Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell

Hosted by Julia Campbell

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318

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Ready for some real talk about nonprofits? Julia Campbell sits down with industry experts and practitioners to get advice on the best ways to build a thriving movement and a vibrant, passionate community around a cause. Topics include fundraising, storytelling, and marketing of course - but it also dives into mental health issues, leadership strategy, digital wellness, and much more. Julia's guests share practical wisdom, entertaining stories, and real-world tips that will help you strategize, plan, and grow your nonprofit. You never know exactly what you’re going to learn when you tune into Nonprofit Nation, but you can be assured that it will be worth your valuable time and attention. Nonprofit Nation is hosted by Julia Campbell, digital marketing and fundraising expert, nonprofit consultant, and author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits and How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit in 90 Days. Julia helps nonprofits build movements, and in her work she teaches nonprofits how to build community, audience and raise influence on social media channels. Be sure to click the subscribe button on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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November 6, 202630 min

Turning Lived Experience Into Leadership with Desange Kuenihira

What happens when your personal story becomes the foundation of the mission you lead? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation , Julia sits down with Desange Kuenihira, Founder and CEO of Speak unDEfeated, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering vulnerable youth and women through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Desange spent twelve years as a refugee in Uganda before eventually moving to the United States. Her lived experiences helped shape her commitment to creating opportunities for young people, women, and single mothers facing significant barriers. Desange shares what it takes to turn personal experience into meaningful action—and, just as importantly, how to build an organization that can sustain that mission beyond its founder. Together, they explore the balance between leading with lived experience and listening to the communities being served, the challenges of building impact across borders, and why sustainable nonprofit work requires more than passion. They also tackle the complicated role of storytelling in fundraising. How can nonprofit leaders share powerful personal stories that inspire support without reducing people to their hardships? And how can organizations honor the dignity, agency, and expertise of the communities at the heart of their work? Desange's journey offers a meaningful reminder that lived experience is a valuable form of expertise. Creating lasting change means combining that experience with community partnership, thoughtful leadership, strong systems, and a commitment to building something bigger than yourself. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How lived experience can shape a nonprofit leader's purpose, perspective, and approach to leadership The difference between building programs for a community and building alongside one How nonprofit founders can turn passion into sustainable organizations with the right systems and structures The opportunities and challenges of leading programs across borders Why education and economic empowerment go hand in hand in creating lasting change How to tell compelling fundraising stories while protecting the dignity and agency of the people represented What aspiring nonprofit founders should consider before turning a personal cause into an organization Why funders, boards, and nonprofit leaders should recognize lived experience as a valuable form of expertise About Desange Kuenihira Desange Kuenihira is the Founder and CEO of Speak unDEfeated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable youth, women, and communities through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Desange spent twelve years as a refugee in Uganda before moving to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen. Her experiences inspired her commitment to expanding educational and economic opportunities for children and women facing significant barriers. She holds bachelor's degrees in criminology and health, society, and policy from the University of Utah, with a minor in entrepreneurship and pre-business. She is also an advocate, inspirational speaker, model, and author of unDEfeated Woman . Through Speak unDEfeated, Desange helps young people access educational opportunities while supporting women and single mothers in developing entrepreneurial skills that can lead to greater economic independence for themselves and their families. Connect with Desange Website: https://www.speakundefeated.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desange-kuenihira-undefeated/ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation! Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

November 2, 202654 min

What’s Actually Working on Social Media – and What’s Next

There is always another social media tactic to try. Another platform update. Another content format. Another person telling you to post more. But with year-end approaching, the question I keep coming back to is: What deserves your time—and how does it help people connect with your mission? Last week I went live on LinkedIn with my Nonprofit Social Media Summit partner, Tim Sarrantonio , to talk about exactly that. We shared what we think nonprofit communicators should prioritize, explore how content can build relationships and inspire action, and answer your questions. We also introduced some of the speakers and sessions coming to the Nonprofit Social Media Summit, November 17–18 , through the real challenges they’ll help you tackle. If you’re planning your year-end communications—or wondering whether the Summit belongs on your calendar—listen in! You can watch the LinkedIn live video here. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

