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Power40Passion ProjectWith a passion for helping others, Susan Fochs, founded “Operation Not Alone”, a non-profit dedicated to helping our brave service men and women across the nation and overseas. Hear more about why she does what she does wherever you stream your podcasts. 2022-12-2925 min
The Make An Impact Podcast58: BONUS - What Settling Does to the Soul, the Empath & Narcissist Epidemic, Romantic Soulmates, and More with Ainslie MacLeodI couldn't resist asking Ainslie a whole host of questions regarding our souls, romantic soulmates, our spirit guides, and so much more. Plus, we get into the discussion of what it means to truly be an empath and why he believes there is an epidemic between the empaths and the narcissists. Let's just say that this content is just for the soul ✨ -- Figure Out Your Soul Type! Take the Soul Type Quiz: https://ainsliemacleod.com/soul-type-quiz/ Ainslie's Instagram: @ainslie_macleod Websites: https://ainsliemacleod.com/ and https://soulworld.com/ Books: https://ainsliemacleod.com/about/books/ 2021-06-3043 minThe Make An Impact Podcast57: Discovering Your Soul's Purpose in a Helping Career with Ainslie MacLeodWhat is your soul's purpose? What are you meant to be doing with your life? Why are you being called into certain career paths? Why do you feel drawn to helping other people? Ainslie MacLeod is a past-life psychic who has uncovered these exact burning questions. He explains that in order to know where we're going in life, we have to understand where we've been. Everything about where we've been can explain why those of us feel 'called' into our helping profession. Whether you're in the non-profit world, a doctor, a therapist, a social worker, or some other fo...2021-06-281h 06The Make An Impact Podcast56: Your Ultimate Guide to Non-Profit Startup PaperworkSo you want to start a non-profit, but have no idea where to start, right? Do you actually need a 501(c)3 status in order to be legit? How much paperwork is actually involved? Does it cost any money to make a charity - after all the term is “non” profit. Well, this episode is about to be your new best friend in making your NPO road map! I also include a few other ‘start-up’ tips that you need to know if you are embarking on your non-profit journey for the first time! This episode is sponsored...2021-06-1417 minThe Make An Impact Podcast55: Achieving Your Next Level in Life Starts with Your Inner Circle with Jamar JonesThere's achieving goals, and then there's striving to achieve your whole next level of life. How you want your days to look, where your income streams are flowing from, how you're making an impact on the world, and everything in between. When you're getting ready to reach for the next level in life that aligns with your authentic code, you might need to audit your inner circle. Changing those people in your inner circle who don't actually have your best interest at heart, might be the biggest key to heading where you want to go and Jamar walks through some of...2021-06-0757 minThe Make An Impact Podcast54: Should You Start a Foundation or an Organization?What is the difference between a charitable organization and a charitable foundation? What is the difference between a 501(c)3 and a 501(c)4? Which one should you start that better matches your goals, vision, and long-term funding options? How does fundraising work for each type? What is the best option for taxes? I'll answer all of those questions and more if you've been debating which charitable type is best for you! -- This episode has partnered with Headbands of Hope! Use code IMPACT for $5 off your next order at: headbandsofhope.co...2021-05-3125 minThe Make An Impact Podcast53: Do Non-Profits Provide Job-Security?As a non-profit founder, do you think that you'll have this job forever? Did you start it with the same mindset track as an entrepreneur? Well then this episode is for you! This advice from a college past college professor absolutely blew my mind and changed the way I look at the ultimate role of being a non-profit founder -- and it will change yours too! -- Social Enterprise Feature of the Week: Headbands of Hope which donates 1 headband and $1 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation for Cancer Research with every purchase! Follow: Headbands of Hope and Jess Ekstrom on Instagram Use code...2021-05-2432 minThe Make An Impact Podcast52: Can Moving Cities Help Your Entrepreneurial Goals? with Jessica Palm and Tim CowdenHave you been wondering to yourself, "am I in the right city for my next big move?" Whether that's for your career, starting a business, looking for a new romantic partnership, or just looking for a fresh start it can be overwhelming with where to start. I was so fortunate to sit down with Jessica Palm and Tim Cowden from The Kansas City Area Development Council to talk about the unique idea that some cities are better than others for your entrepreneurial goals. From cost of living, to tax implications, to start up resources, and more, it c...2021-05-1733 minThe Make An Impact Podcast51: 6 Types of Self-Care That Need to Be in Harmony (Train Like a Warrior Campaign)Train Like a Warrior Campaign: This 15-minute session with Lindsay Stecher, who is a behavioral health professional and the CEO of Cultivate Humanity, is all about self-care. But not the traditional self-care you've heard of before! She breaks down the 6 areas of self-care that we have and need to focus on and how to make them harmonious for our best selves. -- To learn more about Lindsay and connect with her, check her out here: Instagram: @cultivatehumanity This audio was made for the Train Like a Warrior Campaign with Operation Not Alone. 