Podcast
Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast
Hosted by Brooke Richie-Babbage · EN
This podcast offers nonprofit founders and leaders a deep-dive into the mindset and key strategies behind launching, scaling, and leading a high-impact nonprofit organization.
84episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Your Board Has 11 Members and Drives Zero Revenue
Apr 2800:20:03Tap to summarizeMost executive directors I talk to already know their board isn’t pulling its weight in fundraising. And yet, nothing really changes. In this episode, I unpack why that gap persists—and why it’s not a motivation or culture issue. It’s a design flaw. I walk through the moment every ED recognizes (when you realize you’re carrying the fundraising load alone) and explain why the usual fixes—trainings, retreats, expectation-setting—don’t actually shift behavior. Then I offer a different lens: your board has likely been built for approval, not activation. I break down what an activation board actually looks like, why structure—not personality—drives engagement, and how to redesign your board so fundraising responsibility is distributed, supported, and sustainable.What You’ll LearnWhy board fundraising struggles are usually a structural problem—not a motivation issueThe difference between an “approval board” and an “activation board”How to redesign board roles so fundraising actually happensKey TakeawaysYou can’t culture-change your way out of a structural design problemBoard members don’t act because the system doesn’t require—or support—itClear roles, infrastructure, and peer accountability drive real behavior changeIf You Want to Fix This, Start Here1. Define Specific Role ProfilesMove away from vague expectations like “be a fundraising ambassador.” Instead, create clear, time-bound responsibilities for each board member.Example: “Make two introductions to major donor prospects this year.”Clarity turns intention into action.2. Build the InfrastructureEven willing board members won’t act without support. Give them:A curated prospect listSimple talking pointsA clear askA way to report backThis removes friction and builds confidence.3. Shift Accountability to the BoardIf you’re the only one holding people accountable, the system breaks.Instead:Create a board fundraising committeeBuild peer reporting into meetingsIntroduce self-assessmentsThis makes accountability structural—not personal.Diagnostic Questions to Ask YourselfDoes every board member have a clear, specific fundraising role?Could they take action without coming to you first?Is there accountability that doesn’t rely on you?If the answer is no to any of these—you’re dealing with a design problem.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
Transcribe →The Meetings That Should Not Exist
Apr 1400:15:45Tap to summarizeYou know the meeting. It's on your calendar every week. Same time, same people — and you walk out wondering what you actually accomplished. In this episode, Brooke reframes why those meetings exist and what they're really telling you about the health of your organization.Spoiler: the meeting isn't the problem. It's the symptom.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeWhy recurring, low-yield meetings are a design problem — not a time management or people problemThe three types of meetings that should not exist (and what structural gap each one reveals)Why these meetings drain leaders in a specific, cumulative way — and what's actually driving that exhaustionThe three structural shifts that remove the need for these meetings altogetherA single diagnostic question to ask about every recurring block on your calendarThe Three Meetings That Should Not Exist1. The Update Meeting → Points to an information problem When information only moves through conversation — not systems — the weekly check-in becomes your infrastructure. It's fragile, doesn't scale, and shouldn't be the solution.2. The Stuck Meeting → Points to a decision-making problem The same issues surface week after week with no resolution because there's no clear framework for how decisions actually get made. The meeting becomes a holding tank.3. The Everything Meeting → Points to an ownership problem When roles, priorities, and outcomes aren't clearly defined, everything has to be reviewed collectively. The meeting becomes a substitute for structure.The Three Structural ShiftsRedesign how information flows — dashboards, shared documents, and clear metrics instead of verbal updatesBuild real decision-making infrastructure — clear ownership, defined criteria, and alignment on what "good" looks likeClarify ownership at every level — so people bring solutions, not problems, and the escalation loop stopsThe Question to Take Into Your WeekWhat would have to be true for this meeting to not exist at all?That's where the real design work begins.Key Idea from This EpisodeResilient organizations aren't held together by conversations. They're held together by systems.If this episode resonated, share it with an ED or nonprofit CEO who's staring at a calendar full of meetings that aren't moving anything forward.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
Transcribe →Abundance Is Not a Vibe—It’s a Design Choice
Apr 800:18:22Summary readyWe’ve all heard it before: “Just shift to an abundance mindset.” But what if abundance isn’t just something you feel—it’s something you build? In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many nonprofit leaders stay stuck in scarcity and how to make abundance a practical part of your organizational strategy.I’m sharing real examples of what it looks like to lead with generosity, create high-trust peer networks, and treat collaboration as infrastructure—not just kindness. If you’ve ever hesitated to share a resource or felt like there’s not enough to go around, this one’s for you.Let’s talk about what changes when we stop surviving and start designing systems that actually support our growth.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why scarcity isn’t just a mindset—it’s baked into how many orgs are built.How operational generosity can accelerate growth and trust.Why peer networks are one of the most overlooked assets in the nonprofit world.Key takeaways:Abundance is not a vibe—it’s a design decision.Sharing doesn’t cost you. It grows you.High-trust, high-sharing peer networks reduce isolation and fuel leadership confidence.Let this episode be a reminder: you don’t have to wait for abundance to arrive. You can build it—starting now.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
