I Was Told There Would Be Snacks: A Nonprofit Podcast

Have you ever made a terrible mistake while writing a grant or said the wrong thing during a meeting with a foundation? Don't worry, you're not alone. In this episode, grant writer Sara Baker and Tiffanie Grier of Assisi Foundation of Memphis share their insights on how to avoid the most common grant writing pitfalls and what to say when foundation trustees ask you that dreaded question about sustainability. Tune in and learn how to write a grant that will impress foundation trustees and win you the funding you need.

Quitting your job can be a tough decision, but it doesn't have to be a messy one. In this episode, Amanda McCollum of Adams Keegan and Forrest Alton of 1000 Feathers discuss how employees can quit their jobs with dignity and how employers can create a smooth transition for outgoing staff. Whether you're an employee thinking about quitting your job or an employer looking for ways to improve your offboarding process, this episode is for you.

As a nonprofit professional, your knowledge can help policy makers who need - and often want - your input. In this episode, lobbyist Adam Nickas of Capitol Resources, LLC discusses how to build healthy, productive relationships with your legislators and how to position yourself as an expert on your organization’s mission and the communities you serve.

Thousands of rural nonprofits are currently serving communities throughout Tennessee. Unfortunately, their hard work sometimes goes unnoticed, and their voices aren't represented at many decision-making tables. In this episode, Matthew Marshall of United Way of West Tennessee and Ellen Collins of Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy discuss why rural nonprofits should matter to metro nonprofits, our legislators, and our funders.

Have you ever worked for a nonprofit that felt like a cutthroat competition? Where everyone hoards resources, collaboration is frowned upon, and people lose sleep over fundraising challenges? In short, a nonprofit with a scarcity mindset. In this episode, Hal Cato of Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Hannah Lancaster of United Way of Greater Chattanooga discuss how an abundance mindset and an abundance culture can lead to more effective, collaborative nonprofits and lessen the stress of employees within your organization. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, board member, or staff member, this episode is for you. Learn how to create a more positive and productive workplace, and how to achieve your mission more effectively.

Impact measurement is often seen as extra work to satisfy funders, but it's actually a way for nonprofits to grow, pivot, and better serve their communities. In this episode, guests Brian Straessle of Sycamore Institute and Chrystal Armstrong Brown of United Way of Greater Knoxville discuss why continuous improvement should be a priority for nonprofits and how data can shed light on opportunities for growth. We'll also talk a lot about hot dogs!

In the highly polarized world we live in, nonprofits can often find themselves stuck in the middle of politics. This election will no doubt be contentious, and nonprofits must be careful to remain nonpartisan while also advocating for the causes they care about. In this episode, Tiffany Gourley Carter of the National Council of Nonprofits and Sumita Keller of Healing Trust discuss what nonprofits can and cannot do in the public policy arena and how to stay nonpartisan despite the partisan world around us.

This touching episode features two amazing stories filled with heartwarming coincidences, twists, and turns. Discover what Erica Roberts discovered at her grandfather's house that unearthed a family secret connected to her former job at a nonprofit. And find out how fundraising literally saved Christy Passmore's life. Tissues are recommended for this episode!

Momentum Nonprofit Partners rebranded to become Tennessee Nonprofit Network in late 2022, and in just one year, they have grown to serve over 40,000 nonprofit organizations across the state. In this episode, we talk to Abby Garrison of United Way of Greater Chattanooga and Tim Delaney of National Council of Nonprofits about Tennessee Nonprofit Network's incredible growth and impact. We discuss the challenges and opportunities that Tennessee Nonprofit Network faced along the way to becoming the first statewide nonprofit association in Tennessee. We will discuss Tennessee Nonprofit Network's vision for the future and how they plan to continue to grow and make an impact.

In a recent survey, 30% of departing executive directors reported that they were leaving because of their boards of directors. Do boards have a big part to play in the recent leadership turnover that’s happening across the country? Sounds like it! Sometimes boards forget that their CEOs are human beings with feelings and needs and children at home and bills to pay. How can boards better support their nonprofit leaders? How can boards set up their new executive directors for success? In this revealing conversation with Olliette Murry-Drobot of 02 Strategic Partners and Meg Crosby of PeopleCap Advisors, we’ll look at ways that boards can keep their executive directors fed, watered, and happy!

In the nonprofit sector, we can sometimes overuse words to the point where they completely lose their meaning. Other times, words have an underlying connotation that can alienate your stakeholders. And then there are those pesky words that no one understands, but we use them anyway to sound smart! How does this impact our communication with funders, clients, and staff? Does this really help us effectively share our vision and impact with those we serve? (Probably not.) In this lively conversation with April Carter of Momentum Nonprofit Partners and Carrie Burke of Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, we look at words and phrases that we should all consider rethinking or eliminating. This is a continuation of the conversation from our first season, and we have even more words and phrases that get under our skin!