2021-05-1016 minThe Make An Impact Podcast50: Do "100% Model" Non-Profits Really Work?Hitting you with a controversial topic today! 100% model non-profits are loved by donors, sometimes cringed at by long-time professionals, and a confusing catch for aspiring founders. Can this noble dream actually work in practice? Tune in to hear 2 potential options to run your organization with a 100% giving model. -- Non-Profit Feature of the Week: Ten Eighteen Uganda! They serve extremely impoverished youth with programs on - food, clean water, vocational training, and a halfway house for teen moms. Their mission is to work with Ugandan community organizations to change the culture of extreme pov...2021-05-0331 minThe Make An Impact Podcast49: Listen To This Next Time You’re Struggling with Comparison FatigueI’ve been thinking a LOT about comparison lately and how I’ve let it consume me negatively in previous stages of life (whether it was in a literal competition setting) or not. Social media and having a front row seat to most people’s super polished lives is incredibly difficult to combat on a daily basis. BUT - the next time you’re feeling too far gone with comparison fatigue, check out this episode and a new way to think about it. When you get down to the root of it, you might change your tune.2021-04-2617 minThe Make An Impact Podcast48: How to Keep Your Organization Audit Ready with Germeen Greene (aka the Visionary Accountant)Okay, so you’ve tackled the fundraising and the grant writing. You’ve secured the money! But now where does it sit and who is managing it? Who is responsible when your organization gets audited? Does the word ‘audit’ make your palms sweat a little? Don’t worry - that’s a totally normal reaction, but thankfully, it doesn’t have to be! The Visionary Accountant, Germeen Greene, joins this episode to share her wisdom on all things non-profit accounting, cloud-based accounting systems, staying audit ready so that it doesn’t invoke stress, and more! I couldn’t stop myself from...2021-04-1959 minThe Make An Impact Podcast47: What Success Looks Like To MeAh, success. A word we all tend to have a love-hate relationship with. And when you’re on the entrepreneurial journey, it can be even more difficult to define and work towards. We’ve known for years that success and money aren’t a perfect correlation, because money isn’t the only thing we should be striving for in life. (It’s super important) but it doesn’t grasp the full range of human emotions that we need, crave, and desire. I’ve heard a thousand definitions for success over the years, and today, I hope to offer yo...2021-04-1218 minThe Make An Impact Podcast46: A Full-Body Scan Guided Meditation for Body Positivity with Madison Auge (Train Like a Warrior Campaign)Train Like a Warrior Campaign: This guided meditation is meant to take you through a full-body scan to relax, appreciate, and fuel your body. It’s easy to get caught up in the societal pressures of how our bodies look and what expectations are set for them, but we forget what our bodies are actually made for. They are here to walk us through this crazy, beautiful, winding road of a life -- and we need to do a better job at thanking them for it. So take 20 minutes today, listen to this complete warrior, Madison Auge (creator of Th...2021-04-0526 minThe Make An Impact Podcast45: Don’t Ask About Non-Profit Overhead. (Ask This Instead.)A question about the non-profit sector that gets me really fired up? “How much of my donation goes to the mission vs. overhead?” This is an antiquated and outdated question about non-profits and we. need. to. stop. asking. It. It is suffocating the sector, keeping our talent pool down, and isn’t an adequate number to measure the entire organization. Tune in to figure out my take on the subject and what questions I think we should be asking non-profits instead! Non-Profit Feature of the Week: The Wisconsin Leadership Seminars -- a unique...2021-03-2938 minThe Make An Impact Podcast44: Trailblazing for Change through Adversity with Bushra AmiwalaDid someone say, “the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States?” Bushra Amiwala is a Pakistani-American who was elected to her first public service position at just 19-years-old in Skokie, Illinois. While this interview talks about the fun stuff, like the fact that she’s been on the cover of Time Magazine, is a part of a Hulu Documentary, got to hang out with