Connected Philanthropy

In this episode of Connected Philanthropy, we welcome Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. Lynn shares her inspiring journey from business consulting to the Clinton White House, and eventually founding a nonprofit that provides essential items to children in need. We dive into topics such as leadership, volunteer engagement, and measuring the impact of nonprofit work. Lynn discusses the power of community in driving change. Lynn Margherio | Founder/CEO, Cradles to CrayonsJohnna is the CEO, head writer and consultant of J.M. Lacey Communications, LLC, which focuses on writing and brand storytelling, training and coaching. J.M. Lacey Communications empowers business owners to effectively communicate their purpose by teaching them how to find and tell their unique story to impact the world through a systematic process. Built on empathy and the desire to eliminate frustration for business owners, leaders and nonprofits, J.M. Lacey Communications seeks ways to simplify what has been unnecessarily complicated using proven systems to achieve results.Links:cradlestocrayons.orgWebinars: register hereSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

In this episode, our speakers discuss how funders can maximize their impact and improve their processes, all from the perspective of grant professionals. Laura Cochran, GPC | Senior Development Associate, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) Laura is the Grants Manager for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has been a grant professional for nearly 20 years, a member of the Grants Professional Association (GPA) for 13 years, and a Grant Professional Certified (GPC) for 12 years. For the last 13 years, while working at INHP, Laura’s work in grants has focused on raising programs and lending dollars to support affordable housing access. She lives in a suburb of Indianapolis with her husband, son, daughter, and dog. Brendan McCormick | Associate Director, Exponent Philanthropy Brendan is the Associate Director, Research and Publications for Exponent Philanthropy. In this role, Brendan works with staff, members, and partners to develop resources grounded in research. He leads our efforts to learn more about our community of lean funders. Brendan focuses his research on how foundations approach impact and evaluation, investments, operations, demographics, and equity practices. Brendan has worked in philanthropy and grantmaking with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. He earned his master’s degree in public policy at the University of Maryland, where he focused on nonprofit management and social policy. In his free time, he enjoys cooking new recipes and finding a quiet place to read a good book. Links:Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comWebinars: register hereSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Move from skepticism to success by harnessing the power of A.I. in fundraising. This episode highlights A.I.'s ability to optimize processes, reduce time constraints, and magnify impact, encouraging fundraising professionals to welcome this advancing technology as a crucial ally in their philanthropic pursuits.Maria Newhouse, Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations | Kalamazoo College Maria brings her extensive expertise to foster partnerships that drive educational advancement. Hailing from Portage, Michigan, she attended Western Michigan University locally, graduating in 2006 with her Bachelor’s Degree (Spanish, Philosophy and Gender and Women’s Studies) before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work (2010) and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (2013). Prior to joining the team at Kalamazoo College, she served for more than five-years as the grant writer and donor relations specialist at the Smithsonian-affiliated Air Zoo. Beyond her professional accomplishments in the fundraising realm, she is the creative force behind Maria Newhouse Photography, intertwining her artistic passion with family experiences, as she navigates life with her husband and four young children. Links:Khan, Imad. “Chat GPT Glossary: 41 AI Terms that Everyone Should Know” https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/ai-glossary-basic-terms-all-chatgpt-users-should-know Le, Vu. “The Ethics and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in the Nonprofit Sector.”  https://nonprofitaf.com/2023/03/the-ethics-and-opportunities-of-artificial-intelligence-in-the-nonprofit-sector/ Mollick, Ethan. “Embracing weirdness: What it means to use AI as a (writing) tool” https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/embracing-weirdness-what-it-means Mollick, Ethan. “The Shape of the Shadow of the Thing.”  https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-shape-of-the-shadow-of-the-thing?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Wolfram, Stephen. “What is ChatGPT Doing and Why Does It Work?” https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2023/02/what-is-chatgpt-doing-and-why-does-it-work/ AI @ WMU: A Deep Dive into the Resources https://docs.google.com/document/d/1snSfb_weI1oITJm8Lh5IpOqc7qRqfyzn/edit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-newhouse-73607589/ 

