PODCAST EPISODES

Nonprofit Storytellers Podcast

Host Mackenzie Walters interviews nonprofit and association leaders about how they share their organization’s story. You’ll gain insight into how leaders cultivate interest and support for their organization, and the different strategies and methods they use to engage with their audience, share their mission and method, and ask for support.

Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters

How an education nonprofit launched and is positioned to scale in Des Moines

How do you launch a nonprofit, find clients, community partners, and supporters? And how do you intentionally make decisions early on so the organization can scale later?

Executive Director Noelle Nelson leads the new Avenue Scholars Des Moines organization, an expansion of an Omaha-based nonprofit that guides students through specific career exploration.

Read More
Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters

Launching a new nonprofit fundraising event and raising awareness for a critical health service

Dental Connections provides critical dental services to low-income individuals in the Des Moines area, as well as school-based dental services to students who might otherwise fall through the cracks. In the podcast, we talk about the nonprofit’s marketing efforts, including launching and revamping a new signature fundraising event.

Read More
Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters

How a nonprofit’s simple, four-step model to fundraising and friendraising is creating new and continued support

How do you consistently attract new donors, supporters, volunteers, and connectors? 

Mosaic is a nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Their simple, four-step fundraising model has impacted their organization and created a cycle of new supporters of their services.

Read More
Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters

Why a nonprofit built relationships with the media and stoked a local controversy

Eat Greater Des Moines is best known for its food rescue program, but the nonprofit is working to do far more — such as change the food system to make it better for everyone.

In this interview with Executive Director Aubrey Alvarez, we discuss the importance of nonprofits reaching out and working with the media, and why she stoked a local controversy that’s playing out in the press.

Read More
Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters

How a nonprofit leverages partnerships for their campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illness

The Make It OK campaign reaches more people every year thanks to partnerships from businesses, nonprofits, and governments.

Jami Haberl, executive director of the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, shares how they leverage partnerships to amplify their nonprofit’s awareness campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Read More
Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters Regular Episode Mackenzie Walters

How Des Moines University’s president approached the nonprofit’s board about building a new campus

As president and CEO of Des Moines University, Angela Franklin has led the medical school through one of the most significant changes in its history: Building a new campus west of its current location near downtown Des Moines. Franklin discusses the Purple and Proud Campaign, what presenting such a large vision to the board was like, and how she handled naysayers.

Read More