Kamala Harris, and more (as if that wasn’t enough!) We also talk about the realities behind this kind of global exposure, what she’s had to overcome to become the woman she is toda...2021-03-2245 minThe Make An Impact Podcast43: The 5 Measures of Non-Profit Health with Jess CooperHave you ever thought to evaluate how well your organization was doing in terms of...health? If a non-profit was a body, how is each area really doing? And how does that translate to the outside world? It’s an interesting, but incredibly useful perspective, that Jess Cooper developed after her years in non-profit management. She knew there had to be a different way to evaluate the ‘health-beat’ of an organization in order to maximize how they’re giving back and how the people within the organization are feeling day-in and day-out. Tune into this intriguin...2021-03-1550 minThe Make An Impact Podcast42: Why You Need to Change The Tone of Your Non-Profit Marketing with Racheli EdelkopfIt’s no secret that the marketing and advertising space becomes more crowded by the second. Everything in our lives can feel like an ad is attached to it, or like our phones are listening to us (targeting the next brand of vacuum cleaner we just discussed in the creepiest way, right?) For non-profits trying to share their mission and grow their supporters, it can feel even harder to break through the noise. There are a thousand ways to try and combat this and push through the noise, but non-profits often need to take a hard look at...2021-03-0846 minThe Make An Impact Podcast41: The Secret to True Connection? Powerful Storytelling with Carlos MaestasThe secret to finding your most powerful story that is waiting inside of you to come out is not always easy, nor a natural feeling process. Carlos Maestas is a standup comedian, turned bestselling author, and is a fantastic storyteller. He uses these skills to help nonprofits, universities and foundations tap into the equity of their stories in order to inspire and motivate audiences. He even wrote the book on it! It’s called Mommy Lied to God and today he shares the best way to really tap into your secret sauce of a story and hone it...2021-03-0140 minThe Make An Impact Podcast40: Evaluating Opportunities and What’s Worth the ‘Exposure’ with Jasmine WilliamsHave you ever thought of your speaking career? Have you been doing some free gigs here and there? Are you afraid of telling people that you’re transitioning from free to paid? Does the idea of charging for your expertise sound terrifying to you? Well, enter Jasmine Williams! This adversity and resilience speaker, turned speaking coach for female entrepreneurs, is here to drop a lot of truth bombs and rockstar tips on how to evaluate certain speaking opportunities. Mainly, how do you know when you should say ‘yes’ to a free gig ‘just for the exposure’? To connec...2021-02-2237 minThe Make An Impact Podcast39: Your Basic Guide to Non-Profit Tax PaperworkOne of the least exciting, fun, or sexy aspects to non-profits? Paperwork and tax filings. BUT! They don’t have to be the beast that we build it up to be in our heads. Welcome to my 20-minute guide to non-profit taxes and end-of-year paperwork to keep your organization in good standing. **Disclaimer: I am not a tax expert and this is not legal advice. This is from my studies and past experience. This episode is sponsored by: The ONA Boutique! Head to theonaboutique.com and use code IMPACT for free shippi...2021-02-1526 minThe Make An Impact Podcast38: BONUS - Overcoming Obstacles and Stepping into Your Dream Life: Guided Meditation (Train Like a Warrior Campaign)Train Like a Warrior Campaign with Operation Not Alone This guided meditation is meant to help you find, and release, the burdens holding you back in life as you fly into the life that you’ve always dreamt of. This meditation has been adapted from Dr. Tara Swart, MD, PhD’s book, The Source. *Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this music.2021-02-1417 minThe Make An Impact Podcast37: How to Say, ‘Yes, And’ to Success in Your Personal Life with Kyla MorrisAs non-profit people and social entrepreneurs, we are so fast to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes our way to make money, gain exposure, help more people, etc. But how often do we say ‘yes’ to the opportunities to help ourselves? How often do we take time to love ourselves and engage in self care that doesn’t look like a bath bomb and a glass of wine? Kyla Morris has had a dynamic career that led her to the point of burnout like none other. This self proclaimed ‘recovering people pleaser’ knew that she had to do something...2021-02-0852 minThe Make An Impact Podcast36: BONUS - Self-Care Tips from Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw (Train Like a Warrior Campaign) Train Like A Warrior: Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw from How About HOPE Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw is the Founder of How About HOPE, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that raises awareness about suicide and mental health