A visit with Doug Chapiewsky, CEO & President of Kanso Software, and Cameron Bowman, CAAS Solutions Consultant at JMT Consulting, for a fast-moving, systems-first conversation on one thing every nonprofit runs on: trustworthy data.

Cameron frames the moment we’re in as “the golden age of software”—more tools, more dashboards, more integrations, and more AI than ever before. But that abundance comes with a price: fragmented systems, duplicated entries, and competing versions of the same truth. His fix is refreshingly operational. Data integrity isn’t a buzzword; it’s a checklist: accurate, complete, consistent across systems, timely, and traceable/auditable. When any one of those breaks, nonprofits pay for it in grant compliance headaches, restricted-fund confusion, audit stress, and board decisions made on shaky information.

Doug brings the lens of housing—where data errors don’t just create inconvenience; they disrupt funding, compliance, and real people’s stability. Kanso’s mission is to simplify a highly regulated, high-stakes domain where sensitive data is everywhere and staffing capacity is often thin. As Doug puts it, “Trust outweighs technology… and if we don’t have that trust, it really gets right to your mission.” The episode drills into the reality that single-vendor “one system does it all” is fading fast; modern organizations operate in an ecosystem. That’s why both speakers prioritize open systems paired with serious guardrails—especially when handling social security numbers, income data, and family composition.

The conversation turns tactical with a Business Process Review (BPR): mapping where data originates, how it moves, who owns it, what controls exist, and where manual workarounds (shadow spreadsheets, email approvals, offline tracking) weaken audit trails and invite risk. Cameron lands a line every operations leader should post near their monitor: “Technology will amplify your process. It won’t correct your misaligned workflows.”

Finally, the duo urge nonprofits to build a cadence—monthly, quarterly, at least annually—to revisit processes, configuration, and integrations as funding rules, reporting needs, staff, and tech keep shifting. The message is clear: clean data isn’t a finance luxury—it’s a mission accelerant.

#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitTechnology #DataIntegrity

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

We lean into a timely business truth: nonprofit sustainability is built as much through belonging as through budgets. Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tim Sarrantonio welcome Rachel D’Souza, Founder and President of Gladiator Consulting, for a conversation that reframes community-building as a practical growth strategy for donors, volunteers, staff cohesion, and long-term resilience.

Rachel describes nonprofits as one of society’s last best “third spaces”—those informal gathering places that used to create trust across differences. With remote work, the pandemic’s aftershocks, and algorithm-driven polarization, many people have fewer natural pathways into civic life. That shift creates risk for organizations relying on legacy participation habits. It also creates opportunity: nonprofits can intentionally become the place where people reconnect around shared purpose and shared outcomes.

The discussion moves from theory into operating reality: boards at impasses, teams facing funding gaps, and leaders stuck in fight-flight-freeze. Rachel offers a pragmatic path forward—start with shared facts, clarify who holds which decisions, and practice disagreement before the stakes spike. “If you want to be better at conflict, that means you have to practice it, just like anything else,” she said, recommending simple meeting exercises that build the muscle of respectful debate.

Tim grounds this in organizational dynamics leaders recognize instantly: misalignment between finance and fundraising can derail systems decisions, contracts, and staff trust—without anyone “hating” anyone. The fix is not heroics; it’s earlier conversations, shared language, and a commitment to being in the room together.

Rachel draws a bright line leaders need: discomfort is part of growth, but it is not the same as harm. When emotions run hot, the first move is often a pause—reset the temperature so people can listen to process, not just respond. This convo offers a hopeful business case: build community on purpose, and capacity follows.

