The Smart Communications Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Nonprofit”

Episode 209: How can we build trust, bridge divides, and engage communities?

Big Duck — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

How can nonprofits connect more meaningfully with the people they serve during times of deep division and declining trust? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Doug Hattaway, president of Hattaway Communications, and Erica Pelletreau, founder and CEO of The Pelletreau Group, about the science and strategy behind building trust, bridging divides, and fostering real community engagement. Drawing on the Trust Playbook developed for The Communications Network, they share practical insights on addressing misconceptions, using plain language, and designing communications that prioritize listening, relationships, and shared goals.

Episode 208: How can you lead an inclusive strategic planning process?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

What does it take to really lead an inclusive strategic planning process, and why does it matter? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, author of Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits, about designing plans that center participation, clarify purpose, and build real alignment. Get practical tips for assessing readiness, integrating communications throughout, and turning big ideas into actionable plans.

Episode 207: How can you center community voices in messaging?

Big Duck — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

What does it really mean to center community voices in your messaging? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group, about how organizations can develop communications grounded in authentic community experiences and how sharing genuine stories can revolutionize your nonprofit’s messaging.

Episode 206: How can you use science to engage donors?

Big Duck — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0500

What if fundraising strategy started with the brain? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP, author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making, about how neuroscience and behavioral psychology can strengthen donor engagement. They share insights nonprofits can use to build trust, write clearer appeals, and design campaigns that motivate supporters.

Episode 205: Why is it important to change how you talk to funders?

Big Duck — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

How you talk to your funders shapes how they understand your work, your community, and your impact. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with grant writer and fundraising strategist, Dani Fauklner, about why nonprofits must rethink traditional, jargon-heavy fundraising language. Together, they explore practical ways teams can audit and improve proposals, reports, and messaging. Learn how cross-team communication can help nonprofits secure funding without compromising integrity.

Episode 204: Is the field of nonprofit communications coming of age?

Big Duck — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and chief strategy officer of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, discuss insights from the 16th annual Nonprofit Communications Trends Report. Together, they explore why communicators are ready for strategy, what AI means for visibility and influence, and where the approach to nonprofit communications is showing real maturity.

Episode 203: How to bridge belonging in your narratives?

Big Duck — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Narratives don’t just tell stories; they shape meaning. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Sadé Dozan, vice president of advancement at Borealis Philanthropy, discuss how nonprofits can use plain language and narrative strategies to build belonging, expand your “we”, and create more inclusive communications. Get practical guidance for anyone working at the intersection of storytelling and social change.

Episode 202: How can you put AI to work for your nonprofit?

Big Duck — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

AI is reshaping nonprofit work, but adopting it responsibly takes intention. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Cheryl Contee, chief innovation officer at BrightWorksAI.com, and Darian Rodriguez Heyman, founder of Helping People Help, to discuss insights from their new book, AI for Nonprofits, including practical, ethical ways nonprofits can use AI from fundraising and communications to operations and culture.

Episode 201: How do you approach rebranding a 100 year old nonprofit?

Big Duck — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Insights from a major nonprofit rebrand! Join Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Brad Drazen, vice president of communications and marketing at Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, as they unpack the motivations behind changing a 100-year-old foundation’s name, the research and collaboration that guided the process, and what other organizations and foundations can learn when considering a rebrand.

Episode 200: How can we reimagine nonprofits and philanthropy?

Big Duck — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

In our 200th episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with writer, speaker, and beloved nonprofit truth-teller Vu Le, to explore how we can reimagine nonprofits and philanthropy. Learn about “sacred cows,” structural barriers, the urgency of this political moment, and what real transformation requires from all of us. Vu also shares insights from his new book, challenges long-held norms, and offers reflections on joy, community, and resilience. Listen or read along to this milestone conversation that’s honest, energizing, and deeply needed.

Episode 199: How can you find the best parts of your brand?

Big Duck — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500

What are the best parts of your brand, and are you putting them to work for your mission? Farra Trompeter, co-director, interviews Lyn Weinman, founder, president, and chief strategist at KidGlov and the author of Untangling Spaghetti: A Branding Fable, to discuss addressing brand confusion, aligning on strategy, and knowing what type of change is right.

Episode 198: What do you need to know about cybersecurity?

Big Duck — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Cybersecurity is everyone's job. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Joshua Peskay, co-founder of Meet the Moment, about practical ways nonprofits can reduce risk, protect sensitive data, and create a culture of awareness and care. From reasonable security standards to tabletop exercises, learn how to keep the mission and the people you serve safe.

Episode 197: How can you find joy?

Big Duck — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

How do we find joy in our work and our lives, especially when burnout looms? In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Elandria Jackson Charles, chief joy officer at Ayoka Partners, explore how sabbatical care, intentional rest, and daily micro-moments of joy can help you reconnect with yourself and your purpose.

Episode 196: How can you engage in participatory grantmaking?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What happens when funders shift decision-making powers to communities? Farra Trompeter is joined by Cynthia Gibson, PhD, principal of Cynthesis Consulting, and Kelley Buhles, independent consultant and owner of Buhles Consulting, to discuss participatory grantmaking and explore how sharing decision-making power with communities fosters stronger, more democratic philanthropy. They also outline the steps nonprofits and funders can take to initiate this approach.

Episode 195: What does effective design feedback look like?

Big Duck — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Smart design feedback is possible; it just requires clarity, collaboration, and strategy. Join J Kelley, senior account manager and host of this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, as they chat with Randi Gibson, graphic designer, and Sandy Zimmerman, design director, about effective design feedback. Follow along for strategies to make the feedback process smoother and your creative outcomes stronger.

Episode 194: How can you communicate with candor and care?

Big Duck — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Communicating with candor can be kind and helpful. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Keyante Love, founder and president of Good Love Group, to discuss navigating power dynamics, embracing discomfort, and staying grounded in your values when collaborating with your team and your community.

Episode 193: How can you keep your communications plan alive?

Big Duck — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Is your communications plan sitting untouched? We have swapped roles for this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, with our director of service development, Ally Dommu as host and Farra Trompeter, co-director, as her guest, who explore how to keep your communications plan useful, relevant, and responsive, even in chaotic times.

Episode 192: How can you consolidate feedback?

Big Duck — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Managing feedback doesn’t have to be messy or overwhelming. In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by J Kelley, senior account manager, to walk through thoughtful steps to synthesize and clarify feedback—helping teams collaborate more efficiently, reduce confusion, and move forward with confidence.