conditions, because your voice and story matter. This video provides a lesson on, and tips for, self-care and how to define that for yourself. Watch the full video on the Operation Not Alone YouTube page at: https://youtu.be/vr46auxn540. Head to: https://howabouthope.com/ for more information! This video was made for the Train Like a Warrior Campaign with Operation Not Alone. Thank you for your time and ex...2021-02-0806 minThe Make An Impact Podcast35: Stop Shaming Your Donors Into GivingThis fundraising tactic is one of my biggest pet peeves in the non-profit industry. Tune in to hear what it is, and what my proposed solution is and the psychological reason behind it! For one-on-one non-profit consulting, email me at: susan@operationnotalone.net This episode is sponsored by: The ONA Boutique! Head to theonaboutique.com and use code IMPACT for free shipping on your order today!2021-02-0117 minThe Make An Impact Podcast34: 8 Lessons I’ve Learned in 8 Years as a Non-Profit CEOOperation Not Alone was founded 8 years ago - this week! It’s crazy to think how time has flown, but so has the impact! What started as a small idea to focus on active-duty service members out of my freshman college dorm room, evolved into something beyond the dreams of 18-year-old Susan. Tune in to hear my top 8 lessons that I’ve learned over the last 8 years of being a non-profit CEO! Plus: hear the results of our first month of the Train Like a Warrior Campaign with Operation Not Alone -- and the stellar giveaw...2021-01-2548 minThe Make An Impact Podcast33: From Non-Profit Founder to Professional Speaker (and How You Can Too) with Jake WhiteOne great way to make an impact and make an *income*?! Speaking. Becoming a public speaker - even when slow and steady is your method for getting gigs - can be a game changer to those who hear the message that you have, and also for your bank account. This is a great way to add a mutually beneficial income stream that still supports your non-profit or business, and the mission you’re looking to put into the world. A fellow UW-Oshkosh alumni who started his own non-profit centered on the idea that college students can have fun...2021-01-1851 minThe Make An Impact Podcast32: Millennial Investing 101 with Katie PerryDoes talking about money make your palms sweat? Do you know how, when, or where to invest? Does it all seem too overwhelming and like you just want to hide from the topic of money/retirement/investing? Well, let’s conquer that fear! This interview with Katie Perry from Public will be the single most useful thing you’ve heard today. We talk about the reasons behind why women, people of different races, and millennials have all historically been at a disadvantage when it comes to understanding finances, the stock market, and the idea of investing. And most...2021-01-1152 minThe Make An Impact Podcast31: BONUS - Meditation for Healing Trauma and PTSD with Casey Dohse (Train Like a Warrior Campaign)EPISODE 31: BONUS - Meditation for Healing Trauma and PTSD with Casey Dohse, LMFT (Train Like a Warrior Campaign) In week 2 of the Train Like A Warrior Campaign with Operation Not Alone, we thought in light of this weeks’ events in the United States, there couldn’t be a better time to release this meditation. Taking just 10 minutes to breathe deeply, become aware of your body and surroundings, and do a mental health check on yourself is beyond important. This is a meditation created by a veteran, for veterans. However, the messaging for healing trauma and PSTD can be utilized and benefite...2021-01-0809 minThe Make An Impact Podcast30: Tips & Tricks for Successful Affiliate Marketing with Annie Jorgensen2021 is the year for side hustles, am I right? Well, it’s getting easier and easier to earn extra money on the side while you fight for your big, impactful goals. One easy way, you ask? Affiliate marketing. Annie Jorgensen started out being Miss Georgia 2018 on a broadcast journalism path, hoping to land her anchor spot on Good Morning America. But, by the end of that year, she would make a huge pivot, and head to New York City for a new career in marketing and public relations. She also runs a couple of side hustles with her...2021-01-0456 minThe Make An Impact Podcast29: BONUS - Train Like a Warrior with Operation Not AloneOperation Not Alone is kicking off 2021 with the Train Like A Warrior Campaign! But what the heck is it? Check out this episode for an in-depth explanation, how it came to be, some love for our partners, and what you can expect to see all year long! Plus -- if you know of anyone who would like to be a part of this campaign, whether it's an in-person gym, or a professional in any area of health that would like to be a video partner for us, DM us! Or send me an email at: susan@operationnotalone.net! We ca...2021-01-0126 minThe Make An Impact Podcast28: How to Get Free Media and Press Coverage in 2021 with Lilian SueIf you felt like 2020 was a struggle year to get good, or any, media/press coverage - you are not alone! With everything feeling heavy between politics and pandemics, it felt nearly impossible to cut through the noise as a business owner, or non-profit professional. Well, not anymore! As you finish up your strategic plan for 2021, you *need* to make sure that a killer media/press/PR plan is on the list. And it doesn’t need to be any of the fancy paid stuff - you can get high quality and needle moving press coverage for FRE...2020-12-2840 minThe Make An Impact Podcast27: Lifelong Fundraising Lessons from the Trenches with Jack SilversteinA life-long fundraiser, a big gift securer, an endowment fund guru, and author? Yup, Jack and I pretty much cover it all in this fundraising episode! Jack shares so many incredible and tangible pieces of advice on how to properly communicate with donors, the 5 responses you’re always going to get in fundraising, how to step up your in-person events, and more. Plus, we had a fascinating conversation all about endowment funds, how donors can set them up, and how to have those tough conversations when discussing charity in the will building process. If you love this epi...2020-12-2139 minThe Make An Impact Podcast26: Guilty Rest is Not Real RestAs we come into the holiday season and end of the year, it’s easy to be at our burnout points and want to take some extra PTO. It’s normal and understandable to be extra burnt by the end of this year - how could we not be? But, when we take that time for ourselves, are we truly *resting*? If you’re mindlessly binging Netflix in the background, or playing the new Taylor Swift album on repeat, or thinking of your to-do list running in the back of your head, or constantly checking to see if the...2020-12-1428 minThe Make An Impact Podcast25: Strong Black Women in Non-Profit Leadership Roles with Mikhayla Hughes-ShawMikhayla Hughes-Shaw is the Founder of the non-profit organization How About Hope, which is creating and sustaining the conversation of mental health and suicide. She started this movement as a teenager and worked for years to form it into a 501(c)3 while growing her board and resources for her community in the Quad Cities. Today we sit down for some tough conversations on the non-profit field, mental health, how helpers can take care of their mental health during this time, and black lives matter. You can connect with Mikhayla on Instagram or Facebook at: @mikhaylahughesshawtv or @howabouthope. 2020-12-0748 minThe Make An Impact Podcast24: Should I Go to Grad School? with Bradley Grams, MPPAThe perpetual student in me is engrained to think of this time between Thanksgiving and the holidays as ‘final exam season’. *dun dun dun* Which prompts the academic (read: nerd) mind in me. I get asked about the idea of going to grad school all the time. “Should I go?”, “Is it worth the investment?”, “Do I need a master’s degree to be successful in my career?” Well, today, you don’t have to take just my word for it! I got to sit down with one of my former lecturers at Northwestern University’s MPPA Program, Bradley...2020-11-301h 06The Make An Impact Podcast23: Leadership Staple: The 5 Workplace Appreciation LanguagesHave you heard of the 5 Love Languages before? More importantly, have you heard of the 5 workplace appreciation languages? Do you know what languages your team members speak? Well, if you are in any level of a leadership position, I urge you to learn this important and emotionally intelligent aspect to managing your team. Learning how each individual person you’re working with needs to be heard, appreciated, and given feedback/criticism will be crucial to creating a thriving workplace environment. This episode is sponsored by: Door County Coffee! Head to www.doorcountycoffee.com and get 15% off...2020-11-2337 minThe Make An Impact Podcast22: Learn How to ‘Fundraise Awesomer’ with Rad Philanthropy Dad, Patrick KirbyTrying to describe what Patrick Kirby does? Well, he helps non-profits suck less at fundraising -- how’s that for an elevator pitch for you? Patrick has had an amazing non-profit career that helped grow and scale organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation before realizing that his true knack was in fundraising. So he started ‘Do Good Better’ Consulting to work with a wide variety of non-profits learn how to fundraise better and more effectively. So much so, that he literally wrote the book on it! In this episode, you’ll find that Patrick and I have blu...2020-11-1648 min
