Feeling stretched too thin? Wondering how your nonprofit will survive the next wave of challenges? You’re not alone.

As we head into 2026, nonprofit leaders are asking tough questions: Where is funding going? Why is donor behavior shifting? How can we keep our teams motivated in the face of burnout and uncertainty?

This week, I’m joined by Rob Harter — veteran nonprofit executive, leadership coach, and host of the long-running Nonprofit Leadership Podcast — to explore what’s really happening across the sector, and where the hope lies. Drawing from his decades of experience, his writing on organizational health and leadership, and the hundreds of interviews he’s conducted on the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, Rob offers a hopeful — but honest — roadmap for social impact organizations navigating change.

🔍 About Rob Harter

Rob is a nonprofit executive professional with over 30 years of experience in leading and building social impact organizations. Rob is known as an inspirational leader with contagious energy and entrepreneurial spirit. He is a frequent speaker and seminar facilitator, and he founded and hosts the “Nonprofit Leadership Podcast”, which has had over 541,000 downloads, is heard in 179 countries and is in the top 1.5% of all podcasts globally according to Listen Notes.

Rob has been a member of and contributor for the Forbes Nonprofit Council. Rob was invited to be part of Harvard Business School’s “Young American Leaders Program”. He also serves on the Utah Advisory Committee for the US Global Leadership Coalition. Rob has chaired the MLK Jr. Commission for Human Rights for the State of Utah and served as the Chair of the Utah Nonprofit Association’s Board as well as serving on the Park City Chamber of Commerce. Rob was voted as the professional “Citizen of the Year” for Park City by the local Rotary club, received the Park City “Chief’s Award for Community Service” and was also recognized as a “Hometown Hero” by Salt Lake Magazine. Most recently, Rob has launched his own Coaching business Rob Harter Coaching and Consulting as a way to invest in and strengthen leaders and individuals to grow both personally and professionally. He is a certified Professional Coach and Certified Enneagram Instructor along with being a Neurofeedback trained technician.

Rob has received a Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. He loves deep powder skiing, hiking, cycling, reading great books, and traveling to new places. Most of all, Rob loves spending quality time with his amazing wife and family.

🧰 Resources & Links:

• Nonprofit Leadership Podcast: https://nonprofitleadershippodcast.org/
• Rob’s website: https://robharter.com/
• Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rob-harter-25457313/

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If you’ve ever wondered whether AI is actually useful for your nonprofit - and how to implement without tech-savvy or overwhelm - this episode is for you.

Joining me are Darian Rodriguez Heyman, social entrepreneur, nonprofit strategist, Heyman also founded AI4NP.org, a national hub for AI education in the social sector, and Cheryl Contee, a pioneering technology entrepreneur and digital transformation expert and Chief Innovation Officer at BrightWorksAI.com and co-author of the new book AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause,

Darian and Cheryl bring a wealth of insight into how nonprofits can harness AI to work smarter, not harder. AI for Nonprofits is a practical, resource-rich guide based on interviews with 57 nonprofit leaders (including me!) who are successfully leveraging AI to enhance fundraising, streamline operations, and engage supporters more effectively — all while staying grounded in mission, values, and ethics.

Together, we explore the most accessible tools, the smartest use cases, and the common pitfalls to avoid when adopting AI in your organization. Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting, you'll come away with actionable next steps to help you move forward confidently.

🎧 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Actionable ways to use AI for donor communications, content creation, and outreach
• The fundamentals of data privacy and compliance every nonprofit must understand
• Top AI tools recommended by experts across the nonprofit sector
• How to avoid the most common mistakes nonprofits make when adopting AI
• How equity and inclusion must factor into AI implementation strategies

🧰 Resources & Links:

• Get the book: AI for Nonprofits

💼 Guest Bio

Cheryl Contee is the Chief Innovation Officer at BrightWorksAI.com. She is a pioneering technology entrepreneur and digital transformation expert. Cheryl is renowned as a trailblazing startup founder and a trusted advisor on innovation & impact. She inspires audiences globally as a leading voice on inclusive entrepreneurship and social enterprise. She has co-authored a bestselling new book called "AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause" with Darian Rodriguez Heyman sharing insights from over 50 AI experts intended to help nonprofit leaders embrace new tech. She is also a senior advisor for PosterChild.AI and co-founder of Change Agent AI, mission-driven & gamechanging AI powered startups.

Darian Rodriguez Heyman is a seasoned nonprofit leader, fundraiser, and social entrepreneur best known for making complex ideas accessible and actionable. He began his impact journey as Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation, where he launched the Nonprofit Boot Camp — which quickly became the largest nonprofit gathering in the Bay Area. He’s the author of Nonprofit Fundraising 101, editor of the best-selling Nonprofit Management 101, and most recently, co-author of AI for Nonprofits: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work for Your Cause, a tactical guide featuring insights from 57 nonprofit leaders on how to responsibly and effectively integrate AI into fundraising, marketing, program delivery, and operations.

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

"We’re not just telling stories anymore—we’re helping people make sense of the world."

That’s the powerful message behind this week’s episode of Nonprofit Nation featuring Kristen Grimm, founder and strategist of Spitfire Strategies, a leading communications firm that helps nonprofits, foundations, and social changemakers sharpen their voice and deepen their impact.

In this conversation, Kristen introduces the concept of “meaning-making” — the process of helping people interpret what’s happening around them, understand what it means, and decide how to act. With the world experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, polarization, and complexity, Kristen argues that communicators now face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help people cut through the noise and find clarity, purpose, and direction.

Drawing on her recently published meaning-making blog series, Kristen shares a timely roadmap for nonprofit leaders looking to rise above the chaos and communicate with resonance. You’ll hear about the different phases of meaning-making, how to spot a "meaning-making window" when it opens, and why now is the time to shift from persuasion to perspective-shaping.

🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What “meaning-making” really is — and why it's vital right now
• Why traditional messaging may fall flat in today’s environment
• The phases of meaning-making: from recognition to resonance
• Tools to assess your organization's readiness to lead with meaning
• Real-world examples of meaning-making strategies in action
• How small or resource-constrained nonprofits can start this work today

💼 About Kristen Grimm

Kristen is the founder of Spitfire Strategies, a public interest firm focused on advancing racial, economic and social justice, protecting the environment and promoting opportunity for all. She has extensive experience running smart communication and campaign efforts that create lasting social change. A hopeful strategist, she believes progress is always possible, setbacks are sources of inspiration and building beyond the choir is where the real work is. She is the mastermind behind Spitfire’s Smart Chart, Planning to Win, Mindful Messaging and Replenishing Trust, thinks fast in a crisis, is deft at drawing phenomenal visionary speeches out of leaders and is someone you want in your corner when you’re ready to go big. When it comes to storytelling, all you need to know is that her last name is Grimm.

🧰 Resources & Links:

• 🔗 Kristen Grimm’s Meaning-Making Series – Spitfire Strategies
• 🔗 Meaning-Making: An Idea Whose Time Has Come and How to Make It Come to Fruition
• 🔗 Meaning-Making: Approaches to Consider
• 🔗 Meaning-Making: Live Examples We Can Watch Play Out

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