October 28, 202638 min

Dear Nonprofiteer: Why Do We Stay? with Evan Wildstein

What keeps nonprofit professionals in this work, and what does it cost them to stay? Nonprofit professionals dedicate their careers to making the world a better place, but who takes care of the people doing the work? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Evan Wildstein, longtime nonprofit practitioner, fundraiser, author, and self-described “nonprofiteer,” to explore the realities of working in the social impact sector and his latest project, Dear Nonprofiteer, a collaborative, print-only zine created with and for nonprofit professionals. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience in the sector, Evan reflects on why people choose to stay in nonprofit work, what that commitment can cost them, and why burnout and self-sacrifice have become so normalized. Together, Julia and Evan explore the tension between caring deeply about a mission and feeling exhausted by the organizations carrying it out. They also discuss the importance of staff well-being, the stories the nonprofit sector tells about passion and productivity, and what leaders often misunderstand about staff retention. Through humor, poetry, storytelling, research, and community, Dear Nonprofiteer creates space for nonprofit professionals to feel seen and heard, not simply encouraged to do more. Because sustainable organizations depend on sustainable people, and caring for the people behind the mission should never be an afterthought. In this episode, we discuss: Why Evan created Dear Nonprofiteer and why this project matters now Why nonprofit professionals stay in the sector—and what staying can cost The difference between mission-driven commitment and unhealthy self-sacrifice Why organizational sustainability must include staff well-being The nonprofit narratives we need to challenge, including “do more with less” What nonprofit leaders often misunderstand about staff retention How humor, poetry, storytelling, and community help us talk honestly about nonprofit work Why Evan chose a collaborative, print-only zine in an increasingly digital world What research and lived experiences reveal about why people stay or leave What continues to give Evan hope after nearly 25 years in the sector About Evan Wildstein Evan Wildstein is a nonprofit practitioner, fundraiser, author, musician, and advocate for the people who power social impact organizations. With nearly 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he has held fundraising and senior staff roles focused on systems, programs, and people at institutions including The Juilliard School, Rice University, and Asia Society. His work has helped raise more than $30 million. Evan is the author of The Nonprofiteer's Fundraising Field Guide and has contributed to research on nonprofit staff retention. He is also a co-lead of the Social Impact Staff Retention Project and the creator of Dear Nonprofiteer, a collaborative zine exploring why nonprofit professionals stay, what it costs them, and why the work can still be worth it. Resources & Links Evan Wildstein's website: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/ Connect with Evan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-a-wildstein/ Social Impact Staff Retention Project: https://www.thenonprofiteers.com/sisr Let's Keep the Conversation Going! What keeps you in nonprofit work, and what do you wish the sector would do differently to take better care of the people doing it? Share your thoughts, and if you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Nonprofit Nation, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or colleague who could use this conversation. Because the people behind the mission matter, too. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

October 23, 202633 min

Defiant Hope: How to Tell Nonprofit Stories with Dignity, Trust, and Impact with Yuriy Boyechko

Stories are among the most powerful tools nonprofits have. They can build understanding, inspire generosity, and connect people across communities. But how can nonprofits tell compelling stories without compromising the dignity of the people behind them? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation , I sit down with Yuriy Boyechko, founder and CEO of Hope For Ukraine, to explore the responsibility that comes with telling stories of hardship, resilience, and hope. Through nearly a decade of humanitarian work in Ukraine, Yuriy has seen firsthand how storytelling can mobilize support for families, refugees, and communities affected by war. He shares why ethical storytelling begins with listening, meaningful consent, and recognizing that the stories nonprofits tell ultimately belong to the people who lived them. We also discuss how nonprofits can build donor trust through authentic storytelling, communicate urgency without contributing to compassion fatigue, and show the impact of their work without positioning themselves as the heroes of someone else's story. Yuriy is also the co-author of the forthcoming book Defiant Hope: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage, and the Fight for Ukraine , which highlights the courage, resilience, and humanity of ordinary Ukrainians navigating extraordinary circumstances. If you're a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or communicator, this conversation offers a meaningful reminder that storytelling isn't just about raising awareness or generating donations. It's about honoring people's experiences, building trust, and creating genuine connections that inspire action. In this episode, we discuss: Why the stories nonprofits tell ultimately belong to the people who lived them What ethical storytelling looks like in practice How to preserve dignity when sharing stories involving hardship, trauma, and crisis The importance of meaningful consent when telling someone's story How to create emotional connections without exploiting someone's pain Why nonprofits shouldn't always position themselves as the heroes of the story Building donor trust through transparency and authentic storytelling Combining personal stories with data and evidence of impact Communicating urgency and hope without contributing to compassion fatigue How to keep nonprofit communications authentic as an organization grows What nearly a decade of humanitarian work has taught Yuriy about leadership and resilience The meaning of Defiant Hope and what ordinary people can teach us about courage and community About Yuriy Boyechko Yuriy Boyechko is the founder and CEO of Hope For Ukraine, a humanitarian organization established in 2016. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has helped lead efforts to deliver essential humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, shelter, clean water, and solar power solutions to communities in crisis. Born and raised in Ukraine, Yuriy brings a deeply personal connection to his humanitarian work. He is also a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and co-author of the forthcoming book Defiant Hope: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage, and the Fight for Ukraine . Learn more about Yuriy and Hope For Ukraine: Website: https://hfu.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriy-boyechko Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hope4ukraine/ Coming February 16, 2027: Defiant Hope: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage, and the Fight for Ukraine. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Nonprofit Nation , leave a review, and share this episode with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or communicator who wants to tell stories that inspire action while honoring the dignity of the people behind them. Because the goal isn't simply to tell a more compelling story. It's to become a better steward of the stories people trust us to tell. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

