Welcome to Small Nonprofit, the podcast designed for leaders, fundraisers, and advocates in the nonprofit sector who want to create real change. We provide small nonprofit organizations with strategies to enhance their fundraising campaigns, improve nonprofit governance, and implement ethical fundraising practices that resonate with today’s values-driven donors. Hosted by an experienced nonprofit consultant, Maria Rio, this show delves into the unique challenges of nonprofit fundraising and community-centric fundraising, providing tools for donor engagement and major gifts fundraising. 👤 Who Should Listen? This podcast is perfect for anyone involved in a small nonprofit seeking practical advice on fundraising strategy, nonprofit leadership, and board accountability. Whether you're looking for innovative fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations or trying to create an impact measurement framework that demonstrates your organization’s value, Small Nonprofit is here to guide you. 🎤 Core Topics We Cover Community-Centric Fundraising: Learn how ethical fundraising practices can strengthen donor relationships, enhance donor engagement, and align your organization with values-based major giving principles. We’ll help you shift from a donor-centric model to one that prioritizes the community. Systemic Change and Governance: From participatory budgeting to nonprofit board of directors best practices, we explore how to navigate the nonprofit industrial complex and embrace structures that foster diversity in nonprofit leadership and board accountability. Preventing Nonprofit Burnout: Tackle topics such as nonprofit burnout prevention and learn how to cultivate a healthy, anti-oppressive work culture that supports your team’s well-being. Nonprofit Storytelling: Understand how to measure your nonprofit’s effectiveness through nonprofit impact measurement strategies and leverage nonprofit storytelling to create compelling narratives that attract donors. 📣 Engaging Conversations and Real-World Advice In each episode, we bring you insights from experts in fundraising consulting, nonprofit grant writing, and capital campaign strategies. From interviews with fractional fundraisers and major gift officers to deep dives on fundraising tips and innovative fundraising ideas, we offer actionable advice that you can implement immediately to strengthen your organization’s impact. 💰 Learn How to Build a Sustainable Nonprofit Every nonprofit leader faces the challenge of achieving financial sustainability. Our episodes address critical fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations, providing insights on volunteer management, capacity building, and nonprofit marketing strategy. Gain access to tools that help you execute successful fundraising campaigns and build a foundation for long-term growth. 🤝 Join the Movement for Systemic Change At The Small Nonprofit, we’re committed to transforming the nonprofit sector from the ground up. Our focus on systemic change and community-centric fundraising aligns with our mission to support nonprofits in creating equitable, sustainable communities. By addressing topics like values-based decision making and nonprofit transparency, we’re working to build a more ethical, inclusive sector. ❤️ Stay Connected Subscribe to Small Nonprofit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast platform. Don’t miss an episode as we explore everything from fundraising tips to nonprofit social media strategy, and learn how you can become a stronger advocate for your organization’s mission.
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November 3, 202620 min
Nonprofit Mission Statements: Cut the Jargon So Donors Actually Get It
Send us Fan Mail A potential donor scrolling LinkedIn gives your post about three seconds. If they have to reread a sentence, you’ve lost them. In this episode, we talk about why nonprofit jargon pushes away the people you most want to reach. You’ll learn which words turn donors off, and how even familiar terms like “food insecurity” may mean different things to different people. We also cover how a clear mission helps you write stronger grant applications and turn down funding that pulls you off course. Plus, you’ll get a simple test to see how well your own team can explain what you do. On this week’s episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Maura Fitzpatrick. Maura is a senior strategist at PushTen, a creative agency that does branding, web design, and strategy for mission-driven organizations and nonprofits. She also worked as a communications manager at a legal aid nonprofit. Maura shares: The 3-second LinkedIn rule Smart people skim too. Jargon hides in familiar words. A clear mission makes fundraising easier. Clear words help a sector that’s underfunded. If your nonprofit needs more hands on deck to get more dollars and donors, book a call with the Further Together team and we can see if we can help: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/discoverycall Maria shares more cool and innovative fundraising tips on LinkedIn. If you want to connect with us, send her a message here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-rio-ethical-fundraising/ Connect with Maura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maurafitzpatrick/ Email Maura at maura@push10.com (mention this podcast for a free 30-minute consult) Visit their website: https://www.push10.com/ Support the show
October 28, 202625 min
Nonprofit Storytelling: Sharing Lived Experience Without Re-Harming Yourself