Episode 191: Why should funders invest in grantee communications capacity?

Big Duck — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What does it look like when a foundation goes beyond grants to strengthen nonprofits? Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Brittany DeNovellis, capacity building program manager, at the T. Rowe Price Foundation, share how communications capacity building can deepen impact at your organization.

Episode 190: How can you move from self-care to collective care?

Big Duck — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What if self-care wasn’t just personal but team-wide? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Lan To, senior consultant and executive coach at Community Resource Exchange (CRE), to examine CAREpacity, a powerful approach to organizational wellness and care-driven leadership.

Episode 189: How can you get more out of your rebrand?

Big Duck — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Learn how to make your nonprofit’s rebrand last. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Sandy Zimmerman, design director, explore how nonprofits can go beyond the brand launch and learn how to bring your rebrand to life —and keep it thriving.

Episode 188: How can you grow midlevel donors?

Big Duck — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What is a midlevel donor, and how do organizations define that? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Alia McKee, principal at Sea Change Strategies, to explore how nonprofits can engage midlevel donors and offer strategies on how to segment effectively, steward with intention, and recognize the long-term value of these supporters.

Episode 187: How can you shape your AI brand footprint?

Big Duck — Thu, 29 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

How does AI perceive your nonprofit brand? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by George Weiner, founder and chief whaler at Whole Whale, to explore “AI brand footprints” and how to proactively shape your visibility in tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI search. They explore how traditional SEO is shifting and what you can do to revisit your content strategy.

Episode 186: How should your nonprofit approach crisis communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

When a crisis emerges, how should your nonprofit respond? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Joanna Brody, founder and president of Brody PR, to explore how nonprofits can prepare and navigate crises with strategy, empathy, and impact.

Episode 185: How can you approach AI with an equity lens?

Big Duck — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Are you curious about using AI without compromising your values? In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Meena Das, founder of Namaste Data, to unpack findings from the AI Equity Project and offer practical advice for nonprofits navigating this evolving technology.

Episode 184: Should your organization consider a merger?

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What happens when two mission-aligned nonprofits decide to merge? Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Idealist’s founder and executive director, Ami Dar, about their recent merger with VolunteerMatch—and what other orgs can learn from it.

Episode 183: How can you break free from being busy?

Big Duck — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Are you constantly busy but never feel accomplished? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Kishshana Palmer, author, discuss Kishshana’s book, Busy Is a Four-Letter Word: A Guide to Achieving More by Doing Less, what it means to work smarter, not harder, and offer practical insights for how personal development is professional development

Episode 182: How can you build resilient nonprofit organizations and teams?

Big Duck — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Resilience isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential for nonprofit success. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Peter Heller, founder of Heller Fundraising Group, explore what it means when staff are resilient and supported, and how leaders can support their teams, adapt to change, and fundraise for a strong future.

Episode 181: How do we foster healthy group participation?

Big Duck — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Healthy participation is a process not an outcome. How do we create spaces where everyone feels valued and engaged? Sarita Joseph, director of accounts, and Josh Kelley, senior account manager, explore the importance of this topic and share practical tips to enhance collaboration, inclusivity, and effectiveness in nonprofit settings.

Episode 180: Is it time to reboot your communications strategy?

Big Duck — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Is it time to reboot your nonprofit’s communications strategy? In this episode, Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, and Farra Trompeter, co-director, discuss the latest nonprofit communications trends, the need to focus, evolve, and reflect on approaches, challenges staff face, and why nonprofits may need to reboot their communication strategy.

Episode 179: How can a language guide help your nonprofit?

Big Duck — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Language shapes how nonprofits connect, engage, and drive impact. Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Ryan Gerhard, copy director, explore why a language guide is helpful, how it differs from a brand guide, and the steps needed to create one.

Episode 178: How can values strengthen your organization?

Big Duck — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Is it the right moment to update your organization's values? Brenda Perez, Senior Account Manager, and Claire Taylor Hansen, co-director, explore how values can unify teams and organizations, guiding both internal culture and external communication. They share tips to create meaningful values that reflect your mission and spark alignment, whether you’re in a nonprofit, worker-owned cooperative, or other organization with shared beliefs.

Episode 177: How can you engage your community with campaigns?

Big Duck — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Nicholas Bruneau, communications consultant and author of Engage with Impact. Together, they explore how nonprofits can use the AGILE framework to create effective campaigns, deepen community engagement, and drive real-world change. They share actionable tips for nonprofits to foster collaboration, and turn social media followers into active partners.

Episode 176: How do you plan and communicate about leaving an organization?

Big Duck — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Is succession and continuity planning a standard practice in your organization? Farra Trompeter, co-director, joins Sarah Durham, founder of Big Duck, to explore why it’s smart for executive directors and senior leaders to plan their eventual departures. They discuss the key factors that influence decisions to leave, strategies for communicating exit plans effectively, and how to approach thoughtful, phased succession planning that ensures organizational stability.

Episode 175: Should the media be an audience for your brand?

Big Duck — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Media coverage can expand a nonprofit’s reach, but with limited resources, it can be hard to know where to invest. In this conversation, Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Michelle Behar, senior strategist, explore practical tips for nonprofits to evaluate if media outreach is worth the investment and share strategies on building relationships with journalists, measuring impact, and more.

Episode 174: How can nonprofit leaders build strong organizations?

Big Duck — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by David Rhode to discuss his book, Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. They explore strategies and actionable steps that executive directors, CEOs, senior staff, and board members can take to strengthen and grow their organizations.

Episode 173: How can you use AI for strategic communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

How is artificial intelligence reshaping the nonprofit landscape? Alexandra M. Merceron, executive vice president at RUBENSTEIN, joins Farra Trompeter, co-director, to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on nonprofits. They discuss emerging themes, risks, ethical concerns, how to navigate AI’s challenges, available safeguards, and three key implications AI has on nonprofit communications.

Episode 172: What is the role of fundraisers in creating social change?

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

What lessons do fundraisers need to learn and unlearn? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Mari Eva Mendes, chief development officer at LEAP and founder and principal of MEM Consulting, to discuss the role of fundraisers and the need to challenge problematic practices. They also explore how to partner with donors to honor their investments and ensure that their resources are contributing to systemic change.

Episode 171: How can you start treating donors as partners?