October 14, 202636 min

How to Savor the Work (Especially When It’s Hard) with Lisa Bennett

Nonprofit leaders are carrying a lot right now. Between funding uncertainty, team burnout, political instability, and growing community needs, it can feel like there’s always another challenge to tackle. And through it all, leaders are expected to inspire their teams, communicate hope, and keep their missions moving forward. But what happens when the people doing the work are running out of energy themselves? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Lisa Bennett, author, facilitator, advisor, and award-winning journalist, to explore how purpose-driven people can continue making a difference without becoming depleted by the work they care so deeply about. Lisa, author of the forthcoming book Savor the World: How to Draw Strength From What You Love and Keep Showing Up for It, challenges us to rethink what it means to be committed to a cause. She shares why constant urgency can undermine our clarity, creativity, and decision-making, and why sustaining ourselves is not separate from sustaining our missions. Together, Julia and Lisa explore the idea of savoring, not as another self-care task to add to an already overwhelming to-do list, but as a way to reconnect with what gives our work meaning. They also discuss how storytelling can help nonprofit leaders and teams remember why their work matters, especially when progress feels difficult to see. If you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or mission-driven professional who wants to stay engaged without sacrificing your well-being, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on burnout, leadership, and finding the strength to keep showing up for the causes that matter. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why nonprofit leaders and purpose-driven professionals may be especially vulnerable to burnout and depletion. How constant urgency affects clarity, creativity, and decision-making. How to lead with honesty and hope when the future feels uncertain. Why burnout is not simply an individual self-care problem, but can also reflect organizational culture. What it means to savor the world and how it differs from traditional approaches to self-care. How storytelling can help nonprofit teams reconnect with their purpose and find meaning in difficult work. How to build an organizational culture where commitment is not measured by exhaustion. Practical ways to make room for joy, beauty, humor, and connection while continuing to address urgent challenges. About Lisa Bennett Lisa Bennett is an author, facilitator, advisor, and award-winning journalist whose work explores how purpose-driven people can tackle difficult problems without being depleted by them. She is the author of the forthcoming book Savor the World: How to Draw Strength From What You Love and Keep Showing Up for It and co-author of Ecoliterate with emotional intelligence pioneer Daniel Goleman. Throughout her career in journalism, education, communications, facilitation, and organizational leadership, Lisa has worked with people tackling consequential challenges across sectors and communities. Today, she helps purpose-led organizations reconnect mission, people, and resources, supporting leaders and teams in finding clarity, staying grounded through setbacks, and recognizing where their efforts can make a difference. Resources & Connect with Lisa Website: https://lisabennettwrites.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabennettwriter/ Book: Savor the World: How to Draw Strength From What You Love and Keep Showing Up for It (forthcoming) If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Nonprofit Nation, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

October 7, 202635 min

When Grief Becomes Service: Building Community After Unimaginable Loss with Joe Samaha

