The Nonprofit Ally Podcast
by Steve Vick - Nonprofit Foudner, Blogger and Podcaster
Steve Vick from NonprofitAlly.com talks with nonprofit experts about capacity building, board of director development, fundraising, grant writing and budgeting. He also shares tips on creating content and nonprofit story telling.Steve is the executive director of a nonprofit and the founder of another. This podcast includes tips on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, newsletters, website development, story telling, blogging, video creation, crowd funding and more. The ultimate goal of this podcast it to help nonprofits grow, become sustainable and build capacity so that you can do more and do it better..
Episodes
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AI is Misleading Your Board (And You're Helping)
Every AI report you receive is missing the one category of information your governance actually depends on. It's not a bug; it's the nature of the machine. AI cannot say "I don't know." When the "hedge" disappears from your reports, the flag disappears from your radar. You're being walked to the...
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Stop Doing So Much - It's Killing Your Nonprofit
AI promised to save us time. Instead, we used that time to drown ourselves in more paperwork. In this episode, we look at the 'Volume Trap'—the dangerous assumption that because we can produce ten times more grant narratives or program reports, we should. We explore the Temporal Mismatch between...
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AI is Making Decisions You Didn't Authorize
Your AI just gave you a "recommendation." If you follow it blindly, you aren't being efficient—you're being replaced. In this episode, we look at the critical failure point in nonprofit AI adoption: the moment pattern recognition is mistaken for understanding. We walk through a common donor data...
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The Post-Mortem: Why Your AI Policy Shield Shattered
In this episode, we examine the structural wreckage of the "Responsible AI Policy." Most nonprofit leadership teams are currently celebrating the completion of a static PDF that outlines disclosure and human review. They are celebrating a "success" that is actually a catastrophic misdiagnosis.…
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The Bottleneck Behind the Bottleneck
If your AI implementation is delivering results, you should be looking for the cracks. Most leaders assume that if output is up and the team is keeping pace, the implementation is a success. They're wrong. In this episode, we diagnose why AI-driven acceleration is currently colliding with two...
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"What Are We Doing About AI?" Is the Wrong Question.
Many nonprofit leaders believe their AI challenges begin at the moment of implementation — choosing tools, preparing staff, or establishing policies. But most AI adoption failures start earlier than that. They begin with the first question leadership asks. When organizations respond to pressure…
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Why 92% of Nonprofits Using AI Don't See Results
A recent benchmark report surveying hundreds of nonprofit organizations found that 92% are already using AI tools, yet only 7% report major strategic impact. The report describes this as an "AI readiness" gap and recommends stronger governance, clearer policies, and more structured workflows. In...
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AI Didn't Move Authority. It Was Already Gone.
Most organizations believe they already know who is responsible when AI is used: the person who used the tool. But that answer assumes something that often isn't true — that the authority underneath that responsibility is clearly defined. In practice, many nonprofits operate with informal…
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AI Didn't Break It - It Was Already Broke
Many nonprofits are adopting AI tools expecting efficiency gains. But when those gains fail to materialize, the problem often isn't the technology. It's the structure of the organization itself. In this episode, we examine three structural conditions that AI tends to expose: undesigned handoffs,...
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SPECIAL EDITION: Putting the "Human" Back in the Show
I'm back behind the mic. In the last episode, you heard an AI-generated overview of this topic. But in a world of automated content, the most important conversations require a human touch. I'm reclaiming the show to talk to you directly about the "AI Efficiency vs. Capacity" trap. The Reality…
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Nonprofits are Chasing the Wrong AI Efficiency
Most nonprofits are working hard to become more efficient. AI makes that easier than ever. Drafts are faster. Analysis is instant. Throughput increases. But for many leaders, the promised relief never arrives. This episode examines why. It explores the structural shift that happens when execution...
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AI Readiness is a Governance Trap - And Most Nonprofits are Walking into It
Get the AI Readiness Memo: https://open.substack.com/pub/brightnonprofit/p/the-work-you-can-no-longer-see Substack: https://brightnonprofit.substack.com/ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bright-nonprofit/id734475785 Spotify:...
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Treating AI Like Software Is Dangerous
Nonprofits are being urged to adopt AI quickly, often with the same playbook used for past technology shifts: select tools, train staff, and adapt over time. This episode explores why that approach breaks down under AI—and why the risks aren't about staff readiness or technical skill. The...
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The Nonprofit AI Reality Check
Nonprofits are feeling intense pressure to "do something" about AI - often before there's clarity about what that action is meant to accomplish or protect. In this episode, we examine where that urgency comes from, why it feels so pervasive inside nonprofits, and how speed is often mistaken for...