Do you feel like your organization is invisible to the general public? Are you having a hard time fundraising because people just don’t know what your organization does? Time to get a plan together to fight for public awareness! In this episode, Marvin Stockwell of Champion the Cause and Denzel Alexander of KQ Communications talk about how to employ earned and paid media, providing tips on effectively engaging social media, reporters, and consultants to get your nonprofit out from under its invisibility cloak!

In an era of quiet quitting and the “Great Resignation,” many nonprofit employees are daydreaming about being their own boss. Being a nonprofit consultant, though, isn’t just a glorious life of lounging poolside drinking margaritas while you write a fund development plan for a nonprofit client! The consultant life takes discipline, humility, gumption, and a whole lot of money management! Join national fundraising consultants Mel & Pearl Shaw as they de-mystify the consulting life and provide guidance to wannabe nonprofit consultants. Margaritas not included!

Nonprofits need to engage at the local, state, and federal level to ensure that those laws are fair, support nonprofits, and reduce harm to the communities they serve. Collectively, the million+ nonprofits in the United States have a lot of power, but we have to use it or we could lose it! Despite the importance of public policy to the welfare of our nonprofits and our communities, many nonprofit leaders shy away from engaging in public policy. There is vast misunderstanding about what 501(c)3 nonprofits can and cannot do, and this episode sheds light on what nonprofits can do related to public policy and advocacy, why it matters, and what’s at stake. Join Jessica Mendieta and David L. Thompson from National Council of Nonprofits as they set the record straight on this important topic!

Fundraising doesn’t sound like it carries a lot of risk, but it does! From having a secure donation processing platform to ensuring donor privacy to having a codified resource development plan, nonprofits must be mindful of the risks and liabilities associated with fundraising. In this episode, we talk with risk management expert Ted Bilich of Risk Alternatives about the do’s and don’ts of fundraising through the lens of risk and resiliency. We also discuss that darn impending recession that they keep warning us about and how that will impact your organization’s fundraising!

In a work environment, everyone is responsible for ensuring that the organizational culture is healthy and rewarding. Though ultimately the buck stops with the leader of your nonprofit, every employee must take personal accountability for their role in perpetuating healthy or unhealthy workplaces. Being mindful of how your own actions impact the culture is important, and self-awareness is a skill that can be constantly improved. In this episode, we are joined by Foluke Houston-Gaddis of P³ Human Capital Solutions, who will discuss how to increase your self-awareness as a staff member so that you can successfully contribute to a positive work environment and not be “that employee.”

Human resources can be the most complicated and least fun part of a leader’s job, and it’s even more difficult when you have to manage a messy employee—or a bunch of them! Messy employees may not have malicious intent, but they can cause all sorts of problems within your organization. Manipulation, incompetence, insubordination, poor people skills, negative worldviews, and other traits are messy enough, but sometimes leaders make the mess even bigger by not addressing the problems right in front of them. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Bev Vitali of Christian Brothers University and Cassandra Webster of Memphis Challenge about how to effectively manage “messy” employees.

If you’ve ever worked in a toxic workplace, you know how detrimental this can be to you and the organization as a whole. Whether it’s an abusive boss, a culture driven by unhealthy competition, or just way too much gossip at the water cooler, toxic organizations can zap your energy and make you run for the door. The worst part of all of this? Toxicity in your nonprofit organization ultimately hurts the communities you serve by distracting everyone from the mission. Turnover increases, work productivity lowers, and staff and volunteers can lose their passion for the cause. What’s a leader (or staff member) to do? In this episode, we speak with Brittanie Young, Founder of Rejuvenate HR, about what to do if you find yourself in the middle of a toxic organization!

With thousands of nonprofits, churches, and government agencies fighting poverty in our community, why is poverty still so prevalent? Are we simply putting Band-Aids on the problems without actually addressing the systemic roots of poverty? In this episode, guests Ayanna Johnson-Watkins of MICAH and Sutton Mora of Community Foundation of Greater Memphis discuss why our current system isn’t producing the results we want to see. We take a critical look at what’s not working and identify nonprofit and philanthropy’s role in changing the narrative.

During the pandemic, arts organizations were some of the most deeply impacted nonprofits. They lost revenue from performances and special events, and many were forced to lay off key staff and artists. The pandemic also inspired innovative ways to deliver programming and engage new audiences. Though the arts may still struggle in the short-term, is there a renaissance on the horizon? Pat Mitchell-Worley, Deputy Director of Soulsville Foundation and Executive Director of Stax Music Academy, and Elizabeth Rouse, President and CEO of ArtsMemphis, joins us to discuss the impact of COVID and the good news that may be ahead for arts organizations in the United States.