Join us this week for a discussion about common questions on federal grants with guest expert Lisa Ruiz-Lee. Also, is there a way to get my Board to use the… read more

Should we follow up with a potential board member who expressed interest and then vanished? Stacey has opinions! Also, this week we talk about managing third-party fundraisers, whether there are any benefits to not paying down debt, and how to maintain an awesome work culture during a big expansion.

There’s just one question this week, but it’s an important one. Guest expert Miles Dickson of Nevada GrantLab joins us to talk about why Nevada nonprofits should be seeking out and applying for federal grants.

If you always skip the finance and accounting questions, maybe take a couple of weeks off! This week, Stacey talks with guest expert Jessica Sayles, CPA, Managing Principal at HRC about reporting in-kind donations on Form 990, and Andy is of the shocking opinion that the internet is not a good place to learn nonprofit accounting. Finally, we reach all the way back to Episode 13 to answer a question about projecting cash flow.

Is there really a difference between getting five stars and four stars with a ratings agency? We have opinions! Also, this week Andy has some thoughts on how to manage a check approval process in a tiny organization, and Stacey knows what to do when people keep connecting you to other people via email.

“Should we write an MOU or a renter’s contract for use of our space?” We have opinions! Also, this week Stacey has some thoughts about dealing with a board chair who wants to be CCd on all the ED’s emails, and we share some tips on starting a scholarship program.

Andy has some thoughts on investing a surplus, Stacey counsels resolve in the face of a morale committee, and they both agree that tracking in-kind donations is worth the trouble. Plus, can Form 990 really be a fundraiser’s secret weapon?

This week, Andy and Stacey have some potential solutions for bringing on new staff members that you can’t pay very much. And Stacey talks about ransomware with guest expert Francis Johnson, Managing Director of Technology Services for Tech Impact.

This week Stacey goes deep on generational differences with guest expert and Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths coach and consultant Maggie Harris.

How do you handle a board member who thinks that people work for nonprofits because they can’t hack it in the “real world?” This one makes Stacey use her angry voice. Also, a listener asks if we think starting a podcast is a good idea, and Andy takes far too long explaining the differences between various flavors of financial audits.

Should an organization switch from a 501(c)4 to a 501(c)3? Stacey and Andy have thoughts! This week we also talk about who should own consultant-developed content, and what to do when a board member’s social media posts don’t reflect the values of the organization.

This week Stacey and Andy continue the conversation about fundraising events with guest experts Terri Janison and Christian Kolberg.

What should other staff know about the development function? A lot! Also, this week, Stacey and Andy tackle a topical question about the appropriate way to express sympathy for a death in a donor’s family.

Can a board force an ED to accept a raise? And is a 3-month interim budget problematic for funders? We have opinions! Also, this week we answer a great nonprofit 101 question about whether staff members can be on the board.

It’s our 75th episode, so we’ve supersized it for you! This week, guest expert Brad Stith, Principal at Philanthropy Development Associates, joins Stacey to answer a listener question about the utility of screening existing donors for interest in an organization’s mission. We also have opinions on how an interim executive director should manage a whiny staff, and Andy and Stacey attempt to answer a question about impostor syndrome without using any irony at all.

Is there anything scarier than the finance person leaving? Yes, there definitely is (and Andy has some thoughts on how to manage the transition). Also, we have some advice for a founder considering leaving but not really leaving, and Stacey has some great tips on how to make the periodic bylaw revision process not the absolute worst, most boring thing ever.

Why, oh why, do you hate galas so much? After 72 episodes of dropping unsubtle hints, Andy and Stacey finally got someone to ask the question they’ve been dying to answer. As you can imagine, they have opinions. Also, a complicated conflict of interest question turns out to have a pretty straightforward answer, and Stacey has some thoughts on how to say “no” to new program ideas.

Should a nonprofit pay their employees’ dues when they serve on other nonprofit boards? Stacey has thoughts. Also this week, we talk about contract employees wanting to join the board, and Andy resorts to a sports analogy to make a point about multitasking. Finally, we get some well-earned listener feedback from Girls on the Run ED, Kate McLaughlin.

This week, Stacey has tips on how to build an event list from scratch, and we answer questions about paying for rights for recorded music at a gala, and *yawn* cash vs. accrual accounting. And should we keep our bank account number secret? Andy has opinions!

Do nonprofits (in Nevada) need to pay sales tax on fundraising items? Andy knows! What if we know a corporate funder gave a much larger amount to another nonprofit? Should we ask about that? Stacey has an opinion! And finally, what trends do we think we’ll see for the nonprofit sector in 2021?

It’s a super-sized New Year’s episode this week! This week we find out if a nonprofit needs to file tax returns in every state. Stacey and Andy weigh shifting to a fee-for-service model. And finally, “Help! The ED edits all my work!”

Stacey has a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation about volunteering with guest expert Jacob Murdock, Manager, Volunteer & Community Partnerships at the Mob Museum. And be sure to check out Wild & Free: A Battle Born Podcast, that Jacob co-hosts. (Andy is a regular listener and recommends it!)

Should we send both an end of year letter and a Christmas card? Stacey knows! (Andy doesn’t). What should we do if a board member applies for a staff position? And Guest Expert Greg Wilken, CEO of Endunamo Consulting helps us figure out whether an executive director should keep her own employee file.

Do for-profit salespeople make good fundraisers? Maybe! Also, this week Andy and Stacey evangelize program-related investments (again,) and discuss whether a fiscal sponsorship or full 501(c)3 is the way to go.