This is part 2 of a panel discussion with several nonprofit professionals answering Q&A questions about ideal relationships with funders. Learn what nonprofits wish funders knew.Stephany Hessler, Grants and Foundations Manager | Save the BayNonprofit professional with expertise in: volunteer management; grant research, budgeting and writing (corporate, foundation, and federal); experiential learning program development; project management; relationship building; recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers and staff; public relations/media relations; internship program development and management; community outreach and sponsorship; event planning; creation of public programs for nonprofits; group training and facilitation; board development and leadership.Laura Cochran , Senior Development Associate | Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP)Laura Cochran has been a grant professional for over 14 years, a member of GPA for over 11 years and a GPC for 10 years. For the last 11 years, she has worked for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP), helping to increase access to affordable housing in Indianapolis.Diane H. Leonard, GPC, Founder | DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing ServicesDiane H. Leonard, GPC, RST is a Grant Professional Certified (GPC), Approved Trainer of the Grant Professionals Association, and a Registered Scrum Trainer. Diane began her career as a Program Officer for a state-wide grantmaking organization and she continues to serve as a reviewer for a variety of grantmaking organizations. Since 2006, when she formed DH Leonard Consulting, Diane and her team have secured more than $98 million dollars in competitive grant awards and Diane has personally trained more than 69,978 nonprofit professionals. When not working with her team, Diane can be found in the 1000 Islands, out for a run, or drinking a strong cup of coffee.Links:Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Grant professional have grant-related ethics to protect donors, organizations, and themselves—all at the same time. It’s important to adhere to these ethics, which reflect the highest standards in professional behavior. Come away from this episode with a deeper understanding of grant ethics and how to apply them throughout the grant cycle.Topics:Why ethics are important to the grant profession.How the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Code of Ethics applies to both consultants and staff members.How to discuss grant ethics with your donors, organization, and other constituents.The #1 grant-related ethics question and how to answer it.Dave Tinker, VP of Advancement and Consultant | GoalBusters ConsultingDave brings more than 30 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit management. Dave has worked with education, health, and disability nonprofits throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Dave served on the Grant Professionals Association’s Ethics Committee. In 2016, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International recognized Dave as one of the first six Distinguished Fellows of AFP (FAFP). In 2013 Dave was honored as AFP Western Pennsylvania Chapter’s Outstanding Fundraising Executive. Dave was appointed to the Brentwood School Board in 2020 and was elected to his first full term in 2021.Links:AFP Code of EthicsCompass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Hear community foundations discuss which systems and processes they are using to create space for the essential, impactful work supporting they do.Topics:fund minimumshow to deal with inactive fundholdersgrant catalog featuretribute donorsindividual giving is trending down in the usengaging young peoplehow to balance learning and daily workLinks:Upcoming Coffee Talks: foundant.com/events/Giving USA StudyCompass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Join us as we explore the world of affinity programs and how this innovative approach can facilitate stronger connections with donors and save nonprofits time.Jenni Craig, President Jenni is a skilled fundraiser with 16 years of experience in higher education. Throughout her career, she has successfully raised millions for institutions through strategic, affinity-based programs that focus on donor belonging and retention. Jenni recently launched her own company, Affinity Makers, to share her fundraising strategies and expertise with nonprofits around the country. Together, with her husband Jeremy, Jenni is the co-founder and co-owner of Copper Bottom Craft Distillery, producing award-winning rum and vodka in the Daytona Beach area. They have three daughters: Carmen (8), Mason (6), and Brooklyn (1).Links: email: jenni@affinitymaker.comhttps://www.copperbottomspirits.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/affinity-makers/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenni-craig-bb48157/Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Thanks to many studies and research, we have much more information about giving trends, donor behaviors, and motivations that can inform how we best engage with our donors. This episode dispels common fundraising myths around recent trends in fundraising, donor motivations, ways donors give, and changing donor demographics.Barbara O'Reilly, Founder and Principal | Windmill Hill ConsultingBarbara O’Reilly, CFRE understands that fundraising is much more than just raising money. It’s about enabling donors to realize their philanthropic dreams for issues that are most important to them and to be part of the change they want to see in the world. She brings to her clients nearly thirty years of major gifts, annual fund, and campaign fundraising experience at major non-profit organizations including Harvard University, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Oxford University in England, and the American Red Cross. She is an AFP Master Trainer and a frequent guest presenter on various webinars. Her consulting firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, helps non-profit organizations of all sizes cut through the noise and develop a profitable fundraising strategy that focuses on the resources, skills and tactics they need to build more effective donor relationships and catapult their revenue.Links:Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant | Funding for GoodMarie is an expert facilitator, certified by The Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA, in evidence-based facilitation practices known as the ToP Method. She combines proven facilitation methods and her passion for community to facilitate dynamic and productive meetings. Marie enjoys facilitating community organizing, advocacy, consensus building, and action planning workshops for diverse organizations across the nation. Over the past two decades, Marie has worn every hat imaginable in the nonprofit world: volunteer, board member, program director, executive director, and development consultant. Her nonprofit specialties include strategic planning facilitation, program design, board development, grant writing, and messaging. Marie is bilingual and uses her Spanish skills to provide language access services for businesses and local government sectors, teach Spanish for Professional Courses, and coordinate missions in Latin America through her consulting company, MP Pro Consult. Marie is a native of Morganton, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and three children.Links:Web address: www.fundingforgood.org email: team@fundingforgood.org Steps in Strategic Planning Blog article: https://fundingforgood.org/steps-in-strategic-planning/ Get a free Strategic Planning checklist: https://fundingforgood.org/strategic-planning/ If you know a consultant who is growing their business and seeks to grow their network, please share: Nonprofit Consulting Conference: https://fundingforgood.org/npcc-online/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/fundingforgood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandapearcefundingforgood/ Compass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Learn from your peers how they have created communication practices across departments and job types at their organizations. This webinar was originally recorded on 5/11/2023 and was moderated by Alyse BraatenIn this coffee talk, we hear grantmakers, scholarship providers, and community foundations share challenges they've faced with internal communication and strategies they use to overcome them.Alyse Braaten, Manager of Client Success | Foundant TechnologiesBorn and raised in Bakersfield, California, Alyse has deep roots and strong connections to the nonprofit sector. Having worked in the field of college access and scholarships for over 10 years, with a focus on students residing in California’s Central Valley, she believes in the power of scholarships to uplift students, families, and communities. Before joining Foundant, Alyse spent three years with the Kern Community Foundation managing their grant and scholarship giving, as well as nonprofit relationships. Alyse joined the Foundant team in 2017 as a Client Success Manager (trainer, consultant, and emergency support provider) for Grants and Scholarships. After training and advising hundreds of clients, she led the Community Foundation Grant/Scholarship Client Services Team. Her passion for community building, professional development, and real-world impact has helped form the service philosophy for Foundant’s Client Success team. Areas of expertise: scholarship and grant process best practices, team building, remote work, and demystifying complex systems to foster accessibility.Links:QuizCommunicate For Good Webinar RecordingCompass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com

