Nonprofit Everything

Are there fundamental differences between the board responsibilities of an arts nonprofit and a regular old charitable one? This week Andy is joined by guest expert and author of Scene Change Alan Harrison to get this question answered properly. You might need to listen twice, because this episode goes deep — court cases clarifying nonprofit law, the patronage system, and whether “art for arts sake” qualifies as a charitable mission. Thanks again for joining us this week! Please send us your questions and check out the show notes at NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: How are nonprofit arts organizations different? With Guest Expert Alan Harrison – skip to this question About Alan: Alan Harrison is a writer, father, performer, consultant, recovering artist, and the author of the industry best-seller “Scene Change: Why Today’s Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact” and “Scene Change 2: The Five REAL Responsibilities of Nonprofit Arts Boards.” For 30 years, he has led, produced, directed, promoted, raised money for, starred and failed in over 300 theatrical productions on and Off-Broadway and at prestigious (and not so prestigious) nonprofit arts organizations across the country. He’s also a two-time “Jeopardy!” champion so, you know, there’s that. The arts invoke passion (mostly from artists), but nonprofit arts are only successful when they result in measurably positive change among those that need it most. When a nonprofit’s donors are also its recipients, then its mission devolves into meaningless puffery, flapdoodle, and codswallop. Mentioned this week: Scene Change & Scene Change 2 The actual text of section 501(c)3 Plumstead Theatre Society, Inc., Petitioner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do you keep from being the subject of a negative news story? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about what a better set of nonprofit financial statements looks like. Thanks for joining us this week (and this entire year!), and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Avoiding negative news stories – skip to this question Are there better financials? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do we attract and retain younger board members? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about how to engage with new pro sports teams (or any new companies) coming to your town. And finally, we share some tips for making sure you don’t have a bad experience when working with a consultant. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Connecting to new pro sports teams in town? – skip to this question Adding younger board members? – skip to this question Tips for working with consultants? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Are there things we need to know when bringing in our first ever board? Stacey has thoughts. Also this week, we talk about internal controls for an organization with one staff member, and whether or not to submit a report for a grant that doesn’t actually require one. And finally, Andy gets tricked into answering a question about gala auctioneers. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Should we submit a grant report when one isn’t required? – skip to this question Help! We need to set up our first ever board! – skip to this question Can the emcee be the auctioneer, too? – skip to this question Are there appropriate internal controls for a staff of one? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

How do you encourage donors to fund capacity building and not just programs? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about whether or not there is a best practice around reserve spending, and share some ideas about inspiring high school students to join us in our nonprofit missions. Thanks for being here this week, and don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Inspiring the next generation – skip to this question Is there a best practice on reserve level and spending? – skip to this question How do you encourage a donor to fund capacity building? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Is there a difference between a nonprofit’s “story” and its “elevator pitch?” Stacey has some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about criteria for a recognition wall, and a really big one: how the heck do you get boards to ask more (intelligent) questions!? Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Storytelling vs. an Elevator Pitch – skip to this question Who to include on a recognition wall? – skip to this question How do you get the board to ask more questions? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

After starting a brand new nonprofit and filing the paperwork, what’s next? Stacey and Andy will get you pointed in the right direction. Also this week, we talk about things to think about when hiring your first ever development professional, and whether or not it is appropriate to have a staff member also serve on the organization’s board. Thanks for joining us this week, and please don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com! Topics: We’re a brand new nonprofit. What’s next? – skip to this question What should we know when hiring our first development professional? – skip to this question Can a staff member serve on the board, too? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: SCORE (Free) Business Mentors Candid – Nonprofit Resources Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Are donor advised funds good or evil? That’s a big question, and Stacey and Andy definitely have some thoughts. Also, we talk about strategies for filling vacant committee leadership positions (it’s tough!) and Stacey has some tips for getting a geographically dispersed board all on the same page. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send any and all nonprofit questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com! Topics: Is there such a thing as team building for boards? – skip to this question Help! We’re having trouble filling vacant board committee positions! – skip to this question What’s the deal with donor advised funds? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

We’ve got a really nice balance of questions this week! Is it possible to get a founding executive director to embrace change? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts on that! Also this week, we brainstorm about how to get new people to come to the same old gala, and talk through a couple of options when your revenue comes in all in the same month. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send any and all nonprofit questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com! Topics: How do we get new people to come to our gala event? – skip to this question Help! My founder/ED is resistant to change! – skip to this question All our revenue comes in a single month. Any ideas? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Just two questions for Stacey and Andy this week, but they’re biggies! When creating a strategic plan is a consultant really necessary, or can we spare that expense? Also this week, a technical question about calculating liquidity gets unexpectedly philosophical really fast. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to send us any nonprofit topic you want us to cover to questions@NonprofitEverything.com. Topics: Do you need a strategic planning consultant? – skip to this question What do I include when calculating liquidity> – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast