A Modern Nonprofit Podcast
A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, powered by The Charity CFO, explores the most important business and culture topics in the nonprofit sector. Hosted by Tosha Anderson, each episode will feature an informative, lighthearted and insightful discussion about what’s trending in today’s organizations. This podcast is designed for nonprofit leaders and listeners alike, and we thank you for making this podcast part of your day!
Episode 164: Will AI Replace Your Nonprofit CFO? Here's the Honest Answer
Tosha lays out rule number one for nonprofit financial health: monthly reports, on a fixed schedule, every single time. At The Charity CFO, that means a strict 15-day reporting cycle — even when data is missing from a client's team, the report still goes out, flagging what's incomplete and what it could mean financially.
Tosha shares a real example: an organization spent three to seven years' worth of planned capital improvements in just two years — the kind of overspend a proper budget-to-actual analysis would have caught early, before it became a crisis.
Episode 163: What a $15.6 Million Deficit Should Teach Every Nonprofit Board
A local utility company just posted a 15.6 million dollar deficit. Tosha Anderson breaks down what really happened at Kirkwood Electric and why she does not think fraud is the answer, even though everyone assumes it is. She unpacks the three real explanations behind a finance team gone quiet, the reports every nonprofit board should demand every month, and how to tell the difference between a capacity problem and a skill problem before it costs you millions.
Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financ...
Episode 162: The Founder's Curse: When Passion Turns Into Burnout
Brandon Peacock survived a drive by shooting, was told he'd never walk again, and went on to run an Ironman. But this episode isn't about his comeback. It's about what he learned after: that being the face, the fundraiser, and the operator of his own nonprofit was quietly burning him out.
Tosha Anderson and Brandon talk honestly about nonprofit founder burnout, the guilt of stepping back, and why building a nonprofit that can survive without you is one of the most important things a founder can do. They also cover nonprofit marketing in 2026, including which platforms are...
Episode 161: Your Team Isn't the Problem—Your Leadership Might Be
What if your team's performance problems are actually a leadership problem?
Tiffany Slater, founder and CEO of HR TailorMade, joins Tosha Anderson for a frank conversation on why teams underperform and what nonprofit leaders are missing. They dig into onboarding, unclear expectations, accountability systems, and the hard question of when to coach versus when to move on.
Tiffany and Tosha also share how TCCFO uses success profiles and monthly one-on-ones to build high-performing teams, and close with the one question every leader should ask before blaming their people.
Practical, honest, and a little...
Episode 160: The Invisible Workload: Why Neurodivergent Nonprofit Leaders Burn Out Differently (And What It's Costing Us All)
Most nonprofit leaders know what burnout feels like. But not everyone burns out the same way.In this episode, Tosha Anderson sits down with Britt Stockert, Certified Fundraising Executive and coach at Donorbox, to talk about something that rarely comes up in the nonprofit leadership conversation: neurodivergence and the invisible workload it creates.Britt and Tosha both share their own experiences realizing, in their 40s, that what they thought was anxiety, over-ambition, or just being "a lot" was actually something more specific. And they explore why the nonprofit sector may be uniquely positioned to both attract and burn out...
Episode 159: Why Most Nonprofit Press Releases Fail—and How to Actually Earn Media Coverage
Your press release is not getting picked up because it's written for you, not for the journalist.
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson talks with Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, about what actually makes a nonprofit press release work. They cover the story arc journalists want to see, how to pitch local media with no budget, why your quotes are probably too safe, and how to turn earned media into a tool for donor retention and staff morale.
Practical, direct, and full of real examples...
Episode 158: Sustainable Leadership Without Burnout: Weekly Habits Nonprofit Leaders Need Now
Nonprofit burnout is real and nonprofit leaders are carrying more than ever before.
In this episode, Tosha Anderson sits down with productivity coach and Winning the Week co-author Demir Bentley to talk about sustainable leadership, weekly planning, productivity systems, and how nonprofit professionals can stop living in constant overwhelm.If you constantly feel behind, struggle to disconnect from work, or feel guilty setting boundaries, this episode will help you rethink what healthy leadership actually looks like.
In this conversation, we discuss:
✔ Why nonprofit professionals experience extreme burnout
...Episode 157: Budgeting for Impact: Why Nonprofits Need More Than Just a Spreadsheet
Most nonprofits have a budget.
But very few are actually using it to make better decisions.
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with CFO Pat Fisher from The Charity CFO to break down what effective nonprofit budgeting really looks like.
This is not about spreadsheets. It is about strategy.
You will learn:
Why every nonprofit needs a board-approved budget
The biggest budgeting mistakes nonprofit leaders make
How...
