Free Daily Podcast Summary
Successful Nonprofits Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Goldenburg Group, LLC
With over half-a-million downloads, the Successful Nonprofits Podcast shares insights, tools, and tips to help you and your nonprofit thrive. Each week, Dolph interviews nonprofit experts and leaders who share their experiences and wisdom on a wide range of topics relevant to the nonprofit sector. From fundraising and board development to leadership and strategic planning, and more! The podcast also offers shorter Bonus Break episodes you can listen to while taking a tea break – and get the added bonus of making you and your nonprofit stronger. These Bonus Breaks are solo episodes, where Dolph shares hard-learned (sometimes painfully learned) lessons from his 3 decades in the sector. He often creates worksheets and templates that accompany the bonus breaks. The podcast is hosted by Dolph Goldenburg, a consultant, coach, and confidant to nonprofit leaders across the nation.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago35 min
The Busy Executive Director's Guide to Planned Giving with Tony Martignetti
Join the live virtual audience for podcast recordings (and bring your question for the Q&A). Topics, guests, and times are announced in my newsletter, and you can sign up at this link: https://successfulnonprofits.com/newsletter-signup/ Most executive directors put off planned giving because it feels like a time consuming and expensive project that requires a consultant, a gift acceptance policy, board training, a recognition society, and more. And after investing so much into planned giving, you won't receive a gift for years. Tony Martignetti has spent 29 years proving that belief is just not true. In this episode he walks us through his three-step, one-week launch; explains why three or four top prospects is a real planned giving program; and dismantles the objections that keep chief executives from closing the simplest gift there is (and the easiest one to ask for). We also get honest about what stewardship of your planned giving donors actually costs. If you are the CEO who wears many hats, this is the fundraising conversation that pays off long after your current grant cycle closes. This episode answers questions like: How do I start planned giving without a development director? Do we need a gift acceptance policy before we can ask for bequests? How many planned giving prospects can an executive director realistically handle? How do I identify planned giving prospects? When do I tell my board about a planned giving program? Is planned giving worth it for a small nonprofit with a tight budget? What do you say to a board member who is worried about a donor leaving us property we'll never be able to sell (like a toxic waste site)? How do I steward and cultivate planned giving donors over the long term? Links mentioned in this episode: Tony's book, Planned Giving Accelerated, plus a free chapter: https://plannedgivingaccelerated.com/ Planned Giving Accelerator: https://plannedgivingaccelerator.com/ Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio: https://tonymartignetti.com/ The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-millionaire-next-door-the-surprising-secrets-of-americas-wealthy-thomas-j-stanley-ph-d/d2115bc2d7f2d07c?ean=9781589795471 Subscribe to the newsletter and join a live podcast recording: https://successfulnonprofits.com/newsletter-signup/
- 1 weeks ago19 min
How to Deliver Bad News to Your Board
If you're in the chief executive seat long enough, something will eventually go wrong. A cash-flow crisis, the loss of a key funder, a serious audit finding, critical news coverage, or an on-site disaster can test both your leadership and your relationship with the board. In this episode, I lay out a practical way to deliver bad news to your board without creating a second crisis. I share who to tell first, the six questions your written board update must answer, and how to structure an emergency meeting so the loudest board member does not control the conversation. You will also learn when to stop weekly updates to your board and how to conduct a post-mortem after the issue is fully resolved. The central lesson is simple: bad news does not break trust, but surprise, avoidance, or inaction will.
- 2 weeks ago32 min
How Nonprofit CEOs Get Buy-In Across Political Divides with Chandra Brown
If you are a CEO responsible for moving your mission forward in a polarized environment, this conversation will sharpen how you lead. Your ability to communicate with people who don't share your or your nonprofit's values and views can determine whether your organization gains traction or stalls out. In this episode, I speak with consultant and former executive director Chandra Brown about how leaders choose words and framing that build alignment with board members, donors, policymakers, and community stakeholders. You'll hear a real-world example of a messaging misstep that backfired and what it reveals about how different audiences interpret the same issue. You'll walk away with practical ways to communicate across political divides without compromising your values. This episode answers the following questions: How do executive directors communicate with stakeholders who disagree with them? How can I get board members or donors to support an issue they're skeptical about? What's the best way to talk about controversial issues without alienating my supporters? How do I build alignment across my nonprofit's politically divided constituencies? How do I prepare for conversations with policymakers who oppose my position? Links mentioned in this episode: Influence Advocacy (Chandra Brown). Influence Advocacy and Chandra can give your issue a helping hand using data driven strategies that support your issue campaigns.