Big Duck — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Fundraising can involve communicating to people with wealth or power with uneven dynamics. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Emily Bishop Runeari, founder of EBR Consulting, about how to shift conversations with donors to a more partnership-oriented approach, and ways you can educate groups of prospects and donors.

Episode 170: How can you conduct marketing and fundraising ethically?

Big Duck — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Doing fundraising and communications work more mindfully requires us to move at a slower pace, ask multiple people for feedback, and truly listen to what's being shared. Farra Trompeter, Co-Director, is joined by Karen Lundgard, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Lindsey Cosgrove, Chief of Staff at Greenwich House, and Sasha Prado, CFRE, Senior Manager of Major Gifts at Robin Hood, to chat about their work with Girl Scouts of Greater New York's Troop 6000. They share tools and processes to address problematic language and images in marketing and fundraising contexts.

Episode 169: How can you plan an inclusive and welcoming project?

Big Duck — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Integrating inclusive practices into your projects leads to better outcomes. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by account managers Josh Kelley, and Brenda Perez to discuss how to create stronger and welcoming projects from the outset. They share insights on ways to keep engagement and offer strategies for measuring success through an inclusive perspective.

Episode 168: How can framing inform your strategy?

Big Duck — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Dr. Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO, and Carinne Wheedan, director of communications, at the FrameWorks Institute, to discuss how framing can inform a nonprofit’s communications strategy. They share practical ways that organizations can effectively apply framing to their messaging or campaigns and provide general tips for those in the mission-driven sector.

Episode 167: How do you activate change in a network?

Big Duck — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Stacy Van Gorp, PhD, partner-owner at See What I Mean Consulting, as they discuss how change comes about in a network, how good communications is essential to creating change, and activation moments, tools, and activities related to communications that you can integrate into your everyday work.

Episode 166: How did DEI go wrong and what can we do now?

Big Duck — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

DEI work is about building bridges across differences. Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Minal Bopaiah, founder of Brevity + Wit, as they discuss the state of DEI four years after the murder of George Floyd and share tips for how organizations can build a strong internal culture that advances DEI efforts on an ongoing basis.

Episode 165: How can my nonprofit benefit from launching a podcast?

Big Duck — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Marcus dePaula, audio engineer, podcast producer, and consultant, as they explore what an organization needs to launch a podcast as a part of its nonprofit communications strategy. They discuss factors organizations should consider before starting a podcast series and tips for how to manage podcasts once you get started.

Episode 164: How can you design and facilitate incredible workshops?

Big Duck — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Join Ally Dommu, Director of Service Development, and Dr. Myriam Hadnes, facilitator, and founder of Workshops Work, as they discuss the power and importance of facilitation. Discover steps facilitators can take to harness benefits and create respectful and inclusive spaces.

Episode 163: When and how should you share branding work in development?

Big Duck — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Sarita Joseph, director of accounts, to discuss sharing nonprofit branding concepts and what questions to ask before inviting others to view and provide feedback on branding work in progress. Get tips on what to avoid and what to emphasize.

Episode 162: What is the smallest viable audience for nonprofits?

Big Duck — Wed, 29 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE, head of development at iNaturalist, as they discuss how to prioritize audiences and share examples of how being more limited in your approach to audiences ties to branding and communications.

Episode 161: How can you challenge the power and practices of philanthropy?

Big Duck — Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Lisa Pilar Cowan, vice president of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, about the concepts of trust-based philanthropy, new ways some funders are working with nonprofits for more authentic relationships, and the connection between the community's role and the donor's role in guiding an organization.

Episode 160: Why does your website need a content strategy?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Natalie Yelton, content strategist at Kanopi Studios, to delve into content strategy and how to create an engaging nonprofit website. They share key performance indicators to use while writing new content for your site and insights on how to lead with accessibility.

Episode 159: How can you better position your organization for funding?

Big Duck — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Sheleia Phillips, founder and principal consultant of SMP Nonprofit Consulting, to talk about how to better position your organization to secure funding. Hear examples of nonprofits that have better positioned themselves to receive funding and find out what the shift looked like that led to their success.

Episode 158: How can staff take care of themselves while changing the world?

Big Duck — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, about mindfulness in the workplace and offers tips that nonprofit leaders can apply to cultivate care and resilience among their teams.

Episode 157: How can you raise awareness and build trust?

Big Duck — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, sits down with Derrick Feldmann, managing director of Ad Council Research Institute and Ad Council Edge, who shares tips for nonprofit staff who are looking to connect awareness and action, to reach people who are hard to reach, and who want to equip trusted messengers to be amplifiers of their mission.

Episode 156: How can we have courageous conversations?

Big Duck — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Nneka Allen, Camila Pereira, and Nicole Salmon, co-editors of Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love, a collection of lived experiences written by 15 accomplished Black North American fundraisers in the United States and Canada, to discuss how nonprofit staff can push for more honest, kind, clear, and direct conversations with their colleagues.

Episode 155: What are the latest nonprofit communications trends?

Big Duck — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, about the latest nonprofit communications trends, including hot topics like AI, brand archetypes, and the structure of communications teams.

Episode 154: How can you deliver the right message to the right audience?

Big Duck — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

What is most important, the message, the channel, or the mindset of the audience you are trying to reach? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ryan Gerhardt, copy director, discuss how we think about segmentation and messaging, the differences between organizational and persuasive messaging, and more.

Episode 147: How do you hire for a strong communications team?

Big Duck — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

How do you hire for a strong communications team? Co-directors, Farra Trompeter and Elizabeth Ricca zoom out and talk about communications in general, why nonprofits are investing more now in how they structure their communications teams, and talk through four questions to guide your next communications hire.

Episode 146: What's your next move on social media?

Big Duck — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

What's your next move on social media? Farra Trompeter is joined by Julia Campbell, author, speaker, and host of the Nonprofit Nation Podcast, who shares four pillars of social media management as well as three insightful questions to help your nonprofit effectively leverage digital storytelling.

Episode 144: How can communications help you recruit and engage board members?

Big Duck — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Rob Acton, founder and CEO, and Erin Pierson, director of strategic growth, from Cause Strategy Partners to discuss how to engage board members in marketing and communications from recruitment through board service to alumni status.

Episode 143: How can you manage change?

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, sits down with Mara Mintz, consultant, and account lead, and Caitlin Corda, head of marketing, brand, and business development, from Blue Beyond Consulting to discuss the importance of change management for nonprofits, especially those going through branding, major campaigns, or strategic planning.

