Send us a text

The 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index Report shows that 30% of nonprofit workers are experiencing food insecurity. This new study confirms what so many in our sector already feel every day: burnout, financial strain, and constant pressure.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio is joined by Caitlin McBride, CFRE, a fundraising executive with over a decade of experience. Together, they unpack Future of Good’s 2025 Change Maker Wellbeing Index and what it reveals about food security, mental health, and overall wellbeing across Canadian nonprofits.

Burnout in Nonprofits - The Highlights:

1. We’re not in alignment with our values
   The study found that about 30% of nonprofit staff are experiencing food insecurity. Many organizations try to fight poverty in the community while it is happening inside their own four walls.
2. Wellbeing is alarmingly low
   In arts, culture, and recreation, nearly half of staff reported poor wellbeing. Government-linked organizations like schools and hospital foundations reported lower but still concerning rates.
3. Leadership and frontline experiences are different
   About half of entry-level and frontline staff reported poor wellbeing, compared to about 30% in senior leadership. Power, pay, and job security shape stress in very different ways.
4. Turnover creates sector-wide brain drain
   More than 70% of entry-level staff who quit nonprofit roles leave the sector entirely. That is loss of experience, momentum, and future leadership.
5. The future of the sector is at risk without change
   If early-career staff burn out and leave, organizations lose continuity and capacity. Sustainable missions require sustainable workplaces.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote

“Doing good does not put food on the table. Just because someone wants to make a difference does not mean it should come at the expense of their health or financial security.” – Caitlin McBride

Burnout in Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips

1. Compete on decent work
   If salary increases are limited, pull other levers: four-day work weeks, flexible schedules, real time off, meeting caps, and workload boundaries. However, if you can raise pay do it.
2. Invest in systems for stability
   Track attrition, build simple budgets, create documented processes, and plan beyond year-end. Stable systems reduce chaos and protect staff wellbeing.
3. Make wellbeing a core sustainability strategy
   Treat staff health and security as mission-critical. Align internal practices with external values so your team experiences the dignity your programs promise.

Support the show

Send us a text

Small nonprofits deserve BIG support. However, many fundraisers stumble while trying one to one relationships with major donors without it feeling fake, forced, or transactional. Fundraising is not sales; it is matchmaking. At the heart of every major gift is a shared why: the values and experiences that connect you, your mission, and your donors.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio breaks down how small nonprofits can shift their mindset about major gifts, move past common fears, and start building authentic, lasting relationships with donors.

Major Gifts for Small Nonprofits: The Highlights

1. Fundraising Begins With Your Why
   Donors are not just buying into what your organization does - they are connecting with why you do it. Leading with your “why” helps you find alignment and build deeper trust.
2. Limiting Beliefs Hold Fundraisers Back
   Common fears like "I don’t know how to ask," "I don’t know wealthy people," or "fundraising feels like begging" stop many from even trying. Naming and reframing these beliefs is the first step to moving past them.
3. Fundraising Is Not Begging - It Is Partnership
   Begging means asking for something in exchange for nothing. Fundraising is offering donors a chance to live in alignment with their values and invest in the world they want to see. Lean into the psychology of fundraising.
4. Rejection Is Not the End
   A no does not mean rejection of you or your cause - it simply means the timing or priority is not right for the donor. Every no gets you closer to a stronger yes.
5. Communication Goes Beyond Words
   How you show up matters more than a perfect script. Your tone, presence, body language, and ability to listen all play a bigger role in building donor confidence and connection than memorized lines.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

✨ Key Quote from Maria:
"Fundraising is not about convincing someone to give - it is about connecting them to a mission they already care about." - Maria Rio

Major Gifts for Small Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips

1. Reframe Fundraising as Matchmaking
   Think of yourself as the bridge between a donor’s values and your cause. You are not selling - you are introducing two parties who already belong together.
2. Use the FORM Framework to Build Rapport
   Ask about Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Material interests to find common ground. Share about yourself too so it feels like a genuine relationship, not an interview.
3. Anchor Every Ask in a Clear Story
   Focus on one problem, one solution, one result, and one impact. This keeps the conversation simple and powerful while helping donors clearly see the role they can play.

Support the show

Send us a text

Growing your organization is about smarter, easier touchpoints. It’s about how small nonprofits can show up where people already are, build real connection, and grow a brand that attracts donors, partners, and advocates.

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio is joined by Christa Stelzmuller, Chief Technology Officer at Charity: Water. Christa brings a wealth of experience leading technology, product, and data innovation at one of the world’s most recognized nonprofits. Together, they dig into how nonprofits can use technology and partnerships to deepen empathy, engage new audiences, and grow sustainable revenue.

Audience Building for Nonprofits: The Highlights

1. Nonprofits don’t need to compete for scraps:
   The real opportunity is to expand generosity overall. Whether through brand partnerships, tech, or social enterprise models, the sector wins when the giving pie gets bigger.
2. Trust is a built-in nonprofit advantage:
   Strict reporting and transparency requirements give nonprofits credibility that influencers or corporations cannot always guarantee.
3. Technology can drive revenue, not just costs:
   At Charity: Water, tech is seen as a way to build donor products, deepen engagement, and grow giving - not just an overhead line item.
4. Partnerships are powerful growth tools:
   From influencers to retail experiences, nonprofits can use creative partnerships to show up in everyday spaces where people already spend their time and money.
5. Long-term sustainability matters:
   Unlike corporate campaigns, nonprofits are designed to deliver solutions that last. We’re experts at building trust with communities and donors who want to see their dollars have real staying power.

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations!

Audience Building for Nonprofits: ️ 3 Actionable Tips

1. Know your audience
   Get clear on who you are trying to reach and where they spend their time. Local nonprofits may focus on community events, while larger ones might lean on digital strategies.
2. Experiment with partnerships
   You don’t need a global brand to start. Partner with a coffee shop, an influencer, or a local business to amplify your message and create new touchpoints.
3. Lead with transparency
   Share stories, impact data, and even challenges openly. Donors want to see not just where their money went, but how it created change.

Resources and Links

• Connect with our host, Maria Rio
• Connect with our guest, Christa Stelzmuller
• Check out Charity: Water website!
• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Support our show. We are fully self-funded!
• Need help with your fundraising?
• Liked this episode? Have an idea? Send us a text HERE :)

Support the show