The Smart Communications Podcast

Episode 207: How can you center community voices in messaging?

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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, a...

Episode 206: How can you use science to engage donors?

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if fundraising strategy started with the brain? Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Cherian Koshy, CFRE, CAP, author of Neurogiving: The Sci...

Episode 205: Why is it important to change how you talk to funders?

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How you talk to your funders shapes how they understand your work, your community, and your impact. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with grant wri...

Episode 204: Is the field of nonprofit communications coming of age?

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and chief strategy officer of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, discuss insights from the 1...

Episode 203: How to bridge belonging in your narratives?

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Narratives don’t just tell stories; they shape meaning. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Sadé Dozan, vice president of advancement at Borealis Phi...

Episode 202: How can you put AI to work for your nonprofit?

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

AI is reshaping nonprofit work, but adopting it responsibly takes intention. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Cheryl Contee, chief innovatio...

Episode 201: How do you approach rebranding a 100 year old nonprofit?

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Insights from a major nonprofit rebrand! Join Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Brad Drazen, vice president of communications and marke...

Episode 200: How can we reimagine nonprofits and philanthropy?

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our 200th episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with writer, speaker, and beloved nonprofit truth-teller Vu Le, to explore how we can reimag...

Episode 199: How can you find the best parts of your brand?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, founde...

Episode 198: What do you need to know about cybersecurity?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cybersecurity is everyone's job. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Joshua Peskay, co-founder of Meet the Moment, about practical ways nonprofit...

Episode 197: How can you find joy?

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Charl...

Episode 196: How can you engage in participatory grantmaking?

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when funders shift decision-making powers to communities? Farra Trompeter is joined by Cynthia Gibson, PhD, principal of Cynthesis Consul...

Episode 195: What does effective design feedback look like?

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Smart design feedback is possible; it just requires clarity, collaboration, and strategy. Join J Kelley, senior account manager and host of this episo...

Episode 194: How can you communicate with candor and care?

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Communicating with candor can be kind and helpful. Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Keyante Love, founder and president of Good Love Group, to...

Episode 193: How can you keep your communications plan alive?

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is your communications plan sitting untouched? We have swapped roles for this episode of the Smart Communications Podcast, with our director of servic...

Episode 192: How can you consolidate feedback?

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Managing feedback doesn’t have to be messy or overwhelming. In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by J Kelley, senior account man...

Episode 191: Why should funders invest in grantee communications capacity?

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it look like when a foundation goes beyond grants to strengthen nonprofits? Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Brittany DeNove...

Episode 190: How can you move from self-care to collective care?

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if self-care wasn’t just personal but team-wide? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Lan To, senior consultant and executive coach at Co...

Episode 189: How can you get more out of your rebrand?

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to make your nonprofit’s rebrand last. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Sandy Zimmerman, design director, explore how nonprofits can go b...

Episode 188: How can you grow midlevel donors?

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is a midlevel donor, and how do organizations define that? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Alia McKee, principal at Sea Change Strateg...

Episode 187: How can you shape your AI brand footprint?

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does AI perceive your nonprofit brand? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by George Weiner, founder and chief whaler at Whole Whale, to explo...

Episode 186: How should your nonprofit approach crisis communications?

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When a crisis emerges, how should your nonprofit respond? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Joanna Brody, founder and president of Brody PR, ...

Episode 185: How can you approach AI with an equity lens?

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you curious about using AI without compromising your values? In this episode, Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Meena Das, founder of Namas...

Episode 184: Should your organization consider a merger?

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when two mission-aligned nonprofits decide to merge? Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Idealist’s founder and executive director...

Episode 183: How can you break free from being busy?

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you constantly busy but never feel accomplished? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Kishshana Palmer, author, discuss Kishshana’s book, Busy Is a...

Episode 182: How can you build resilient nonprofit organizations and teams?

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Resilience isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential for nonprofit success. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Peter Heller, founder of Heller Fundrai...

Episode 181: How do we foster healthy group participation?

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Healthy participation is a process not an outcome. How do we create spaces where everyone feels valued and engaged? Sarita Joseph, director of account...

Episode 180: Is it time to reboot your communications strategy?

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time to reboot your nonprofit’s communications strategy? In this episode, Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide...

Episode 179: How can a language guide help your nonprofit?

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Language shapes how nonprofits connect, engage, and drive impact. Ally Dommu, director of service development, and Ryan Gerhard, copy director, explor...

Episode 178: How can values strengthen your organization?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it the right moment to update your organization's values? Brenda Perez, Senior Account Manager, and Claire Taylor Hansen, co-director, explore how ...

Episode 177: How can you engage your community with campaigns?

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Nicholas Bruneau, communications consultant and author of Engage with Impact. Together, they explore how nonp...

Episode 176: How do you plan and communicate about leaving an organization?

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is succession and continuity planning a standard practice in your organization? Farra Trompeter, co-director, joins Sarah Durham, founder of Big Duck,...

Episode 175: Should the media be an audience for your brand?

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Media coverage can expand a nonprofit’s reach, but with limited resources, it can be hard to know where to invest. In this conversation, Ally Dommu,...

Episode 174: How can nonprofit leaders build strong organizations?

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by David Rhode to discuss his book, Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. They explor...

Episode 173: How can you use AI for strategic communications?

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How is artificial intelligence reshaping the nonprofit landscape? Alexandra M. Merceron, executive vice president at RUBENSTEIN, joins Farra Trompeter...

Episode 172: What is the role of fundraisers in creating social change?

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What lessons do fundraisers need to learn and unlearn? Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Mari Eva Mendes, chief development officer at LEAP a...

Episode 171: How can you start treating donors as partners?

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fundraising can involve communicating to people with wealth or power with uneven dynamics. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Emily Bishop Run...

Episode 170: How can you conduct marketing and fundraising ethically?

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Doing fundraising and communications work more mindfully requires us to move at a slower pace, ask multiple people for feedback, and truly listen to w...

Episode 169: How can you plan an inclusive and welcoming project?

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Integrating inclusive practices into your projects leads to better outcomes. Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by account managers Josh Kelley, ...

Episode 168: How can framing inform your strategy?

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Dr. Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO, and Carinne Wheedan, director of communications, at the FrameWorks Institute, ...

Episode 167: How do you activate change in a network?

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Stacy Van Gorp, PhD, partner-owner at See What I Mean Consulting, as they discuss how change comes about in a n...

Episode 166: How did DEI go wrong and what can we do now?

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DEI work is about building bridges across differences. Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Minal Bopaiah, founder of Brevity + Wit, as they discuss...

Episode 165: How can my nonprofit benefit from launching a podcast?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Marcus dePaula, audio engineer, podcast producer, and consultant, as they explore what an organization nee...

Episode 164: How can you design and facilitate incredible workshops?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Ally Dommu, Director of Service Development, and Dr. Myriam Hadnes, facilitator, and founder of Workshops Work, as they discuss the power and imp...

Episode 163: When and how should you share branding work in development?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Sarita Joseph, director of accounts, to discuss sharing nonprofit branding concepts and what questions to a...

Episode 162: What is the smallest viable audience for nonprofits?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE, head of development at iNaturalist, as they discuss how to prioritize audiences and...

Episode 161: How can you challenge the power and practices of philanthropy?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Lisa Pilar Cowan, vice president of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, about the concepts of trust-based p...

Episode 160: Why does your website need a content strategy?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Natalie Yelton, content strategist at Kanopi Studios, to delve into content strategy and how to create an e...

Episode 159: How can you better position your organization for funding?

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Sheleia Phillips, founder and principal consultant of SMP Nonprofit Consulting, to talk about how to better...

Episode 158: How can staff take care of themselves while changing the world?

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, about mindfulness in the workplace and offers ti...

Episode 157: How can you raise awareness and build trust?

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, sits down with Derrick Feldmann, managing director of Ad Council Research Institute and Ad Council Edge, who shares tips...

Episode 156: How can we have courageous conversations?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Nneka Allen, Camila Pereira, and Nicole Salmon, co-editors of Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love...