Episode 142: What and who is a major donor?

Big Duck — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Alyssa Wright, founder and principal of Wright Collective, about what and who is a major donor and encourages organizations to have deeper conversations with donors about the diverse ways they contribute to nonprofit missions.

Episode 141: How can your nonprofit staff maximize LinkedIn?

Big Duck — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, welcomes Tania Bhattacharyya, founder of Lumos Marketing, to discuss maximizing LinkedIn for nonprofit staff and the power of personal branding. Get tips for how your organization can use LinkedIn more strategically, including the importance of sharing compelling stories on LinkedIn.

Episode 140: How can you create true partnerships with sponsors?

Big Duck — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Mariah Monique, founder, and CEO of The Sponsorship Catalyst, discuss the importance of building true partnerships with sponsors and offer pointers on how sponsorships can be a game changer for nonprofits.

Episode 139: How can you create messaging and communications that reflect the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion?

Big Duck — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, delves into the topic of creating messaging and communications that embody justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles with Vanessa Wakeman, founder, and CEO of The Wakeman Agency.

Episode 138: How should new communications directors approach their role?

Big Duck — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ally Dommu, director of service development, share insights and strategies for those starting or looking to refresh their approach to leading communications at their nonprofit. Whether you're onboarding a new communications director or seeking a fresh perspective, this episode offers valuable insights for all.

Episode 137: What can branding really do for your org?

Big Duck — Wed, 24 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co–director, chats with Vince Warren, executive director at the Center for Constitutional Rights, about their branding journey and what outcomes they achieved by shifting how they expressed their mission more robustly through new visuals and messaging.

Episode 136: How can we bring radical honesty to communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 10 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Marisa DeSalles, founder of Good Tilth LLC, and Michelle Flores Vryn, chief development officer with OneStar, about radical honesty and the power of rooting truth and trust throughout your communications.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Brooke Richie-Babbage, founder and CEO of Bending Arc, and the host of The Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, about what they find meaningful about board service and the benefits of having board members who are passionate and can be cheerleaders, ambassadors, and thought partners.

Episode 134: Does the nonprofit sector need to rebrand itself?

Big Duck — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Joan Grangenois-Thomas, principal of JGT Public Relations, about misconceptions surrounding the nonprofit sector and suggestions for shifting perspectives and language about the industry.

Episode 132: What can messaging do for your organization?

Big Duck — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

A nonprofit’s approach to messaging should strategically advance its mission and engage its staff as brand ambassadors. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Wayne Ho, president and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council, about the lasting impact of their branding and messaging work.

Episode 131: What are the latest nonprofit communications trends?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

A nonprofit’s approach to communications should strategically advance its mission. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and CEO of Nonprofit Marketing Guide, about ways to refine your team’s communications initiatives

Episode 130: How should you evolve your approach to digital marketing?

Big Duck — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Does your digital marketing strategies and tactics stall, get stuck, or succeed? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Geraldine Zamora, account director at Community Boost discuss approaches for you to efficiently ramp up your online advertising, search engine optimization, and more.

Episode 129: How can development and communications teams work better together?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Clear communication and shared strategy internally are essential to strong external communications. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Sunil Oommen, President of Oomen Consulting LLC, about why collaboration between your teams is so important.

Episode 128: How can you stop the spread of so many sub-brands?

Big Duck — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Do the sub-brands of your nonprofit reflect your brand strategy and help you engage audiences, or do they cause confusion and limit participation? Join co-director, Farra Trompeter, and creative director, Claire Taylor Hansen, as they discuss how to use sub-brands strategically.

Episode 127: How can you build a strong relationship with a consultant?

Big Duck — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Why does good work take time? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Josh Riman, founder and president of Great Believer, talk about why it's essential to have mutual trust, kindness, and respect between nonprofit organizations and creative agencies.

Episode 126: How can you make the case with funders to invest in staff?

Big Duck — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Rusty Stahl, founder, president, and CEO of Fund the People, about how you can communicate the value of your organization, including the value of your staff, and how to get your funders to invest in the people who make your organization work.

Episode 125: How can you manage burnout and fatigue as a communications professional?

Big Duck — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Should we strive for work-life balance or work-life harmony? Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Sarah Boison, digital strategist, about how we can support our colleagues, and ourselves, when we are experiencing burnout.

Episode 124: Why should you try new approaches in your donor communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:30:00 -0500

How do you center equity and justice in your fundraising efforts? Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Gladiator Consulting, Rachel D'Souza-Siebert, chats with co-director, Farra Trompeter about how to shift our relationships with donors and bring more abundance to our fundraising.

Episode 123: How can you get donors to give again?

Big Duck — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Monthly giving programs bring more stability and sustainability to an organization. In this episode, Farra Trompeter chats with Dana Snyder, founder of Positive Equation, who shares tips on how to attract and engage repeat donors.

Episode 122: How should you rethink your approach to strategic planning?

Big Duck — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Craig Shelley, partner and chief growth officer at Orr Group discuss different approaches to develop and apply your organization’s strategic plan.

Episode 121: Why should you prioritize internal communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Communicating first or at the same time with your staff as external communications roll out builds trust. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Fatima Jones, senior director of marketing and communication, at The Apollo, about what a high-functioning internal communications team can look like.

Episode 120: How can you engage your community in your brand?

Big Duck — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Why is it important to center your community in shaping and representing your organization’s brand? Ally Dommu, director of strategy, talks with Farra Trompeter, co-director, about the value and practices of community-informed branding.

Episode 119: How can you create and use your vision, mission, and values?

Big Duck — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Clear vision, mission, and values are essential to establishing and reinforcing your brand. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ryan Gerhardt, senior copywriter, explore how your vision, mission, and values can help provide clarity and build stronger, lasting connections with your audiences.

Episode 118: How can you use your vision, mission, and values to guide your donor communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

How can your organization use its vision, mission, and values to guide and inform your work? Farra, co-director, talks with Ruth McFarlane, chief advancement officer at Ms. Foundation for Women about their vision, mission, and value statements and how they were created.

Episode 117: How does branding make things easier?

Big Duck — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Elandria Jackson Charles, chief development and communications officer at Blue Engine, about their decision to rebrand and the freedom and confidence that comes from being clear on who you are and what you stand for.

Episode 116: How can you direct transformative fundraising for your nonprofit?

