The Smart Communications Podcast

The Smart Communications Podcast is a useful resource for all nonprofit leaders looking to boost their communications chops on the go.

About the show

The Smart Communications Podcast helps busy nonprofit leaders build their communications skills and develop their organization’s voice. Every episode shares insights and practical tips to help you leverage strategic communications to advance your nonprofit’s mission.

The Smart Communications Podcast on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 50: What skills are most important on your in-house creative team

    February 19th, 2020  |  16 mins 18 secs
    communications, creative team, in-house

    Sarah Durham and Claire Taylor Hansen explain how consistency, production, breadth, and the right experience can make your creative team flourish.

  • Episode 53: Is it really feasible for your nonprofit to raise millions?

    February 5th, 2020  |  19 mins 43 secs
    donations, feasibility, fundraising, nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Sarah Durham and Eric Javier discuss feasibility studies, context, and audience when evaluating your donors for a major fundraising initiative.

  • Episode 57: What should your nonprofit’s communications really achieve?

    January 22nd, 2020  |  6 mins 47 secs
    branding, communications, mission, nonprofit, privacy, teams

    Sarah Durham’s new book, The Nonprofit Communications Engine, explains what nonprofit communications teams can actually deliver and what they need to be successful.

  • Episode 52: How do you make sure your events and recordings sound good?

    December 4th, 2019  |  12 mins 25 secs
    audio, communications, logistics, nonprofit, podcast, podcasts, sound

    Sarah Durham and Marcus dePaula discuss audio logistics and how to make your organization sound professional.

  • Episode 51: Who is your Director of Second Impressions?

    November 20th, 2019  |  13 mins 29 secs
    communications, donors, nonprofit, second impressions

    Sarah Durham and Farra Trompeter talk about the importance of second impressions to keep clients coming back.

  • Episode 49: How can your communications team apply inclusive branding?

    November 7th, 2019  |  17 mins 37 secs

    Big Duck’s Farra Trompeter and communications professional Christ Tuttle talk inclusive branding. Listen in now.

  • Episode 48: How can you design when you’re not a designer?

    November 6th, 2019  |  15 mins 50 secs
    designer, nonprofit, nonprofit communications, nonprofit designer

    How to design like a designer when you’re not. Sarah Durham and Claire Taylor Hansen tell us how design can affect your brand, your clients, and your impact.

  • Episode 47: Should your nonprofit be worried about GDPR and online privacy?

    October 23rd, 2019  |  15 mins 22 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications, nonprofit privacy, privacy

    As online privacy has become an increasingly important topic, how should your organization manage data? Hear the ins and outs of GDPR, how to be honest with your donors and clients, and more.

  • Episode 46: How do you involve your community when rebranding?

    October 9th, 2019  |  23 mins 50 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    Elisabeth King of Lycée Français de New York successfully involved over 2,000 people in her nonprofit’s rebrand. Learn how and get tips for making your organization’s change process more inclusive.

  • Episode 45: How can your staff co-create your brand?

    September 25th, 2019  |  12 mins 46 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    Ambar Mentor-Truppa, VP of Communications, shares her experiences listening to and uplifting the voices of all staff during the Shriver Center on Poverty Law’s rebranding process.

  • Episode 44: How should you work with freelancers?

    September 11th, 2019  |  15 mins 22 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    If you need to professionally write or design a communications piece in a pinch, a freelancer may be your nonprofit’s best bet. Learn where to find freelancers, how to vet them, and manage their work.

  • Episode 43: How do you let your community speak for you?

    August 28th, 2019  |  14 mins 9 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    Michael Hoffman, CEO and founder of Gather Voices, shares a new tool that collects community-made video for nonprofits to use to create engaging, diverse content.

  • Episode 42: How do you use the media for advocacy?

    August 14th, 2019  |  12 mins 2 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    If your nonprofit’s mission is to change structures, behaviors, or beliefs, the media can be a powerful tool. Vince Warren of The Center for Constitutional Rights talks through his experiences.

  • Episode 41: How can interviews help you get better insights?

    July 31st, 2019  |  21 mins 2 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    Laura Fisher, Big Duck’s Senior Strategist, shares how qualitative research can help you understand your target audiences better.

  • Episode 40: How can you be a better writer?

    July 17th, 2019  |  21 mins 13 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    Everyone thinks they’re a writer—and a great one at that. Dan Gunderman, expert writer and Big Duck’s former Creative Director shares what it takes to write well.

  • Episode 39: How can you get your team to stop fighting like cats and dogs?

    July 3rd, 2019  |  20 mins 11 secs
    marketing, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit communications

    Your communications and development teams don’t have to fight like cats and dogs. Hear our tips for collaboration in this podcast episode.