What happens when unimaginable loss becomes a catalyst for service, advocacy, and community? In this deeply moving episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Joseph Samaha, Director of Victim Advocacy and Outreach for VTVCare, an organization rooted in the community of families and survivors brought together following the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. Joe’s daughter, Reema, was killed in the tragedy. In the aftermath, Joe and other families found themselves navigating profound grief while also discovering the power of community, people coming together, sharing what they were learning, supporting one another, and creating a path forward when there was no roadmap. Over time, that community became something much larger. Joe shares what it means to lead a mission-driven organization when the mission is deeply connected to your own lived experience. He talks about the long-term needs of survivors and families after the public attention surrounding a tragedy fades, the role of community in recovery and resilience, and the challenges of turning individual support into systemic change. We also explore what nonprofit leadership looks like when the work is deeply personal, how to think about impact when outcomes involve grief, healing, and human connection, and how VTVCare is working to create more sustainable resources for people affected by mass violence. Nonprofit Nation Podcast Prep -… In this episode, we discuss: Starting a nonprofit while navigating profound personal grief How the Virginia Tech community came together after tragedy The role of community in long-term recovery and resilience What survivors need long after the initial attention disappears How lived experience shapes nonprofit leadership and decision-making Creating boundaries and sustainability when the mission is deeply personal Measuring impact when the work centers on grief, healing, and human connection Moving from supporting individual families to advocating for systemic change Creating sustainable, long-term resources for people affected by mass violence Carrying Reema’s memory forward through service Nonprofit Nation Podcast Prep -… About Joseph Samaha Joseph Samaha is the Director of Victim Advocacy and Outreach at VTVCare and a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Following the Virginia Tech tragedy, Joe and his wife, Mona, established scholarships and funds in memory of their daughter, Reema, and Joe became a tireless advocate for Virginia Tech families and other survivors. He has served as the first president of VTVFOF and works as a consultant and speaker with the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center. He also consults with the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Mass Violence and Victim Resource Center. Joe has helped advise states and institutions on VTVCare’s investment model for sustaining the cost of assisting victims of mass violence. His advocacy contributed to Virginia and Maine becoming the first states in the nation to establish non-reverting Mass Violence Care Funds for citizens impacted by mass violence. Learn More Learn more about VTVCare at vtvcare.org. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from this conversation. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

October 6, 202613 min

When Facebook Changes the Rules: Protecting Your Year-End Fundraising

If your nonprofit is preparing for year-end fundraising, there’s a Facebook development I want you to know about. Facebook expert Mari Smith is reporting that some Facebook Pages and professional-mode profiles are encountering a limit of two organic external-link posts per month. Under the restrictions she describes, putting a link in the comments can count, too. Two links per month. If you’re promoting a fundraising campaign, a volunteer opportunity, and an event, you can see how quickly that becomes a problem. Availability varies, so check your own Page for notices before assuming you’re affected. I’ll link to Mari’s article in the show notes. But this development raises a question every nonprofit should consider: How much of our fundraising depends on Facebook allowing supporters to reach our website? Today, we’re going to look at what the data tells us, what paying for more link sharing actually gets you, and three practical steps you can take before year-end. Mari Smith article Jon Loomer podcast Meta's Widely Viewed Content Report: What People See on Facebook This episode of Nonprofit Nation is brought to you by Porkbun. Nonprofit friends, your domain name is part of your brand - and a .ORG immediately tells people there’s a mission behind your work. Porkbun makes it easy to get a .ORG domain with transparent pricing, no aggressive upsells, and free features like SSL certificates, URL forwarding, and email forwarding. Plus, if you need help, you can actually reach a real human 24/7. Get your .ORG domain from Porkbun at porkbun.com/NonprofitNation26 . And thank you to Porkbun for supporting Nonprofit Nation and the Nonprofit Social Media Summit! Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

September 30, 202637 min

Building the Nonprofit Flywheel: What Sustainable Growth Really Takes with Suzanne Smith