Big Duck — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Rhea Wong, fundraiser and author of Get That Money, Honey!: The No-Bullsh*t Guide to Raising More Money For Your Nonprofit, chat about how people's feelings about money impact their ability to fundraise.

Episode 115: Why does belonging matter in the workplace?

Big Duck — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with DEI thought leader and author, Rhodes Perry, about the benefits of fostering belonging and inclusion in our workplaces–and the costs when we don’t. They discuss how to build power, understand exclusion, and steps you can take to actively make things better.

Episode 114: What can white managers do to reduce racial harm?

Big Duck — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with equity and justice practitioner, coach, and consultant, Yejin Lee to discuss how white managers can disrupt harmful and racist behaviors, the importance of identification, reflection, and accountability for transformation.

Episode 113: How can you use research to understand your brand perception?

Big Duck — Wed, 25 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Looking to raise awareness, increase visibility, and become a household name? Before any of this can happen, it is important to conduct research to understand your organization’s brand perception. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ally Dommu, director of strategy, share tips on how to get started with research, ways to engage your community, and how to process insights to make changes.

Episode 112: How can you facilitate inclusive conversations?

Big Duck — Wed, 11 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Ally Dommu, director of strategy, & Key Jackson, deputy executive director for programs & power building at GLSEN dive into facilitation practices and how to create spaces where all people can engage and feel comfortable joining in the discussion.

Episode 111: How can your organization stay human-centered in an artificial world?

Big Duck — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Allison Fine and Beth Kanter, co-authors of The Smart Nonprofit, Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World about how we can reduce potential harms such as embedded bias and surveillance capitalism, and share some insights into how nonprofits can prevent these harms from taking root.

Episode 110: How can technology create an equitable world?

Big Duck — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

How can tech better meet community needs? Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with leading public interest technologist, Afua Bruce, and CEO of NTEN, Amy Sample Ward about their book “The Tech That Comes Next, How Changemakers, Philanthropists, and Technologists can Build an Equitable World.” and how to use technology for social change.

Episode 109: How can workers tap into their own power and voice?

Big Duck — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

How can organizations promote worker democracy? Learn how worker-ownership can help solve social problems and ways to share leadership with your team and community. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Esteban Kelly, executive director at the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) and worker-owner and co-founder of Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance (AORTA), chat about these topics and more in this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast.

Episode 108: How can you promote legacy giving?

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, co-director, interviews Lori Kranczer, founder and CEO of Everyday Planned Giving, about her work in the planned giving space and how organizations can develop their legacy giving programs and have better connections with their donors.

Episode 107: How can you approach succession planning?

Big Duck — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0500

nonprofit, teams, communication

Episode 106: Protecting one's time: How can wellbeing play into decision-making?

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

How do you describe how you make decisions in your role? Hannah Thomas, director of learning and innovation at Big Duck, talks with Fatima Jones, senior director of marketing and communications at the Apollo Theater, to discuss how to set up boundaries to protect your time and wellbeing and how to enforce these boundaries in your decision-making process.

Episode 104: How can you embrace the challenges of changing your name?

Big Duck — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Why would an organization consider changing its name? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and senior copywriter, Ryan Gerhardt, dive into the joys and pains of naming as part of the branding process.

Episode 103: Tiny Habits: How can small changes change everything?

Big Duck — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

It’s a new year! Do you have new behaviors you want to adopt or unwanted behaviors you want to stop? Tiny Habits is a simple and effective method to change behavior. Learn how to change behaviors or adopt new ones with Farra Trompeter, co-director and Edith Asibey founder of Asibey consulting.

Episode 102: How can you create a healthy workplace in remote settings?

Big Duck — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

How can your organization prioritize wellness and productivity? Farra Trompter, co-director, talks with Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, in this episode packed with ways to add a more mindful approach to your work-life and tech-life balance.

Episode 101: How do you know when your nonprofit has a jargon problem–and what can you do about it?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Jargon is common in the nonprofit sector. For some it can communicate knowledge, but for most people, using jargon, acronyms, and complicated phrases can be alienating.. Big Duck’s founder and board member, Sarah Durham chats with Bill Furmanski, senior director of communications at the Fair Labor Association about de-jargoning the messaging in your organization and how to make sure your audiences can understand who you are in plain language.

Episode 100: How can nonprofits apply the principles of Emergent Strategy to their communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0500

Never a failure, always a lesson. Trust the people. Move at the speed of trust. These are just a few principles of Emergent Strategy by adrienne mareee brown. Hannah Thomas, director of learning and innovation, and Priscilla Hung, co-director of Move to End Violence, discuss being adaptive, thinking with abundance, and centering your purpose.

Episode 99: Who should be on your communications team?

Big Duck — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Sarah Durham, Big Duck’s founder, and Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, share tips that will help any nonprofit strengthen their communications team and improve its capacity to succeed.

Episode 98: How can you build inclusive processes in branding and beyond?

Big Duck — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

At this moment, it’s important to slow down and create more inclusive teams and processes. Join Farra Trompeter and Dr. Renee Rubin Ross as they discuss participation and equity and share tips on how to make branding more inclusive.

Episode 97: How nonprofit communications have changed over the years

Big Duck — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Nonprofit staff have become more sophisticated in prioritizing the goals, audiences, strategies, and tactics to guide their communications. Listen in as Sarah Durham and Farra Trompeter talk about the changes in communication approaches and activities and the importance of communications in the nonprofit sector.

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

Big Duck — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

How can you use donor personas to guide your communications? At Big Duck, we define personas as tools that define a segment of your audience, who they are in connection to your work, what they care about, how to best reach them, where to find them, and more. Farra Trompeter chats with Mica Bevington, US director of communications and development at Humanity and Inclusion about how their team defines personas.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Equity helps leaders create more inclusive organizations using human-centered design and behavior change principles. Farra Trompeter talks with Minal Bopaiah, founder of Brevity & Wit and author of “Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives” about her passion for equity and why it is critical for nonprofit organizations.

Episode 94: How can you update an iconic brand?