Episode 156: From Starvation to Sustainability: How Nonprofits Can Escape the Funding Trap
Are you constantly chasing funding but still struggling to build sustainable growth?In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Drew Reynolds, Principal Consultant at Common Good Data, to break down why so many nonprofits are stuck in the funding trap and what to do about it.With increasing funding uncertainty and limited capacity, nonprofit leaders are being forced to rethink their fundraising strategy. The key is not doing more. The key is getting clear on your mission and proving your impact.
In this episode, you will learn:
...Episode 155: The State of Grant Seeking in 2026: Strategy, AI, and Surviving the Competition
Grant Writing in 2026 Is Harder Than Ever - Here’s How to Adapt Federal funding volatility.
Private foundations acting like contracts. Massive nonprofits competing for $5,000 grants. And now AI flooding the system with applications.
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Dr. Krista Kurlinkus to unpack the state of grant seeking in 2026 and what nonprofit leaders must change to survive.
We cover:
-Why competition for grants is exploding
-How AI is increasing volume but lowering quality
-The dangers of...
Episode 154: Why Donors Don’t Give Again — And How to Fix It
Why Are Donors Disappearing? Here’s What Nonprofits Must Change
Only 20% of first-time donors give again.
That means for every 100 new donors you acquire, 80 disappear.
Is it donor fatigue? The economy? AI? Federal funding volatility?
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson and donor strategist Erin Straza unpack the real reasons donors don’t return - and what nonprofit leaders must change to improve donor retention.
We discuss:
The truth about donor retention rates
Why transactional fundraising fails
Th...
Episode 153: Federal Grants in 2026: What Nonprofits Need to Know Before Applying
Is federal funding coming back? Should your nonprofit apply for federal grants in 2026? And what are the new compliance risks you need to understand before submitting an application?
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with federal funding expert Fielding Jezreel to unpack the current state of federal grants as of February 2026.After a turbulent 2025 filled with funding whiplash, shutdown fears, and shifting priorities, we’re finally seeing stability return. But that doesn’t mean it’s business as usual.
We cover:
-Why f...
Episode 152: From Compliance to Clarity: How to Streamline Nonprofit Data Collection and Evaluation
Data doesn’t have to feel like a burden.
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson talks with Kayla Meyers, Founder of Bridgepoint Evaluation, about how nonprofit leaders can move from compliance-driven data collection to clarity-driven evaluation strategy.
If your organization is collecting data for grants but not using it for decision-making, team alignment, or strategic growth, this conversation will help you rethink your approach.
You’ll learn how to:
Shift from reactive to proactive evaluation
Streamline nonprofit data systems
Improve data quality without incr...
Episode 151: Rethinking Philanthropy: How Business Leaders Can Help Nonprofits Create Lasting Impact
What if philanthropy wasn’t just about writing checks - but about building systems that actually work?In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson sits down with Ed Mitzen, Co-Founder of the Business for Good Foundation, to talk about rethinking traditional philanthropy through a business lens.After selling his for-profit company, Ed and his wife chose a hands-on approach to giving - investing time, talent, and capital into workforce development, housing, entrepreneurship, and underserved communities. Together, they explore how nonprofits, government, and the private sector can collaborate more effectively to create long-term economic mobility instead of...
Episode 150: Why Traditional Strategic Plans Fail Nonprofits - And What to Do Instead
Traditional strategic plans are failing nonprofits.
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson and Theresa Guest, CFO at The Charity CFO, explain why so many nonprofit strategic plans collect dust instead of driving decisions. Using insights from The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint, they unpack the missing links between strategy, accountability, financial planning, and execution.
You will learn why quarterly planning creates more momentum than multi year roadmaps, how financial alignment exposes unrealistic goals early, and what nonprofit leaders can do this quarter to turn strategic planning...
Episode 149: Why Strategic Finance Is the Key to Nonprofit Fundraising Survival
Fundraising and finance are supposed to work together but in most nonprofits they operate in silos. In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with David Cristello, Founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, to talk about why this disconnect is costing nonprofits time, money, and people.They dive into grant utilization, financial visibility, burnout, and why spreadsheets are failing nonprofit leaders. David shares what he has learned building technology for accountants and how those lessons apply to nonprofits struggling to track grants, programs, and funding gaps. If you are a nonprofit CEO, finance leader, or...