Send us Fan Mail Most of us walk into a networking event or donor meeting and lead with our job title. It’s safe. It’s also forgettable. In this episode, you’ll learn a different way in: start with questions. You’ll hear how one simple opener gets people talking about who they are, beyond what they do. You’ll learn how to choose which parts of your story to share, based on who’s in front of you. And you’ll hear what it sounds like to talk with donors as a peer, instead of inspiring their pity. ABOUT THE GUEST Frank Velasquez Jr. is the founder of 4 Da Hood, where he helps organizations and leaders reclaim their stories. His goal is to help people lead with more authenticity, courage, and joy. Frank has spent about nine years in fundraising. He’s also a speaker who calls himself an “extroverted introvert.” He runs Ascending Leaders in Color, a cohort program for leaders of color. Each group has no more than 10 people, so leaders can be real, reconnect with each other, and reclaim every part of their story. Frank shares: The difference between who you are vs. what you do The extroverted introvert’s secret How to decide what to share by listening first How to shorten the Community-Centric Fundraising principles learning curve Listen to Frank's previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/episodes/18654392 Connect with Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fvelasquezjr/ Connect with Frank: frank@4dahood.com Visit 4 Da Hood: www.4dahood.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE HOST Maria Rio is the founder and CEO of Further Together, a fractional fundraising firm that specializes in Community-Centric Fundraising. She arrived in Canada as a refugee when she was young, and her early experience with charitable services is what drew her to nonprofit work. She started fundraising in 2011 as a face-to-face fundraiser, then led development and communications at small and mid-sized nonprofits. Maria has spoken at AFP ICON, AFP Congress, APRA, Xlerate, and Imagine Canada, appeared on TVO's The Agenda and CityNews, and spoken at the Ontario Parliament. Her writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the book Against the People: How Ford Nation is Dismantling Ontario. She was a finalist for the 2022 Charity Village Best Individual Fundraiser Award, received the 2025 Young Alumni Impact Award from St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, and was one of ten Canadian entrepreneurs selected for the ELLA Accelerator Altitude program at York University's YSpace. Maria pushes the sector to stop fundraising in a way that caters to donors instead of community, and start sharing power with those that our nonprofits exist to serve. Connect with Maria on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-rio-ethical-fundraising/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Small Nonprofit Podcast is produced by Further Together, a Toronto-based fractional fundraising firm serving social justice nonprofits across Canada and the United States. Every engagement is built entirely on a Community-Centric Fundraising methodology. Further Together is dedicated to driving systemic change, both inside and outside the nonprofit sector. Fundraising has the power to do more than keep the lights on. Done well, and done ethically, it can shift power. Build movements. Change who gets a seat at the table. That's our north star: creating real change inside the sector and beyond it. Book a no-pressure chat with us: https://www.gofurthertogether.ca/discoverycall Support the show
October 20, 202622 min
Fundraising Events: Building Donor Relationships Through Mission-Aligned Events
Send us Fan Mail If you've ever put months of work into a gala, only to have most of the guests disappear until next year's event, this episode is for you. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio talks with Amy Milne, CEO and founder of Beyond Fundraising Inc. Amy has spent her career helping nonprofits raise more money through events: runs, walks, rides, you name it. Amy explains why your event should be part of a year-round relationship with your supporters and how staying in touch between events can turn guests and volunteers into committee members, sponsors, and even major donors. You'll also hear how a kids' cancer charity replaced its tired gala with an adult pajama party, complete with chicken and waffles and a Twister dance floor. Visit their website: https://www.startingbeyond.com/ Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyrmilne Connect with Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedownthereaffair/ Connect with Amy on thedownaffair Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedownthereaffair/ Listen to her podcast, Real Talk for the Non-Profit Event Pro: https://realtalkforthenonprofiteventpro.buzzsprout.com/ Support the show
October 13, 202626 min
Donor Stewardship Strategies for Small Nonprofits: 5 Low-Lift Ways to Keep Donors Coming Back
Send us Fan Mail Most stewardship advice assumes you have a team, a budget, and time to hand-deliver flowers to every donor. This episode is for fundraisers who have none of those. You'll learn five stewardship strategies that work for small teams and hear how a $100 donor became a $10,000 donor after receiving a short impact email every other month. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive, used these strategies as a one-person fundraising department to nearly double her individual giving campaign in two years. If stewardship keeps sliding to the bottom of your list, start here. Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn Download our donor stewardship email templates Support the show
October 6, 202625 min
Volunteers Aren't Free Labour: Ethical Volunteer Stewardship for Executive Directors
