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 78: Marketing versus communications: what's the difference?

    January 13th, 2021  |  22 mins 31 secs
    communications, marketing, nonprofit

    Should marketing and communications be separate departments? Sarah Durham sits down with marketing and communications expert Samantha Campbell to examine the difference.

  • Episode 77: How can your values help during challenging times?

    December 16th, 2020  |  20 mins 24 secs
    nonprofit, values

    These are uncertain times for nonprofits. Join Sarah Durham and NTEN's CEO, Amy Sample-Ward, for a conversation about how NTEN uses their values to communicate tough news, pivot when things change, and more.

  • Episode 76: How do you convert crisis donors into regular givers?

    December 9th, 2020  |  22 mins 54 secs
    donors, nonprofit

    Sarah Durham and Farra Trompeter chat about the best ways to engage first-time donors who responded during a moment of crisis and transform them into regular givers.

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    Episode 75: Do robots make bad fundraisers?

    November 25th, 2020  |  18 mins 20 secs
    fundraising, nonprofit

    Do robots make bad fundraisers? This episode of the Smart Communications Podcast examines ways to apply time-tested principles of philanthropy to the modern technology available to fundraisers- while keeping it human and effective.

  • Episode 74: What tagline works??

    November 11th, 2020  |  17 mins 11 secs
    branding, nonprofit

    A good tagline can inspire you to think, feel, maybe even react. This episode breaks down the three structures to follow that can strengthen your organization’s brand strategy.

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    Episode 73: How do you tackle a daunting project?

    October 28th, 2020  |  11 mins 42 secs
    nonprofit, project management

    How do you tackle a daunting project? This episode of the Smart Communications Podcast offers a roadmap for how you can approach big initiatives and tips on how to get started.

  • Episode 72: What is strategy? A refresher.

    October 14th, 2020  |  13 mins 17 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit strategy

    This rerun of the Smart Communications podcast offers useful insights to help you get a sense of the terms: goals, objectives, strategy, and tactics from a nonprofit communications perspective.

  • Episode 71: What are the barriers to effective communications?

    September 28th, 2020  |  13 mins 45 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    In this episode, Sarah Durham examines the common obstacles that make it harder for nonprofits to communicate.

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    Episode 70: Are events and galas still effective? Let’s revisit.

    September 16th, 2020  |  14 mins 5 secs
    fundraising, galas, nonprofit

    To gala or not to gala. In this podcast replay, Stephanie Thomas, founder of Stetwin Consulting, discusses the value of galas as a fundraising vehicle.

  • Episode 69: Where do nonprofits go wrong with communications?

    September 2nd, 2020  |  21 mins 14 secs
    nonprofit, nonprofit communications

    Thought leader and host of the “Nonprofits are Messy” podcast, Joan Garry, discusses how to make nonprofit communications strategy passionate and impactful.

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    Episode 67: How do you build sustainable momentum into your communications?

    August 19th, 2020  |  17 mins 53 secs
    accountability, brand elements, communications, nonprofit, sustainable momentum

    Sarah Durham discusses common challenges to nonprofits generating sustainable momentum in their communications and offers ways to address them using six key brand elements.

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    Episode 54: How do you ask for a really, really, really big donation?

    August 5th, 2020  |  15 mins 28 secs
    communications, donation, giving, nonprofit

    Sarah Durham and Eric Javier tell us the best way to get that transformational donation for your nonprofit.

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    Episode 68: Why is a clear voice important for nonprofits?

    July 22nd, 2020  |  15 mins 30 secs
    audiences, branding, communications, donors, nonprofit, nonprofit branding

    Is your nonprofit a best-kept-secret? Learn how developing a clear, credible, and consistent voice can help you build and maintain deeper mindshare and engagement with your audiences.

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    Episode 56: How can you make your website friendlier and more accessible?

    July 8th, 2020  |  11 mins 44 secs
    accessibility, branding, communications, content, inclusive, nonprofit, website

    Sarah Durham and Amanda Luker discuss how your website can benefit from becoming more user-friendly.

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    Episode 66: How can you communicate better via Zoom?

    June 24th, 2020  |  7 mins 9 secs
    communications, nonprofit, pop-up rules, video norms, zoom

    Stay-at-home orders across the country have increased the amount of daily interaction that occurs over video calls. Discover ways to maximize the effectiveness of each call while reducing burnout.

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    Episode 62: How can you disrupt power dynamics and bring a DEI lens to your major donor relationships?

    June 10th, 2020  |  12 mins 28 secs
    campaigns, communications, donors, nonprofit

    What roles and power do your donors have? Learn how to center your participants while maintaining donor relationships by applying a DEI lens with Sarah Durham and Hannah Thomas.