Episode 148: How to Build and Protect Employee Trust During Organizational Change
Trust is the currency of leadership - especially during disruption.In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson sits down with Kim Bohr, President & COO of SparkEffect, to unpack how nonprofit leaders can navigate uncertainty without losing the trust, morale, and engagement of their people.Kim draws from SparkEffect’s new research study, Trust in Turbulence: The 2025 State of Organizational Trust, revealing what employees say builds trust (and destroys it) during disruption. They discuss:✔️ Why disruption hits trust before anything else✔️ The “Trust Dividend” - and how trust can grow during change✔️ Why middle managers are the most powerful...
Episode 147: Unrestricted Revenue: The Lifeblood of Nonprofit Agility and Growth
Most nonprofit leaders want more unrestricted revenue - but few have a strategy for building it.
In this episode, The Charity CFO’s Tosha Anderson and Aaron Landis explain why unrestricted funds are the true fuel behind nonprofit growth, stability, and innovation. Drawing on conversations with hundreds of CEOs and EDs, they highlight why organizations with the highest unrestricted percentages are often the most resilient and mission-aligned.
You’ll learn:
• Why unrestricted revenue is essential to scaling programs
• The risks of relying on restricted grants or gover...
Episode 146: Why People Really Give: Using Brain Science to Build Better Donor Relationships
Why do people really give? It is not logic. It is not spreadsheets. It is not persuasion.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Tosha talks with fundraising strategist and neuroscience expert Cherian Koshy about the biology and behavior behind generosity.
Together they explore how the brain rewards giving, why relationships matter more than transactions, and how nonprofit leaders can create emotionally resonant donor experiences.
Cherian shares insights on donor identity, digital fatigue, donor retention, and how to ethically communicate urgency during uncertain times. This episode offers a practical and science-informed look at what motivates people...
Episode 145: Think Before You Lead: The Financial Red Flags Every Nonprofit CEO Needs to Spot
Are you walking into a financial mess without realizing it? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson shares the five critical financial questions every new nonprofit CEO should ask in their first 90 days.
You’ll learn how to:
Spot hidden red flags in budgets and audits
Understand what funders, auditors, and reports are really saying
Build early trust with your board and financial team
Protect your organization from preventable financial risk
Whether you’re a first-time CEO or stepping into a ne...
Episode 144: Your Finance Committee Might Be Broken: How to Build One That Actually Helps
Your finance committee can be your nonprofit’s greatest asset—or its biggest headache.
In this episode, host Tosha Anderson and CFO Trina Owens-Rogers dive into the do’s and don’ts of creating an effective finance committee. From micromanaging boards to committees that never meet, they’ve seen it all, and they share what actually works.
You’ll discover:
The true role of a finance committee
How to spot when your committee is too hands-off or too controlling
Real-world examples from nonprofits that got it right (and w...
Repost: Grant Writing 101 for Nonprofits: How to Find and Win the Right Grants
Repost: Grant Writing 101 for Nonprofits: How to Find and Win the Right Grants
Finding and managing grants is one of the toughest parts of nonprofit growth. In this conversation, Tosha and grant writer Kate Hephner break down how to:
Identify the right grant opportunities
Write stronger, more organized proposals
Collaborate effectively with your team
Build a reputation as a trustworthy funding partner
This episode is perfect for new nonprofit leaders, founders, and development staff ready to elevate their grant strategy.<...
Episode 143: Why Your Fundraising Strategy Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It)
Most nonprofits struggle to understand why their fundraising isn’t working. In this episode, Tosha Anderson, Founder of The Charity CFO, talks with Jeff Schreifels, Principal and Owner of Veritus Group, about what it takes to build a fundraising strategy that truly connects with donors.
You’ll learn:
Why fundraising is not just about the moneyHow to move from transactional asks to relationshipsThe secret to permission-based askingWhat it takes to build donor trust and loyaltyHow to create a culture of philanthropy that sustains your missionIf your fundraising team is f...
Episode 142: Why It’s So Hard to Trust Marketing Numbers (and What Nonprofits Can Do About It)
Why are marketing metrics so confusing and how can nonprofits make smarter decisions about where to invest their dollars?
Join Tosha Anderson, Founder of The Charity CFO, as she talks with Jeff Greenfield, CEO and Founder of Provalytics, about how nonprofits can finally get clarity on their marketing data.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why marketing numbers don’t always add upHow to distinguish clicks from attentionWhat “working vs. nonworking” marketing dollars really meanWhy paid advertising is not just for big organizationsHow AI is transforming digital marketing for nonprofitsIf your...
Episode 140: Scaling Without Burnout: How Systems Keep Nonprofits Growing Strong
Most nonprofits try to scale by adding more people, but that often makes the chaos worse. In this episode, Tosha Anderson and Dr. Andrea Ortega uncover how to scale your nonprofit through systems, not stress. Learn how to build SOPs, create repeatable workflows, strengthen board engagement with useful dashboards, and handle the challenges that come with federal grants and rapid growth. If you’re a nonprofit leader ready to move from reactive to proactive, this conversation is for you.