Hear expert insights from Foundant's copywriter on how to craft compelling copy. In this episode we cover the importance of considering your audience, writing for different mediums, where to find inspiration, adding personality when you are writing for an organization, and the power of stepping away.Katie Sproles, Marketing Copywriter | Foundant TechnologiesThroughout her 30-year career in marketing and communications, Katie feels fortunate to have been able to dedicate her skills to writing compelling copy about organizations that serve others or enable the work of those who do. Before joining Foundant’s team in 2021, she focused her efforts on writing about the programs and services offered by a public university art museum, a customer-owned utility, and local government in Eugene, Oregon—all of which make a difference in the lives of those they serve. That’s what brought Katie to Foundant. She is energized every day by the work its clients are doing to make the world a better place. A mountain girl at heart, Katie is happy to have finally planted her roots in the city of Foundant’s headquarters, Bozeman, Montana. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Katie outside, looking for different ways to explore the local trails, rivers, and lakes. It’s hard to say whether she has more photos of Bozeman’s breathtaking sunrises and sunsets or her beloved dogs, Moby and Max. One thing is sure—she has fewer photos of her husband and two teenage daughters whom she loves deeply but are far less willing subjects.Links:  "Everybody Writes" by Ann Handley: annhandley.com/everybodywrites/Ann Handley Newsletter: annhandley.com/newsletter/Wordifier: claxon-communication.com/wordifier/"Communicate for Good" Recorded Webinar with Erica Barnhart: resources.foundant.com/education-webinars-for-grantmakers/communicate-for-good-raise-awareness-revenue-and-impact-one-word-at-a-timeCompass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comSocial: Follow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and Instagram

Learn how an abundance mindset can help reduce burnout, underinvestment, and high turnover within your nonprofit organization.Brittny Wilson and Nia Wassink | The Nonprofit ReframeBetween them, Brittny and Nia have over 30 years of working in nonprofits. They’ve worked on the program side, the business side, fundraising, and even sat on Boards of Directors. Their vast experience, primarily with local and regional organizations, gives them an authentic voice on behalf of the sector.Brittny and Nia are able to bring forward topics and discussions that are often hidden or not discussed within the sector.Links:Email: nonprofitreframe@gmail.comPodcast: The Nonprofit ReframeFacebook:@nonprofitreframeInstagram: @nonprofitreframePrismatic Consulting (Nia's Firm): teamprismatic.comBrittny Wilson Consulting: brittnywilson.comCompass: Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.comFollow Foundant Technologies on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and InstagramWebsite: Foundant.com