The Smart Communications Podcast

エピソード

• Episode 214: Why can’t more fundraising fix your fundraising? 24.06.2026 19分

  Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Kevin L. Brown, CEO of Mighty Ally and author of Fundable & Findable, about why so many nonprofits get stuck in the starvation cycle and how brand strategy offers a way out. They explore the power of vision, the importance of clarity and brand personality, and the action steps nonprofits can take to become both fundable and findable. Get practical tools to help your organization rethink its approach to fundraising.
• Episode 213: How can you get your board to fundraise? 10.06.2026 28分

  How can nonprofits get their board to fundraise without relying on rigid or stressful demands? In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Amber Hamilton, founder of Fig Leaf Development, to unpack practical strategies for turning anxious or novice board members into confident fundraisers. They explore how to shift from transactional requests to strengths-based engagement and five entry points for board participation—investor, cultivator, connector, fundraiser, and advisor—giving every board member a valuable role to play. Amber also shares how to celebrate small wins, foster deeper board connections, and thoughtfully navigate the complex power and racial dynamics that can arise in philanthropy.
• Episode 212: How can we be brave and embrace conflict? 27.05.2026 15分

  What if conflict could strengthen your relationships and drive meaningful change? Farra Trompeter, co-director, interviews Altagracia Montilla, founder of A.M. Consulting and creator of the Conflict BraveryTM masterclass. They discuss why avoiding conflict often holds us back. Altagracia shares how healing our relationship to conflict can build stronger teams and save us time. Get practical tips for becoming braver by reframing conflict as a positive force at work.
• Episode 211: Why do communicators need a seat at the table? 13.05.2026 18分

  Why are nonprofit communicators so often brought in at the end of a project and treated more like an order-taker than a strategic partner? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Ally Dommu, director of service development, about why communications staff deserve a seat at the table and what changes when they get it. They explore the organizational habits and assumptions that keep communications stuck in a tactical role, and share practical steps communicators can take to shift the culture, build stronger cross-team relationships, and demonstrate their strategic value.
• Episode 210: What is the connection between your brand and hiring? 29.04.2026 21分

  What does your brand have to do with hiring? More than you think. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Olivia Freire, director of operations, to explore how a clear, authentic brand helps nonprofits attract the right candidates, set expectations, and build stronger teams. Together, they share practical ways to align what you post in job ads with what it’s actually like to work at your organization.
• Episode 209: How can we build trust, bridge divides, and engage communities? 15.04.2026 25分

  How can nonprofits connect more meaningfully with the people they serve during times of deep division and declining trust? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Doug Hattaway, president of Hattaway Communications, and Erica Pelletreau, founder and CEO of The Pelletreau Group, about the science and strategy behind building trust, bridging divides, and fostering real community engagement. Drawing on the Trust Playbook developed for The Communications Network, they share practical insights on addressing misconceptions, using plain language, and designing communications that prioritize listening, relationships, and shared goals.
• Episode 208: How can you lead an inclusive strategic planning process? 01.04.2026 22分

  What does it take to really lead an inclusive strategic planning process, and why does it matter? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, author of Inclusive Strategic Planning for Nonprofits, about designing plans that center participation, clarify purpose, and build real alignment. Get practical tips for assessing readiness, integrating communications throughout, and turning big ideas into actionable plans.
• Episode 207: How can you center community voices in messaging? 18.03.2026 22分

  What does it really mean to center community voices in your messaging? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group, about how organizations can develop communications grounded in authentic community experiences and how sharing genuine stories can revolutionize your nonprofit’s messaging.
• Episode 206: How can you use science to engage donors? 04.03.2026 27分

  What if fundraising strategy started with the brain? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP, author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making, about how neuroscience and behavioral psychology can strengthen donor engagement. They share insights nonprofits can use to build trust, write clearer appeals, and design campaigns that motivate supporters.
• Episode 205: Why is it important to change how you talk to funders? 18.02.2026 13分