Connect with Andrea Ortega
Founder and CEO of Palante Nonprofits, LLC.
🌐 Websi...
Episode 141: What Every New Nonprofit CEO Should Ask About the Finances (Before It’s Too Late)
New nonprofit CEO? Don’t inherit a financial mess. In this solo episode, Tosha breaks down the exact questions to ask in Week 1 and the first 90 days so you can quickly assess risk, read audits + 990s with confidence, pressure-test budget assumptions, verify restricted funds, and fix delayed or conflicting reports. You’ll learn how to evaluate your finance team, set a cadence for monthly close, and own the financial story with your board and funders.
Grab our free Financial Blueprint and avoid painful surprises.
The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com...
Ep. 139: Nonprofit Networking That Works: How to Prepare, Connect, and Follow Up for Real Results
Networking is not a box to check. It is how modern nonprofits fuel mission, board growth, fundraising, and talent. Tosha Anderson sits down with Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, to break down how to prepare for events, find common ground quickly, tell sharper stories, and follow up with discipline. They cover board dynamics, scaling programs without losing focus, and why curating your network beats collecting contacts.
If you lead a nonprofit, this playbook will help you build real relationships that move your mission forward.
Connect with Anne Marie...
Episode 138: Beyond Staff: Engaging Your Full Nonprofit Workforce - Board Members and Volunteers Included
Beyond Staff: Engaging Your Full Nonprofit Workforce - Board Members and Volunteers Included
Nonprofit engagement cannot stop at staff. In this episode, Tosha Anderson and leadership expert Rhonda Travers show you how to engage employees, board members, and volunteers with a simple lifecycle approach. Learn to define volunteer roles, onboard and offboard board members, build a basic governance dashboard, and communicate across channels so your mission stays top of mind.
Connect with Rhonda Travers
Travers Training & Consulting - Founder & President
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondatravers/
🌐...
Episode 137: Teamwork and Integrity: Lessons in Strong Nonprofit Leadership
Strong nonprofit leadership isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about building trust, empowering teams, and leading with integrity.In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Karen Leies, President & CEO of The Seeing Eye, the world’s oldest guide dog school. Together they explore:
The role of integrity in shaping culture and trustWhy teamwork is the backbone of nonprofit successHow to balance tradition with innovation in a 96-year-old organizationPractical leadership lessons for CEOs, executives, and board members🔗 Learn more about The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint and how strong leadershi...
Episode 136: Leading Through Scarcity: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Find Clarity
Scarcity in nonprofits isn’t just about money. In this powerful conversation, Pierre Berastain of The Centre for Public Impact joins Tosha Anderson to explore financial, structural, and psychological scarcity, and how they shape nonprofit culture, leadership, and sustainability.You’ll learn:-Why scarcity creates cycles of burnout and underinvestment-The difference between a crisis-driven vs. clarity-driven culture-Practical tools like decision filters and personal boards of directors-How nonprofit leaders can reclaim focus, set boundaries, and build resilienceIf you’re a nonprofit leader navigating limited resources and constant demands, this episode will help you step out of survival mode and into clarit...
Episode 135: Shoestring Marketing Hacks for Nonprofits: AI, Video & Thought Leadership
Tosha Anderson sits down with Dr. Dustin York to explore nonprofit marketing trends you can implement without a big budget. They cover AI agents for SEO, video podcast strategy, free Apple Wallet passes, content repurposing into 60 assets, thought leadership hacks via Qwoted and a 90-day action plan to boost visibility. Perfect for nonprofit leaders seeking tactical, scalable marketing strategies.
Connect with Dr. Dustin YorkLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryork/Website: https://www.drdustinyork.com/Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Downl...
Episode 134: Restricted Grants: When They Help, When They Hurt, and How to Release Them Quickly
Are restricted grants helping your nonprofit—or silently hurting it?In this solo episode, Tosha Anderson, CEO & Founder of The Charity CFO, dives deep into the complicated world of restricted vs. unrestricted grants. You’ll learn when restricted funds are a smart move, when they create cash flow nightmares, and how to release them quickly so they actually work for your mission, not against it.Follow Us Online 🌐 Website: www.thecharitycfo.com 📸 Instagram: @thecharitycfo 📘 Facebook: /thecharitycfo 💼 LinkedIn: / the-charity-cfo 🎵 TikTok: @thecharitycfoJoin our newsletter: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/l/995872/2025-02-24/6ldn1Download The Charity CFO Financial Blueprint: https://go.thecharitycfo.com/financial-blueprint
Episode 133: Leading with Purpose: Women Transforming the Nonprofit Sector
Only 22% of nonprofit Executive Directors are women—yet 75% of nonprofit employees are.