What if sustainable nonprofit growth isn't about getting bigger, but about making your organization stronger? Nonprofits are constantly being told to grow, scale, serve more people, raise more money, and demonstrate greater impact. But what happens when the need for growth moves faster than an organization’s ability to actually sustain it? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell talks with Suzanne Smith, founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects and author of The Nonprofit Flywheel: A Playbook for Sustainable Growth, Smarter Strategy and Lasting Impact, about what it really takes to build a stronger, more resilient nonprofit. Suzanne introduces the idea of the nonprofit flywheel, a way of thinking about how interconnected parts of an organization can work together to create sustainable momentum. Rather than treating growth as simply getting bigger, Suzanne makes the case for strengthening the systems underneath the work, including mission, strategy, leadership, trust, storytelling, revenue, operations, culture, and governance. Julia and Suzanne dig into why nonprofits sometimes try to scale programs before building the organizational capacity needed to support them, why a fundraising problem may actually be a problem with mission clarity or trust, and why so many strategic plans lose momentum once the retreat is over. They also explore the nonprofit sector's leadership pipeline, the importance of investing in organizational infrastructure, and what boards and funders can do to help—or hinder—organizational resilience. In this episode, we discuss: What the “nonprofit flywheel” is and how it creates sustainable momentum Why growth and scale aren't necessarily the same thing as impact How to determine whether your organization is actually ready to grow Why nonprofits often scale programs before strengthening the organization underneath them The connection between mission clarity, trust, storytelling, and revenue Why fundraising challenges aren't always fundraising problems Why strategic plans so often stall after the planning retreat How to turn strategy into everyday organizational decision-making Why organizational capacity should be viewed as essential infrastructure, rather than simply “overhead” What resilient nonprofit organizations have in common The leadership pipeline challenge facing the nonprofit sector How boards and funders can strengthen or undermine organizational resilience Practical ways nonprofit leaders can begin building sustainable momentum. About Suzanne Smith Suzanne Smith, MBA, is the founder and CEO of Social Impact Architects and the author of The Nonprofit Flywheel: A Playbook for Sustainable Growth, Smarter Strategy and Lasting Impact, launching October 1, 2026. Drawing on 16 years of research, testing, and work with hundreds of nonprofits, Suzanne's book explores six interconnected drivers—impact, brand, revenue, operations, culture, and governance—and how they work together to build stronger and more resilient organizations. A question to think about: Is your nonprofit actually growing, or are you simply doing more without building the infrastructure needed to sustain it? If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from the conversation. Learn More About Suzanne Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn , Social Impact Architects and MeetSuzanne.com . Social TrendSpotter — Suzanne’s weekly newsletter on the future of the social sector. The Nonprofit Flywheel: A Playbook for Sustainable Growth, Smarter Strategy, and Lasting Impact launched October 1, 2026, with a free digital edition , companion tools and resources , and print editions on Amazon . Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

September 23, 202636 min

Becoming Community-Led with Carolyn Daly

What does it really mean to be community-led? In the nonprofit sector, “community-led” has become a popular phrase, but what does it actually look like when an organization is willing to transfer real decision-making power to the people closest to the work? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation , Julia Campbell talks with Carolyn Daly, Executive Director of Nuya’, a nonprofit partnering with Indigenous Maya women in Guatemala to improve health, education, and economic opportunity through community-led solutions. Carolyn has spent the past 13 years working alongside local women leaders as programs have increasingly been designed, led, and sustained by the communities they serve. She is now helping lead a long-term transition of executive leadership to Nuya’s Indigenous Guatemalan leadership team. Carolyn shares how this experience has challenged her assumptions about leadership, philanthropy, growth, and sustainability and what nonprofit leaders may need to unlearn and let go of in order to make meaningful community ownership possible. We also dig into a question that many nonprofits and funders wrestle with: Does bigger actually mean better? Carolyn shares what a failed program experiment in Guatemala taught her about the idea of “enough,” and why sustainability and lasting impact may require organizations to rethink their relationship with growth. In this episode, we discuss: What “community-led” really means beyond simply asking for community input The difference between community participation and community power What it takes to develop local leadership over many years—not just within a grant cycle Why transferring leadership is about much more than changing someone's title What Carolyn has had to unlearn about leadership and power How boards, staff, and organizational structures need to evolve when leadership is being transferred The important work of community leadership that philanthropy often doesn't see or fund Why leadership development can be difficult to fit into traditional funder metrics The importance of patient and unrestricted funding What happens when funder priorities don't align with what a community actually needs Who should define what “impact” means: funders, nonprofits, or the communities being served? Why nonprofits and funders often equate growth with impact What a failed program experiment in Guatemala taught Carolyn about knowing when “enough” is enough Rethinking sustainability beyond simply having enough money to keep an organization running Whether a nonprofit leader's success can eventually mean becoming less necessary One uncomfortable question nonprofit leaders and funders should be willing to ask if they genuinely want to become more community-led About Carolyn Daly Carolyn Daly is the Executive Director of Nuya’, a nonprofit that partners with Indigenous Maya women in Guatemala to improve health, education, and economic opportunity through community-led solutions. She is currently helping lead a long-term transition of executive leadership to Nuya’s Indigenous Guatemalan leadership team. Over the past 13 years, Carolyn has worked alongside local women leaders to build programs that are increasingly designed, led, and sustained by the communities they serve. Carolyn writes about philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and community-led development, exploring questions around growth, sustainability, and how philanthropy can better support local leadership. Before joining Nuya’, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. Short Description What does it really mean to become community-led? Carolyn Daly of Nuya’ joins Julia to explore transferring power, not just titles, to Indigenous Guatemalan leaders, the challenges philanthropy creates for community-led work, and why nonprofit leaders should question whether growth always equals impact. Suggested Episode Hook What if becoming a more effective nonprofit leader means learning to give up control? Carolyn Daly joins Julia Campbell to talk about what it really takes to transfer power to the communities nonprofits serve and why sometimes the most meaningful measure of success isn't how much an organization grows, but how much ownership it is able to give away. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

