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Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions

Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions

Fundraising Strategy for Small Nonprofits: Building Acquisition and Retention Systems

Sep 1, 2026 · 36 min · 13 segments

Send us Fan Mail Throwing spaghetti at the wall can't fix broken fundraising systems. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria…

Send us Fan Mail Throwing spaghetti at the wall can't fix broken fundraising systems. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio, a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience, shares what it actually takes to turn acquisition and retention into a repeatable system instead of a scramble. You'll learn how to move donors through each stage of the funnel, from total stranger to lifelong supporter, and why retention deserves more of your attention. This episode is Part 1 of Maria's live workshop, "How to Get More Donors, Retain Your Base, and Deepen Their Connection," recorded for a cohort of nonprofit leaders. - Connect with Maria on LinkedIn - Watch The Golden Circle by Simon Sinek (TED Talk) Check out the What The Fundraising podcast here. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Throwing spaghetti at the wall can't fix broken fundraising systems. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria…

Speakers: Maria RioHost

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Top entities: TED×3 Simon Sinek×2 LinkedIn×4 Customer relationship management Canada×4

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈429 followers

Right-Sizing Fundraising Capacity1:47 – 3:15

M

1:47

Hello, everyone, and welcome to or welcome back to another episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast.

M

1:53

If you're new here, my name is Maria Rio, and I'm a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience helping executive directors like you raise more funds.

M

2:03

Today we will cover what is a fundraising system and how it can help you and who and where is your ideal donor.

M

2:11

So let's first address the capacity elephant in the room.

M

2:14

A lot of us carry the message that I should be doing more and I'm not doing it.

M

2:18

Like that guilt is very demoralizing and it's also not true.

M

2:23

I bet all of you are already working hard.

M

2:26

at least eight hours a day to make sure that your missions move forward.

M

2:29

So what we're going to talk about today is kind of a short reframe.

M

2:33

The goal isn't a perfect fundraising program suitable for a $10 million organization, right? It is a sustainable one at your actual capacity.

M

2:43

So I want you to give yourself permission to pivot, cut back, and make time to be strategic.

M

2:49

So actually carve out time in your calendar.

M

2:52

Because small, sustainable, and consistent beats big and burnt out.

M

2:56

So doing less can actually be a really strategic direction, not a failure.

M

3:02

We're going to talk about how to work smarter, not harder.

M

3:05

And we're going to be approaching that through systems thinking.

M

3:08

So being able to identify what works, what doesn't work, so we can cut the things that don't have the biggest impact.

TEDEntityConference
96%3 mentions
Simon SinekPersonAuthor and inspirational speaker
88%2 mentions
LinkedInSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
81%4 mentions
Customer relationship managementEntityField of study
73%1 mention
CanadaCountryCountry in North America
65%4 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
58%3 mentions
XEntitySocial networking service
50%2 mentions
MailchimpCompanyEmail marketing company
42%1 mention
TorontoCityCity in Ontario, Canada
35%2 mentions
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
27%1 mention
FacebookSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
19%1 mention
FrancophonieEntity
12%1 mention
RedditSoftware ApplicationWebsite
4%1 mention

Donor RetentionBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising
Systems ThinkingBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising > Donor Engagement
Donor AcquisitionBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising
Targeted OutreachBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising > Donor Acquisition
Stewardship StrategiesBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising > Donor Retention
Performance EvaluationBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising > Metrics
SWOT AnalysisBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising
Organizational AssessmentBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising > SWOT Analysis
Donor EngagementBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising
Nonprofit ManagementBusiness
MetricsBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Fundraising
FundraisingBusiness > Nonprofit Management
Business

Right-Sizing Fundraising Capacity1:47 – 3:15

M

1:47

Hello, everyone, and welcome to or welcome back to another episode of the Small Nonprofit Podcast.

M

1:53

If you're new here, my name is Maria Rio, and I'm a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience helping executive directors like you raise more funds.

M

2:03

Today we will cover what is a fundraising system and how it can help you and who and where is your ideal donor.

M

2:11

So let's first address the capacity elephant in the room.

M

2:14

A lot of us carry the message that I should be doing more and I'm not doing it.

M

2:18

Like that guilt is very demoralizing and it's also not true.

M

2:23

I bet all of you are already working hard.

M

2:26

at least eight hours a day to make sure that your missions move forward.

M

2:29

So what we're going to talk about today is kind of a short reframe.

M

2:33

The goal isn't a perfect fundraising program suitable for a $10 million organization, right? It is a sustainable one at your actual capacity.

M

2:43

So I want you to give yourself permission to pivot, cut back, and make time to be strategic.

M

2:49

So actually carve out time in your calendar.

M

2:52

Because small, sustainable, and consistent beats big and burnt out.

M

2:56

So doing less can actually be a really strategic direction, not a failure.

M

3:02

We're going to talk about how to work smarter, not harder.

M

3:05

And we're going to be approaching that through systems thinking.

M

3:08

So being able to identify what works, what doesn't work, so we can cut the things that don't have the biggest impact.

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