290: What Can You Do to Grow Donor Loyalty? (Alyce Lee Stansbury)

SUMMARY

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Armstrong McGuire & Associates. Check them out for your next career opportunity OR for help finding an interim executive or your next leader.

Are you tired of constantly chasing new donors while struggling to keep the ones you have? I In episode 290 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE delves into the art and strategy of building lasting donor relationships. She breaks down five practical strategies for nonprofit leaders. Alyce Lee explains why genuine, heartfelt gratitude, timely outcome reporting, and tailored two-way communication are crucial to retaining supporters over time. Listeners will gain insights into transforming data into deeper connections, including how to track donor interactions to ensure each touchpoint is meaningful and personalized.

ABOUT ALYCE LEE

Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE, brings over 30 years of dedicated experience to nonprofit consulting, having guided hundreds of organizations through the complexities of fundraising, strategic planning, governance, and board development. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Master Trainer, she is a respected thought leader and an in-demand speaker at both state and national conferences, where she shares her insights on nonprofit leadership, effective strategy, and sustainable fundraising. Alyce Lee is also a columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat (USA Today News), where her "Notes on Nonprofits" column serves as an educational resource and a voice of advocacy for nonprofit leaders, staff, and donors. Her contributions have earned her several honors, including Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Big Bend, the Civic Leadership Award from the American Society for Public Administration, and recognition as one of the Tallahassee Democrat’s 25 Women You Need to Know. Known for her dedication to the sector, Alyce Lee’s accolades also include finalist nods for Distinguished Leader of the Year and Business of the Year in the Tallahassee community. Through her consulting practice, she continues to inspire and equip nonprofits with the tools they need to achieve lasting impact.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuire
• The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell and Brian Crimmins (and listen to their podcast appearance - episode #211 - here)
• Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

289: Is it Time to Go? Why Your Nonprofit Needs a Succession Plan (Mike Melara)

SUMMARY

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Armstrong McGuire & Associates. Check them out for your next career opportunity OR for help to find an interim executive or your next leader.

Succession planning is often an overlooked priority for nonprofit leaders, but its importance can't be overstated. In episode 289 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we explore the critical difference between succession thinking and formal succession planning, and how the latter can protect your organization during times of leadership transitions with a seasoned leader, Mike Melara. Learn about the "sudden loss of leader" plan, a practical tool to ensure that your nonprofit can smoothly navigate unplanned absences, whether temporary or permanent. You'll also discover actionable steps to engage your board and senior leadership in the succession planning process, helping to reduce anxiety across the organization.

ABOUT MIKE

Mike Melara is a native of Watertown, New York and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, NY. He has a BA from Le Moyne College and an MS from Chapman University. He has over 40 years of experience in not-for-profit and government work, including being a direct service provider, supervisor, and administrator. In his current role, Mike oversees the day-to-day operations of an $86 million agency, including strategic planning, resource development, budget planning and management, human resources management, public relations, and Board relationships. With a workforce of nearly 1,500 staff, Catholic Charities serves over 150,000 people across the seven counties in the Diocese of Syracuse. In addition, Mike is also the sole operator of MFM Leads, LLC, an executive consultation, leadership coaching and training business. His consultation work includes succession planning, organizational assessments, supervisor training and leadership workshops.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• Ready for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuire
• Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• University of Washington's Succession Planning Resources
• Don’t miss our weekly Thursday Leadership Lens for the latest on nonprofit leadership

288: How Can Nonprofits Use For-Profit Ventures to Drive Growth? (Brett Jenks)

SUMMARY

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Armstrong McGuire & Associates. Check them out for your next career opportunity OR for help finding an interim executive or your next leader.

Are you struggling to find sustainable funding for your nonprofit and wondering if for-profit ventures could be the solution? In episode 288 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Brett Jenks shares an innovative approach to revenue generation that challenges traditional nonprofit thinking. By exploring the intersection of nonprofit missions and for-profit ventures, he offers insight into how organizations can scale their impact through creative partnerships with private capital. Brett explains the importance of blending philanthropic support with market-driven solutions, using real-world examples from his work at Rare, a global conservation organization. He also discusses how nonprofits can tap into additional revenue streams while maintaining their mission, the role of impact investing, and the legal and cultural complexities that come with these strategies.

ABOUT BRETT

Brett Jenks is a global conservation leader and social entrepreneur. As CEO of Rare, he has led the international nonprofit’s mission to drive social change for the benefit of people and nature in more than 60 countries. Under Brett’s leadership, Rare has catalyzed the conservation community’s embrace of people-centered, behavior-based approaches to conserving nature and addressing climate change. Amongst its programs around the world today, Rare is promoting regenerative agricultural practices, establishing community-managed marine protected areas across the developing tropics, launching the world’s first impact bond for small-scale fisheries, partnering with Hollywood to promote climate-friendly behaviors, and engaging gamers globally with video games designed to drive climate-friendly actions. A former journalist, Brett’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and Behavioral Scientist.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• Ready for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuire
• The Deluge by Stephen Markley
• Have you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector? Now available on Audible
• Don’t miss our weekly Thursday Leadership Lens for the latest on nonprofit leadership