Changing the name of a nonprofit is tough. There’s often an affinity or long history to an organization’s name, and it’s not uncommon for an executive director to encounter at least some skepticism when proposing the switch. Executive Director Emily Shields didn’t shy away from a name change, however. She lead the effort to update the name of her organization, from Iowa Association of Community College Trustees to Community Colleges for Iowa.  On the Nonprofit Storytellers podcast, we talk about:  What prompted the name and brand change How she walked the organization through the ..read more

How do you launch a nonprofit, find clients, community partners, and supporters? And how do you intentionally make decisions early on so the organization can scale later?  Executive Director Noelle Nelson leads the new Avenue Scholars Des Moines organization, an expansion of an Omaha-based nonprofit that guides students through specific career exploration. The initiative doesn’t end after a student graduates high school or even a post-secondary degree or certificate, they stay with the student through getting their first industry job.  On the podcast, we talk about launching in the D ..read more

How do you consistently attract new donors, supporters, volunteers, and connectors?  Mosaic is a nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Their simple, four-step fundraising model has impacted their organization and created a cycle of new supporters of their services. Bryanne Lang, the Resource Development Manager at Mosaic for its Central Iowa services, shares the fundraising model, and it has been so successful. Our conversation includes:  The four steps of introduction, cultivation, solicitation, appreciation  How monthly Zoom meetings ..read more

The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative is a nonprofit that wants every Iowan can live a healthy life. They work to create awareness and integrate solutions to improve the physical, social, and emotional well-being of Iowans. In May each year, they launch a statewide Mental Health Awareness Month campaign called Make it OK. The goal is to reduce the stigma of having a mental illness. Every nonprofit has a limited budget, and the Healthiest State Initiative is no different. What’s unique is how they’ve developed partnerships across businesses, media, sports, entertainment, and other industries to ..read more

Have you ever struggled to articulate what your nonprofit does in a clear and concise way? That’s the challenge YSS was facing before they implemented a tagline that helped consolidate their message. More than just a nice sentence, their tagline has become the foundation of their marketing and communication efforts.   Since rolling it out, YSS has structured its annual report, a video series, and presentations around a sentence — really, three words — that encompasses its 40 programs. On the Nonprofit Storytellers Podcast, we talk to Kayla Choate, director of marketing and communicat ..read more

As president and CEO of Des Moines University, Angela Franklin has led the medical school through one of the most significant changes in its history: Building a new campus west of its current location near downtown Des Moines.  On the Nonprofit Storytellers Podcast, Franklin talks about the Purple and Proud Campaign, what presenting such a large vision to the board was like, and how she handled naysayers. On the podcast, you’ll find a full interview that includes the following: How she approached her first year as president How she walked through a mission, vision, and value process f ..read more

Ever wondered how sobering your nonprofit's gala speach should be?  When Richard Schoeberl, the US team Lead for Hope for Justice, speaks at an event, he doesn’t view at it as entertainment. He wants people to leave with a better grasp of a horrendous crime of human trafficking.  He recently was in Iowa to speak at their fundraiser. Some audience members were crying, they were so moved by the stories he shared of individuals — young girls, older women, and others — who had been enslaved. In this podcast, Host Mackenzie Walters talks with Richard about:  How the “Hollywood versi ..read more

Why would a publish an annual report that doesn’t look or feel like one? Nonprofit Storytelles host Mackenzie Walters talks with Kate Hayden, who she knows from her journalism days, on an annual magazine that EMBARC published in November 2022. The magazine carried a big announcement: EMBARC was splitting into two organizations. One focuses on serving all immigrants, while one continues to focus on the Burmese community. A former business reporter, Kate is the marketing manager at RIVA, a new name for the nonprofit previously known as EMBARC, as the name EMBARC is being transferred to the new n ..read more

Have you ever needed to combat "myths" about the people you serve? The creation of a data dashboard — a concept often used in businesses, and created for programming at Des Moines Area Religious Council — has proven priceless in shaping the narrative and providing real-time facts about food insecurity in the area. DMARC is an interfaith cooperative that works with 200 faith organizations from five world faith traditions. Serving Central Iowa, the nonprofit is best known for their food pantry network that supports many local pantries. CEO Matt Unger was drawn to their mission because someone no ..read more

If you’ve ever said that your nonprofit is the “best kept secret” — you’re not alone. Community Support Advocates serves individuals with mental health challenges or disabilities, and president Christina Smith has said they're one of the community's "best kept secrets." Organizations that work directly with CSA know the great work they do to serve members, but outside of those direct partnerships, many don’t know about CSA. With their tried-and-true funding streams declining, Smith knew CSA needed to focus more intentionally on fundraising and marketing efforts. Not only did the not-for-profit ..read more