Fundable by Design

Hosted by Jennifer Yarbrough

Technology Education

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Are you a nonprofit leader who is looking for real insight into how to successfully startup, fundraise for, or successfully lead your nonprofit organization. If you answered yes, this podcast is for you. In this podcast you will discover: 1. What a nonprofit really is; 2. Grant tips; and, 3. Ways to raise money for your nonprofit I share with you how I have raised hundreds of millions of dollars stretching beyond traditional grants, and trained thousands of organizations across the globe. Sign up for my newsletter. Http://Bit.ly/jnnpodcastlist

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60 recent

August 18, 202645 min

Through The Funders' Lens - Episode 2: What Makes a Nonprofit Get the Grant (And What Doesn't)

Have you ever wondered why one nonprofit receives the grant while another walks away with a rejection email? Many nonprofit leaders believe the answer is simple: "They had a better grant writer." "They had a better story." "They knew the right people." But after working as a grant evaluator, I've learned that grant decisions are often about much more than the proposal itself. In this video, I explain what truly makes a nonprofit competitive for grant funding and what often prevents organizations from getting funded.

August 16, 202616 min

Through The Funders' Lens - Epsiode 1: Why a Great Grant Proposal Isn't Always Enough

Today, I want to challenge the way many nonprofit leaders think about grant funding. If you've ever believed that your grant proposal alone determines whether you receive funding, I want you to consider something different. Funders don't just evaluate your proposal. They evaluate the organization behind it. After 40 years in the nonprofit sector, I've learned that a well-written proposal can open the door, but it's the strength of your organization that gives funders the confidence to invest.

August 14, 202616 min

Why Are Other Nonprofits Growing While Yours Is Struggling?

Have you ever looked at another nonprofit and asked yourself: "Why are they growing while we're struggling?" It's a question I've heard from nonprofit leaders for decades. And often, the first assumption is that the other organization has better connections, bigger donors, or simply got lucky. But after 40 years in the nonprofit sector, I've found that's usually not the real reason. In many cases, the difference isn't the mission. It isn't the passion. And it isn't even the size of the organization. The difference is how the organization was built.

August 12, 202617 min

If the Mission Was So Important… Why Did the Nonprofit Fail?

A mission can be extraordinary, and an organization can still fail. Not because the work wasn't needed, but because the infrastructure, leadership, systems, governance, and financial strategy weren't strong enough to support the work over time. Your mission deserves more than good intentions. It deserves an organization that's equipped to carry it for years, not just for today. If you've ever wondered why some nonprofits thrive while others quietly disappear, this conversation will help you see the difference. Because lasting impact isn't created by passion alone. It's created by building an organization that's worthy of sustaining the mission it was called to serve.

August 10, 202612 min

Ready to Build a Nonprofit Worthy of Long-Term Investment?

Is your nonprofit truly worthy of long-term investment? Not just because your mission matters, but because your organization is built to sustain that mission. Funders aren't simply looking for organizations doing good work. They're looking for organizations that have the leadership, systems, governance, and operational capacity to turn their investment into lasting impact. That's why I believe nonprofit leaders should stop asking, "How do I get more grants?" and start asking, "How do I build an organization that funders trust to invest in?" Answer my CAPACITY™ Readiness Assessment and discover how prepared your organization is for long-term investment and sustainable funding. bit.ly/orgassessmentform

August 8, 202646 min

What Successful Nonprofits Do Right That Others Get Wrong

Have you ever looked at another nonprofit and wondered: "What are they doing differently?" They seem to attract funding more consistently, grow with confidence, and build long-term partnerships while other organizations with equally important missions continue to struggle. I've learned that the difference is rarely the mission. It's rarely the passion. And it's rarely that they simply work harder. The difference is how they build and operate their organizations. In this video, I share what successful nonprofit organizations are doing right that many others may be overlooking.

August 6, 202641 min

If a Funder Evaluated Your Nonprofit Today, What Would They Find?

If a funder evaluated your organization today, what would they find? Would they find an organization that's prepared for long-term investment? Or would they find a passionate founder carrying the entire nonprofit on their back? Because the answer to that question often explains why funding comes or why it doesn't. The goal isn't simply to receive a grant. The goal is to build an organization that gives funders confidence to invest for years to come.

August 4, 202638 min

The Part of Starting a Nonprofit No One Prepared You For

When you decided to start your nonprofit, your goal was simple: you wanted to help people. You saw a need in your community, developed a program to address it, and stepped forward to make a difference. But somewhere along the way, you realized you had taken on something much bigger than a program. You had become responsible for an entire organization. I've seen this happen time and time again. Passionate leaders enter the nonprofit world with a heart to serve, only to discover they are suddenly responsible for governance, fundraising, financial management, compliance, operations, board development, strategic planning, and so much more. The challenge isn't that you lack passion. The challenge is that most nonprofit leaders were never prepared for the organizational responsibilities that come with leading a nonprofit.

August 2, 202642 min

The Leadership Shift Every Nonprofit Leader Must Make

Too many nonprofit leaders see themselves only as the founder, the program director, the fundraiser, or the person who helps people. While those roles are important, they're only part of the picture. Your mission deserves a leader who understands how to build an organization that can sustain that mission for years to come. That's the leadership shift I want to challenge you to make.

July 29, 202626 min

Why Nonprofit Leaders Confuse the Program With the Organization

When you start a nonprofit, your heart is in serving people. Your time is spent creating programs, delivering services, and responding to community needs. Naturally, it feels like the program is the organization. But after 40 years in the nonprofit sector, I've learned that this misunderstanding is one of the biggest reasons organizations struggle to become sustainable. When leaders focus only on programs, they often overlook the systems, governance, financial planning, operations, communications, and leadership that keep those programs alive. If you want your nonprofit to thrive, you have to build an organization that's capable of sustaining them.