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 96: How can you use donor personas to guide your communications?

    September 23rd, 2021  |  19 mins 25 secs
    donors, nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Farra Trompeter is joined by Mica Bevington, US director of communications and development at Humanity and Inclusion to discuss how you can use donor personas to guide your communications.

  • Episode 95: Equity: How can we design organizations where everyone thrives?

    September 8th, 2021  |  17 mins 52 secs
    diversity, equity, incusion, nonprofit

    Equity: How can we design organizations where everyone thrives? Tune in to this podcast to learn more about how to center equity in your organization.

  • Episode 94: How can you update an iconic brand?

    August 26th, 2021  |  20 mins 59 secs
    branding, nonprofit

    Sarah Durham, chief executive officer at Big Duck, and Mark Graham, chief marketing & communications officer at American Friends Service Committee, explore how well-known organizations can evolve their brands.

  • Episode 93: What can a good tagline do for your nonprofit?

    August 11th, 2021  |  24 mins 10 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit branding, tagline

    What can a good tagline do for your nonprofit? Farra Trompeter explores this topic with Chandra M. Hayslett from the Center for Constitutional Rights and Ambar Mentor-Truppa from the Shriver Center on Poverty Law.

  • Episode 92: What’s the future of virtual events?

    July 28th, 2021  |  18 mins 56 secs
    events, galas, nonprofit

    What’s the future of virtual events? Find out ways to create engaging virtual and hybrid events as we settle into life during and beyond COVID-19.

  • Episode 91: Why should you challenge urgency in your communications?

    July 14th, 2021  |  14 mins 44 secs
    diversity, equity, inclusion, nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Why should you challenge urgency in your communications? Learn more about what urgency means and how to question it as it shows up in nonprofit communications.

  • Episode 90: How can you leverage your brand to connect with your community?

    June 30th, 2021  |  26 mins 6 secs
    branding, community, nonprofit

    How can you leverage your organization’s brand to connect with donors and your community? Tune into this podcast for some great tips on the branding process, where fundraising fits in, and how you can use communications to connect with your community.

  • Episode 89: How can Google Analytics help you achieve better digital results?

    June 16th, 2021  |  14 mins 12 secs
    digital communications, nonprofit

    Tune in to this podcast to learn how to achieve better outcomes by basing their decisions on statistics and observed behavior rather than assumptions and personal preferences.

  • Episode 88: What are the latest trends in nonprofit communications?

    June 2nd, 2021  |  15 mins 30 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Sarah Durham talks with award-winning author, Kivi Leroux Miller, about the Nonprofit Communications Trends Report and its benefits for nonprofit communicators.

  • Episode 87: Should you go with fixed fee or time-and-materials for that project?

    May 19th, 2021  |  17 mins 16 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications, project management

    Budget's always an issue— but how do you decide whether to do a project on a fixed fee or time-and-materials basis? Sarah Durham explores the pros and cons of both options and recommends when to use each.

  • Episode 86: Is your website secure and flexible?

    May 5th, 2021  |  17 mins 42 secs
    nonprofit, technology

    Dave Hansen-Lange, Advomatic's Director of Technical Strategy, joins Sarah to explain what open source is, why security updates matter, and how to keep your site evolving with your nonprofit.

  • Episode 85: Is it strategic?

    April 21st, 2021  |  21 mins 29 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Sarah Durham and Laura Fisher define goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics, and where and when to pressure test an idea.

  • Episode 84: What norms should you challenge and disrupt?

    April 8th, 2021  |  17 mins 39 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Sarah Durham and Hannah Thomas discuss thoughtful disruption and whose voice is centered in the work we do.

  • Episode 83: Where is the community in your communications?

    March 24th, 2021  |  24 mins 22 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Sarah Durham talks with Michelle Shireen Muri about the importance of centering your community in fundraising and communications.

  • Episode 82: How do you center your community as you do research?

    March 10th, 2021  |  22 mins 26 secs
    equity, nonprofit, research

    In this podcast, Sarah Durham chats with Seema Shah, PhD, founder and principal of COMM|VEDA Consulting about the intersection between research and equity, and equity-focused research.

  • Episode 81: How can you facilitate meetings better

    February 24th, 2021  |  10 mins 37 secs
    facilitation, nonprofit

    Get tips on how to facilitate meetings better and why facilitation is so important in work and your personal life in this podcast.