Nonprofit SnapCast

Erin Davison explains why the best grant funding comes from alignment, relationships, and thoughtful research, not sending more applications.

In this episode of Nonprofit SnapCast, Mickey Desai welcomes veteran grant researcher and writer Erin Davison for a candid conversation about the realities of today's grant funding landscape.

With more than 30 years of experience helping nonprofits secure funding, Erin shares why successful grant seeking is less about volume and more about strategy. From identifying the right funders to building genuine relationships and using AI responsibly, she offers practical guidance for nonprofit leaders looking to strengthen their funding approach.

The discussion explores how grant research has evolved over the decades, how artificial intelligence is changing the profession, and why nonprofits must focus on alignment rather than simply submitting more proposals.

Key topics include:

Why grant research is a strategic process, not just a database search

How AI is transforming grant research and funding discovery

The right—and wrong—ways to use AI in grant writing

Why relationship-building remains essential in fundraising

How and when to contact potential funders directly

The importance of aligning programs with funder priorities

Why "not every grant is a good grant"

Sustainable grant funding versus one-time awards

Diversifying revenue streams in an uncertain funding environment

Lessons nonprofits can learn from recent funding disruptions

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon.
We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website.
Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

In this episode of Nonprofit SnapCast, Mickey Desai sits down with Dr. Dan Freeman, founder of Executive Thought Partner, to explore a challenge that many nonprofit leaders experience but rarely discuss openly: leadership loneliness.

Dan shares his emerging theory of "reactive leadership," arguing that isolation at the top often leads to urgency-driven decision-making, organizational stress, and chronic operational problems. Drawing on his experiences in higher education, athletics, fundraising, and executive leadership, he explains how leaders can move from reactivity to creativity by building systems that encourage reflection, collaboration, and confidence.

The conversation explores why not every urgent issue is truly urgent, how leaders can develop a broader perspective on organizational challenges, and why trusted thought partners are often more valuable than advice-givers.

Key topics include:

Why leadership can be uniquely isolating

The connection between loneliness, urgency, and reactive decisions

Building proactive systems that support better leadership

The "Balcony and Stage" framework for strategic perspective

Active listening and the importance of seeking the next answer rather than the next question

Reach, Revenue, and Relationships: a framework for evaluating decisions

Quickness versus speed in organizational effectiveness

Finding the source of problems instead of treating symptoms

The powerful reflection question: "What am I called to learn here?"

Dan also discusses his book, Burnt: Leadership Philosophies from the Back Row for the Next Generation of Leaders, and his work helping nonprofit, higher education, and organizational leaders develop healthier decision-making practices.

Learn more about Dr. Dan Freeman:

yourexecutivethoughtpartner.com

fundraisewithdan.com

fridaymorningfundraising.com

Connect with Nonprofit SnapCast on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and explore past episodes.

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon.
We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website.
Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

Can a capital campaign succeed if an organization is already exhausted?

n this episode of OFS Insights, Mickey Desai is joined by Dave Paule and Ailena Parramore of Our Fundraising Search to discuss a critical but often overlooked fundraising risk: burnout.

While nonprofits routinely evaluate donor readiness, financial capacity, and campaign goals, they frequently fail to assess whether their leadership, staff, board, and systems have the capacity to sustain a multi-year fundraising effort.

The conversation examines how “hero culture” and over-functioning leaders can mask deeper organizational weaknesses, why burnout is a strategic fundraising risk rather than a personal failing, and how capital campaigns often expose existing capacity issues rather than create them. The team also discusses the critical role of feasibility studies, campaign planning, and organizational assessments in preventing burnout and building stronger, more sustainable nonprofits.

Among the things we discuss:

Why burnout is an organizational issue, not just a personal one

How over-functioning can look like leadership but actually mask capacity problems

The warning signs that an organization is not ready for a capital campaign

Why feasibility studies should assess organizational capacity, not just fundraising potential

How a well-run campaign can strengthen donor relationships, board engagement, and overall organizational health

Key takeaway:

A successful capital campaign is not powered by heroic effort alone. It depends on a healthy organization with the systems, leadership, and capacity to sustain the work over time.

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon.
We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website.
Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

This episode of OFS Insights explores the often-misunderstood relationship between nonprofit boards and CEOs. Mickey welcomes Dave, Ailena (of Our Fundraising Search) and former nonprofit executive and board chair Zachary Brown, for a candid discussion about governance, authority, fundraising, and the hidden ways power operates inside organizations.

At the center of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: whoever controls “the pen,” the language, documentation, meeting minutes, and written expectations, often shapes the future of the organization.

The panel discusses:

Why good boards still create dysfunction

How CEOs sometimes give away authority unintentionally

The difference between transparency and shared decision-making

Why fundraising expectations must be explicit

How poor CEO evaluations begin with unclear goals

Why clarity in roles creates healthier organizations

The episode closes with Dave’s signature cocktail metaphor, comparing strong governance to a well-balanced Manhattan: simple on the surface, but dependent on details most people never notice.

Key Takeaway

“The board governs. The CEO leads. Problems begin when those roles blur.”

We welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon.
We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website.
Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.

In this episode of OFS Insights, Mickey Desai talks with Dave Paule, and Ailena Parramore to explore a provocative idea: hiring is not just a process—it’s a mirror. Rather than focusing on how candidates can become more appealing to organizations, the conversation flips the lens, challenging organizations to consider how their hiring practices reflect their own values, fears, and assumptions.

The three unpack the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways organizations unintentionally push talent away: from rigid job descriptions to slow decision-making and a reliance on “culture fit” that often masks bias. They also offer practical strategies to attract and retain high-quality candidates, emphasizing honesty, speed, and relationship-building over transactional recruiting.

Anchored by the metaphor of the Vesper cocktail, the episode encourages listeners to rethink what “ideal” talent looks like. Sometimes the candidates who feel like a risk, those who don’t fit neatly into expectations, are the ones who ultimately deliver the greatest impact. The episode closes with a powerful reflection: when your organization hires, what is it truly revealing? Fear, comfort, bias, or imagination?

e welcome support of the Nonprofit SnapCast via Patreon.
We welcome your questions and feedback via The Nonprofit SnapCast website.
Learn more about Nonprofit Snapshot's consulting services.