Just two questions this week, but one of them’s juicy. Guess which one: Should we pay a professional auctioneer for our silent auction? or Is it legal to have a single-ethnicity board? As always, Stacey and Andy have opinions!

A jam-packed episode! This week we explore whether the Executive Director should be present for the board retreat, how to manage a grumpy finance committee when the financials are never… read more

Now that everybody is working from home, we rely on guest expert Amy Sample Ward, CEO of NTEN, to help answer a question about equipment policies and data security. Also, is it time to switch over to video testimonials? Stacey has some ideas! 

A listener asks if they need to convert their nonprofit to a foundation before selling it. Really. (This will be fun.) Also, what happens when board members hire their friends for paid contracts? We have opinions! And Stacy and Andy switch roles on encouraging a recalcitrant employee to fill out timesheets.

Do you *really* have to sign every single thank you note? Is it a bad idea to loan your organization money? And finally, with the zombie apocalypse upon us, is it time to rethink the threats section of the strategic plan’s SWOT analysis? Stacey and Andy have opinions!

This week, we hear from guest Expert April Kemp, Integrated Communications & Social Media Manager for CIM Marketing Partners on whether or not you can post the same things to Facebook and Instagram. Stacey has some thoughts about creating a great Letter of Intent, and see if you can guess our answer on whether to hire a board member’s daughter-in-law as an organization’s first ED.

If your nonprofit has an origin story should you share it? Stacey knows! What’s the best way to manage a layoff, and for that matter, are layoffs the solution to pandemic-related cash flow issues? We have (strong) opinions!

It’s the “Greatest Hits(?)” episode! Here are a handful of our favorite questions from the archive. Fee for service? Canceling a program? When the passion is gone? Cash reserves? And more!

It’s “intern week” at Nonprofit Everything! What happens if a student worker won’t send you an invoice? And better yet — what should you do if a board member wants their child to work for you as a grant writer over the summer? Finally, what do you do when it turns out that your new Board Member was also an ED candidate? We have thoughts!

Is there any benefit to Guidestar Platinum? We have opinions. Stacey has some thoughts on compensation directives from a national office, and we figure out what to do if a founder wants to retire to a lesser job in the organization.

A listener asks, “Should we risk alienating donors by taking a stand on social justice issues?” Drop everything and listen to the answer from Guest Expert John Waldron, CEO of The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada.

How do I value and book discounts?
Someone is complaining directly to the Board Chair!
Should the board keep the budget a secret from the Executive Director?

Will donors care if your Form 990 is late? We have opinions! Stacey has ideas about what to do if you have employees that don’t want to return to the office, and we have a few thoughts on what to do if a grantor says you didn’t make the cut because you “didn’t show sufficient return on investment.” Huh?

This week, Stacey has some great ideas for appreciating staff! We also discuss red flags to watch out for when looking at accepting an Executive Director position, whether or not our coat drive really needs to be restricted to coats, and Andy & Stacey enthusiastically respond to, “why can’t I be both Board Chair and ED and everybody on the board is related?”

Should nonprofit staff see each others’ salaries? We have opinions! Also, Stacey and Andy give some conflicting advice about how to be respected as a younger employee. And Stacey has some great ideas about keeping great board members engaged after they term off the board.

What are the tax implications of a donor buying a product from us for a beneficiary? Andy’s got that one. Also, Stacey and Andy bust another round of common nonprofit myths. And finally, a doozy: Help! My organization is falling apart! (Plus, exactly zero references to COVID-19.)

The adjustment to our new reality continues with a conversation with Amy Hunter from The Simmons Group answering COVID-19 Pandemic related nonprofit HR questions.

Subscribe or Download How are nonprofits handling this unprecedented situation? We hear from nonprofit leaders Kate Hibbard Gaines from Three Square Food Bank, Jamie Weller-Lafavor from Boys and Girls Clubs… read more

Can board members have staff titles? Stacey knows! This week we also hear from Guest Expert Tony Golden of Garg Golden Law Firm about what to do if an employee starts badmouthing your nonprofit on social media! And finally, probably the best question we’ve ever gotten on the podcast.

Why can’t you be the ED, Board Chair and Founder all at the same time? Doesn’t that make things easier?

Subscribe or Download Happy new year! This week, Stacey gives us around a dozen tips to make your fundraising event registration table better, Andy gets grumpy about the state of… read more

This week, we make a former board chair feel terrible, help the ED of a small nonprofit get ahead of the game, and talk about whether or not a nonprofit should revise its budget in the middle of the year. Thanks for joining us in 2019, and we’re looking forward to your questions in 2020!

Is your IRS determination letter enough to not have to pay sales tax? This week we also find out what to do when a Board Chair won’t stand up to the scary Gala committee, and learn the difference between a sponsorship and a donation. We also discover both Stacey and Andy’s least favorite grant application question!

This week Stacey and Andy discuss whether board members need organizational email addresses and we talk about what to do when your board treasurer resigns. Finally, Stacey asks guest expert Jessica Sayles from Houldsworth Russo how to value a sponsor’s banner at an event (as well as several other accounting questions that have been disturbing her sleep!).

What happens when you just need $75,000 more? Stacey knows. Returning genius and HR expert Mary Beth Hartleb tells us whether there’s such a thing as a verbal resignation, and we answer the age-old question, “Do we need an Executive Director or a CEO?”

An extra special double expert episode! Amy Hunter from The Simmons Group explains what you need to know when your nonprofit grows to 15 employees, and Karen Senger from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada gives us advice on how to get past a foundation gatekeeper!