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
How to ACTUALLY change hearts and minds
What's the one thing you wish the public understood better about the problem you're solving?
That gap between what people know and what you wish they knew? That's your narrative change work, and it should be driving every communication decision you make.
On this week's episode, we break down how small nonprofits can stop reacting to headlines and start shaping the conversation around the issues they care about most.
Maria sits down with Dimitrios Kalantzis, a nonprofit strategist, communications expert, and former journalist with 10 years of experience covering public affairs. From the "if only people knew" framework to treating your organization as essential reading, this conversation will help you change hearts and minds with confidence and clarity.
Changing Hearts and Minds- The Highlights:
- Your nonprofit should function as its own media organization. With traditional journalism struggling and public affairs reporting declining, nonprofits have an opportunity to fill critical gaps. When supporters sign up for your newsletter, they should feel like you're essential reading on your issue.
- The "if only people knew" test reveals your narrative strategy. Every nonprofit leader has thought "if only the public knew [blank]." That gap between what people understand and what you wish they understood? That's your narrative change work. Let it guide your communications strategy.
- Lead by showing others how to think about the issue. Don't just react to how criminal justice, education, or homelessness is being discussed. Be the organization that demonstrates how we should be thinking about these problems in 2025 and beyond.
Actionable Tips for Nonprofits to Changing Hearts and Minds:
- Lead with your strategic plan. Before commenting on any external event, ask: Does this align with our strategic plan? Is this serving our mission or confusing it? Your strategic plan should be your compass for every communications decision.
- Identify your "if only people knew" moment. What's the one thing you wish the public understood better about your issue? Write it down. That's your narrative change work, now build your communications strategy around closing that gap.
- Treat your newsletter like essential journalism. Position your organization as the go-to source on your issue. Share what you're learning, be transparent about challenges, and fill the gaps that traditional media is leaving behind.
- Bridge back to your message. When a news event pops off, you don't have to address every question or debate. Stay on message even if it feels repetitive to you, your audience needs to hear it.
- Don't engage with bad faith arguments. If someone is asking a question designed to distract or derail the conversation, don't take the bait. You only get pulled into the mud. Redirect to your core message or ignore it entirely.
About Dimitrios Kalantzis (he/him)
Dimitri is a nonprofit strategist and copywriter who helps small teams raise
- Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
- Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.