Why aren’t more women making it into leadership roles?
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson sits down with Shilpa Alva, Founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and long-term impact of women in nonprofit leadership.
You’ll learn:
What’s stopping women from climbing the nonprofit ladder
How systemic funding gaps hold women (especially women of color) back
The power of leading with empathy...
Episode 132: Find Your People: How Advocacy Helped One Founder Build a Mission-Driven Nonprofit
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, host Tosha Anderson talks with Courtney Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Culinary Care, a nonprofit that delivers meals and comfort to cancer patients undergoing treatment. Courtney shares what it's really like to start a nonprofit from scratch at just 23 years old, and how advocacy—both for her mission and herself—was the key to getting in the door with hospitals, donors, and volunteers.
You’ll learn how she built a sustainable fundraising model, why she ignored the naysayers, and what every aspiring founder needs to know b...
Episode 131: Branding Isn’t Your Logo: Why Nonprofits Must Evolve to Stay Relevant
Is your nonprofit brand outdated—or just unclear? In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, branding expert Steven Picanza joins Tosha Anderson to explore what modern branding really means for nonprofits. Discover why your brand is more than a logo, how to simplify your messaging without losing impact, and why your website might be pushing people away.Steven breaks down the key differences between voice and tone, how to build brand culture internally, and how to attract individual donors in a world where grant funding is increasingly unstable. Whether you're just starting to think about your branding—or plan...
Episode 130: Why You Shouldn't be Giving up on Federal Grants
Federal grants are more chaotic than ever. Delays, shifting executive orders, compliance confusion—and now, questions about what language nonprofits can or can’t use in applications. But should you give up on federal funding altogether?In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha Anderson is joined by Fielding Jezreel, federal grant strategist, Founder & President of Jezreel Consulting, to unpack what’s really happening with federal grants in 2025—and why walking away could hurt your mission more than help it.You’ll learn:How to assess whether your nonprofit is ready—and willing—to pursue federal fundsWhat’s changed (and has...
Episode 129: Why nonprofits need budgeting AND forecasting: and what’s the difference
Every nonprofit builds a budget. But only the most effective leaders use forecasts to steer their organizations forward. In this episode, A Modern Nonprofit Podcast host Tosha Anderson is joined by David Steffens, CPA to break down the difference between budgeting and forecasting—and why both are critical for financial health and sustainability.
They discuss:
What a budget really is (and isn’t)
How forecasts go beyond “what happened” to show “what’s next”
Common mistakes in budgeting and how to fix them
How to build a basic forecast, even with limi...
Episode 128: Strategic Planning for Nonprofits: Why It’s Broken and How to Fix It
What is strategic planning really — and are you doing it right? In this episode, Tosha Anderson talks with Steve Strang, Practice Director at Spectrum Nonprofit Services, about why so many nonprofits misunderstand strategic planning.
They unpack what a strategic plan should look like, how to align it with your team’s capacity and funding reality, and when not to pursue growth. If your organization is in flux, dealing with turnover, or facing budget concerns, this episode is a must-listen for grounding your next move in strategy that actually works.
Conn...
Episode 127: Nonprofit Board Myths, Truths, and How to Build One That Actually Works
Nonprofit board struggles? You’re not alone.
In this episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, Tosha sits down with Katerina Manoff, founder & CEO of ENGin, to bust the biggest myths about boards—and reveal what actually works when you're building or evolving one.
They talk about:
The unrealistic expectations many founders have about boardsWhy “bless and release” is a vital leadership moveHow to recruit board members who align with your mission and your strategyThe difference between helpful support and harmful micromanagementWhether you’re stuck with a passive board, navigating founder dynamics, or trying to...
Episode 126: Fundraising vs. Sales: What I Wish I Knew about Sales When I was a Fundraiser
Is fundraising really that different from sales?
Aaron Landis doesn’t think so—and he’s lived both sides. In this episode, he joins Tosha Anderson to reflect on his time as a fundraiser and what he’s learned since entering the for-profit world. From CRM tips and donor follow-up to data-driven KPIs and team communication, this is the nonprofit leadership masterclass you didn’t know you needed.Grab your free blueprint here.Get in Touch with Aaron and The Charity CFO Team here!What to watch next…Nonprofit Fundraising Strategies to Consider https://thecharitycfo.com/nonprofit-fundraising-strategies/Follow Us On...