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The Real Question Nonprofits Need to Ask About AI
Nonprofit leaders are being told they need to start using AI. That it will save time, increase efficiency, and reduce workload. At the same time, many leaders feel confused, anxious, and unsure where to begin. This episode explores why that contradiction exists and why urgency is showing up…
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NPA 095: How to Track Grants, Donations and Program Expenses
Keep track of your nonprofits funds can be tricky. Tracking grants, donations, program expenses and other revenue means organizing your dollars into trackable categories. Have you ever wondered if there was a system that made this all easier? What is the "right" way to track grants? Should I…
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NPA 094 - How to Use Video Effectively
Are you scared of video? No, really... if I told you to make a video for your Facebook page, would you panic? In this podcast, I talk with Katie Prentiss Onsager from SmallForces.org. They offer professional video services and impact tracking for people and organizations making a difference in...
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NPA 093: Making Change with Video
Everything is "video, video, video". Really - 80% of all internet consumption is video. So, if you are not using video you are behind the game. The problem is video can be a technical and creative hurdle. And hiring an expert can be a financial hurdle. That is where my guest, Harry McAlister…
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NPA 092: How to really RAISE MONEY with AUCTIONS
In this episode I talk with Adam Capes from GetAway2Give about how he helps nonprofit raise $10,000's with auctions. Adam Capes is the Co-Founder and President of Getaway2Give, a company changing the way non-profits raise money and people think about vacations. Their mission is to be the best in...
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NPA 091: 911 Funding for Nonprofits
In this episode, we talk about how to obtain emergency funding for your existing programs. I talk with Caroline Bressan from Open Road Alliance. They are a private philanthropic initiative that serves the social sector by keeping impact on track in an unpredictable world. Open Road Alliance...
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NPA 090: How to be an Innovative Nonprofit
My guest on this podcast is Jesse Lane with Pure Charity. Jesse talks with us about nonprofit "innovation" and how it can be used to spark new ideas and build sustainable programs that grow through changing times. Pure Charity works with thousands of nonprofit organizations who are working on...
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NPA 089 - Smart Start Your Nonprofit
In this episode, I talk with Michael Rivera from Jee Foods. Michael is part of a group of high school students who started a nonprofit to help the hungry in their area. The program is an initiative to discover new models for alleviating hunger throughout the world. JEE Foods is a Non-Profit...
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NPA 088: An Audio Board Training
In this episode, I talk with Kate Hayes from Echoing Green. We talk about the importance of creating diversity on your board as well as how to help your board work better as a team. According to a survey by BoardSource, a research and support organization for nonprofit boards, 25 percent of…
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NPA 087: The Journey to Sustainability
In this episode I speak with Rosenna Bakari from Talking Trees. It is a nonprofit she started back in 2010 and just recently devoted full-time hours to help the organization become sustainable. We talk about her journey starting the nonprofit, where she is now and her plans to grow her...
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NPA 086 - How to Fundraise without Asking for Money
The reason most people hate fundraising is because they hate asking people for money. But this assumes that "asking" is all we do when we fundraising. And this is where the problem lies. It's not so much that we hate asking for money... it is that we think that asking for money is what funding...
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NPA 085 - Get Better Rankings in Google
Getting found in Google doesn't happen by accident. Your website doesn't magically appear in the search engines for the right search terms. Well... that isn't totally accurate. It sorta does. But it may not rank well and the search results may not be accurate or consistent. But there is a way to...
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NPA 084: From Survivor to Founder
In this podcast, I talk with Jenna Benn Shersher. She shares with us her story on overcoming a rare form of cancer and how it inspired her to start a nonprofit. Jenna is the Founder and Executive Director of Twist Out Cancer, a non-profit organization she founded after surviving Grey Zone…
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NPA 083 - Put your Mailing List on Steriods
Have you wondered what is the best way to get information in front of your followers and supporters? Most people think social media is the end-all/be-all of communication. But I want to assure you - it is not. In this podcast, I talk with Kathryn Calhoun from kathryncalhouncoaching.com. Kathryn...
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NPA 082 - How to Turn Risks into Insights
Risk Doesn't Have To Be a Four-Letter Word. Risks can be unsettling. It is easier to focus on what's urgent while ignoring what's necessary and important. But if you can create ways to make it easier to see and address threats and opportunities, you can: Increase clarity Reduce costs Simplify…
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NPA 081: How to Build & Spend Social Capital
In this episode I talk witth Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew about building socail capital and developing asset based based community relationships. Let's start with some definitions. Social Capital is a network of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that…
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NPA 080: Find New Funding for Your Nonprofit
Podcast show notes written by Alexandra Black-Paulick. Thank you Alex! Can nonprofits make money? You'd be surprised at how many people adamantly believe that under no circumstances can nonprofits earn revenue. The reality is that the term "nonprofit" has nothing to do with whether an…
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NPA 079: Keys to "Social Startup Success"
In this podcast I talk with Kathleen Kelly-Janus, author of Social Startup Success. In this interview we talk about the different factors involved in building a nonprofit into a sustainable, profitable (yes, you can make money) and affective organization. Kathleen is an award-winning social...