Episode 155: What are the latest nonprofit communications trends?

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Kivi Leroux Miller, founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, about the latest nonprofit communicatio...

Episode 154: How can you deliver the right message to the right audience?

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is most important, the message, the channel, or the mindset of the audience you are trying to reach? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ryan Gerha...

Episode 153: How should you approach audience research?

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Effective research begins with clear objectives and choosing methods aligned with your audience to answer key questions. Farra Trompeter, co-director,...

Episode 152: How do you get messaging to take hold within your organization?

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Jennifer R. Hudson, president of Think Beyond Public Relations, as they discuss how nonprofit staff can create ...

Episode 151: Why and how are nonprofits diversifying their donors?

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Funmilayo Brown, founder and CEO of Layo Philanthropic Partners chat about redefining philanthropy for people of col...

Episode 150: How can you navigate the highs and lows of the naming journey?

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter and Liz Ricca, co-directors, explore the emotional nuances of changing a nonprofit's name and break down six highs and lows of the jou...

Episode 149: How can you bring accessibility and inclusion into your communications?

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter is joined by Kerry Thompson, senior advisor for inclusion and accessibility at the Disability Rights Fund and the Disability Rights Ad...

Episode 148: What do nonprofits need to know about AI and data science?

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, is joined by Dr. Ashutosh Nandeshwar, senior vice president of data science and analytics at CCS Fundraising to talk abo...

Episode 147: How do you hire for a strong communications team?

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you hire for a strong communications team? Co-directors, Farra Trompeter and Elizabeth Ricca zoom out and talk about communications in general,...

Episode 146: What's your next move on social media?

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What's your next move on social media? Farra Trompeter is joined by Julia Campbell, author, speaker, and host of the Nonprofit Nation Podcast, who sha...

Episode 145: How should you approach GivingTuesday?

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Abby Jarvis, Senior Content Marketing Manager from Neon One discuss the history, the challenges, and the opportuniti...

Episode 144: How can communications help you recruit and engage board members?

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Rob Acton, founder and CEO, and Erin Pierson, director of strategic growth, from Cause Strategy Partners to d...

Episode 143: How can you manage change?

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, sits down with Mara Mintz, consultant, and account lead, and Caitlin Corda, head of marketing, brand, and business devel...

Episode 142: What and who is a major donor?

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Alyssa Wright, founder and principal of Wright Collective, about what and who is a major donor and encourages...

Episode 141: How can your nonprofit staff maximize LinkedIn?

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, welcomes Tania Bhattacharyya, founder of Lumos Marketing, to discuss maximizing LinkedIn for nonprofit staff and the pow...

Episode 140: How can you create true partnerships with sponsors?

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Mariah Monique, founder, and CEO of The Sponsorship Catalyst, discuss the importance of building true partnerships w...

Episode 139: How can you create messaging and communications that reflect the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion?

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, delves into the topic of creating messaging and communications that embody justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JE...

Episode 138: How should new communications directors approach their role?

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ally Dommu, director of service development, share insights and strategies for those starting or looking to refresh ...

Episode 137: What can branding really do for your org?

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co–director, chats with Vince Warren, executive director at the Center for Constitutional Rights, about their branding journey and ...

Episode 136: How can we bring radical honesty to communications?

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Marisa DeSalles, founder of Good Tilth LLC, and Michelle Flores Vryn, chief development officer with OneStar,...

Episode 135: What does it actually mean to show up as a "good" board member?

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Brooke Richie-Babbage, founder and CEO of Bending Arc, and the host of The Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast, abou...

Episode 134: Does the nonprofit sector need to rebrand itself?

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Joan Grangenois-Thomas, principal of JGT Public Relations, about misconceptions surrounding the nonprofit sec...

Episode 133: How can you center community in your communications?

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Michelle Shireen Muri, host of The Ethical Rainmaker podcast, about valuing staff contributions, rethinking a...

Episode 132: What can messaging do for your organization?

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A nonprofit’s approach to messaging should strategically advance its mission and engage its staff as brand ambassadors. Farra Trompeter, co-director...