SummaryThe Calm You're Waiting For Isn’t Coming
Mar 1700:13:18Summary readyIn this episode, I talk about a pattern I see constantly among nonprofit leaders — and one I’ve caught myself falling into too. It sounds like: “After the gala.” “Once this transition is over.” “When things settle down.” The assumption behind those phrases is that calm will arrive first, and then we’ll finally have the space to build better systems.But in reality, that calm rarely shows up on its own.I share why this waiting logic is so common, why it actually makes sense in chaotic environments, and why it ultimately keeps organizations stuck in reactive mode. The real issue isn’t a lack of effort or leadership capacity — it’s what I call a design deficit, the gap between the size of your mission and the infrastructure supporting it.We’ll talk about how systems create stability, why waiting makes the problem harder, and three practical shifts that can help you start building even when things feel messy.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhy many nonprofit leaders unconsciously wait for “calm” before improving systemsWhat a design deficit is and how it quietly drains your organization’s capacityThree practical ways to begin building systems even in the middle of chaos3 Key TakeawaysCalm doesn’t come before systems — systems are what create calm.Chaos compounds when organizations grow without infrastructure to support them.Small, imperfect systems built now are far more valuable than perfect systems that never get started.Three Shifts to Start Building Systems (Even in the Mess)1. Stop looking for the right moment — find the smallest useful one. You don’t need a perfectly clear season to start improving your organization’s infrastructure. Instead, look for a small entry point. Identify one recurring decision that always ends up on your desk, or one process your team constantly recreates from scratch. That’s often the clearest signal of where a simple system could reduce friction.2. Treat imperfect systems as real systems. Many leaders delay building systems because they imagine they need something polished or comprehensive. In reality, a rough meeting template, a basic checklist, or a quick process document can dramatically reduce cognitive load. The key is getting knowledge out of your head and into something your team can actually use.3. Reframe planning as real work. In the nonprofit sector, busyness often gets mistaken for productivity. But stepping back to design structure, clarify roles, or document a process isn’t a distraction from the work — it multiplies the impact of everything else your team does.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
SummaryThe Real Reason Your Board Feels Like More Work (It’s Not What You Think)
Mar 1000:15:14Summary readyIf your board meetings leave you feeling tense, depleted, or like you’re carrying the entire organization on your back, you’re not alone—and it’s probably not because your board members are “bad” or disengaged.In this episode, I unpack a quieter, more accurate reason board work feels exhausting. We’ll look at the hidden group dynamics that pull capable leaders into the role of “hero,” why competence can actually make board fatigue worse, and—most importantly—the small, realistic shifts that dramatically reduce the load you’re carrying. No board overhaul required. Just better conditions.If your board feels like more work instead of more support, this episode will help you see why—and what to do next.What You’ll LearnWhy board fatigue is usually a structure problem, not a people problemHow ambiguity quietly turns executive directors into the gravitational centerThree small design shifts that immediately reduce board-related exhaustionKey TakeawaysBoards don’t burn leaders out—ambiguity does.High-capacity leaders are often exhausted because systems recruit them into filling every gap.Small, intentional structures can redistribute responsibility and energy quickly.The 3 Shifts That Reduce Board Fatigue1. Make expectations explicitMove assumptions out of your head and into shared language. Explicit expectations reduce emotional labor.2. Create a shared center of gravityUse clear priorities, decision-making frames, or guiding documents so conversations organize around the work—not you.3. Distribute ownership in small waysShort updates, stewarded questions, or facilitated conversations create engagement and shared responsibility.Resource MentionedThe Board Activation Blueprint - A free 3-part private audio series designed to help you shift your board from passive or draining to genuinely supportive.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
SummaryWhy Annual Plans Collapse By March: The Problem Behind Every 'Good Plan'
Mar 300:19:14Summary readyIf you’re a few months into the year and already thinking, “Is this plan falling apart?” — you’re not alone.In this episode of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about the quiet moment so many nonprofit leaders hit in February or March. You spent real time planning. You aligned the team. You built the deck. And now the plan feels heavy, off track, or weirdly dependent on you again.I want to normalize this: it’s not a failure of discipline or leadership.Most annual plans collapse because they’re built on top of an under-designed organization.In this episode, I walk through the three structural breakdowns I see most often — Capital, Capacity, and Clarity — and what it actually looks like to design a plan that holds up under real-world pressure.This isn’t about trying harder.It’s about building a stronger container.What You’ll Learn:Why strong annual plans still fall apart by Q1The three structural pillars that determine whether your plan will holdHow to diagnose whether your issue is Capital, Capacity, or Clarity3 Key Takeaways:Your plan isn’t failing — your container may be under-designed.Sustainable execution requires stability in Capital, Capacity, and Clarity.The solution isn’t pushing harder — it’s leading at the design level.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
