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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
Why DEI Fails in Nonprofits (and How to Do It Right)
Is your nonprofit struggling to turn DEI intentions into meaningful action?
Fear, burnout, and performative allyship often hold us back from creating truly equitable organizations. But what if we could move beyond discomfort into sustainable change?
In this episode, Maria sits down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, an equity educator and nonprofit consultant, to explore the real reasons why DEI work stalls and how to finally make it stick. They discuss power dynamics, fear of being "canceled," the broken board structure, and how small nonprofits can lead with community and strategy at the center.
Justice Work in Nonprofits: – The Highlights:
- Why traditional nonprofit boards are “a dysfunctional hot mess” (his words 😆)
- How fear paralyzes well-meaning teams and leaders
- The difference between being canceled and being held accountable
- 4 stages of meaningful equity work (Assessment → Acknowledgement → Learning → Action)
- How to center equity across fundraising, governance, and communications
🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!
About Jonathan Meagher-Zayas:
Jonathan Meagher-Zayas is a global educator, equity strategist, and nonprofit consultant. With 14+ years in fundraising, DEI work, and community organizing, he now empowers nonprofits to assess their internal systems, build more inclusive strategies, and take meaningful action toward equity.
Actionable Tips for Nonprofit Leaders to Advance Equity:
➜ Start with an internal assessment: Before jumping into training or committees, assess your org's culture, systems, and staff perspectives to understand where change is most needed.
➜ Engage your community in the process: Talk to your staff, board, and the people you serve. Let their lived experiences guide your equity goals—not just checklists or trends.
➜ Invest in internal capacity: If you're asking people to lead DEI efforts, pay them, redistribute their workload, and give them authority—not just responsibility.
Resources and Links