Give - A Philanthropy PodcastOperation Not AloneOperation Not Alone Susan Fochs On today’s episode of the GIVE podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Susan Fochs, the founder of Operation Not Alone. Susan started this nonprofit when she was18 years old. She felt compelled to take charge and make a difference in the lives of servicemen and women. Her journey was inspired by her father, who served in the US Marine Corps and is now permanently disabled. She’s made it her mission to create an organization that exists in the hope that no one feels alone both during and after their de...2020-11-1514 minThe Make An Impact Podcast21: From Miss America to Life-Changing Veteran Advocate with Heather French HenryA Heather French Henry interview *needed* to be released in honor of Veterans Day week. This was a dream come true interview for me to do, as Heather French Henry has been my favorite Miss America since beginning my MAO journey back in 2012. I have always marveled at how she took her year as Miss America 2000 and launched it into a career (and lifestyle) of helping veterans, combating veteran homelessness, giving a voice to female veterans, helping to close gaps in veteran healthcare, and more. She is a fierce woman who took the opportunities in front of h...2020-11-091h 41The Make An Impact Podcast20: Get Ready for Giving Tuesday with Mallory EricksonWe are less than a month away from Giving Tuesday - is your organization ready? No matter the size of your non-profit or annual budget, this day is HUGE! This is basically non-profit Christmas/New Years/whatever calls for sparklers and confetti. Do you have a top notch strategy in place? Studies* show that in 2019 only 26% of people gave on Giving Tuesday. However, charitable giving has gone up 62% in response to the pandemic. So, what does that mean for fundraisers as we head into this time of year, which is traditionally earmarked as ‘the giving season’? Roc...2020-11-0256 minThe Make An Impact Podcast19: The Science Between Exercise and Success with Mike OnsrudHave you ever seen the morning routines for CEOs where they all jump out of bed at 5am, drink their green smoothies, and run a 5K before they go into the office? Is that a coincidence, copycat syndrome, or is there a real science behind the correlation of exercise and success? Today I got to sit down with Personal Trainer, Physical Therapist Assistant, and all around health and fitness fanatic, Mike Onsrud. He talks about studies behind these phenomenons, how moving your body can change your mood and increase productivity, and how your physical health is linked...2020-10-2622 minThe Make An Impact Podcast18: Rounding Up Your Founding Board of DirectorsA board of directors is one of the first things that you need when starting a non-profit -- and they will continue to be an integral part of the organization until the day it’s dissolved. But, how in the world do you actually create one? How do you find the right people to fill it? Who are you supposed to fill it with? Tune into this episode to hear the skinny on creating your founding board of directors, as well as some advice from a few of my favorite non-profit professionals! Thi...2020-10-1925 minThe Make An Impact Podcast17: Learn to Channel Your Outrage into Practical Activism with Steve DavisIt’s easy to get lost in the ‘doom and gloom’ that we are faced with every time we pick up our phones or turn on the news. Many Americans are feeling a sense of outrage when faced with the global pandemic, the #BLM movement, #LGBTQIA rights, income inequality and gender inequality, and so much more. But it is possible to turn this outrage and frustration into activism that can lead to systemic change. Steve Davis and I sit down to discuss exactly this and his newly released book, "Undercurrents: Channeling Outrage to Spark Practical Action". The intervi...2020-10-1241 minThe Make An Impact Podcast16: BONUS - Serotonin, Dopamine, & Gut Health: Conquering Happy Mental Health with Liv Mercer, LPC, MSWelcome back to part 2 of this mini-series with Liv Mercer on all things mental health -- but this time, with an emphasis on the science of gut health! We talk about stress, resetting your body and your nervous system, and how to set yourself up for better mental health in the long run. This is an in-depth conversation about how serotonin is created in the body, ways that you can boost it naturally, and how you can set yourself up for success in the mental health department. And the most important aspect to all of i...2020-10-0841 min
The Official Do Good Better PodcastThe Official Do Good Better Podcast Season 2 Ep18: Operation Not Alone President & Founder Susan FochsYour organization is awesome.But sometimes you want to be even awesomer!The Official Do Good Better Podcast is here to help!Each episode features (fundraising expert, speaker, event creator and author) Patrick Kirby interviewing leaders and champions of small and medium nonprofits share their successes, their impact, and what makes them a unicorn in a field of horses. Patrick will also answer a fundraising question, and most importantly, showcase how you can support these small nonprofits doing great big things!Abby is joined...2020-10-0630 minThe Make An Impact Podcast15: Preventing Helper Burnout with Liv Mercer, LPC, MSThe world is on fire -- literally and metaphorically. 