Episode 131: What are the latest nonprofit communications trends?

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A nonprofit’s approach to communications should strategically advance its mission. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Kivi Leroux Miller, foun...

Episode 130: How should you evolve your approach to digital marketing?

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does your digital marketing strategies and tactics stall, get stuck, or succeed? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Geraldine Zamora, account director ...

Episode 129: How can development and communications teams work better together?

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Clear communication and shared strategy internally are essential to strong external communications. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Sunil Oom...

Episode 128: How can you stop the spread of so many sub-brands?

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do the sub-brands of your nonprofit reflect your brand strategy and help you engage audiences, or do they cause confusion and limit participation? Joi...

Episode 127: How can you build a strong relationship with a consultant?

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why does good work take time? Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Josh Riman, founder and president of Great Believer, talk about why it's essential to ...

Episode 126: How can you make the case with funders to invest in staff?

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with Rusty Stahl, founder, president, and CEO of Fund the People, about how you can communicate the value of your...

Episode 125: How can you manage burnout and fatigue as a communications professional?

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should we strive for work-life balance or work-life harmony? Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Sarah Boison, digital strategist, about how we c...

Episode 124: Why should you try new approaches in your donor communications?

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you center equity and justice in your fundraising efforts? Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Gladiator Consulting, Rachel D'Souza-Siebert, c...

Episode 123: How can you get donors to give again?

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Monthly giving programs bring more stability and sustainability to an organization. In this episode, Farra Trompeter chats with Dana Snyder, founder o...

Episode 122: How should you rethink your approach to strategic planning?

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Craig Shelley, partner and chief growth officer at Orr Group discuss different approaches to develop and apply your ...

Episode 121: Why should you prioritize internal communications?

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Communicating first or at the same time with your staff as external communications roll out builds trust. Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Fat...

Episode 120: How can you engage your community in your brand?

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it important to center your community in shaping and representing your organization’s brand? Ally Dommu, director of strategy, talks with Far...

Episode 119: How can you create and use your vision, mission, and values?

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Clear vision, mission, and values are essential to establishing and reinforcing your brand. Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Ryan Gerhardt, senior co...

Episode 118: How can you use your vision, mission, and values to guide your donor communications?

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can your organization use its vision, mission, and values to guide and inform your work? Farra, co-director, talks with Ruth McFarlane, chief adva...

Episode 117: How does branding make things easier?

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Elandria Jackson Charles, chief development and communications officer at Blue Engine, about their decision t...

Episode 116: How can you direct transformative fundraising for your nonprofit?

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, and Rhea Wong, fundraiser and author of Get That Money, Honey!: The No-Bullsh*t Guide to Raising More Money For Your Non...

Episode 115: Why does belonging matter in the workplace?

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with DEI thought leader and author, Rhodes Perry, about the benefits of fostering belonging and inclusion in our w...

Episode 114: What can white managers do to reduce racial harm?

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, talks with equity and justice practitioner, coach, and consultant, Yejin Lee to discuss how white managers can disrupt h...

Episode 113: How can you use research to understand your brand perception?

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to raise awareness, increase visibility, and become a household name? Before any of this can happen, it is important to conduct research to un...

Episode 112: How can you facilitate inclusive conversations?

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ally Dommu, director of strategy, & Key Jackson, deputy executive director for programs & power building at GLSEN dive into facilitation practices and...

Episode 111: How can your organization stay human-centered in an artificial world?

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with Allison Fine and Beth Kanter, co-authors of The Smart Nonprofit, Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World...

Episode 110: How can technology create an equitable world?

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can tech better meet community needs? Farra Trompeter, co-director, chats with leading public interest technologist, Afua Bruce, and CEO of NTEN, ...

Episode 109: How can workers tap into their own power and voice?

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can organizations promote worker democracy? Learn how worker-ownership can help solve social problems and ways to share leadership with your team ...

Episode 108: How can you promote legacy giving?

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Farra Trompeter, co-director, interviews Lori Kranczer, founder and CEO of Everyday Planned Giving, about her work in the planned giving space and how...