September 16, 202634 min

How to Post Less On Social Media and 10X Engagement with Reuben Harney

What if your nonprofit doesn't need to post more, it just needs to post better? Nonprofits are constantly told they need to be more active on social media. Post consistently. Create more Reels. Follow the trends. Keep feeding the algorithm. But what if doing more isn't actually the answer? In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia sits down with Reuben Harney, founder of Motus Reach, to challenge the idea that nonprofits need to constantly create content to succeed on social media. Reuben shares his philosophy of “posting less, but better” and explains why focusing on real people, real stories, and meaningful outcomes can create stronger engagement without adding more work to already-busy nonprofit teams. Drawing from his work with Family First, a Jersey-based charity, Reuben shares how a more focused and sustainable social media strategy helped increase engagement while reducing the organization's content workload. We talk about how nonprofits can uncover compelling stories within the work they're already doing, collect testimonials without overwhelming staff, and turn those stories into content that inspires supporters to actually take action. We also dig into the difference between engagement that simply looks good and engagement that genuinely advances the mission—and why nonprofits should stop posting simply because they feel like they have to. In this episode, you'll learn: Why posting more doesn't necessarily lead to better social media results The difference between being active on social media and having an actual social media strategy Why real names and real stories can be more powerful than generic impact statistics How to find compelling nonprofit stories without creating more work for staff How to gather testimonials while respecting the people your organization serves Why a sustainable content strategy can outperform an aggressive posting schedule How to connect storytelling with fundraising and supporter action Which social media metrics nonprofits should actually pay attention to How to distinguish engagement that looks impressive from engagement that actually moves your mission forward What small nonprofits can realistically accomplish with limited time and resources What nonprofits should stop doing on social media How to build a content strategy around impact instead of algorithms A Few Key Takeaways You don't have to be everywhere . Being constantly active on social media isn't the same thing as having a strategy. For nonprofits with limited time and resources, a smaller number of thoughtful, strategic posts can be more effective than trying to keep up with an endless content schedule. People connect with people. Numbers can communicate scale, but individual stories can help supporters understand the human impact behind those numbers. Reuben's approach centers on real people and real stories to help organizations communicate their impact more meaningfully. The best content doesn't have to create more work. Nonprofits already have stories happening every day. The challenge is creating simple systems that allow program staff to capture those moments naturally instead of making communications teams constantly chase down content. Engagement isn't the end goal. Likes and comments can feel good, but nonprofits ultimately need supporters to take meaningful action. The goal is to connect storytelling to what you want people to do—whether that's donate, volunteer, share, subscribe, or simply pay attention. About Reuben Harney Reuben Harney runs Motus Reach, a social media management agency that works exclusively with charities. His approach focuses on real names, real stories, and posting less but better. Through his work with Family First, a Jersey-based charity, Reuben grew their engagement by 272% in under five months while developing a streamlined content strategy designed to increase engagement and support without creating an unsustainable workload for the nonprofit team. He works with a small number of charities at a time, helping organizations communicate their impact, build trust, and make it easier for supporters to understand and act on their mission. Learn more: MotusReach.com 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? If this conversation gave you a new perspective on nonprofit social media, subscribe to Nonprofit Nation, leave a review, and share this episode with a nonprofit leader or fundraiser who could benefit from it. Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts