Raise & Engage: A Filters-off Podcast Series For Nonprofits

Alex Budak, UC Berkeley faculty member and author of Becoming a Changemaker, joins Blackbaud’s Rachel Hutchisson to discuss how to develop your mindset and leadership skills to make positive change as part of our CSR Book Club Series.  Topics discussed in this episode: What is a changemaker? How to drive change Humility in Leadership Changemaker Index Leadership book recommendations Resources: Alex Budak Becoming a Changemaker Changemaker Index Quotes: "Leaders might be scarce, but leadership is abundant."

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!  To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between Blackbaud Institute managing director, Ashley Thompson, and leadership expert and coach Marc Pitman. Marc helps high performers keep their edge, emerging leaders maintain their momentum, new leaders confront the demands of their position, and established leaders find fresh strategies. In this excerpt from their longer conversation, Marc and Ashley explore the concept of doubt and how it can be embraced as a framework for developing your skills and be

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States! To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode features a conversation between brand strategist Ben Smithee and the Blackbaud Institute’s Ashley Thompson. At The Smithee Group, Ben Smithee has been helping leaders and businesses dream bigger and achieve more. In this excerpt from their conversation, Ben shares his expert advice on how a powerful brand allows for organizations to drive higher value and cataclysmic demand. Unfortunately, as Ben points out, powerful branding like this is one of the biggest areas where organizations fall behind today. He and As

For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!  To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! We couldn’t have kicked off the series with a better guest than Chuck Longfield, renowned data scientist, philanthropy strategist, and the creator of the Blackbaud Institute Index! Now retired, Chuck allowed us to steal him from the golf course for a little while to sit down for a conversation with Steve MacLaughlin—lucky us! In this excerpt for the sgENGAGE podcast, Chuck shares the inspiration behind the Blackbaud Institute Index and the value of such a significant and diverse data set when determining current trends a

Many foundations face hurdles in creating advocacy agendas whether it be convincing a board of directors, finding the time and resources, or seeking funds from grantmakers. Chynna A. Phillips, senior director of policy and research at Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, and Melissa Levesque, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Coastal Community Foundation, spoke with Blackbaud’s Sally Ehrenfreid, government relations lead about implementing advocacy in foundations and their respective journeys. Topics covered: Introducing advocacy and policy to boards Building advocacy into your organizational infrastructure Creating an advocacy agenda rooted in core values The distinction of advocacy and policy versus politics Advice for nonprofit organizations seeking funding from grantmakers Resources: Chynna A. Phillips Melissa Levesque Sally Ehrenfried Advocacy and Awareness: 4 Tips for Virtual Campaigning Quotes: “Boards decide how fast you’re going to move as an organization.” “We had ou

The shift to remote work post-pandemic has caused many employees to feel stressed, burnt out, and out of control of their workplace dynamic. Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder of The Mindful Techie, shares tools and strategies on how to regain control and relieve the stressors that face us. Topics covered in this episode: Major impacts of the pandemic on wellbeing How values have changed How nonprofit professionals can adjust to the new workplace What leaders can do to protect their employees Tools and strategies to enhance your wellbeing Resources: Meico Marquette Whitlock The Hybrid Workplace Wellness Playbook for Grantmakers 6 Ways Nonprofit Professionals Can Conquer Post-Pandemic Workplace Stress The sgENGAGE Podcast: Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Wellbeing for Grantmakers 5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance Quotes: “A lot of organizations are making assumptions of what people want, and I think the first place to start is to actually ask the question.” “You really h

Businesses emerged as the most trusted institutions in the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, which also showed that people expect more from businesses in solving the world's problems. So, how can companies step up to lead the charge and maintain that position of trust? Kendra Fogarty, corporate social responsibility manager at UScellular, spoked with Blackbaud's Rachel Hutchisson about the role of CSR and community engagement in building trust with consumers, employees, and community members. Listen in to hear Kendra share her key takeaways from the Edelman Trust Barometer data, how UScellular engages communities and employees, and how companies can make sure that their philanthropic programs truly meet the needs of the communities they are intended to help. Topics covered in this episode: The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer The opportunity for companies to continue to build trust with employees, consumers, and communities The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community connections How UScellular approaches CSR an

Employee volunteerism has become an essential component of a company’s corporate social responsibility and employee engagement strategies. In this episode, Melissa Hackmeier, global head of employee & community engagement at MilliporeSigma, joins the podcast to discuss how she launched the company's first ever global volunteer program and the best practices and lessons she’s learned along the way. Topics covered in this episode: How Melissa developed and implemented MilliporeSigma's first-ever SPARK™ global volunteer program, which has more than 9,700 employee participants engaging 235,000 students in 36 countries to date How Melissa secured buy-in for their program The key's to the program's successful launch and lessons learned along the way The role of technology in enabling a successful global volunteer program The SPARK program's biggest impacts, both internally and externally Melissa's advice for other CSR professionals looking to start or grow employee volunteer programs What nonprofits looking to

Research has shown that women are more prone to burnout than men for a variety of reasons, including societal expectations and  imbalances in responsibilities across work and home. This can be further intensified for women working at nonprofits and other social good organizations, which often have higher than average rates of burnout and turnover. Today’s guest, Stacie Barber, is an integrative life coach and the founder of Stacie Barber Lifestyle. She joined host Rachel Hutchisson in a discussion about why it’s important for women leaders, and all women, to engage in self-care practices at work and at home so they are aren’t overburdened and feel healthy and productive. Topics covered in this episode: Stacie’s professional journey Why women often burn out What it means to practice self-care How women can build support systems in the workplace Why it’s important to delegate Taking risks and seizing new opportunities   Resources: Stacie Barber Stacie Barber Lifestyle on YouTube The sgENGAGE Podcas

Open, honest, and transparent communication with grantee partners can help minimize power imbalances and help foster a sense of mutual transparency and accountability that is critical to our success as grantmakers. Hear from Shaady Salehi, executive director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Lisa Maloney-Vinz, director of global community relations, Ecolab Foundation, Drexel Owusu, chief impact officer, The Dallas Foundation, and Lauren Scott, executive director, Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund about how their organizations are embracing transparency.

Why is due diligence important in grantmaking organizations? The process of satisfying legal requirements impacts many areas within an organization— mission alignment, stewardship, duty of care, reputation, outcomes & impact, and overall effectiveness to name a few. In this episode, learn from Elizabeth (Liz) Gousse Ballotte, principal at PKF O’Connor Davies, about what the staff at grantmaking organizations need to know to be compliant. Topics covered in this episode: Due diligence models Grant applications and risk identification Governance Financial information, including budgets, financial statements, and IRS Form 990 Information Technology and internal controls Streamlining operations and increasing productivity Resources Webinar: Due Diligence Defined: What ‘Being Compliant’ Really Means for Grantmakers Blackbaud Grantmaking 2022 Thought Leadership Webinar Series Tip Sheet: 15 Questions Foundations Should Ask as Part of Their Grantee Due Diligence Internal Controls Resource Toolkit

ESG (environment, social, and governance) is a hot topic amongst for-profit companies and investors, but is it important for nonprofits and other social good organizations too? Today's guest thinks so. Tim McClimon, principal consultant for The Celeste Group, which specializes in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management strategies and programs, and former head of corporate social responsibility at American Express, joined Rachel Hutchisson to discuss why social good organizations should view ESG as an operating strategy and as a way of being more transparent and accountable to their employees, donors, beneficiaries, communities, and the planet. Rachel and Tim also talked about what nonprofits can learn from companies, including Blackbaud, and how companies can help increase the focus on ESG in the nonprofit sector. Topics discussed in this episode: What is ESG? Why ESG isn't just for companies Why nonprofits need to create strategies for climate and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

Join Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, for an interactive training that will inspire you with mindful approaches for creating sustained balance in your life. Prepare to lower your stress level, focus on getting the important things done, and be more present for yourself, your team, and your family. Click here to listen to the full webinar from the Grantmaking Thought Leadership webinar series.   Topics discussed in this episode: Wellness Survey report findings Impact of the pandemic on wellbeing How grantmakers will need to adapt Setting boundaries   Resources: Meico Marquette Whitlock Wellness Survey 5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance   Quotes: "When it comes to preemption, we want to be focused on creating a culture of care (...) that we are building in strong work/life boundaries and not depending on the individual to create those boundaries." "Addressing the organizational and institutional action of this is a longer term proposition." "Man

Rachel Hutchisson is joined by Chris Jarvis, executive director of Realized Worth, to kick off our CSR Book Club Series with an article from Stanford Social Innovation Review called “Fixing the S in ESG.” Listen to learn more about quantifying social impact and what the future of S looks like. Topics discussed in this episode: Adapting to changes in world beliefs What does S want to be? Redefining what S means to include room for interpretation Increased accountability puts words into actions How consumers change their behavior according to company values Resources: Chris Jarvis Rachel Hutchisson Article: “Fixing the S in ESG” Blackbaud Corporate Social Responsibility Greater Washington Urban League Equity in Black and White Summit Quotes: “I think S should call us to move past the signaling to meaningful change that leads the next generation better.” “You have to engage the people on the ground, the people in the community you’re trying to serve.” “Between E, S, and G, S is the way to involve employe

Chantal Forster, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), discusses the top areas where grantmakers can make the most impact in 2022 and how technology can help them achieve that impact.  Topics discussed in this episode: Who are the members of TAG and how do they impact philanthropy? The rise in the voices of the people we serve post-pandemic TAG’s customer experience model Effectiveness and frequency of surveys Dependency of digital infrastructure Dashboard elements that drive success Resources: Chantal Forster Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) Webinar: The Rising Role of Technology—and the People Behind It—in Advancing Philanthropy's Mission How to Fund Nonprofit Tech: A Guide for Funders and Nonprofits Grant Advisor   Quotes: “Imagine if the private sector only surveyed its customers every three years.” “If philanthropy doesn’t invest in tech infrastructure, then you are enabling inequity.”

As we trend towards a sense of normalcy in 2022, the convenience and cost savings of remote audits are here to stay. Whether you began remote audits out of necessity during the pandemic or have been doing them for a while, join us and Paul Preziotti, CPA, nonprofit audit expert, and Partner with Johnson Lambert, for tips on preparing for and running a successful remote audit. You’ll leave knowing how to:   Topics Discussed in This Episode: -Is a remote audit what your organization needs? -Plan for what an auditor will need to see -Create a strong audit trail with documentation, naming conventions, and accessible details -Gather what you’ll need and provide secure access to your auditor   Resources: Paul Preziotti, CPA Webinar: Be Audit You Can Be, Remotely: Preparing and Running a Successful Remote Audit Blog: The Final Step of the Nonprofit Audit: Presenting Financial Statements to your Board   Quotes: "As the auditee, you have the ability to mold this relationship however you want it." "I t

There are a lot of ways to think about how technology impacts things, as well as how different constituent types interact with it and the relationships that it helps them build. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing recent research on how technology improves the relationship between schools and parents. Joining the podcast today is Chuck English, of English Marketing Works, and Linda Lawrence, of Ransom Everglades. Listen to the episode to hear what they have to say about the key findings of the recent Blackbaud study show, the expectations that people have about the technology they interact with, and how the technology profile at Linda’s school came about.   Topics Discussed in This Episode Important and key findings of the study of how technology impacts the relationship between parents and schools Linda’s perspective of the daily experiences between parents and technology at schools Whether the current state of the world has made parents more willing to use this technology Chuck’s experience of peo

What do you know about setting goals for yourself and your team and managing those goals? In today’s episode, you’ll hear an excerpt from the Skills UP webinar series. In it, you’ll hear Damaris Herron-Watkins discuss best practices for creating and managing your team’s goals. Listen in to hear what she has to say about the purpose of goal management, the different types of goals, and making goals SMART.   Topics Discussed in This Episode What A Better Chance does The purpose of goal management Why goals are important Creating goals for yourself and your direct reports Types of goals Cascading goals Agile goals What to do when you set goals for your team Making sure goals are motivating for your direct reports What SMART means How to make sure your goals are SMART Why you should create between three and five goals How to know if your goals are SMART Manager’s goals   Resources: Damaris Herron-Watkins Skills UP Webinar Series 5 Keys for Achieving your Organization’s Goals    Quotes:&nb

International Women’s Day is on March 8th, 2022, and it’s a good time to think about the state of women and girls worldwide, how current events may make violence and abuse even worse than they were, and how to move forward by empowering each other.   Today’s guest is Vesna Jaric, the Interim Chief of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Listen to the episode to learn about Vesna’s role at the Trust Fund and how current events affect the state of women and girls around the world.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Vesna’s role at the UN Trust Fund to end Violence Against Women The state of women and girls around the world How the pandemic has exacerbated violence against women The universality of violence against women How the organizations the UN Trust Fund is supporting has stepped in for women and girls The lagging of representation and resources for organizations that address violence against women How to increase resources for organizations that help women and girls How listeners c

Many organizations are struggling to hire right now. Is there a way you can set yourself and your candidate up for success? We are highlighting an excerpt from the Skills UP Webinar Series where Deb Taft, CEO of Lindauer Global, will be talking about the dynamics of hiring and how you can achieve success in effective retention. Listen to what she has to say about the Great Resignation, the rise of freelancers and gig workers, and the remote/in-person hybrid.   Topics Discussed in This Episode: Why talent is more complex than ever The Great Resignation Lack of loyalty Freelancers and gig workers making up more of the workforce 2020-21 Employee PTSD Reevaluation of life and work, work/life balance The remote/in-person hybrid recalibration Multiple interviews. Staying in communication with candidates Tax laws and wages for remote workers Pre-COVID norms have been profoundly changed Expect disruptions and plan interventions   Resources: Deb Taft Skills Up FREE Webinar Series for nonprofit manager