Big Duck — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 11:00:00 -0400

A classic brand identity is hard to change. Old perceptions about your organization’s brand or internal shifts can be challenging. Listen in as Sarah Durham talks with Mark Graham, chief marketing & communications officer at American Friends Service Committee about AFSC’s distinctive brand and the organization’s journey to evolve its iconic identity.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Ever wondered what a good tagline can do for your organization? In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Farra Trompeter, partner and chief growth officer, discusses taglines, brand strategy, engaging community in your brand, social justice, and more with Chandra M. Hayslett, communications director, from the Center for Constitutional Rights and Ambar Mentor-Truppa, vice president of communications, from the Shriver Center on Poverty Law.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

COVID-19 has changed everything and nonprofits have shifted how they offer programming and services from in-person to digital channels. Virtual events, galas, and conferences can help us connect and reach more people. How do we create experiences that are engaging and memorable? Chris Tuttle, founder and principal of TuttleCo, discusses the future of virtual events with Farra Trompeter, partner and chief growth officer, in this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Urgency can present itself in a number of ways and is a key characteristic of white supremacy culture. Former senior strategist Laura FIsher, and chief growth officer and partner, Farra Trompeter, discuss how urgency can impact your organization’s team and offer useful ways to question it in this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Your brand is how your organization expresses its voice. Knowing whose voices are being centered in your brand strategy and assets is a key element to developing or shifting your brand, and making sure the process is inclusive is essential. Listen in as Sarah Durham, CEO, and Farra Trompeter, partner and chief growth officer, share insights on how to use your brand to connect with donors and your community.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Google Analytics is a powerful tool and can help you understand how people use your website. Sarah Durham sits down with Heather Wozniak, technical strategist at Advomatic to discuss ways you can get started using Google Analytics to make strategic decisions about your content.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400

If you are a nonprofit communicator, the Nonprofit Communications Trends Report, a yearly report released by The Nonprofit Marketing Guide is a great fact-based, research-based tool about marketing and communications within nonprofits. Sarah Durham chats with award-winning author, and founder and CEO of The Nonprofit Marketing Guide, Kivi Leroux Miller about the impact these trends have had during the COVID-19 pandemic in this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 19 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Are you looking to hire an agency or freelancer and questioning whether or not to go with a fixed fee or time-and-materials for the project? This solocast with Sarah Durham examines the differences between the two and what structure is best when choosing who to work with.

Episode 86: Is your website secure and flexible?

Big Duck — Wed, 05 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Is your website secure and flexible? A lot of the nonprofit sector are not techies. Sarah Durham talks with Dave Hansen-Lange, Advomatic's Director of Technical Strategy about what open source is and tips on keeping your website up to date in this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast.

Episode 85: Is it strategic?

Big Duck — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Is it strategic? Strategy is the practice of defining what you want to achieve and identifying the best ways to achieve it. Sarah Durham and Laura Fisher unpack terms like goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics and offer background and examples of how they intersect. Listen in as they answer a few questions frequently by nonprofit communicators, and apply these terms and pressure test for strategy.

Episode 84: What norms should you challenge and disrupt?

Big Duck — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0400

What norms should you challenge and disrupt? Sarah Durham and Hannah Thomas unpack “thoughtful disruption” and offer different ways of challenging nonprofit communications norms and assumptions.

Episode 83: Where is the community in your communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Who is your community? They often tend to be more expansive than we think. Listen in as Sarah Durham unpacks the word “community” in fundraising and communications with Michelle Shireen Muri, the founder of Freedom Conspiracy, Co-Chair of the founding Seattle chapter for Community-Centric Fundraising and host of The Ethical Rainmaker podcast. Learn about community mapping and more in this episode of the Smart Community Podcast.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Equity is about process and outcomes. Making sure everyone, regardless of color, has the same access and opportunity requires a skillset many of us are striving to learn. This podcast, Sponsored by Bloomerang, examines equity, issues of equity, and equity-focused research, and offers valuable insights for nonprofits looking to make research practices, and their organization more unbiased.

Episode 81: How can you facilitate meetings better

Big Duck — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Active listening and research. These are just a couple of key facilitation skills shared in this episode of The Smart Communications Podcast with Ally Dommu, director of strategy, and Sarah Durham as they discuss how to facilitate meetings and why it’s so important.

Episode 79: How do we communicate without communications staff?

Big Duck — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Staff cuts and running an organization on a skeleton crew have become an unfortunate effect of the difficult times we have been facing. Sponsored by Bloomerang, here’s an inspirational boost and re-air of one of our most popular podcasts from the Spring of 2018 with Wayne Ho, President and CEO of the Chinese American Planning Council, about how he manages he manages without a communications staff.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 13:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Sarah Durham sits down with Samantha Campbell, marketing and communications expert and former Director of Marketing, Communication and Sales at the Apollo Theater, to examine the differences between marketing and communications.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Does your organization practice it’s values in tangible ways? Listen to this podcast to gain insight from NTEN’s CEO, Amy Sample Ward, on how to center your strength using your values during difficult times.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Is your organization looking for innovative ways to convert crisis donors into regular givers? This podcast explores how to attract and retain new donors.

Episode 75: Do robots make bad fundraisers?

Big Duck — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Do robots make bad fundraisers? In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Sarah Durham chats with Steven Shattuck, author of the book, “Robots Make Bad Fundraisers” and Chief Engagement Officer at Bloomerang, about ways to apply time-tested principles of philanthropy to the modern technology available to fundraisers.

Episode 74: What tagline works??

Big Duck — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500

A good tagline can inspire you to think, feel, maybe even react. In the episode of The Smart Communications Podcast, Sarah Durham and Big Duck Copywriter, Ryan Gerhardt, break down three structures for taglines that can strengthen your organization’s brand strategy.

Episode 73: How do you tackle a daunting project?

Big Duck — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400

Ever find yourself stuck on how to approach a big project that you have to do, but you just don't see how you're going to get it anytime soon? This podcast unpacks the process of tackling projects and offers a roadmap and tips on how to get started.

Episode 72: What is strategy? A refresher.

Big Duck — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Whether you consider yourself a pro at setting communications strategy, or you are just getting started, this podcast, back by popular demand, offers useful insights to help you get a sense of the terms: goals, objectives, strategy, and tactics from a non-profit communications perspective.

Episode 71: What are the barriers to effective communications?

Big Duck — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 18:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Sarah Durham examines some of the common barriers that make it hard for nonprofits to establish successful communications. What are the common pitfalls? Tune in and find out.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400

To gala or not to gala. In this replay of a 2018 Smart Communications Podcast, Stephanie Thomas, founder of Stetwin Consulting, discusses the value of galas, and whether or not they still work as a fundraising vehicle. Tune in as she shares her over 25 years of experience and offers useful and relevant tips to assist your organization in this new normal.

Episode 69: Where do nonprofits go wrong with communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Thought leader and host of the “Nonprofits are Messy” podcast, Joan Garry, talks about what an effective nonprofit communications strategy can look like and provides some tips on how to become a five-star storyteller.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Sarah Durham discusses how nonprofits generate sustainable momentum in their communications. She identifies common challenges, including bottlenecks created by leadership micromanagement and a lack of staff accountability, and offers ways to address them. Tune in to hear about the six key elements that can help your organization create sustainable momentum in its communications.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Sarah Durham and Eric Javier discuss the 80/20 rule, the ladder of engagement, and how to articulate your vision to donors. Listen in to learn how your nonprofit can get their next really big donation to transform the organization.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Sarah Durham, CEO of Big Duck and Advomatic, goes deep into the topic of organizational voice—what it is, how to create it, maintain it, and more. Building on the insights in her book, The Nonprofit Communications Engine, she connects the work of establishing a clear and consistent voice to building deeper relationships and mindshare with audiences. Tune in to learn how you can start developing your nonprofit’s voice and get answers to common branding questions.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Advomatic’s Sarah Durham and Amanda Luker discuss how to constantly improve your website, create different ways to experience content, and run accessibility audits of your nonprofit’s website. Learn how you can make your website friendlier to all users, including those who are differently abled.

Episode 66: How can you communicate better via Zoom?

Big Duck — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Big Duck CEO Sarah Durham explores ways in which COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions have made us all increasingly dependent on video conferencing tools like Zoom. She shares a couple of tips and tricks to get more out of each digital interaction and to also combat the accompanying screen-time fatigue. Listen in to learn how creating “pop-up rules” or norms can improve the experience for everyone involved.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Sarah Durham and strategist Hannah Thomas discuss how DEI plays an important role in your capital campaigns and other major donor communications. Centering your communications on participants and being aware of how you may be “privileging” your donors is the first step. Tune in to find out how you can reevaluate your organization’s donor centrism.

Episode 65: What happens when people think they know your organization but they don’t?

Big Duck — Wed, 27 May 2020 07:00:00 -0400

What happens when people hang on to an old idea of your organization? Learn how Teresa Younger, CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, shaped and advanced a well-known brand.

Episode 61: What are the six elements your communications need to thrive?

Big Duck — Wed, 13 May 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Nonprofit CEOs and staff who manage communications can use this book to set clearer goals, guide their planning and activities, identify gaps in their expertise, and discover opportunities to strengthen their communications. In this podcast, Sarah Durham breaks down six key communications elements.

Episode 60: Why should your Executive Director prioritize communications?

Big Duck — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Communications can have a big impact on many aspects of your nonprofit's mission, from mobilizing activists to attracting donors and other supporters who are critical to your work. Farra Trompeter and Sarah Durham talk about the importance of communications, how to get your executive director to think differently about it, and a few of the principles in Sarah’s new book.

Episode 59: Should your logo stand out or fit in?

Big Duck — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Big Duck’s CEO Sarah Durham and Design Director Sandy Zimmerman discuss logos. If you are contemplating a new logo, should you go with expected imagery or go with the unfamiliar? This blog examines the merits on both sides and shows how a little bit of both can help your brand shine.

Episode 63: How should your organization navigate communications during COVID-19?

Big Duck — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Sarah Durham shares some quick tips and resources to help nonprofits communicate and fundraise during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Episode 58: Interviews, focus groups, or surveys: which should you use?

Big Duck — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0400

How does your brand resonate with your participants? Sarah Durham and Big Duck’s Senior Strategist Laura Fisher discuss the ins and outs of interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Learn how you can conduct your own research, make your focus groups more diverse, and how to get more accurate responses.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Big Duck’s latest book, The Nonprofit Communications Engine, outlines a simple model for nonprofit communicators and leaders that makes it easier for them to leverage communications in order to advance their mission. Nonprofit CEOs and staff who manage communications can use this book to set clearer goals, guide their planning and activities, identify gaps in their expertise, and discover opportunities to strengthen their communications. In this podcast, Sarah Durham breaks it down.

Episode 55: Can you continuously improve your website?

Big Duck — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0500

From broken links to automated testing, learn how to continuously improve your website’s “hygiene” with Sarah Durham and Rory Tucker.

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

Big Duck — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0500

CCS Fundraising’s Managing Director Eric Javier discusses the feasibility of your organization receiving large donations. This podcast explores feasibility studies, organization context, and audience research and redefines the 80/20 rule.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0500

Marcus dePaula, audio expert and producer of Big Duck’s podcast, gives insight into the right audio professional for your team, the best mics to use, how to present your sound, and how to make people listen in to your content. Hear how you can up your recording game.

Episode 51: Who is your Director of Second Impressions?

Big Duck — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 07:00:00 -0500

Making sure your clients and other key stakeholders are happy can be difficult. What do they really need and want from you? Tune in to understand how to be more mindful about engaging donors and clients every step of the way with Sarah Durham and Farra Trompeter.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 07:00:00 -0500

Big Duck pros Sarah Durham and Claire Taylor Hansen discuss the do’s and don’ts of design—how and when to use white space, how less is more, typographic hierarchy, and staying on-brand with little frill to get in the way. Listen in to learn more about how you can design as a non-designer for your nonprofit.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Ochen Kaylan, Senior Developer at Advomatic and attorney, is passionate about online privacy. He discusses how to store and manage your donors’ and clients’ information, when enough information is enough, and how your own information is being used. Tune in to learn more.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 07:00:00 -0400

“You’re never going to get 100% buy-in...” is one of many lessons Elisabeth King, Director of Communications for Lycée Français de New York, learned during her organization’s rebrand.

Over two-plus years, she oversaw a process that thoughtfully involved over 2,000 people—students, parents, teachers, and staff. Listen in to hear how she undertook this complex change management process and navigated buy-in. You’ll get tips for involving your community in a significant organizational change, too.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Ambar Mentor-Truppa, VP of Communications at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, chats with Big Duck’s Gil Mejia and Sarita Joseph about the rebranding process. Formerly a communications consultant to nonprofits, Ambar shares her collaborative approach, ensuring all key stakeholders have a say in the decisions that affect them.

Episode 44: How should you work with freelancers?

