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149| Nonprofit Resilience: A Conversation · The Nonprofit Podcast

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: The Nonprofit Podcast, powered by DonorBucks.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_02: What happens when the funding you've come to rely on is suddenly in limbo, seemingly overnight with no warning?
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_02: How do you manage when outside voices offer quick, pricey fixes or say, you should have planned for this?
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_02: And how do you keep your team and your mission steady when the future feels so uncertain?
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: We may not have all the answers, but we do have practical strategies to help you stay grounded until the path ahead becomes clear.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_02: I'm Jenna, Education and Community Engagement Manager at DonorBox.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_02: Here to equip you with practical tools to keep your nonprofit thriving in a changing world.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_02: Last week's news about a potential federal funding freeze felt like a punch to the gut for many.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_02: If you're worried about losing crucial grants or seeing essential programs stall, we get it.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_02: This isn't about failing at fundraising.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_02: It's about facing a system that's never been fully reliable.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_02: And the result?
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: Stress, frustration, and a whole lot of unanswered questions.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_02: So today we are set for a much needed conversation about managing current uncertainties.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_02: Without adding any more to your very full plate, from building collaborative networks to rethinking funding models, we are sharing strategic ideas to help you stay focused on your mission without burning out until clearer paths emerge.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_02: Joining me is Brittan Stalker, our fundraising strategist and co-host of the Nonprofit Podcast.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_02: Britt has been coaching nonprofits through rough waters for years, and I know she's got some great insights to share.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome, Britt.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, thanks, Jenna.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: Today we're going to dig into some very tough questions.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: I've worked with many small to medium nonprofits, and I've seen it where nonprofits are relying heavily on federal contracts.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: And I think there's a lot of fear and frustration right now.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_01: It is real.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: And it's time that we talk about these things in tangible ways to protect our missions from what I see as future shocks.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_02: For sure.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_02: I know we've both seen the anxiety this past week, especially being at the Donor Box Fundraising Forward Summit in person.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_02: We talked to a lot of folks and they're feeling it too.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_01: And I spoke with a nonprofit director.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_01: She's a professional peer.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: And her organization provides critical resources, diapers, formula, job training to over 4,000 Washington families.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: And with talk of their Department of Commerce contract completely vanishing overnight, they're left with zero backup.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: And that's thousands of working families who might be forced to choose between buying diapers or paying rent.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_01: And Jenna, I think that's exactly why this conversation matters.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: We can't just say diversify your funding and then call it a day.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: Nonprofits, they already know that.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: They've already been pivoting, they've already been adapting.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_01: What they need right now is a framework to build resilience so that they're not blindsided when these political winds, you know, shift.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely agree.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_02: So let's go ahead and jump into some practical ideas.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_02: One that stands out is forming collaborative alliances.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_02: So that's deeper partnerships with nonprofits and sector-friendly businesses that can share resources, reduce costs, and create backup plans.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_02: What do you think about that?
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yes.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_01: So a lot of organizations, what they do is we partner at a very superficial level, right?
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: It might be sharing a co-branded event or hosting a joint campaign, or it even might be at MOU for grant applications.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: But what happens?
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: The buck just stops there, right?
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: And so going deeper can really bolster resilience.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: You know, a few things that come to mind, Jenna, why not think about shared office spaces or coworking spaces where, you know, you're sharing it with other nonprofits, social enterprises.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: And what this does is it lowers your rent and it just really brings out the day-to-day collaboration.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_01: Or, you know, what about resource sharing agreements?
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think about forming what's called a resource swap, not rocket science here.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: If your nonprofit has strong volunteer management, you might have a volunteer coordinator, but you also lack IT support.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: Well, heck, why not swap expertise with an organization that already has an IT specialist, but needs volunteer outreach help right now?
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_01: So none of this is rocket science, but it's an extension of that resource sharing that can really lead to successful outcomes.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_02: I really like the focus on just collaboration and community and that we're all in this together.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_02: And even if a contract falls through, you're not left high and dry because you have a literal and figurative support system in place.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_02: So, what about more formalized collective funding efforts like a giving collaboration or a consortium, something like that?
