The Smart Communications Podcast

Episode 135: What does it actually mean to show up as a "good" board member?

April 26th, 2023  |  24 mins 31 secs

board, nonprofit, podcast, teams

Learn the indicators of a “good” board member, and get questions you should ask to make sure it’s a good fit for both the individual and the nonprofit organization.

Episode 24: How can you communicate better with the board?

December 5th, 2018  |  21 mins 11 secs

board, board relationship, nonprofit board, nonprofit partnership

The key to building trust with your board is candor. Craig Shelley, Managing Director of Orr Group, goes deep on what exactly that entails, how to practice it, and more.

Episode 13: Should we digitize our brand guide?

July 24th, 2018  |  7 mins 18 secs

board, brand guide, branding, communications, digital brand guide, digital branding, digital style guide, donor engagement, events, fundraising, galas, giving, in-person cultivation, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits, style guide

Brand guides contain everything you need to write and design on behalf of your nonprofit, and many organizations are beginning to digitize them. Listen to learn more about the pros of digital brand guides.

Episode 12: What makes a great nonprofit tagline?

July 11th, 2018  |  14 mins 4 secs

board, branding, communications, copy, copywriting, creative, jargon, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits, organizational taglines, taglines

A tagline can’t communicate everything, but it can fill in gaps left by the name and logo and help express your brand. Tune in for new ways of thinking about your organization’s tagline.

Episode 7: Are events and galas still effective?

May 16th, 2018  |  12 mins 25 secs

board, branding, communications, donor engagement, events, fundraising, galas, giving, in-person cultivation, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits

Episode 5: How can nonprofits use photography well?

April 25th, 2018  |  8 mins 19 secs

board, branding, communications, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits, photography

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.

Episode 4: How do we communicate without communications staff?

April 11th, 2018  |  12 mins 18 secs

board, branding, communications, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits

Having a dedicated communications team is out of reach for many nonprofits, but the need to communicate effectively to external audiences is still there. This episode of the Smart Communications Podcast features a conversation with Wayne Ho, President and CEO of CPC, a large social services organization located in NYC. Out of CPC’s 4,000 employees, none have “communications” in their job title. Listen in to find out how Wayne encourages all staff to be effective brand ambassadors.

Episode 3: What's the board's role in branding?

April 2nd, 2018  |  11 mins 31 secs

board, branding, communications, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits

Figuring out the right people to have in the rebranding process at the right time is a real struggle. In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Big Duck’s VP, Farra Trompeter, and Big Duck’s CEO, Sarah Durham, share their experiences leading nonprofit rebrands and serving as nonprofit board members, plus provide expert recommendations for defining the board’s role in branding.