- 3 weeks ago31 min
Your Board's Fundraising Retreat: 6 Activities to Make It Count (Nonprofit Board Fundraising)
Can one board retreat turn reluctant board members into fundraising superstars? Anyone promising that is selling something they cannot deliver. But a well-designed retreat can still move board fundraising forward. In this episode, I explain how to diagnose the real barriers first, then share six practical retreat activities that can help a board align expectations, understand its fundraising options, practice useful skills, map its networks, and make specific commitments. I also outline the post-retreat work that turns your board members' commitments into results. This episode answers the following questions: Can a board retreat actually get board members to fundraise? Why is my nonprofit board not engaged in fundraising? What fundraising activities can we use at a board retreat? How do we set and enforce fundraising expectations for board members? What should staff and board leadership do after a fundraising retreat? Links mentioned in this episode: Bring Dolph into your next board retreat. I design and facilitate board retreats that are interactive, practical, and built around the board's real barriers. Retreat topics can include fundraising, governance, board evaluation, planning the board's work, crisis or contingency planning, and strategic planning. To discuss your next retreat, reach out to me at successfulnonprofits.com.
- Aug 18, 202620 min
The One Spreadsheet Every Nonprofit Manager Needs
What recurring tasks does each person on your team actually own? It's almost impossible to remember everything a team member is responsible for, and a job description usually won't tell you. When that information lives only in someone's head, onboarding gets harder, performance conversations get murkier, and an employee departure can create unnecessary chaos. In this episode, I share my simple, one-tab staff task checklist I use when leading nonprofit teams. It documents each position's recurring work and how often it needs to happen. It also becomes a practical tool for interviewing candidates, onboarding new employees, managing performance, cross-training staff, reviewing job descriptions, and being ready for staff departures. You'll also learn how this simple exercise can expose tasks only one person knows how to do, processes that still lack documentation, and responsibilities that have quietly changed over time. This episode answers the following questions: How do I keep things from falling through the cracks when an employee leaves? What should I document before a key employee quits? How do I onboard a new employee without constantly answering questions? How do I know if important tasks depend too much on one employee? How do I hold staff accountable when responsibilities aren't clear? How do I cross-train employees at a small nonprofit? How do I update job descriptions when staff roles have changed? Links mentioned in this episode: The checklist in an editable Excel format: https://successfulnonprofits.com/checklist Free Online Trainings for Nonprofit CEOs: https://successfulnonprofits.com/trainings/ Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Why Our Team Members Fail with Dr. Tiffany Slater 12 Ways You Can Recruit and Retain Top Talent Stop Doing $25-per-Hour Work
- Aug 11, 202628 min
Are Fundraising Events Worth Your Time? A 10-Hour-a-Month System with Mary Thompson
Whether to spend staff time and resources on a special event is an important decision that rests with you as the chief executive. Fundraising events can consume hundreds of staff hours, sap your board's enthusiasm, and produce far less revenue than everyone expected. That is why many nonprofit leaders conclude events are simply not worth the effort. Mary Thompson offers a different answer. Mary is the long-time executive director of Apple Seeds Teaching Farm in Arkansas, and her organization produces a large annual fundraiser that costs approximately 23% of gross revenue. It also hosts monthly Kitchen Table Dinners for 40 to 50 guests, with each dinner requiring only about 10 to 11 hours of staff time. In this episode, Mary explains how Apple Seeds created events that generate revenue, introduce the organization to new supporters, deepen donor relationships, and remain manageable for her team. You will hear why repeatable systems matter, how smaller gatherings can outperform a large gala as relationship-building tools, and what every executive director should examine before approving another event. This episode answers the following questions: How much should it cost a nonprofit to produce a fundraising event? How much staff time should an event require? When should an event be measured by relationships rather than net revenue alone? Why can small, recurring events build stronger donor relationships than a large gala? How can nonprofits turn an event into a repeatable system? How can an event connect directly to the organization's mission? What should an executive director consider before committing the organization to another event? Links mentioned in this episode: Apple Seeds Teaching Farm: appleseedsar.org Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Flipping Small Fundraising Events on Their Heads for Better Revenue with Sherry Truhlar, Part One Flipping Small Fundraising Events on Their Heads for Better Revenue with Sherry Truhlar, Part Two Help Donors Fall In Love…With Your Organization with Abra Annes
- Aug 4, 202627 min
Stop Doing $25-per-Hour Work