  How you talk to your funders shapes how they understand your work, your community, and your impact. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with grant writer and fundraising strategist, Dani Fauklner, about why nonprofits must rethink traditional, jargon-heavy fundraising language. Together, they explore practical ways teams can audit and improve proposals, reports, and messaging. Learn how cross-team communication can help nonprofits secure funding without compromising integrity.
• Episode 204: Is the field of nonprofit communications coming of age? 30.01.2026 23分

  Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and chief strategy officer of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, discuss insights from the 16th annual Nonprofit Communications Trends Report. Together, they explore why communicators are ready for strategy, what AI means for visibility and influence, and where the approach to nonprofit communications is showing real maturity.
• Episode 203: How to bridge belonging in your narratives? 21.01.2026 21分

  Narratives don’t just tell stories; they shape meaning. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Sadé Dozan, vice president of advancement at Borealis Philanthropy, discuss how nonprofits can use plain language and narrative strategies to build belonging, expand your “we”, and create more inclusive communications. Get practical guidance for anyone working at the intersection of storytelling and social change.
• Episode 202: How can you put AI to work for your nonprofit? 07.01.2026 34分

  AI is reshaping nonprofit work, but adopting it responsibly takes intention. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Cheryl Contee, chief innovation officer at BrightWorksAI.com, and Darian Rodriguez Heyman, founder of Helping People Help, to discuss insights from their new book, AI for Nonprofits, including practical, ethical ways nonprofits can use AI from fundraising and communications to operations and culture.
• Episode 201: How do you approach rebranding a 100 year old nonprofit? 16.12.2025 19分

  Insights from a major nonprofit rebrand! Join Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Brad Drazen, vice president of communications and marketing at Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, as they unpack the motivations behind changing a 100-year-old foundation’s name, the research and collaboration that guided the process, and what other organizations and foundations can learn when considering a rebrand.
• Episode 200: How can we reimagine nonprofits and philanthropy? 03.12.2025 24分

  In our 200th episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with writer, speaker, and beloved nonprofit truth-teller Vu Le, to explore how we can reimagine nonprofits and philanthropy. Learn about “sacred cows,” structural barriers, the urgency of this political moment, and what real transformation requires from all of us. Vu also shares insights from his new book, challenges long-held norms, and offers reflections on joy, community, and resilience. Listen or read along to this milestone conversation that’s honest, energizing, and deeply needed.
• Episode 199: How can you find the best parts of your brand? 12.11.2025 29分

  What are the best parts of your brand, and are you putting them to work for your mission? Farra Trompeter, co-director, interviews Lyn Weinman, founder, president, and chief strategist at KidGlov and the author of Untangling Spaghetti: A Branding Fable, to discuss addressing brand confusion, aligning on strategy, and knowing what type of change is right.
• Episode 198: What do you need to know about cybersecurity? 29.10.2025 32分

  Cybersecurity is everyone's job. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Joshua Peskay, co-founder of Meet the Moment, about practical ways nonprofits can reduce risk, protect sensitive data, and create a culture of awareness and care. From reasonable security standards to tabletop exercises, learn how to keep the mission and the people you serve safe.
• Episode 197: How can you find joy? 15.10.2025 17分

  How do we find joy in our work and our lives, especially when burnout looms? In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Elandria Jackson Charles, chief joy officer at Ayoka Partners, explore how sabbatical care, intentional rest, and daily micro-moments of joy can help you reconnect with yourself and your purpose.
• Episode 196: How can you engage in participatory grantmaking? 01.10.2025 29分

  What happens when funders shift decision-making powers to communities? Farra Trompeter is joined by Cynthia Gibson, PhD, principal of Cynthesis Consulting, and Kelley Buhles, independent consultant and owner of Buhles Consulting, to discuss participatory grantmaking and explore how sharing decision-making power with communities fosters stronger, more democratic philanthropy. They also outline the steps nonprofits and funders can take to initiate this approach.
• Episode 195: What does effective design feedback look like? 17.09.2025 16分

  Smart design feedback is possible; it just requires clarity, collaboration, and strategy. Join J Kelley, senior account manager and host of this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, as they chat with Randi Gibson, graphic designer, and Sandy Zimmerman, design director, about effective design feedback. Follow along for strategies to make the feedback process smoother and your creative outcomes stronger.