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Carlo Cuesta is a co-founder of Creation in Common, "Growing Social Impact with Nonprofits, Foundations, and Government since 2002." Strategic planning is one of the core services offered by Creation in Common. Host Steve Boland asked Carlo to join to discuss the state of strategic planning in 2026, when the level of chaos feels so overwhelming. Carlo reinforced the idea that strategic plans are for tools to help make better decisions today, and looking back at the last 90 days can be a key tool - especially in times for volatility - can help. Carlo notes a thought from Bill Gates "Most people overestimate what they can achieve in one year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years" and how it can apply to thinking longer term in planning if that is what is called for in the day. Carlo goes on to suggest we need to put plans into a resource context - how will this work be resourced? Another favorite quote from this conversation is "All models are wrong, but some are useful." "what happens when assumptions that were long-term reliable end up being unreliable?" Listen to the full episode to learn to expect "more is not a strategy" t-shirts sometime soon! Get more details on how to subscribe on our podcast page.

Anniston Ward is the USA PR, Events and Education Manager for Metricool, a social media aggregator for publishing information which integrates to other analytics sources to look at impact of your organization's online presence. Host KD Bauer talks to Anniston about Metricool and how content aggregators and analysis tools function, including core features such as scheduling posts across multiple platforms and bring analytics in, having teams contributing to the process, and allow approval and feedback across team roles. The 2026 Social Media Study from Metricool benefits from data from 3 million Metricool users to show trends and can be compared to past results (see the 2025 study as well). The report shows video content continues to be dominant, and encourages organizations to consider video even if it is more challenging to produce. Anniston also urges groups to move beyond simple impressions as the primary measure of success and to consider other measures such as shares, saves, and direct actions like clicking through to a website or signing up for more information. Anniston and KD talk about "trend chasing" (such as using memes), the importance of consistency in a brand voice or mission to building an audience over time, commenting on social issues and authenticity, and much more!

Melissa Bank Stepno is the President & CEO of The Helen Brown Group and the Managing Director of DAFinitive, "the only searchable database that helps you find more information about donor advised funds." Melissa joins the podcast to talk about the decision to create and manage a database in the increasingly large field of donor advised funds. Melissa describes how her team uses human-powered sources to research giving using DAFs, and catalogs that information with links out to sources when possible. Those links are often backed-up on Archive.org, the Internet's Way Back Machine, to provide access to source sites that may since have changed or removed the data. The DAFinitive team works to connect the names of donors behind the funds when possible, realizing that sometimes donors are choosing anonymity and sometimes the data is just harder to find. Many family foundations are now using DAFs, and increasingly new donors are eschewing family foundations entirely in favor of DAF giving. Listeners are welcome to visit DAFinitive.com and request a demo to see the tools in action

(This holiday season we are re-releasing a conversation with Lori from back in 2018 - with such great information that is still so valuable today. Enjoy this encore, and we'll be back in two weeks with a brand new episode).  Lori L. Jacobwith is a nationally-recognized master storyteller and fundraising culture change expert who was named one of America’s Top 25 Fundraising Experts. She is the founder of Ignited Fundraising. Lori joins host Steve Boland to talk about the role of boards of directors in fundraising work for charities, and specifically the challenges and opportunities of board development committees. Lori shares resources available on her website to help think about how creating a fundraising plan and budgeting are critical for any successful board role, and how charities can leverage the strengths of board members to succeed.

Cherian Koshy is the author of the new book Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making. Cherian is "is a globally recognized expert in the science of generosity, decision-making, and leadership. With more than 25 years of experience, he equips organizations and leaders with the tools to create alignment—not pressure—and to design environments where giving, leading, and taking action feel natural." Cherian joins host Steve Boland to talk about some of the themes in the book (so much more in the book!) regarding the science behind generosity. Cherian describers how attention fragmentation impacts donors, how social comparisons are understood by the brain, why legacy giving is about a lot more than just the charity in question, how to think about the ethics of all of this, and much more!

