The Nonprofit Edge

The Nonprofit Edge | Best Practices in Strategic Planning for NonprofitsGuest: Rebecca Alvarez, Co-Founder and Principal, NP Strategies
Strategic planning is one of the most important responsibilities of nonprofit leadership. Yet too often, plans are created with great enthusiasm and then quietly shelved.
In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris Looney sits down with Rebecca Alvarez to explore what actually makes a strategic plan effective and why so many fail to gain traction.
Rebecca challenges the idea that a strategic plan should simply be a detailed to-do list. Instead, she reframes it as a clear direction, a shared vision, and a decision-making framework that guides leaders through uncertainty.
In this conversation, you will learn:
Why many strategic plans fail before implementation even begins
The difference between a task list and true strategic direction
How to determine the right number of organizational priorities
The role of the board versus staff in planning and execution
Why clarity and simplicity matter more than length
How to balance aspiration with organizational capacity
Why three-year plans are often more effective than five-year roadmaps
How to build a culture that sees the plan as a living guide rather than a rigid checklist
Rebecca also shares powerful insights for executive directors and CEOs about asking the right questions before the planning process even begins.
If your organization is approaching a new planning cycle or struggling to activate a current plan, this episode offers practical guidance that will help you think differently about strategy.
Subscribe, share with your board chair or leadership team, and continue strengthening your nonprofit edge.

Reclaim Your Agency | Self Coaching for Nonprofit Leaders with Janine McClintock
Nonprofit leadership is demanding. Budgets shift. Staff transitions happen. Expectations rise. In the middle of all that pressure, there is still one thing you always have: the ability to choose your next move.
In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris Looney sits down with Janine McClintock, founder of J9 Leading Solutions and author of Stir It Up, to explore the power of agency.
Janine defines agency in practical terms: your capacity to choose your response, even when you cannot control your circumstances. Through real stories and actionable tools, she shares how leaders can shift from urgency and reactivity to clarity and intention.
You will learn:
• The difference between agency and control• How leaders unintentionally forfeit their power• The “Power of Three” framework for building team accountability• How to recognize when you are operating from fear, habit, or choice• Simple daily self coaching questions to strengthen confidence and alignment• Why reclaiming agency unlocks possibility
If you have ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or reactive in your leadership, this conversation will help you reset.
👉 Subscribe for more conversations that sharpen your leadership edge.👉 Share this episode with another leader who needs it.

The Nonprofit Edge: Kyle Houlton on Preparing Leaders Before They Manage People**
Too many nonprofit professionals find themselves placed into management roles without the training, support, or preparation they need to succeed. In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris Looney sits down with Kyle Houlton, CEO of Covenant Philanthropic Solutions, to unpack why this continues to happen and how organizations can change the pattern.
Kyle reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy and explains why people management is a completely different discipline from being an individual contributor. The episode dives into core leadership competencies, overlooked risks, the value of early equipping, and the training models that help rising leaders succeed.
Listeners will come away with a clear and practical set of ideas for improving leadership development inside their organizations.
Topics include:• The leadership gap facing the sector• Why strong performers are often promoted too soon• What happens when managers learn on the job without support• Skills and mindsets emerging leaders need before they supervise others• Practical ways to train and develop future managers• The power of mentorship and structured support• How board members can strengthen leadership development through shared expertise
A helpful and hopeful conversation for anyone committed to building stronger teams and healthier organizations.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris Looney welcomes Howard Pearl, CEO of CARS, a nonprofit social enterprise that supports nearly 11,000 organizations nationwide through vehicle, real estate, and asset donation programs.
Howard shares how his career evolved from entrepreneurship and global business leadership into nonprofit management, and how CARS became a mission-aligned enterprise designed to help other nonprofits thrive. The discussion explores revenue diversification, high-ROI fundraising models, operational efficiency, and the importance of technology and automation in scaling impact.
Listeners will also hear Howard’s candid perspective on why nonprofits should embrace enterprise thinking, overcome discomfort around revenue generation, and invest in systems that support long-term sustainability.
A practical and thought-provoking conversation for nonprofit leaders focused on growth, innovation, and financial resilience.

Choosing the right investment advisor is one of the most important and least understood decisions nonprofit leaders face. In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney is joined by Michael Skillman, Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, to break down how nonprofits can lead a smart, confident investment counsel search without needing to be investment experts. Michael walks listeners through what to do before, during, and after an advisor search, with a focus on clarity, governance, and long-term mission protection rather than chasing short-term performance. This conversation is especially helpful for executive directors, CEOs, and senior nonprofit leaders with limited investment background who want to make sound decisions and avoid common pitfalls. Key Takeaways • Why most nonprofits react to investment searches instead of planning them • How to clarify the role investments play in supporting mission outcomes • The importance of defining success beyond just returns • Why governance and investment policy matter more than hiring a big-name firm • What questions to ask advisors and what red flags to avoid • What a healthy, long-term advisor relationship should look like 🎧 Listen to remember this simple truth: you do not need to be an investment professional to lead this process well.

