Podcast
Successful Nonprofits Podcast
Hosted by Successful Nonprofits, LLC · EN
With more than half a million downloads, the Successful Nonprofits Podcast helps nonprofit chief executives lead effectively and build stronger organizations.
Hosted by Dolph Goldenburg, a consultant, coach, and confidant to nonprofit leaders across the country, the podcast helps nonprofit executive directors navigate board relationships, staff leadership, financial stewardship, fundraising pressure, strategic planning, leadership transitions, and the hard decisions only the CEO can make.
Each episode is created for busy nonprofit chief executives leading through complexity, often without a deep bench of finance, HR, fundraising, or operations support.
Through conversations with nonprofit leaders and experts, along with practical episodes drawn from Dolph's three decades of nonprofit leadership, the Successful Nonprofits® Podcast offers clear-eyed guidance to help you and your organization thrive.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
6 Clauses for your executive director contract
4d ago00:16:17Summary readyYour employment agreement is not just paperwork. It shapes how you and your board handle compensation, performance reviews, incentives, leave, renewal, and the end of the relationship. I share six newer clauses that I've started seeing in ED contracts now, and how to negotiate your agreement in a way that protects both you as the executive and your organization. You will hear why cost of living adjustments, performance review deadlines, incentive pay, retention bonuses, sabbaticals, and nonrenewal payments are not just perks. They are tools for clarity, accountability, and a healthier board and executive relationship. I also explain at what point to bring in legal counsel to negotiate on your behalf, how to tell your board you are doing so, and why negotiating well for yourself can also help you advocate more effectively for your staff. This is not legal advice. It is practical leadership advice to help nonprofit chief executives themselves, their organization, and their ability to lead. This episode answers the following questions: What should I ask for in an employment agreement? Which clauses are common for nonprofit executive director contracts? How can my performance bonus and incentive pay be structured more clearly? When should I bring in legal counsel to negotiate my agreement? How can I negotiate my contract without damaging my relationship with the board? How do I get a retention bonus, sabbatical, or nonrenewal payments? Links mentioned in this episode: Successful Nonprofits Individual Coaching
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A Sabbatical Made My Nonprofit Stronger with Rebecca Stapel-Wax
2w ago00:30:35Summary readyMany nonprofit chief executives dream about taking a sabbatical, but few believe their organization is too small to offer sabbaticals. In this episode, SOJOURN Executive Director Rebecca Stapel-Wax shares how she prepared her board, staff, systems, and interim leader for a successful three-month sabbatical that ultimately strengthened the organization. Dolph and Rebecca discuss succession planning, executive burnout, communication boundaries, re-entry planning, and the operational systems every nonprofit CEO should have in place before stepping away on a sabbatical. This episode answers questions like: How do I ask my board for a sabbatical? Can a nonprofit executive director take a paid sabbatical? What should a I put in place before taking a sabbatical? How do I handle leadership coverage during an executive director's sabbatical? How do I prepare my staff and board before taking extended leave? What should be included in a nonprofit succession planning playbook? Links mentioned in this episode: SOJOURN: sojourngsd.org Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: I took a sabbatical and so can you with David Huitstuman: [on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes] Make your dream sabbatical a reality with Emil Raskin [Episode Title on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
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The Executive Director's Fire Drill
3w ago00:15:42Summary readyWhen everything feels urgent, it becomes almost impossible for a nonprofit chief executive to focus on the work that actually moves the organization forward. I share a simple fire triage framework that I first developed during an interim executive director engagement with an organization facing serious financial, staffing, and compliance challenges. The framework helps leaders sort problems into fire types. We'll dive into each category, clarify who should respond, what level of leadership is needed, and when the executive director should step in personally. This episode is especially useful for nonprofit CEOs and executive directors who feel pulled into every problem, conflict, complaint, and operational hiccup. This episode answers the following questions: How do I decide what problems I should handle as a nonprofit executive director? How do I stop getting pulled into every staff problem as the CEO? How do I build a leadership team that can handle problems without me? What should a nonprofit CEO do when everything feels urgent? How do I help my staff solve problems without coming to me every time? When should a nonprofit board get involved in an organizational crisis?
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The Three Roles of an Executive Director
3w ago00:12:40Summary readyMany executive directors spend their days in meetings, emails, staff questions, funder requests, budget tweaks, and personnel issues. At the end of the day, they have been busy. They may even feel productive. But they still have the nagging sense that the most important CEO level was untouched. I share the three roles on you as the CEO can fulfill: futurist, steward, and optimizer. These three roles help executive directors step out of operational gravity, protect time for long term thinking, steward the organization's people and trust, and make the high stakes decisions that move the organization forward. This episode answers the following questions: What should I focus on as the CEO of a small nonprofit? How do I make time for strategy as a nonprofit an executive director? Why do I feel stuck? How do nonprofit CEOs balance strategy and operations? How can nonprofit leaders avoid getting trapped in busywork? Links Categorize and Triage Your Fires (blog post) 5 Steps to Tackling Disruptive Behavior at Work (Podcast episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts)
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70% of nonprofit CEOs get fired or forced out!
