With over 850,000 podcasts to choose from, it can quickly become overwhelming if you’re trying to find a new show. To help you out, we put together a list of our favorite podcasts to listen to in the nonprofit and do-gooder space. Not only are these podcasts inspiring and engaging to listen to, but they give you the tools you need to help you move the needle at your nonprofit. We’ve also highlighted our favorite episode of each podcast that we feel are great starting points for new listeners.
Whether you need to learn more about fundraising, building a donor base, email marketing, or just want to hear inspiring stories from people doing world-changing work, this list is filled with podcasts just for you!
Nonprofit Optimist
Nonprofit Optimist is the perfect podcast for smaller nonprofits and new nonprofits. This is a newer podcast based in Chicago, and many of the guests are also from local Chicago nonprofits. Nonprofit Optimist uses interviews with staff from other nonprofits to provide practical tips and tricks for how to succeed in all aspects of running a nonprofit.
Where You Should Start
Episode 39: Creating Space for Local Voices (Dr. Susan Blaustein, WomenStrong International)
Dr. Susan Blaustein of WomenStrong International shares the lessons she’s learned about community and international development through her work.
Impact Boom
Find encouragement through the stories of others with the Impact Boom podcast. Impact Boom welcomes in social innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers throughout the world to discuss how to create lasting social and environmental change. Sometimes it can feel tricky as a nonprofit to determine how to maximize your impact. Impact boom works to bring you the insight to do just that. Their blog is also filled with incredible resources and inspiration for your nonprofit!
Where You Should Start
Episode 196: Erfan Daliri On Redesigning Society To Create True Social Change
Erfan Daliri of Newkind Conference discusses what he believes is holding society back in order to create the change needed to address economic injustice and climate change, whilst sharing his insights into youth empowerment and exciting plans for the upcoming conference in Marion Bay, Tasmania.
Nonprofit Leadership Podcast: Making Your World Better
Hosted by Dr. Rob Harter, this podcast focuses on telling the stories of real leaders in the nonprofit space. In these interviews, you will get to hear the strategies these leaders have implemented in order to bring success to their nonprofit. This podcast will give you new practices to try, and inspire you by hearing about how others have transformed their communities.
Where You Should Start
Episode 113: How to Create Effective Systemic Change in Our Communities: Heather McLeod Grant
The change that’s needed in today’s community is so expansive and multi-leveled that nonprofits can’t make change alone. Listen to Dr. Harter’s interview with Heather McLeod Grant to learn how nonprofits need to collaborate with each other, the government, as well as the private sector, in order to truly create change in the community.
Nonprofits Are Messy
Joan Garry is a consultant, author, blogger and a highly sought-after public speaker and media spokesperson. In her podcast, this nonprofit expert discusses some of the most prominent issues that leaders in the nonprofit industry run into.
Where You Should Start
Episode 47: How to Engage Millennials (with Abra Annes)
Millennials are a popular topic of conversation these days, mainly because they are now coming of age to become donors and change-makers in their community. If you’ve ever wondered how to engage millennials and get them to support the causes they care about, this is a great listen.
Good Life Project
We all have a desire to make a better life for ourselves. We all know the ways we want to improve. The Good Life Project is a podcast that provides real strategies and action steps to help you live a better life. They understand the importance of community, and know that out of community comes support, friendships, and inspiration.
Where You Should Start
Episode 573: To Succeed At Anything, Do This
This episode is all about how to find success when working to accomplish big, meaningful things. They discuss a lot of myths, and introduce a concept called Success Scaffolding™. This is a new way of approaching large goals, especially goals you’ve tried and failed to reach in the past.
The Good Journey Pod
The world of nonprofit fundraising and philanthropy is constantly moving and shaking. The Good Journey Pod, located in Vancouver Canada, brings in nonprofit professionals and philanthropy innovators to share their journeys on the path to doing good.
Where You Should Start
Episode 39: Ann Rosenfield from Charitably Speaking on Startup Nonprofit Fundraising
If your nonprofit is young, or in the startup phase, this conversation is for you. Ann Rosenfield discusses the basics of fundraising for startups and young nonprofits, monthly giving, and evaluates older methods, as well as new methods of fundraising.
Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs Podcast
Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs talks to experienced and successful social entrepreneurs and change-makers, committed to building a better world. Fergal Byrne, a writer, interviewer, and researcher, uses this podcast to share the amazing works of social entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Where You Should Start
Episode 94: Interview with Randy Paynter, founder of Care2
In this interview with Randy Paynter, he talks about the process of raising money for Care2, the nonprofit he founded. He explains what an “engine for good” business model is, and why he believes it’s so valuable. Randy’s belief is that good actions generate revenues that will help fuel more good actions. Listen to the podcast to learn how to do just that.
