A nonprofit's #1 currency is trust.  Any fraudulent activity by a nonprofit agency negates this trust. The Board has a role and responsibility to minimize the risk of fraud. This week, we discuss 10 tips for nonprofit boards to help mitigate fraud in their organizations. Timestamps: 00:00 How nonprofit boards can mitigate fraud risk 01:40 #1-3 - Establish a Strong Ethical Culture, Implement Clear Policies and Procedures, Segregation of Duties 03:05 #4-6 - Regular Financial Oversight and Reporting, Board Oversight and Involvement, Independent Audit Committee 04:20 #7-10 - Whistleblower Pol ..read more

This week, we speak with Hal Williams. Hal is the creator of Results 1st and the author of the new book “Put Results First”.  Results 1st helps individuals and groups focus on results in each of their functions, activities, processes, and structures. Together, Michael and Hal dive into the 4 parts of the book, including discussions on defining success before designing a program, how to improve nonprofit accomplishment, and being “achievement based.” This book will help any nonprofit organization greatly improve their program results. It all starts with asking “so what?” Results 1st websit ..read more

In recent interactions with nonprofit board members, there has been a difference in familiarity regarding the operational nuances between for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Given that many board members do not interact with the organization on a daily basis, there may be unintentional assumptions about how nonprofits operate. In this episode, we dive into the fundamental similarities and differences between nonprofit and for-profit organizations, with the goal of enhancing mutual understanding among all participants. Timestamps: 00:00 Introducing the differences between non-profit and for ..read more

This week, we speak with Malcolm MacLeod. Malcolm is a board chair, retired nonprofit CEO, lawyer, and author of the book entitled, “The Practice of Philanthropy: A Guide for Foundation Boards and Staff.” Malcolm's book is the culmination of 19 years of experience spent as the president and CEO of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. Those 19 years were not all smooth sailing. Malcolm had to learn by trial and error. He wished he had a reference book for leading a nonprofit. Thus, when he retired, he wrote his own. In this episode, we cover several chapters of the book, including the “Essence o ..read more

In this episode, Michael shares insights from the Florida Philanthropic Network Annual Summit, highlighting five reasons why nonprofit professionals should attend conferences. He emphasizes networking, learning, idea generation, growth through association, and team building as essential benefits. Michael urges nonprofit leaders and board members to prioritize conference participation for personal and organizational development. Join us for a practical discussion on leveraging conferences to drive nonprofit success. Timestamps: 00:00 The importance of attending conferences for personal developm ..read more

This week, we speak with Anne LeBaron, CEO of Take Stock in Children Manatee. Anne had quite the career in the for-profit world as former Sales, Marketing, HR and Recruiting manager before joining Take Stock Manatee as the CEO. Take Stock in Children Manatee is a mentor based organization that partners students with a mentor to earn a scholarship upon graduation from high school. Anne shares her experience transitioning from the for-profit to nonprofit sector including how she utilizes metrics to keep track of performance, as she did in her for-profit jobs. Anne also shares how she took her ti ..read more

This week, we discuss 3 easy ways to fundraise as a nonprofit board member. Fundraising as a nonprofit board member can be a contentious topic. Most people do not join a nonprofit board to fundraise. However, it is your responsibility as a board member to ensure the financial stability of your organization. Fundraising as a board member does not mean you have to ask for money! Many people are uncomfortable making an ask. However, you should be making connections to your CEO/Development Director, participating in events, and making a personal financial contribution. Remember, the organization i ..read more

This week, we speak with Janene Amick, CEO of Florida Cultural Group. Janene has been part of Florida Cultural Group (f/k/a Manatee Players, Inc.) for 19 years, beginning as a board member. Together, we discuss her role as Chief Cheerleader, her approach for fund development, and how she encourages her board members to fundraise.  We also talk about how the role of CEO for nonprofit organizations has changed, staying up to date on 501(c)3 rules and regulations, and advice for new CEOs. Timestamps: 00:00 Introducing Janene Amick, CEO of Florida Cultural Group 03:50 What is the role of the ..read more

This week we are discussing leadership tips and ideas for nonprofit CEOs. In this episode, we cover 5 easy to implement leadership tips any nonprofit CEO can benefit from.  Michael has been working with nonprofit CEOs for the past several years. These tips are a culmination of what has worked the best for these CEOs when it comes to stakeholder buy-in, time management, and board chair relationship growth. Timestamps: 00:00 Tips and ideas for nonprofit CEOs 01:10 #1: Review the mission every meeting 01:45 #2: Schedule 30 and 45-minute meetings instead of 1-hour meetings 02:35 #3: Have set ..read more

This week, we continue our conversation from episode 69, “You are the new board chair, now what?” In this episode, we discuss the keys to success as a board chair and top decisions to avoid. If you follow these keys, we believe you will have a successful tenure as board chair. Timestamps: 00:00 Board Chair Orientation continued 01:20 Keys to success 04:20 Things to avoid Join us every week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization. Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms: Apple Podcasts ..read more