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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
Major Gift Fundraising with Emma Lewzey
In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with major gifts expert, Emma Lewzey, to bust myths, shift mindsets, and bring some much-needed clarity (and courage!) to one of fundraising’s most misunderstood areas. Whether you’re in a small shop or a national organization, this episode will remind you: you don’t need to be perfect to build authentic relationships; you just need to be curious, strategic, and a little bit brave.
Major Gift Fundraising – The Highlights:
- Getting over the fear of asking for major gifts is about proportion: It’s not about the amount, it’s about alignment and impact.
- Your value as a nonprofit is real and tangible: You’re not “begging" - you’re offering a partnership that enables the donor to live out their values.
- Authenticity builds trust: Donors respond to transparency, not perfection.
- Fear and perfectionism are the biggest roadblocks: Don’t wait for the perfect case for support or phone script - start with what you have.
- Small shops have big advantages in major gifts: Easier to build personal relationships and offer meaningful donor impact.
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, donor retention, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work! We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!
About Emma Lewzey:
Emma Lewzey is an award-winning fundraiser with 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience. She launched her career in major gift fundraising in 2002, when she managed her first capital campaign for Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ Community Centre. Emma has frontline fundraising experience across every size and type of nonprofit – including healthcare, arts, education, and human services - and is a veteran of campaigns from $5M to over $200M. She’s the founder and CEO at Blue Sky Philanthropy, where she works with fundraising teams to help them develop the skills, systems and strategies they need to raise more major gifts.
Actionable Tips for Major Gift Fundraising:
➜ Reframe the ask: Believe you’re offering donors a meaningful way to live out their values.
➜ Lead the conversation: Enter donor meetings as a guide, not a guest. Prepare thoughtful questions that help them reflect on their values, goals, and motivations.
➜ Ditch the perfectionism: Use what you have and be transparent. If something’s missing (like impact data), tell the donor why and what support would help fix it.
➜ Stop labeling donors: Don’t assume someone’s capacity based on their first gift. A $50 donor could be a future $250K bequest if you engage them.
➜ Practice strategic curiosity: Use conversations to uncover alignment, not to “sell” a solution.
Resources:
Connect with Us:
- Maria Rio – Connect on LinkedIn
- Emma Lewzey – Connect on LinkedIn
Support the Podcast:
Love these conversations? Support the podcast and help us continue to bring you actionable nonprofit insights by donating here.
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Small Nonprofit Podcast for email updates