20 Strategic Planning Tips
19:12 AI Tools for Nonprofits
25:33 Engaging Your Board of Directors
37:17 Measuring Impact and Success
42:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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46:58
Maximizing Year-End Campaigns: Insights from Nonprofit Leaders
Mary discusses the importance of year-end campaigns with guest Christina Wood, Executive Director at Educational Child Care Center, EC3.
Christina Wood is the Executive Director of Educational Child Care Center in Lansing.
She worked in restaurant management for 20 years before pursuing her passion in early education.
Starting as a classroom assistant, she worked her way up to a lead teacher earning her
Child Development Accreditation, then an associate’s degree in child development and early education.
It was her passion for children and families that led her to pursue her current career.
They explore the challenges and opportunities of these campaigns, focusing on strategy, relationship-building, and use of modern tools such as ChatGPT and Canva to streamline processes.
Christina Wood shares her experiences and plans for her first year-end campaign, including rebranding and increasing visibility.
Additionally, Mary and her colleague Christina Wichert offer insights into leveraging AI tools for crafting impactful narratives and managing campaign logistics efficiently.
Listen into this episode for effective strategies for year-end campaigns from these nonprofit leaders.
00:44 Year-End Campaigns: An Overwhelming Task
02:18 Year-End Campaign Insights with Christina Wood
04:31 Challenges and Strategies for Small Nonprofits
07:07 The Importance of Relationship Building
28:12 Using AI Tools for Year-End Campaigns
40:52 Conclusion and Final Tips
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44:05
Scaling Impact: Partnering with Community Foundations
Mary welcomes Cindy Hales from the Capital Region Community Foundation for an intriguing discussion on navigating nonprofit collaboration and capacity building.
Cindy has over thirty years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has served as an executive director of several organizations and has direct fundraising experience in higher education, healthcare, and cultural organizations. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University.
As Vice President of Community Investment, Cindy leads the Foundation's grantmaking programs and builds relationships with nonprofits in the community with support from the community investment team. She works closely with her team and is part of the leadership team.
Mary & Cindy discuss vital strategies for effective nonprofit management, focusing on capacity building and cooperative relationships with funders. Cindy shares insights on succession planning, proactive organization management, and the importance of aligning nonprofit and funder priorities.
Encouraging nonprofits to build relationships with local community foundations, they offer practical advice for sustainable nonprofit growth. Mary emphasizes the benefits of shifting from reactive to proactive organizational operations through storytelling and real-life examples.
00:00 Introduction to the Nonprofit Experts Podcast
00:34 Celebrating the Success of Season One
02:19 Exciting Plans for Season Two
03:07 Today's Topic: Nonprofit Funder Relationships
03:33 Guest Introduction: Cindy Hale
04:21 Understanding Capacity Building
13:24 Proactivity vs. Reactivity in Nonprofits
17:35 Aligning Priorities with Funders
21:52 Tips for Working with Community Foundations
26:47 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
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30:31
From Hesitation to Legislation: Nonprofits and the Power of Lobbying
In this episode of "Nonprofit Experts," host Mary Gladstone-Highland delves into the often-misunderstood world of nonprofit lobbying with a true advocate for change, Nick Lutton from Family Voices of California. Together, they explore the transformative journey from hesitation to legislation, revealing the untapped potential nonprofits hold in shaping policy and driving their mission forward.
🌟 Key Takeaways:
Demystifying Lobbying: Nick shares insights on dispelling common fears surrounding lobbying, emphasizing the strategic aspects that can elevate a nonprofit's impact.
Advocacy Success Stories: Discover real-life examples of nonprofits, including Family Voices of California, that have successfully utilized lobbying as a powerful tool to create positive change.
Preparing for Advocacy: Mary and Nick discuss the essential steps nonprofits can take to prepare for effective lobbying, ensuring they navigate the political landscape with confidence.
The Legislative Landscape: Gain a deeper understanding of how nonprofits can navigate legislative processes to influence policies that align with their mission and values.
Join Mary and Nick on this empowering episode as they inspire nonprofit leaders to embrace advocacy, turning hesitation into a force for legislative change. Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or just starting your journey, this episode is a roadmap for transforming your organization's impact through the strategic use of lobbying.
🔗 Connect with Our Guest:
Learn more about Nick Lutton and Family Voices of California at familyvoicesofca.org.
✨ Don't miss this enlightening conversation that proves lobbying isn't just for the big players; it's a valuable tool for every nonprofit ready to make a lasting difference.
You are the expert of your nonprofit organization. You work hard, know your organization inside and out, and seek thought partners to think through challenging moments and exciting new strategies. This show is a chance to have conversations with nonprofit leaders like yourself.
In each episode, you'll hear from everyday, exceptional leaders of the nonprofit sector as they chat with host Mary Gladstone-Highland, CEO of Spark Group Consulting, about the critical issues that impact nonprofits and how they use their assets to provide creative solutions to complex problems.
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