00:00:00 Welcome and why community building matters right now
00:02:10 What Gladiator Consulting does and why “belonging” drives results
00:04:30 Nonprofits as “third spaces” and the business opportunity
00:06:10 Tim’s real-life example of nonprofit spaces creating connection
00:08:00 Invitation culture making people feel welcome
00:10:10 People give through nonprofits and identity-based connection
00:11:30 Practicing conflict in meetings before stakes rise
00:14:05 Finance and fundraising misalignment as an operational risk
00:16:20 Shared clarity who decides what and why it matters
00:22:20 Pause tactics discomfort vs harm and moving forward

#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityBuilding

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Starting a new role as a nonprofit’s fundraiser can feel like stepping onto the field mid-game—high expectations, limited time, and a lot of “what happened before I got here?” On this Fundraisers Friday, cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall offer a practical, confidence-building roadmap for what a new development officer should focus on in the first 30 days—with the business realities of nonprofit revenue, relationships, and systems front and center.

Julia sets the tone with honesty and heart, and Tony brings the steady reassurance every new fundraiser needs: “It’s all about listening, learning, and building trust in your first 30 days.” From there, they lay out the early priorities that protect both results and stamina. First: get anchored in the mission. Tony makes the point that mission alignment isn’t sentimental—it’s operational. If you don’t truly connect with the purpose, the work becomes an uphill climb.

Next, they move into relationship strategy: creating a thoughtful internal and external “relationship tour” so you can meet leadership, board members, and key stakeholders the right way. The emphasis isn’t speed—it’s sequence, context, and smart preparation so those early conversations build momentum instead of misunderstanding.

Then comes the systems side: CRMs, reporting, access issues, and the real-world obstacles that appear when prior staff have departed. Tony offers a realistic view of getting up to speed quickly, and Julia adds the on-the-ground reminder that you’ll be meeting people immediately—so you’ll need to document interactions in the CRM from day one.

Finally, they elevate culture as a performance driver. Julia notes how pressure often lands on the development officer as “the savior,” and Tony reframes it: fundraising works best as a team effort, not a solo canoe trip. As Julia puts it, “It’s the nucleus of the whole organization.” If you’re new in the seat, this episode gives you both direction and permission: respect the past, build trust first, and then earn the right to recommend change.

00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday
00:01:00 First 30 days focus for a new development officer
00:02:40 Mission alignment why it matters on day one
00:06:40 Relationship tour CEO board and key stakeholders
00:11:50 Systems and CRM access reporting and ramp up
00:15:40 Visibility scan marketing segmentation and social presence
00:18:00 Respect history build trust then recommend change
00:19:40 Fundraising pressure and why it must be a team sport
00:21:20 Culture shifts and board leadership impact
00:24:00 How to learn culture by asking better questions
00:26:10 Tony offers a 30 60 90 plan for development roles
00:28:10 How to request the PDF and episode close

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Sunsetting a nonprofit is one of the most difficult decisions a board and executive team can face. Erin McPartlin, Principal of Erin McPartlin Consulting, guides leaders through the strategic and compassionate realities of organizational closure.

Host Julia Patrick opens the conversation by acknowledging the emotional weight of the topic. Closing an organization can feel like failure. Yet Erin reframes the discussion: sometimes the healthiest business decision is an intentional ending. Whether an organization has achieved its mission, become operationally stagnant, or reached financial unsustainability, the question is not just when to close—but how to do so responsibly.

Erin outlines three common scenarios: mission accomplished, operational decline with weak infrastructure, and full financial unsustainability. In many cases, boards wait too long to confront the truth. “If you get to that point where you're now saying, we need to look at should we stay open or not, you're probably past the decision point,” she explains. That delay often stems from intermittent success—a returning donor, a new grant, a compelling impact story—that keeps leadership hoping for a turnaround.

From a governance standpoint, Erin emphasizes four pillars: people, communication, finance, and risk. Boards must fully engage, understand cash flow, assess liabilities, calculate burn rate, and evaluate runway. The most important question becomes, “What is the cost of our inaction?”

Rather than allowing an abrupt collapse—locked doors and shocked staff—Erin advocates for a structured 4–6 month minimum runway. This deliberate process allows nonprofits to respect employees, honor donor commitments, manage restricted funds, and protect community trust.