Mergers & Acquisitions in the Nonprofit Sector: A Conversation with Tim Davis of Glick Davis & Associates In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney sits down with Tim Davis, President of Glick Davis & Associates, to explore one of the most misunderstood and transformative topics in nonprofit leadership: mergers and acquisitions. Tim draws on more than two decades of experience helping organizations navigate complex transitions with both strategy and humanity. Together, Chris and Tim unpack: Why mergers and alliances are becoming more common across the nonprofit landscape How leaders can tell the difference between a short-term financial fix and a true long-term strategy The human side of mergers—trust, culture, and communication What a well-run merger process really looks like, from early conversations to board approval and implementation How partnerships can preserve mission, protect staff, and expand community impact Whether you’re leading a nonprofit that’s thriving, struggling, or simply evolving, this episode will help you think differently about collaboration, sustainability, and the future of impact. 🎧 Subscribe to The Nonprofit Edge wherever you get your podcasts. 💡 If conversations like this help you lead better, connect with the community shaping the future of the sector at Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney sits down with Chad Paris, CEO and Creative Director of Parisleaf, to unpack one of the most misunderstood elements of major fundraising efforts: campaign communications.
Whether your organization is planning a billion-dollar university campaign, a hospital expansion, or a large-scale nonprofit initiative, how you tell your story matters. Chad shares how powerful communications can unify people around a common vision, inspire donor confidence, and transform campaigns from transactional to transformational.
Together, Chris and Chad explore:
Why campaign communications are the heartbeat of a successful fundraising effort
How to integrate communications early in campaign planning—ideally during readiness and feasibility studies
The value of co-creation and collaboration between fundraising counsel and creative partners
How to balance institutional and campaign branding for consistency and inspiration
The power of authentic storytelling that connects the head and the heart
Strategies to maintain momentum and keep communications fresh through long campaigns
How AI and new tools are shaping the future of nonprofit storytelling
This is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and communicators preparing to launch or strengthen a major campaign.
🎧 Listen now to learn how to build alignment, spark emotion, and tell the story that will move your donors to act.

The Nonprofit Edge: Growth Mindset, Culture, and Team Alignment with Stuart Wachs
In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, host Chris Looney sits down with Stuart Wachs, Founder and CEO of Impact Group, to explore what it truly takes to lead and grow a thriving nonprofit in today’s complex environment.
Stuart shares insights on cultivating a growth mindset, building a strong organizational culture, and aligning teams around a shared vision of impact. Drawing from his experience leading large nonprofit organizations and advising executive teams across the country, Stuart offers practical strategies for balancing mission with operational excellence — treating a nonprofit like a business without losing sight of purpose.
Tune in to learn how mindset, culture, and alignment can transform not just your organization’s results, but the experience of everyone who’s part of it.
🎧 Listen now to gain actionable leadership lessons and inspiration for your own journey in nonprofit leadership.

Most nonprofit organizations are leaving transformational gifts on the table… and they don’t even realize it.
In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris sits down with Dave Smith, one of the leading voices in philanthropic strategy and gift planning, to challenge how we think about fundraising at its core.
This is not a conversation about planned giving as you know it.It is a masterclass in rethinking the entire approach to donor engagement, strategy, and long-term impact.
Dave introduces a powerful distinction between planned giving and true gift planning and shows why this shift is the key to unlocking significantly larger, more meaningful gifts. Instead of waiting for donors to raise their hand, he outlines how organizations can proactively engage donors of all ages in conversations that align their values, assets, and aspirations.
The result?Stronger relationships.Smarter strategy.And dramatically increased philanthropic impact.
You’ll hear:
• Why most fundraising strategies unintentionally limit donor potential• How to move from transactional asks to transformational conversations• The critical role of non-cash assets in unlocking major gifts• How to identify and engage the right donors at the right time• What it takes to build a truly collaborative, organization-wide approach to fundraising• A remarkable real-world story of a $50,000 gift becoming a $1M commitment
Perhaps most importantly, this episode reframes the role of the fundraiser.
Not as someone asking for money, but as someone helping donors answer deeper questions:
How much is enough?What impact do I want to have?And how do I align my resources with what matters most?
If you want to elevate your fundraising strategy, deepen donor relationships, and unlock the full potential of your organization’s impact, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.

What if the future of nonprofit finance isn’t about doing more with less… but doing less of what slows you down?
In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, I sit down with Neil Shah, Founder of Altruva.ai and a seasoned nonprofit CFO who has worked alongside more than 100 organizations, to unpack one of the most important shifts happening in our sector right now.
This is not a conversation about hype.It’s a practical, grounded look at how AI is reshaping nonprofit finance and what leaders need to do today to stay ahead.
Neil brings a rare combination of deep financial expertise and forward-thinking innovation to help answer questions every nonprofit leader should be asking:
• How can AI reduce the manual burden on already stretched finance teams?• Where are the immediate, practical wins that can save time and improve accuracy?• What are the real risks and how should organizations think about data security and governance?• How do you begin adopting AI without overwhelming your team or compromising your mission?
Perhaps most importantly, this episode reframes AI not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to elevate human capacity. When used well, it allows leaders to spend less time reconciling spreadsheets and more time making strategic decisions that drive impact.
If you care about efficiency, sustainability, and the long-term strength of your organization, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
Watch or listen to the full episode on YouTube, Podbean, or Substack.
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