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NPA 078: Building Capacity Panel Discussion
In this podcast we talk with Zoot Velasco (501c3BS), Jeremy Grandstaff (SGendeavors) and Nicolette Holferty (XOXOHats). This is a panel discussion about how to grow your nonprofit, build capacity and create a strategic plan. In particular we talk about: How to get your first grant. When and how…
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NPA 077 - How to be an Emerging Nonprofit
The term "emerging nonprofit" is thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? Does mean anything? Well, that is actually not the topic we discuss in this podcast. But, if you want to "emerge", then pay close attention. It's time to build your capacity. In this podcast I talk with Jeremy Grandstaff...
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Top Five of ALL TIME – #1
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the most listened to podcast of all time. It features Ann Myren. The podcast title is, "Grant Writing from Preparation to Submission". Hear the whole episode...
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Top Five of ALL TIME – #2
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the second most listened to podcast. It features Chris Ferdinandi. The podcast title is, "Secrets to Getting more Website Visits". Hear the whole episode at,...
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Top Five of ALL TIME – #3
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the third most listened to podcast. It features Laurie Wolf. The podcast title is, "Sustainability is Not the Destination". Hear the whole episode at,...
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Top Five of ALL TIME – #4
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fourth most listened to podcast. It features Nick Loper. The podcast title is, "Creating a Nonprofit Coalition - Building Relationships with other...
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Top Five Episodes of ALL TIME - #5
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fifth most listened to podcast. It features Nick Loper. The podcast title is, "Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job". Hear the whole episode at,...
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Top Five Episodes of 2017 - #1
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the most popular podcast or 2017. It features Carolyn Appleton. The podcast is title is "Insider Tips from a Professional Grant Writer".
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Top Five Episodes of 2017 - #2
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the second most popular podcast. It features John Haydon. The podcast is title is "How to Build Relationships with Everyone".
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Top Five Episodes of 2017 - #3
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the third most popular podcast. It features a panel discussion with Mauricio Belgrano, Megan Innes and me. The podcast is title is "Crowdfunding Special Edition".
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Top Five Episodes of 2017 - #4
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fourth most popular podcast. It features Robert McGuire from McGuire Editorial. The podcast is title is "Practical Content marketing for Nonprofits".
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Top 5 Episodes of 2017 - #5
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017. In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fifth most popular podcast. It features Amanda Babine from Evaluate for Change. The podcast title is "Building Capacity with the Logic Model".
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NPA 076: Do You Believe these Nonprofit Myths? Let's Bust Them!
If you ever second guessed the validity of advice you've been given, then you are not alone. In this podcast we talk with Zoot Velasco from zootvelasco.com. He shares his insights on how to bust the myths we are all told about how to run our nonprofits. In this podcast he breaks the myths of:...
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NPA 075: Go Beyond the Donation with Social Fundraising
Social fundraising (sometimes called crowdfunding... but it is more) is becoming more sophicated and more useful. It is more than just a way to raise money. It is a way to connect with supporters, garner new donations, build relationships with your community and increase awareness of your...
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NPA 074: How to Start a Major Gifts Program for Your Nonprofit
It takes a special kind of person to be a fundraiser. Or at least that is what we tell ourselves. For most people, fundraising is intimidating. After all, who wants to go around asking other people for money. For most of us, fundraising doesn't come naturally. And yet, fundraising is an essential...
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NPA 073: New Approaches to Grant Writing
If you run a nonprofit then you likely write grants. But it is easy to take grants for granted (pun intended). With competition for grants increasing and available funding decreasing it is now more important than ever to research your grants and target your funding needs. In this podcast I talk...
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NPA 072 - Community Engagement & Fundraising
If you are a growing nonprofit, then you likely have spreadsheets, paypal accounts, book keeping software, volunteer mailing list, etc. It can quickly turn in to mess of documents that are hard to manage. Eventually, you need a place to put this all. That is where todays guest, Ro Valiao, with...
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NPA 071: Increase Your Online Engagement
How do you use your website? Is it a simple page with basic information about your mission, your services and a contact page? Do you have a blog? Do people comment on your blog? Do you have "landing pages" that encourage visitors to "opt-in" for resource? How do you use your website? Most…
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About this show
Steve Vick from NonprofitAlly.com talks with nonprofit experts about capacity building, board of director development, fundraising, grant writing and budgeting. He also shares tips on creating content and nonprofit story telling.Steve is the executive director of a nonprofit and the founder of another. This podcast includes tips on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, newsletters, website development, story telling, blogging, video creation, crowd funding and more. The ultimate goal of this podcast it to help nonprofits grow, become sustainable and build capacity so that you can do more and do it better..
Hosted by
Steve Vick - Nonprofit Foudner, Blogger and Podcaster
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