The episode closes on a powerful idea: the “elegant ending.” By planning intentionally, nonprofits can celebrate their impact, transfer knowledge, mentor peer organizations, and potentially redistribute remaining funds to aligned missions. “It’s preserving the public perception and preserving the positivity in the work that this organization did,” Erin shares.

Closing well is not defeat. It is stewardship.

#NonprofitManagement #BoardGovernance #TheNonprofitShow

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

On this Fundraisers Friday, our cohosts lean into one of the most nuanced and professionally demanding areas of nonprofit leadership: donor research, privacy, ethics, and gift acceptance policy. For nonprofit executives, development leaders, and board members, this episode functions as a governance workshop disguised as a conversation. The message is clear: professionalism in fundraising is not just about revenue—it is about trust architecture, long-term credibility, and disciplined leadership.

In a fundraising ecosystem shaped by rapid technological change, cloud-based systems, and evolving donor expectations, the conversation moves beyond tactics into governance and risk management. Julia Patrick sets the tone by noting that philanthropy is in an exciting era—but it demands more strategic thinking. Tony Beall echoes that reality, sharing that even experienced leaders must continually refine their understanding because the landscape keeps shifting.

At the center of the discussion is a powerful reminder: “Research isn’t surveillance so much as it is stewardship,” Tony explains. Just because information is available does not mean it should be used. Fundraising professionals must balance data access with relational integrity. As Tony adds, “A donor doesn’t want to feel studied. They want to feel understood.”

The cohosts explore practical implications:

• Who has access to donor data internally and externally

• The responsibility of third-party vendors and contract review

• Data breach planning and crisis communication

• Transparency with donors about how their information is protected

• Retention policies for lapsed donors

• Recognition preferences and anonymity in sensitive mission areas

Perhaps the most thought-provoking segment addresses gift acceptance policies. Tony offers a clarifying principle: “A gift acceptance policy isn’t anti-donor, it’s pro-mission.” Without policy, organizations invite inconsistency and risk. With policy, staff are protected from making moral judgment calls alone, and mission credibility remains intact.

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

If your nonprofit’s checking account looks “healthy,” this episode is your friendly wake-up call: bank balance is not the same as real liquidity. Carole Santilli, CPA, Manager at Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC) Philadelphia, joins us to help leaders, board members, and development teams stop guessing and start managing cash with clarity.

Carole lays out why the bank statement can be “the worst place to look” when assessing what you truly have available to spend. The heart of the conversation is the difference between true operating cash and restricted or conditional funds—money that may be sitting in your account but is already spoken for by purpose, timing, or requirements (like matching). A scholarship grant, a multi-year commitment, or a conditional advance can create the illusion of being flush, even when operations are tight.

From there, the discussion turns practical: separate accounts for restricted funds, monthly reporting that keeps everyone honest, and board-level transparency that supports smarter decisions and stronger trust with funders. Carole also reinforces a widely used benchmark for stability: nonprofits should aim for three to six months of operating cash on hand—but only after restricted dollars are set aside.

Forecasting takes center stage as the real “business muscle” here. Budgets are approved and static, but reality shifts: events move, grants arrive late, reimbursements lag, expenses climb with inflation, and unexpected costs (like snow removal or insurance increases) show up fast. Carole’s message is consistent: forecast monthly, watch variances, and adjust early—before panic becomes policy.

And for boards? She makes it plain: financial oversight isn’t a passive role. Ask the “annoying” questions, understand obligations, and engage early in meetings while energy is high. As Carole puts it, “You can’t support the mission if you don’t have the funding and the resources.” She also reframes audits as a credibility asset: “Look at this as another tool in your toolbox” to reassure funders that your organization is well-run.

This episode is a strong reminder that calm, disciplined financial practices protect mission momentum—especially when life throws curveballs.