Send us Fan Mail What does your annual report say about your volunteers? If it's a headcount, a total of hours, and a dollar figure for how much they "saved" you, Jessica Pang-Parks has some thoughts. Most EDs don't set out to treat volunteers as free labour. The systems we've inherited make it easy, especially when funding won't cover the staff you actually need. This week, Maria is joined by Jessica. They talk about where volunteer engagement goes wrong, and what it looks like when it's done right. Jessica Pang-Parks helps nonprofits create impact and inspire belonging through ethical volunteer engagement frameworks. Her work is grounded in Community-Centric Fundraising, and it starts from one idea: volunteers are whole people. If your organization works with volunteers and you suspect they deserve better stewardship than they're getting, this one's for you. Visit Jessica's website: https://www.learnwithjpp.com/ Support the show
September 29, 202624 min
Bold, Sustainable Leadership for Social Impact Leaders in a Time of Crisis
Send us Fan Mail Perfectionism doesn't feel like fear. It feels like caring. But underneath the reviewed-a-hundred-times email is usually one thing: fear. In this episode, Maria talks with leadership coach Tessa Bridge about why leaders mistake control for competence and what it actually takes to lead from a grounded place instead of a scared one. Tessa Bridge is the founder of Tessa Bridge Coaching and author of Do Your Part: Bold, Sustainable Leadership for Social Impact Leaders in a Time of Crisis. Connect with Tessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessabridgecoaching/ Visit her website: https://www.tessabridgecoaching.com/ Tessa is running a live book club on October 28, November 4, November 18, and December 2, based on her book, Do Your Part, with four sessions of peer discussion and group coaching. This offering is for high-achieving, deeply committed leaders looking for a way to lead that is both bold and sustainable. Register for the book club, and use code MARIA150: In-person event - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/do-your-part-book-club-in-person-tickets-1999790009752?aff=oddtdtcreator Virtual event - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/do-your-part-book-club-online-tickets-1999791915452?aff=oddtdtcreator Support the show
September 22, 202620 min
Great Donor Stewardship: The 4 Step Donor Retention System Your Small Nonprofit Needs
Send us Fan Mail Most nonprofits lose more than half their donors after that very first gift, and it's rarely because those donors stopped caring. In this episode, Maria breaks down a simple, repeatable framework for keeping donors engaged long after they hit "donate." She walks through the five stages every donor moves through, why skipping even one of them kills retention, and how to weave stats and stories together so your messaging actually sticks. Then she digs into the psychology behind giving decisions, from anchoring to loss aversion to social proof, including the real story behind a $400,000 donor who ended up giving a million. This is Part 2 of Maria Rio's workshop, "How to Get More Donors, Retain Your Base, and Deepen Their Connection." Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/maria-rio-ethical-fundraising Listen to Part One: https://www.buzzsprout.com/208666/episodes/19724266 Support the show
September 15, 202623 min
The ED Burnout Crisis: New Data and How to Protect Yourself
Send us Fan Mail Nearly half of nonprofit Executive Directors are reporting burnout as a serious concern, and that number is climbing fast. In this episode, we dig into the Center for Effective Philanthropy's 2026 report and unpack what's actually driving the crisis: rising service demand, shrinking budgets, and boards and staff who often can't be the safe space EDs need. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria is joined by Caitlin McBride, a Certified Fundraising Executive with close to 15 years in the sector, to talk honestly about burnout and what small nonprofit leaders can actually do about it, starting today. Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn Read the Center for Effective Philanthropy, 2026 report Support the show
September 8, 202624 min
Family Foundations & Private Philanthropy: Why Spend-Down Foundations Are Different
Send us Fan Mail Most nonprofits ask foundations for what they think a funder is comfortable giving, not what the mission actually needs to succeed. That gap is costing the sector real impact. This episode pulls back the curtain on how private philanthropy really operates: why 95% of foundation assets sit invested with zero connection to mission, why "private" family foundations are actually funded with public money, and why the polite, small ask has become the norm even when it guarantees failure. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Glenn Galaich, CEO of the Stupski Foundation and author of Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short , to talk about what happens when a foundation commits to spending down its entire endowment instead of sitting on it. Connect with Glenn on LinkedIn Visit their website Support the show
September 1, 202635 min
Fundraising Strategy for Small Nonprofits: Building Acquisition and Retention Systems
Send us Fan Mail Throwing spaghetti at the wall can't fix broken fundraising systems. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio, a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience, shares what it actually takes to turn acquisition and retention into a repeatable system instead of a scramble. You'll learn how to move donors through each stage of the funnel, from total stranger to lifelong supporter, and why retention deserves more of your attention. This episode is Part 1 of Maria's live workshop, "How to Get More Donors, Retain Your Base, and Deepen Their Connection," recorded for a cohort of nonprofit leaders. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn Watch The Golden Circle by Simon Sinek (TED Talk) Support the show
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