Patrice Davis is the CEO of Grants Works, whose mission is "to help organizations, educational institutions and businesses successfully find, obtain, manage, and comply with federal and other government grants that positively impact people and communities." Patrice first joined the NEXT in Nonprofits podcast in 2021 talking about applying for government grants. Patrice joins host Steve Boland to discuss the importance of time and effort reporting in grants management. Plans for how time and effort will be reported on grants begins with writing the grant, but continues on in post-grant administration using a grant manager (mostly likely different from grant writer) and the right tools for the right job. Patrice discusses best practices and tools - such as integrating grant restraints into a payroll tool to track costs assigned to a grant expenses. Patrice also looks at things that impact costs are allocated, such as how much indirect costs may need to be covered in the grant. Some organizations may choose different strategies surrounding these costs. More information about the federal definitions are available in the Code of Federal Regulations here. Subscribe to the podcast on your phone for automatic updates. Get more details on how to subscribe on our podcast page.

Andy Goldman-Gray is a Founder of Nonprofit Strategy Group, "a partnership of experienced, successful nonprofit executives with a full range of expertise and roles, including Executive Director, Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Operations." Andy joins the podcast to talk about creative collaborations, including things that may include a merger or acquisition, but also may be sunsetting (closures) or other changes. Host Steve Boland talks with Andy about mission over legal structure and imperative of boards to commit to the success of the missions even if some changes happen in business structures. Nonprofits in a healthy, sound space at the moment could be taking this time to assess their immediate partners and consider impacts of not all of them are as healthy or if they may have different challenges. Formal and informal collaborations strongly relies on trust-building, so Andy recommends boards and staff think about early conversations to build trust with potential partners. Foundations and other funders and considering funding for the work of collaboration, so consider checking to see if some additional dollars may help prioritize these conversations. There is much more in the full conversation, so give a listen!

Allison Wagstrom is the Senior Loan Officer for Propel Nonprofits, whose mission "fuels the impact and effectiveness of nonprofits with guidance, expertise, and capital." Allison joins host Steve Boland to talk about the risks nonprofits face in 2025, and steps and tools they can use to manage that risk. Allison encourages charities to think in terms of revenue mix, program costs, infrastructure, and capital. She and Steve talk about examples in such areas of the emotional labor of program costs (because that is really people in most cases), the new risks in 2025 where government funding is no longer as secure as it used to be, and how a cashflow projection may not ameliorate all fears but provides a way to examine fears on paper. Allison discusses the role of the board in these times, and both of them caution that 2025 is still a year to consider building cash reserves, because 2026 and 2027 may have even more risk on the horizon. Sunsetting, mergers, and acquisitions may be on the table in order to preserve mission impact. Propel Nonprofits manages a Resource Library for charities to use in learning about their own options.

Jon Bergdoll is the Interim Director of Data and Research Partnerships, at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at the Indiana University Indianapolis. Jon joins host Steve Boland to talk about The Next Generation of Philanthropy, a 2025 study from the Lilly Family School to understand Generation Z (Gen Z) philanthropic giving. Jon was part of the study team, and helps provide context for the study, which includes comparative data to other generational cohorts. Jon shares insights on key findings such as the depth of giving for Gen Zers who do give to religious institutions, using authentic video to reach new audiences, slowly building trust with the concept of institutional nonprofits v. informal giving, and much more! Get more details on our podcast page.

Cicley Gay is the Chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. Their mission "imagines a world where Black people across the diaspora thrive, experience joy, and are not defined by their struggles." Cicley joins host Steve Boland to talk about the current world of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the impact of challenges to equity from both our government and in some cases philanthropy. The environment has slid backward from the promises many made after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis (as well as promises after other acts of violence before and since). Cicley shares the work of initiatives such as Black Play Matters to move forward with love when times are challenging. The conversation covers the challenges to this work in 2025, but also the the call to lift up Joy. Joy and play have always been tools of survival and resistance. "We don't measure freedom by the absence of harm but by the presence of our unwavering belief that thriving is possible." Cicley advises to "leave no power on the table" in pursuing this work. Get more details on on our podcast page.

Hannah Hegeman is the Vice President of Event Strategy and Development for Do Good Events "a woman-owned, award-winning Event Planning company headquartered in Minneapolis. We love being a part of bringing a lot of good into the world through events; after all, that was the inspiration for our name!" Hannah joins host Steve Boland to talk about events to support nonprofit missions and fundraising in 2025 and beyond. She discusses important considerations such as beginning with one clear goal - such as fundraising, awareness, or stewardship; to focus on quality over quantity - the right people in the room matter more than packed attendance; the place for breakfast/lunch events in 2025 and beyond that are often underutilized, less expensive, and have less competition. Hannah urges organizations to consider a 3-5 years minimum commitment to starting a new fundraising event - it takes time to build momentum. So much more in the episode! Do Good Events is hosting an opportunity for nonprofits called RAISE+ARRANGE on January 15, 2026. Listeners can use the code Next15 for $15 off the registration.

Lou Kotsinis is the CEO and Co-Founder of BCS Interactive, a digital marketing agency that "helps non-profits, foundations and educational institutions make their mark on the world." Lou chats with host KD Bauer about concepts that nonprofits should consider when it comes to their organization's website. Describing a website as a "living, breathing organism," Lou explains why a clear understanding of your website's audience is the first step in telling your organization's unique story. Ensuring your site works correctly is just the start-- compelling photos, impact numbers, and new content builds an optimized, engaging user experience (and yes, it definitely leads to MORE donations).  Listen now by clicking the player above, download the file for later here, or subscribe to the podcast on your phone for automatic updates. Get more details on how to subscribe on our podcast page. Browse BCS Interactive's Blog for more digital marketing strategies, or sign  up for BCS Interactive's monthly blog sent directly to your inbox.

Chris Melody Fields Figueredo is the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, "a nationwide movement-building infrastructure organization that leverages ballot measures across the United States to strengthen democracy; center people of color, queer, low-income, immigrant, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities; advance racial equity; build and transform power; and galvanize a new progressive base." Chris joins host Steve Boland to talk about how nonprofits may consider using ballot initiatives to move their missions forward. Chris discusses tools at both state and local levels, how organizing campaigns can think about longer time-frames, and how "anything beautiful is created in coalition." Chris talks about the extended benefits of campaigns outside the ballot deadline, talking to funders about supporting the work, and more. Additional information and tools are available at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center website.

Todd Baylis is the Chief Customer Officer of Bloomerang, a data management system designed to "manage your entire constituent ecosystem, including donors, volunteers, sponsors, grant givers, and more. Your result: higher fundraising revenue and less donor attrition. " Todd joins host Steve Boland to talk about encouraging your audiences (supporters, first-time donors, recurring donors...) to share more information with your charity to improve your connections and outcomes. Todd talks about how much information to ask for at the outset, a willingness to come back to audiences and request more information over time, communications preferences, and much more. Todd emphasizes the maxim that "if it's not in the database, it didn't happen" - meaning an emphasis on recording interactions with community (phone calls, personal meetings, handwritten notes) in a data tool allows a better connection over time.

Greg Harrell-Edge is the founder of Proimpact Project, which is "Supporting nonprofit leaders with content and a community to scale impact." Greg talks to host Steve Boland about the need for early response, and more frequent responses, when nonprofits and social good missions are attacked. Keeping the tone authentic about your work and the real impact of your work, helps shift the conversation away from demonizing the whole sector. Greg mentions his influence in emphasis on impact from Dan Pallotta's TED talk. Greg further suggests tying fundraising support messages when appropriate, with speedy reactions helping to close funding gaps which may be caused, in part, but these attacks. Greg also cites the variable calls to action and results in campaigns such as Kony 2012.