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: So I love this idea.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_01: It's really related to shared mission alignment.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_01: What it entails is pulling in donations into one shared fund.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: And they even create a cross-organizational campaign.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: Then together they can decide how to allocate that money, where it's most needed, when, and to who.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_01: One thing that comes to mind is there is a nonprofit called Democracy Frontlines Fund.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_01: And they did exactly this where they pulled resources to support Black-led organizations.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_01: They raised$39 million in their first phase.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_01: And come 2025, their goal is to raise$42 million more.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_01: So again, it's collaborative, it's community-led, it's really, you know, working around with these macro level challenges.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: And it's a way to ensure that resources can be deployed quickly when crises hit.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_01: I think here a practical step for your organization could be if your mission is around unhoused or food insecurity, why not look for a local coalition of nonprofits who might be open to creating a shared giving campaign?
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_01: Each organization promotes it, each organization lends its own voice, your donors feed the same pot.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: And that way you can collectively decide, you know, where the funds are distributed.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I think this is such a great way to preserve your critical services again when these crises happen.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_02: And this is where technology can really help too, right?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_02: Like shared crowdfunding platforms or serums that let you track donations from multiple stakeholders in real time.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_02: Is that something that you've seen in this type of model?
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_01: Definitely.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: And I think again, you know, platforms like DonorBox, they really can handle multi-campaigns.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_01: Some even have the option to let donors choose which project they support, which fun within a shared campaign.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_01: And the point here is it's all about forming a united front because you're stronger together than alone.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_02: This next tip might feel a little daunting.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_02: Mergers or deeper organizational integrations, but sometimes it's the difference between survival and closure.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_02: What do you think about that?
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so mergers aren't for everyone, right?
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes we roll our eyes at them, but let's take a step back.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: In times of massive funding uncertainty, they can create a more stable, well-resourced entity.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: And one real world example that I can think of is the large NGO Mercy Corps.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: They merged with a smaller Scottish NGO, giving the smaller group global reach.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: And together, they were able to manage a budget of over$400 million with a staff of 4,500 people.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_01: Again, this is unlikely to be your first choice for most, but here's what the first steps look like.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_01: Start by collaborating on your programs, start by resource sharing, a physical space, an office.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: And if the partnership works out well, you can explore deeper integration.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: This idea about merging, it isn't about losing your identity or autonomy.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_01: Again, it's about amplifying impact and stabilizing your funding base.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_02: So if you found a nonprofit with similar values and complementary services, it might be worth exploring.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_02: And I want to say this mergers are not a sign of failure.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_02: They can really be a strategic move for longevity.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_02: Britt, I've also been thinking about something that you've said.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_02: You've said before that advocacy starts on day one.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_02: Why is that so important, especially now when times are so uncertain?
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: Well, because if federal contracts are your lifeline, legislators they need to hear your voice.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: They need that pressure before it's crisis time.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_01: You don't need to become a full-blown advocacy machine.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: What that can really look like is start small, right?
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I led a regional diaper bank.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_01: We didn't have the capacity to create an advocacy team beyond the day-to-day delivery of our services.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_01: So we formed a diaper coalition with four other diaper banks.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_01: And what we did there was we sent regular updates to our elective officials, quarterly impact reports, personal stories from clients.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_01: Once a year, together as part of this coalition, we invited legislators to our site and we showed them all of the back-end work that it took to deliver to tens of thousands of families in Washington.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_01: And we also coordinated a grassroots campaign.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_01: Why not encourage your donors to sign a joint letter or petition, putting that pressure on and again, urging sustained government support?
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: Again, these are smaller, consistent touch points.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: They can really help build your relationships and awareness so that you're not scrambling to get on a policymaker's radar when a government freeze is happening and it already infect.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: Consistency, starting small, starting out is going to be the key going forward.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_02: One more thing that I want to touch on is data.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_02: When I'm feeling overwhelmed, when my head isn't fully clear because I might be a little emotional, I always turn to data, right?