Never miss an episode: Sign up for our newsletter Your calendar is full, your inbox is under control, and the copier is finally working. You were productive today, right? Maybe not. Every week, nonprofit chief executives routinely spend hours scheduling meetings, answering routine emails, preparing documents, and handling administrative work that someone else—or the right technology—could manage. Every hour spent on those tasks is an hour you cannot spend cultivating major donors, developing your staff, engaging your board, or preparing your organization for what comes next. In this episode, I will help you identify the $25-per-hour work consuming your week and decide what to stop, do less frequently, delegate, or automate. I also explore why an executive assistant may be the most important next hire for a small nonprofit—and how to protect the time you recover for the leadership work only you can do. This episode answers the following questions: How can I get everything done? Do I need an executive assistant? Can AI help me with office tasks? How should I be spending my time as a nonprofit executive director? Links mentioned in this episode: Calculate the Value of an Hour of Your Time https://successfulnonprofits.com/value_your_time/ Subscribe to the Successful Nonprofits® Newsletter https://successfulnonprofits.com/newsletter-signup/ Free Online Trainings for Nonprofit CEOs Learn more about Design an AI Strategy That Builds More Capacity and other upcoming trainings: https://successfulnonprofits.com/trainings/ Looking for more? Check out these other amazing episodes: Ep 366: The 3 Roles of an Executive Director Ep 326: 16 Productivity Apps and Software You Need to Check Out Today Ep 321: Your 4-Day Workweek Blueprint with Jessica Weitzel
- Jul 28, 202612 min
Stop the hijacking hyena in your boardroom
One person's loud and persistent certainty can become the board's decision. Not because everyone agrees, but because everyone else has grown tired of resisting and just want the meeting to move forward. Over time, that dynamic does more than produce a few bad decisions. It weakens the board's collective governance muscle and gives one member far more power than any individual board member should have. In this episode, I share a structured deliberation process designed to keep the "hijacking hyena" from taking over a consequential board discussion. The process uses position champions, strict time limits, neutral facilitation, anonymous force-ranking, and a clear final vote. You'll get a viable way to address a contentious decision without recreating the same power dynamic. You'll also learn how you as the executive director can help board leadership create a process in which every board member's voice is heard. This episode answers questions like: How do I deal with one board member dominating every discussion? How can my board better consider several competing options? What should I do when my board chair is dominating board meetings as the hijacking hyena? Links mentioned in this episode: Learn about Successful Nonprofits® board-development services Learn more about Successful Nonprofits® executive coaching
Get Successful Nonprofits Podcast summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Nonprofit Everything
A bi-weekly Q&A podcast covering topics related to nonprofits.
Nonprofit Hub Radio
Interviews with nonprofit leaders and experts offering practical insights to help organizations improve and grow.
Your Virtual Upline Podcast
A podcast for online leaders redefining success through a belief-driven, identity-led growth method that prioritizes peace over burnout.
Proven Podcast
Charles Schwartz
The Entrepreneur DNA
Entrepreneurs share lessons on building businesses and personal growth through real experiences and mistakes.
Working Hard with Grace Beverley
Conversations with diverse achievers reveal raw insights on redefining success, balancing ambition, and learning from failure.
How Leaders Lead with David Novak
Conversations with top leaders in business, sports, and entertainment reveal actionable insights on leadership and decision-making.
The Unstuck High Performer Podcast - Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching for High-Performers
Helps high-achievers overcome mental blocks like overthinking, burnout, and self-sabotage to consistently perform at their potential.
Podmastery: podcasting insights and advice for indie creators
Practical podcasting advice for independent creators aiming to grow their audience and improve production.
Money Making Conversations Master Class
Successful entrepreneurs and leaders share strategies for building businesses and creating wealth.
The Balanced, Beautiful and Abundant Show - Rebecca Whitman
A coach helps high-achieving women overcome burnout using a framework centered on spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial well-being.
Right About Now - Legendary Business Advice
Real talk from business founders and entrepreneurs about building companies, lessons learned, and what actually works in real-world ventures.
About Successful Nonprofits Podcast
With over half-a-million downloads, the Successful Nonprofits Podcast shares insights, tools, and tips to help you and your nonprofit thrive. Each week, Dolph interviews nonprofit experts and leaders who share their experiences and wisdom on a wide range of topics relevant to the nonprofit sector. From fundraising and board development to leadership and strategic planning, and more! The podcast also offers shorter Bonus Break episodes you can listen to while taking a tea break – and get the added bonus of making you and your nonprofit stronger. These Bonus Breaks are solo episodes, where Dolph shares hard-learned (sometimes painfully learned) lessons from his 3 decades in the sector. He often creates worksheets and templates that accompany the bonus breaks. The podcast is hosted by Dolph Goldenburg, a consultant, coach, and confidant to nonprofit leaders across the nation.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Successful Nonprofits Podcast in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Successful Nonprofits Podcast daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Successful Nonprofits Podcast as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Successful Nonprofits Podcast podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Successful Nonprofits Podcast product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by The Goldenburg Group, LLC.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Successful Nonprofits Podcast release new episodes?
Successful Nonprofits Podcast publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Successful Nonprofits Podcast cover?
Successful Nonprofits Podcast covers topics including Business, Management, Non-Profit. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Successful Nonprofits Podcast summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.