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We unpack the critical business side of nonprofits with Karria Lawrence, founder of Pretty Girls Pray and Archetype & Co, exploring how strategic planning and organizational structure enable mission fulfillment.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Strategic planning serves as the foundation for nonprofit success by creating clarity, preventing mission drift, and identifying what moves the needle
• Properly documenting processes allows leaders to step out of daily operations and focus on strategic growth
• Identifying team members' natural gifts ensures people are placed in roles where they can make the greatest impact
• Breaking goals into shorter "sprints" (30-60 days) creates focus and urgency that leads to faster accomplishment
• Strategic plans should be living documents that can adapt during financial strain while maintaining core objectives

Connect with Karria Lawrence on all social platforms @karriaconsult, visit her company at arketypeand.co, or learn about her nonprofit at prettgyrlzpray.org.

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Join host Spring Richardson Perry and Althea Lewis as they discuss the ethics of grant writing and the controversial practice of contingency-based compensation.

Here are some key takeaways

• Grant writers should never be paid on a contingency basis or only if a grant is awarded
• Ethical concerns center around integrity, trust, and being good stewards of funder money
• Pay-on-success models incentivize chasing large grants rather than focusing on organizational mission
• Federal grants may allow for indirect costs that can cover grant writing services
• Capacity building grants sometimes permit grant writing expenses but verify with the funder first
• Strong grant proposals require clear directions, alignment with funder priorities, and specific measurable outcomes
• Sustainability plans should leverage partnerships beyond just securing additional funding
• AI should only be used as a thought partner, not to write complete grant proposals
• Grants often go unfunded due to limited money available, not poor proposal quality
• Always request reviewer comments to strengthen future applications

To learn more about ethical grant writing practices or join Althea Lewis's Grant Writing Academy starting May 12th, contact her at contact@lewisgrantwriting.com or find her on Instagram at lewis4grants.

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Wellness expert Serena Sabala shares powerful strategies for preventing burnout in the nonprofit sector, explaining why self-care isn't optional but mandatory for effective leadership and service.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Self-care is not optional but mandatory - you cannot give from an empty cup
• Health is easier to maintain than regain once lost, as illustrated by Serena's father's mental health breakdown
• Creating a wellness culture requires zero budget - start with healthy boundaries
• Leaders must model self-care behaviors, as staff mirror their actions
• The "tripod of optimal health" consists of three pillars: focus, food, and fitness
• American "hustle culture" often glorifies overwork at the expense of wellbeing
• Prevention through wellness practices costs far less than treating health conditions later
• Wellness retreats offer immersive experiences that plant seeds for lasting habit changes

Contact Serena on Instagram and Facebook @wholeshiftwellness, on LinkedIn at Serena Sabala, or email at info@wholeshiftwellness.com. Get a free PDF copy of her book "Make the Shift" with this link: https://d2saw6je89goi1.cloudfront.net/uploads/digital_asset/file/1025155/Make_the_Shift_PDF.pdf