SummaryMicro-Series Pt3: How To Start Fixing Your Design Deficits
Feb 500:07:33Summary readyEvery February, I see the same thing: high-performing nonprofit leaders suddenly feeling like everything is falling apart. After the December push and the excitement of new-year, reality hits — and it hits hard.In this micro-series of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about what’s really behind that collapse.Spoiler: it’s not your fault — and you didn’t plan wrong. What you’re experiencing is the breaking point of unsustainable systems, not a leadership failure.I unpack the concept of the “design deficit” — the hidden lack of infrastructure that becomes painfully clear when the adrenaline fades. And I walk you through exactly how to rebuild: with systems, structure, and sustainable leadership practices.If you’ve ever felt like your team is slipping before the year even gets going, this one's for you.What You’ll LearnWhy chaos and burnout are a systems issue — not a personal failingThe hidden psychological trap of “cognitive simplification”How to transition from hustle to sustainable infrastructureA step-by-step: how to step off the tightropeWant to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
SummaryMicro-Series P2: Why Invisible Labor Is Not a Strategy
Feb 400:08:03Summary readyEvery February, I see the same thing: high-performing nonprofit leaders suddenly feeling like everything is falling apart. After the December push and the excitement of new-year, reality hits — and it hits hard.In this micro-series of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about what’s really behind that collapse.Spoiler: it’s not your fault — and you didn’t plan wrong. What you’re experiencing is the breaking point of unsustainable systems, not a leadership failure.I unpack the concept of the “design deficit” — the hidden lack of infrastructure that becomes painfully clear when the adrenaline fades. And I walk you through exactly how to rebuild: with systems, structure, and sustainable leadership practices.If you’ve ever felt like your team is slipping before the year even gets going, this one's for you.What You’ll LearnWhy chaos and burnout are a systems issue — not a personal failingThe hidden psychological trap of “cognitive simplification”How to transition from hustle to sustainable infrastructureA step-by-step: how to step off the tightropeWant to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
SummaryMicro-Series Pt1: Why Leading In February Always Feels Heavy
Feb 300:09:18Summary readyEvery February, I see the same thing: high-performing nonprofit leaders suddenly feeling like everything is falling apart. After the December push and the excitement of new-year, reality hits — and it hits hard.In this micro-series of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, I talk about what’s really behind that collapse.Spoiler: it’s not your fault — and you didn’t plan wrong. What you’re experiencing is the breaking point of unsustainable systems, not a leadership failure.I unpack the concept of the “design deficit” — the hidden lack of infrastructure that becomes painfully clear when the adrenaline fades. And I walk you through exactly how to rebuild: with systems, structure, and sustainable leadership practices.If you’ve ever felt like your team is slipping before the year even gets going, this one's for you.What You’ll LearnWhy chaos and burnout are a systems issue — not a personal failingThe hidden psychological trap of “cognitive simplification”How to transition from hustle to sustainable infrastructureA step-by-step: how to step off the tightropeWant to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
Summary2026 Predictions: What Nonprofit Leaders Must Know to Thrive
Jan 2700:10:44Summary readyWhat should you be focusing on this year to keep your nonprofit strong, strategic, and sustainable? In this special episode, I asked a group of brilliant nonprofit professionals and consultants to share their predictions for 2026—and what they believe mission-driven organizations need to do now to prepare. From leveraging AI to treating retention as a growth strategy, these insights are sharp, actionable, and forward-thinking. I’ve pulled together their responses in this episode to help you zoom out and think big—without losing focus on what actually works. 2026 Predictions at a Glance:Tess Conrad (Full Potential Fundraising)Fundraising: Mid-sized nonprofits are shifting to prioritize Planned Giving, focusing on donors’ assets, not just cash.Laurie Ehrlich (Elevate Marketing Strategy)Communication, Marketing, Fundraising: Nonprofits will thrive by using AI as a collaborative tool and embracing clarity, intentionality, and relational engagement.Naomi Hattaway (8th & Home | Leaving Well)Leadership, Organizational Resilience: Foundations will step up with capacity-building and cohort learning, not just checks.Daniel Francavilla (The Good Growth Company)Communication, Marketing: Donor retention will become a growth strategy; trust and brand clarity will be key to long-term success.Rachel Bearbower (Nonprofit Automation Agency)Automation/Technology: Automation will become essential infrastructure for sustainability and consistency.Jess Campbell (Out in the Boons)Marketing: Nonprofits that don’t prioritize email list growth will struggle to hit their fundraising goals.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why planned giving is no longer just for large organizations—and how to get started nowHow automation and AI can support real relationships, not replace themWhat funders can do differently to build long-term nonprofit resilience3 Key Takeaways:Mid-sized charities are stepping up: 2026 marks a turning point in planned giving adoption beyond just the big players.Retention > acquisition: Smart content, segmentation, and relationship-building will beat spray-and-pray fundraising strategies.Infrastructure matters: Systems, automation, and cohort-based support are critical for scale, sustainability, and avoiding burnout.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
Summary