Big Duck — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Sandy Zimmerman, Big Duck’s Art Director, shares her experiences freelancing for nonprofits and managing new freelancers at Big Duck. She offers tips for organizations looking for freelance designers and writers, including where to find them, how to vet them, and logistics around hiring.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Michael Hoffman, CEO and founder of Gather Voices, shares his perspective on how nonprofits can harness community-made video to create more engaging, honest, and diverse content. His new tool allows nonprofit communications teams, large or small, to collect, manage, edit, and publish videos submitted by the communities they serve.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Vince Warren is the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and a frequent guest on MSNBC, Democracy Now, CNN, and other news channels. He joins us to talk about communications as a tool to advocate more effectively.

He shares an example of how CCR leveraged the media to shift public views about stop-and-frisk in New York City, tales from appearing on FOX News, and recommendations for media relations rookies.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Laura Fisher, Big Duck’s Senior Strategist, chats with Sarah Durham about how interviews can help you understand audience behavior and motivation.

Episode 40: How can you be a better writer?

Big Duck — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Dan Gunderman was Big Duck’s Creative Director and Senior Copywriter for over 12 years. Before moving to Scotland, he sat down with us for a conversation about writing for nonprofits. He shares two simple rules for nonprofit writing, key differences between writing and editing (and how to do both well), and simple tips busy people can put into action right away.

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

Big Duck — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, Big Duck’s Vice President, and Chris Tuttle, digital engagement strategist, bring their respective love for cats and dogs to the analogy of fighting communications and development teams. Hear how they create cross-departmental alignment and collaboration.

Episode 38: Can chatbots improve donor experiences?

Big Duck — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Alice Hendricks is the CEO of Jackson River, a firm that helps nonprofits harness the power of technologies to achieve their goals. In this mind-blowing conversation, she shares how the consumer marketing space is using technology (chatbots, artificial intelligence, and more) and outlines how nonprofits can apply those tools to create more personalized and relevant experiences for supporters.

Episode 37: Are your internal communications values-driven?

Big Duck — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Elizabeth Toledo, President of Camino Group and former Vice President of Communications at Planned Parenthood, is a crisis communications expert.

She discusses the biggest internal communications challenges she’s seen and how strong values alignment can help nonprofits communicate more effectively internally and externally, especially about social issues and controversial topics. Plus, she shares recommendations for nonprofits looking to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Episode 36: Do you need a capital campaign consultant?

Big Duck — Wed, 22 May 2019 07:00:00 -0400

We sat down with Andrea Kihlstedt and Amy Eisenstein, capital campaign experts with over 50 years of collective experience in the fundraising space, to talk about their new project: the Capital Campaign Toolkit.

They discuss how the model of capital campaign development is changing—from nonprofits relying on consultants to lead the process to embracing online resources and tools staff can use themselves. Listen to learn more about what kinds of nonprofits can benefit from the toolkit and when calling a campaign consultant will be an organization’s best course of action.

Episode 35: Does your nonprofit need a new logo?

Big Duck — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:00:00 -0400

Claire Taylor Hansen, Big Duck’s Creative Director, helps nonprofits answer the age-old question: Do we need a new logo? She discusses signs that a logo might need to change, the power of using visual elements—typography, colors, patterns, and more—consistently and well, and shares a simple exercise in-house teams can do to assess whether their nonprofit’s materials align with communications goals.

If you want more resources to help you ensure your nonprofit’s brand is understood and applied consistently, download our free ebook, Brand stickiness: Building, integrating, and managing your nonprofit’s voice so it succeeds.

Episode 34: How can you make a lean team more effective?

Big Duck — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 06:00:00 -0400

Christine Hughes, Vice President of Institutional Advancement for Burke Neurological Institute, is a world-class fundraiser and scientist with extensive experience in the biomedical field.

Christine is in the process of building the Burke development and communications departments—and their pipeline of donors—from the ground up using precision communications. By applying this strategy, she’s built a lean and efficient in-house team with a passionate network of consultants to fill in the gaps. Tune in to hear how she did it and for tips on building a team from scratch.

Episode 33: Should your organization produce a PSA?

Big Duck — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 06:00:00 -0400

Stephanie Paul, Vice President of Marketing and Development at the American Parkinson Disease Association, sits down with Sarah Durham to discuss her experiences creating PSAs and shares lessons learned along the way. Tune in to learn how APDA uses their PSAs as tools to raise awareness, reach new audiences, gather stories, and change perceptions about Parkinson’s disease.

Episode 32: What data really matters?

Big Duck — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 06:00:00 -0400

George Weiner, Founder and Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, a social impact tech company, sits down with us to discuss all things data—why it matters for nonprofits, what data to pay attention to, how to visualize and share it, and how to get started with Google Analytics.

This is a must-listen if you’re a nonprofit communicator responsible for collecting and measuring data related to your mission, or a nonprofit leader looking to foster a more data-driven culture at your organization.

Episode 31: Should you rename your nonprofit?

Big Duck — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 05:00:00 -0400

Farra Trompeter, Big Duck’s Vice President, and Dan Gunderman, Big Duck’s Creative Director, have successfully facilitated many nonprofit name changes throughout the years. In this episode, they discuss reasons why more nonprofits are changing their names, what it takes, and lessons they’ve learned that may help organizations thinking about evolving—or radically changing—their name.

Episode 30: How do you structure a growing communications team?

Big Duck — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 06:15:00 -0500

Suzanne Shaw is Director of Communications at the Union of Concerned Scientists and has over three decades of expertise in nonprofit and private sector marketing and communications.

She restructured her communications department with the intention to build in-house capacity, increase efficiency, bridge “channel-silos,” and measure marketing efforts more effectively. Tune in to hear how she did it and get tips for deciding what a nonprofit with a small communications team should take on in-house vs. outsource.

Episode 29: Can you legally use that photo or song?

Big Duck — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:00:00 -0500

Marcus dePaula, co-founder of Mixtus Media and producer of this podcast, is an expert in online content creation. In this episode he breaks down creative commons licensing, explains the ethical (and credibility) issues in grabbing images from Google for fundraising appeals or marketing communications, and shares resources for great, free photography and music every organization can use.

Episode 19: How can you get your new brand to stick?

Big Duck — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, Ally Dommu, Big Duck’s Director of Strategy, shares the four core elements a nonprofit organization needs in place internally—culture, team, assets, and reflection—to ensure the hard work of a rebrand doesn’t go to waste.