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_02: Data does not lie.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_02: And I think it's so important in this time too.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_02: So many nonprofits collect data but aren't sure how to best use it.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_02: But surely, if there was ever a time for data-driven storytelling to support advocacy as well as awareness, I think it's now.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: And Jenna, we both teach on this as part of working at a nonprofit tech company.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_01: Data helps you communicate urgency and impact.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_01: And if a funding freeze is going to threaten to shut down a youth after school program, why not show the direct correlation between your program's cost and the outcome, the drop in juvenile crime or just improvements in test scores?
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_01: Put data in front of potential funders, all of your corporate partners, and even again, your lawmakers.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_01: And let's talk about it.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_01: To make the data live, to make it powerful and immediately impactful, use simple dashboards, KPI dashboards, visual dashboard, visual dashboards or infographics.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: Don't forget that there are so many cool free tools out there.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_01: I can think of Canva or Flourish to really bring your stories to life and to tell your stories clearly.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_02: And it helps donors, especially corporate or major donors, see exactly where their dollars go, which we know increases trust and can spur them to step in during times of uncertainty for sure.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_02: We cannot talk about funding crises without talking about you, the nonprofit leaders, staff, and volunteers shouldering all of this uncertainty.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_02: Britt, you've seen how toxic stress can trickle down in an organization if it's not addressed.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, absolutely.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: You know, when there's fear out there of funding cuts, what does it feel like?
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_01: It becomes paralyzing and it impacts our morale.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_01: It impacts decision making and it impacts retention.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_01: Leaders out there, if you're listening in, you gotta be open with your staff about what's happening.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: If layoffs might be on the horizon, why not communicate compassionately and as early as you can?
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: If you're struggling out there, you know, consider peer support groups or short-term mental health resources.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes there's so many local businesses out there that will sponsor or discount employee assistant programs for nonprofits.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_01: None of us know where this will lead, but again, we have to acknowledge that a funding freeze or a cut could really lead to some serious outcomes that allows team members to prepare themselves.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_01: And we gotta, you know, and plan.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_02: Do not forget about self-care, right?
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_02: Finding groups or mental health resources that's so important.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_02: Nobody can pour from an empty cup, but especially as nonprofit leaders who are serving others every single day.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: If you find yourself working 70 hour weeks to chase down new funding, it's okay to say we need to pause and regroup.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_02: A healthy work culture matters so much now, and I think more than ever.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_01: More than ever, Jenna.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, let's recap some of the concrete strategies we covered.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_02: But first I want to take a deep breath.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_02: Everybody who's listening, take a deep breath with me.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna go in and out.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, you got this.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_02: Let's recap some of these concrete strategies now.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, we talked about forming deeper collaboration, so shared spaces, resource swaps, and joint back office services.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_02: We talked about creating or joining giving consortia.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_02: So pool donations, share allocated decisions, and amplify each other's campaigns, right?
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_02: You don't have to do this alone.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_02: You might want to explore strategic mergers so you can help grow your capacity, stabilize that funding, and really broaden your reach and definitely engage in advocacy from day one.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_02: Even small, consistent actions can shape policy and protect funding and use your data to tell a story.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_02: Make your impact clear, compelling, and timely for donors and legislators alike.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_01: And none of these things are must.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_01: What they really are, they're possibilities.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_01: Pick one or two that align with your mission and capacity.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: The goal here is to build resilience in a system that we know that's proven to be anything but stable.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_01: It is fragile.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, I love that.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_02: These are not musts, they are just possibilities.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_02: Please know that you have options.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_02: Brit, thank you so much for sharing these insights with us today.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_02: I hope today's episode lights a path forward for nonprofits feeling concerned by the uncertainty of the government funding.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_02: And for everyone listening, remember, you are not alone and you don't have to navigate this crisis without support.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_02: Embrace your partnerships, lean on your community, and keep telling your story with conviction.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_02: It's a good one.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for joining us on the nonprofit podcast.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_02: I hope you've left with the confidence to take a small step today that will make a big difference tomorrow.
• 15:57
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• 16:06
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• 16:08
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• 16:10
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• 16:12
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