2020 has been stressful enough, but when you’re also in a helping profession, it feels ten times heavier. Reaching a moment of burnout can come much faster than before and it’s more important than ever to be kind to yourself about it. You need to have as much empathy for yourself as you do for others. (I’m looking at you therapists and non-profit peeps). Today, I got to sit down with rockstar therapist, Liv Mercer, LPC, MS to talk about mental health, self care, burnout, and so muc...2020-10-0542 minThe Make An Impact Podcast14: My Favorite Productivity Hack: Eff Your To-Do ListDoes your to-do list feel like a constant source of pandemonium? Like every time you cross one thing off, three more things grow in its place? Well throw it out the window, friends and meet your new favorite productivity hack! I adapted this calendar method near the end of my college days and eventually gave my paper planner with endless post-it notes the boot. This method helped me: Stay organized & on track with my tasks Be more realistic about timelines Be more effective & efficient Have more intentional time in the moment without my head spinning in 12 di...2020-09-2824 minThe Make An Impact Podcast13: The Keys to Successful Cause Marketing, Branding, and Social Media with Tianna VanderheiOne of the first things you need to do when starting a non-profit, business, social impact initiative, or anything new is determine how you’re going to put it into the world. Which means, how are you going to brand it? What tone are you using? What color scheme matches the vibe? What’s the best communication style to use for which social media platform? Tianna Vanderhei served as Miss Wisconsin 2018, is a former TV news reporter, podcast host, coffee addict, and overall boss babe. Throughout all of the hats she has worn in her life, she has...2020-09-2144 minThe Make An Impact Podcast12: How to Write a Kick Ass Mission & Vision StatementOne of the first things on your to-do list when starting a non-profit or business, is figuring out and defining this mission and vision for the future of the organization. More importantly, you have to write them out in a coherent statement for the world to get on board with. It also will get published *everywhere*. From your founding documents, to your website, to your social media channels, to any donation request/grant proposal you’ll ever write - you need these statements! This episode quotes a lot of Simon Sinek and Viktoria Harrison wisdom, with some clas...2020-09-1439 minThe Make An Impact Podcast11: Successfully Pivot Your Fundraising Events Virtually with Megan NobleKendra Scott is one of my favorite fashion & jewelry brands out there; not just because it’s gorgeous jewelry, but it’s a brand with a huge heart. Their 3 pillars are: fashion, family & philanthropy and they stick to their values! Sitting down with Megan Noble was such a treat! She talks about how she operates as the Philanthropic Manager for the Midwest, the keys to a great in-person fundraiser, how to keep up your relationship with a donor (when you’re not asking for a freebie), and how Kendra Scott has pivoted in our new, virtual world. To lea...2020-09-0732 minThe Make An Impact Podcast10: 10 Tips for Landing Your Dream DonorDonors. We need ‘em, we love ‘em, we work for ‘em, and we stress when we don’t have ‘em. Sometimes finding dream donors (and getting them on board) can feel like a huge tug-of-war battle. This episode breaks down my 10 best tips for reaching out to get your dream donor on board - whether it’s a $25 ask, or a $5,000 ask. The styles will vary from in-person vs. written communication, but the sentiments generally remain the same. If you are running a young organization, or are new to the non-profit sector and fundraising life, you definitely need this epi...2020-08-3144 minThe Make An Impact Podcast9: BONUS - Transform Your LinkedIn and Thrive on Your Job Hunt with Sam ProvenzanoThanks to COVID-19, millions of Americans are out of work and LinkedIn is the booming platform to use while searching for your next job. They’ve even created a special hashtag to help job hunters and recruiters find each other after losing their job thanks to the economic downturn of the pandemic, called #OpenToWork. In this bonus episode, Sam Provenzano discusses the new techniques he’s been using on LinkedIn to get tens of thousands of views on his content and get recruited by some incredible non-profits! He also shares his tips for choosing the right job oppor...2020-08-2528 minThe Make An Impact Podcast8: The Secret to Securing Big Donor Gifts with Sam ProvenzanoFrom St. Jude’s to the American Cancer Society to the Alzheimer’s Association to a major university, Sam Provenzano has acquired quite the non-profit resume in the last 10 years! He has amazing experience in securing big donations, wooing top-notch donors, and utilizing the power of storytelling for a mission. In this episode, he walks us through his experiences with securing such large donations for a variety of organizations, the feelings we all struggle with (and flourish with) in working for non-profits, and what great managers can do for us - especially when we’re not getting paid as...2020-08-2453 minThe Make An Impact Podcast7: Girl Scout Patch Creation 101 with MeKenzie LundHave YOU ever thought of creating your own Girl Scout Patch to share your mission with a whole new demographic of young girls? Specifically, all 1.8 million girls within the Girl Scouts of the USA program? Well, you're in