3w ago00:25:01Summary readyWhile the nonprofit sector rarely talks about it openly, 35% - 70% of executive directors are forced out — usually without even realizing the warning signs. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on why board confidence erodes, which issues risk accelerating your departure, and steps you can take to ensure you leave on your own terms after a long and successful tenure. This episode answers the following questions: How can I improve my relationship with the board? How do I build and maintain the trust of my board? Am I at risk of being fired or forced out? How do I ensure a long and successful tenure as CEO? Do I need a nonprofit CEO coach?
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The Lifecycle of an Executive Director with Claudius Hildebrand
4w ago00:38:43Summary readyClaudius Hildebrand, co-author of the best selling book Life Cycle of a CEO, explores the five stages of a nonprofit executive director's tenure, revealing how these insights apply to your nonprofit leadership journey. Discover practical strategies for launching into new roles, reinvention during your tenure, and intentional succession planning. This episode answers the following questions: What can I do to have a strong and impactful start as a new executive director? How do I know if it's time to reinvent myself as a nonprofit leader? Do I need to change my leadership strategy? How do I strengthen my Board relationships? How can I foster innovation at my organization? Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes or blog posts: The Unintentional Interim Executive Director The CEO Next Door with Kim Powell
SummaryThe Podcast Returns June 16th!
May 2800:05:16Summary readyNew episodes will be released on June 16th with a sharper focus on providing actionable advice and support for nonprofit executive directors. If there's a CEO-level topic you'd like covered, email me at dolph@successfulnonprofits.com.
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World-Class Benefits for Nonprofit Teams with Curt Ellis
Dec 3, 202400:34:54Summary readyCould your nonprofit offer staff benefits they couldn't even get working for a Fortune 500 employer? Curt Ellis, co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps, joins Dolph Goldenburg to share the secret sauce behind FoodCorps' jaw-dropping benefits package. From a $3,000 401(k) match to 16 weeks of paid parental leave to sabbaticals, FoodCorps is setting new standards in the nonprofit sector. Ellis explains why offering these benefits isn't just about employee satisfaction—it's a business strategy that strengthens FoodCorps' mission to connect children to nourishing food. Discover how FoodCorps' approach to sabbaticals, half-day Fridays, and family planning support boosts morale and retains talent in the high-turnover nonprofit workforce. Whether you're tackling employee burnout or seeking donor buy-in for better benefits, this episode is your blueprint for success. This episode answers the following questions: How can I implement competitive benefits at my nonprofit? Why are sabbaticals a game-changer for retention? How can I approach funders about improving staff benefits? Links mentioned in this episode: FoodCorps Looking for More? Check out these amazing episodes: Our Unlimited PTO Experiment with Dolph & Lexie on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes. Beyond Money: Incentives That Work with Uri Gneezy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes.
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5 Ways to Raise More Money at the End of the Year
Nov 26, 202400:16:06Summary readyAs the rest of the world counts down the last weeks of the year, this is the perfect time for leaders like you to harness your donors' holiday-giving spirit to generate more dollars, retain more donors, and cultivate even larger gifts for next year. This episode answers the following questions: How can I engage my nonprofit's Board in fundraising at the end of the year? What strategies can I use in the last week or month of the year to boost donations? What are LYBUNT donors and how do I approach them? What are some easy ways to raise $10,000 or more in a month? Links mentioned in this episode: Blog Post: 5 Digital Fundraising Challenges and Their Solutions Blog Post: 31 Ideas for Board Member Fundraising Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: 11 Donor-Tested Ways to Say "Thank You" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes Podcast: Volunteer Fundraisers Unleashed with Maura McDaniel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes
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Are You an Eagle, Parrot, Owl, or Dove? With Manish Shah
Nov 19, 202400:40:35Summary readyWhat if understanding your team could be as simple as recognizing four birds? In this episode, Manish Shah introduces the "four birds" personality model—a game-changing tool for nonprofits striving to enhance collaboration and solve conflict. From the eagle's boldness to the owl's precision, you'll discover how understanding these personality types can revolutionize your leadership and transform team dynamics. Join host Dolph Goldenburg as he and Manish explore: Why even high-performing teams experience dysfunction. How to decode personality types to foster stronger collaboration. Simple adjustments you can make to turn misunderstandings into breakthroughs. This episode answers the following questions: How is the four-bird personality type different from the other personality assessments? How do personality assessments transform team communication? How can I adapt my leadership style to better connect with diverse personalities? Links mentioned in this episode: Visit EPYX Team Building Manish's Team-Building Workshops Looking for more? Check out these amazing episodes: Ep 268: The Secret to Building a Rockstar Leadership Team with Allison Mayfield [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes] Ep 307: Empower Your Team: Unleashing Leadership Potential with Luis Velasquez & Kristin Gleitsman [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website with show notes]
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