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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Episode 65: What happens when people think they know your organization but they don’t?
May 27th, 2020 | 20 mins 58 secs
brand perceptions, branding, ms foundation, nonprofit, nonprofit communications
Sarah Durham and Teresa Younger discuss shifting brand perceptions.
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Episode 61: What are the six elements your communications need to thrive?
May 13th, 2020 | 6 mins 16 secs
communications, engine, leaders, nonprofit, teams
Sarah Durham’s new book, The Nonprofit Communications Engine, explains the six elements your communications need to succeed.
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Episode 60: Why should your Executive Director prioritize communications?
April 29th, 2020 | 17 mins 50 secs
communications, mission, nonprofit
Farra Trompeter and Sarah Durham discuss the many flavors of communications teams and how to help leaders understand what communications can—and can’t—do to advance the mission.
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Episode 59: Should your logo stand out or fit in?
April 15th, 2020 | 12 mins 16 secs
communications, design, logo, nonprofit
Sarah Durham and Sandy Zimmerman discuss the sweet spot for your organization’s logo.
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Episode 63: How should your organization navigate communications during COVID-19?
April 1st, 2020 | 4 mins 59 secs
communications, coronavirus, covid, covid19, fundraise, fundraising, nonprofit
Here are some quick tips and resources to support nonprofits during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Episode 58: Interviews, focus groups, or surveys: which should you use?
March 18th, 2020 | 24 mins 9 secs
audience, communications, interviews, nonprofit, research, surveys
How does your brand resonate with your participants? Learn how you can conduct your own research using interviews, focus groups, and surveys with Sarah Durham and Laura Fisher.