luck! This episode is the one you NEED to hear! I got to sit down with one of my favorite people in the world, MeKenzie Lund, who is going to walk you through the process she used for creating Operation Not Alone's Girl Scout Patch, how to create your own patch, and a variety of tips along the way i...2020-08-1754 minThe Make An Impact Podcast6: Should I Start a Non-Profit or a Social Enterprise?I want to make an impact on the world, but...should I start a non-profit or a social enterprise? It’s probably a question you haven’t asked yourself yet - but should. Both are fantastic options for starting your own thing, but have very different business pro’s and con’s. This episode is going to walk you through the main differences between a non-profit and social enterprises, the different types of social enterprises you can create, and which one actually aligns with your goals better. Have you thought long-term about the income, job security...2020-08-1035 minThe Make An Impact Podcast5: Learn How to Network Like a Badass with Kylie HodgesEntrepreneur, HGTV Producer, Red Carpet Reporter, Creator & Producer for Cosmopolitan, rockstar networker, and...professional hotdogger?! Meet CEO of the Wingwoman Collective, Kylie Hodges! Kylie is one of the most energetic, outgoing, and talented business coaches that you’ll find today. Meeting her just twice in my college days at UW-Oshkosh left an indelible mark on me - and I know this episode will leave one of you. Kylie shares some of her biggest tips on how to network in the most efficient and effective way, how to pitch yourself shamelessly, get your confidence up in your business, and...2020-08-0350 minThe Make An Impact Podcast4: What to Know Before You Tackle a 501(c)3 ApplicationSo you want to start a non-profit, but have no idea where to start, right? Do you actually need a 501(c)3 status in order to be legit? How much paperwork is actually involved? Does it cost any money to make a charity - after all the term is “non” profit. Well, this episode is about to be your new best friend in making your NPO road map! I also include a few other ‘start-up’ tips that you need to know if you are embarking on your non-profit journey for the first time! This episode is sponsored...2020-07-2717 minThe Make An Impact Podcast3: Passion Isn't PrettyBefore you start a non-profit or a business, people tend to talk about their greatest passions in life, right? But how the heck do you find yours? Why does it seem like everyone gets a clear understanding of their passion delivered to them on a silver platter? Well, finding your passion isn’t easy - and it certainly isn’t pretty. Tune in to find out my thoughts on why!2020-07-2712 minThe Make An Impact Podcast2: How to Leverage Your Free Advocacy Work into a Paid Job with Jennifer SchmidtHave you been doing years of volunteer work, social media sharing, and creating campaigns around your favorite cause? Have you been doing tireless work for something that really strikes true in your heart, even though it’s just on the side? Would you like to position it into your full-time job with your dream non-profit organization? Jennifer Schmidt racked up years of mission promotion, content creation, and executed new campaigns all centered around her passion, Type 2 Diabetes Awareness and Prevention, since the young age of 15. After her graduation from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2019, she wa...2020-07-271h 00
The Make An Impact Podcast1: How My (Failed) Dream of Becoming Miss America Led to a National Non-Profit OrganizationStarting a non-profit at any age can be an exhilarating, and daunting, task. Operation Not Alone (ONA) was founded in a freshman dorm room at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh when I was just 18-years-old. In this intro episode, I’m explaining the entire ONA founding story, the incredible growth we’ve had over the last 7 years, and what kind of impact we’re having around the world today. This episode is sponsored by: Door County Delivered! Go to doorcountydelivered.com and use the code ONA2020 for 5% off your box today -- and get a piece o...2020-07-2739 minThe Make An Impact PodcastTrailerHave you ever wanted to start your own non-profit organization? Become a social entrepreneur? Just make an impact in the world? Where do I possibly start in being the CEO of a non-profit? Welcome to The Make An Impact Podcast! Your host, Susan Fochs, launched a national non-profit organization at 18-years-old out of her freshman college dorm room. Now with almost a decade of experience under her belt, she is here to teach you her tried and true tips and tricks for starting your own organization and how to build it from the ground up. ...2020-07-1701 min
Every Hand HelpsEpisode 10: Susan Fochs, CEO of Operation Not AloneJoin Katrina and this week's guest Susan Fochs, CEO of Operation Not Alone, an organization dedicated to honoring and supporting active duty service members and veterans while connecting our communities to those in uniform.Facebook: @OperationNotAloneInstagram: @operationnotalone2020-04-0717 min