#NonprofitFinance #CashFlow #TheNonprofitShow

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Planned giving isn’t a “sign the paperwork and move on” moment—it’s a decades-long business strategy that demands discipline, systems, and relationship leadership. James Goalder (Partnerships Manager, Bloomerang) reframes planned gifts as the start of a longer stewardship cycle, not the finish line.

James tackles a mindset shift many organizations need right now: once a donor includes you in a will or trust, your responsibility actually accelerates. As he puts it, “for planned giving and for planned gifts, that’s really when the job is started.” Why? Because life changes, priorities evolve, and estate documents can be revised. The winning move is not celebration alone—it’s consistent, intentional connection that protects donor trust over time.

From there, James lays out three practical pillars that turn long-range stewardship into a repeatable operational system: information management, message delivery, and relationship management. He makes the business case for documentation as the backbone of continuity in a sector where staff turnover is real. “If it’s not in the CRM, it doesn’t exist,” he says—because the next person must be able to step in and carry the relationship forward without scrambling.

The conversation also moves beyond transactions into brand, messaging, and donor experience. Planned givers want to feel like insiders—part of a shared long-term vision, not an ATM. James warns that a “crisis culture” can weaken confidence fast, especially when donors have endless choices. Strong organizations communicate purposefully, listen more than they talk, and match touchpoints to donor preferences (email, coffee, events, family involvement when appropriate).

Finally, James reminds us that planned giving isn’t reserved for the ultra-wealthy. The most inspiring legacy commitments can come from unexpected champions who love your mission and want their impact to continue well into the future.

00:00:00 Welcome and why this “decades-long” topic matters
00:01:10 What a Partnerships Manager sees across the sector
00:02:45 Planned giving is the start of the work, not the end
00:05:10 Why wills and trusts can change over time
00:07:10 Who belongs in the stewardship circle (family, advisors, accountants)
00:10:45 The 3 pillars: information management, message delivery, relationship management
00:11:40 “If it’s not in the CRM, it doesn’t exist”
00:13:10 Messaging that builds belonging, not transactions
00:16:45 Relationship preferences and consistent touchpoints
00:21:25 Taking over a portfolio and the magic question: “Why us?”
00:23:05 Smart donor handoffs and being one link in the chain
00:28:10 Planned gifts can come from everyday champions

#PlannedGiving #DonorStewardship #TheNonprofitShow

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

Job searches in the nonprofit sector aren’t just about “what’s next” anymore they’re about navigating a labor market that feels equal parts opportunity and uncertainty. We visit with Dana Scurlock, Managing Director of Staffing at Staffing Boutique, to talk about what’s really happening on both sides of the hiring desk and how nonprofit professionals can compete with more strategy and less stress.

Dana describes today’s market as “a little bit of everything,” explaining why so many experienced professionals are staying put. She introduces a newer trend she’s seeing across industries: “job hugging” where talented mid-level and senior candidates hold tightly to stable roles, making it harder for nonprofits to recruit proven performers and slowing down the pace of hiring. At the same time, organizations are being more cautious with budgets and taking longer to hire, sometimes choosing a vacancy over a rushed decision.

Then the conversation turns to modern job-search tactics and what nonprofits should expect from candidates (and vice versa). Dana makes the business case for tailoring every application, just like fundraising requires tailored outreach: fewer applications, better aimed. She also shares how AI tools can help candidates align resumes with recruiter keyword searches so the right experience actually shows up when hiring teams search. As Dana puts it, “AI really can be a helpful assistant when it comes to building your resume and optimizing your resume for some of the Boolean and keyword searches.”

One of the most eyebrow-raising moments is the rise of the one-way video interview: candidates recording answers to prompts without a live interviewer. Dana and host Julia Patrick react strongly to what that may signal about candidate experience and employer brand. Dana frames it plainly: “It affects your brand, it affects your ability to retain staff.” From virtual first-round interviews to smarter follow-up emails, the big takeaway is clear: nonprofit hiring is evolving fast and the organizations that treat recruitment like a core business function will win better talent.

#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitCareers #NonprofitStaffing

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show