About Secrets of Social Impact Communicators with Nate Birt
Coloring outside the lines to uplift, coach, and grow the impact of discerning social purpose professionals and the people who depend on them. I'm Nate Birt, founder of Silver Maple Strategies, a consultancy focused on nonprofit communication strategy social impact storytelling, and leadership development. As a strategist, copy writer, coach (read: encourager), and public speaker, I help mission-driven leaders tell their stories, strengthen their teams, and grow their visibility where it matters most.
As a husband, father of four, and growth junkie, what I love best is helping people achieve their dreams, both at work and at home with the ones they love. Join me for conversations with incredible human beings who share real-world insights and practical lessons--designed to help you lead with clarity, communicate with purpose, and make our world a whole lot brighter.
S1:E27 - Reflect, Reimagine, Reignite: Your Nonprofit's Year-End Reset for 2026
It's been a tough year for many nonprofits. Yet here you are! Still standing, still serving, and still dreaming about a brighter future. In this special end-of-year solo episode, Nate Birt, founder of Silver Maple Strategies, guides nonprofit leaders through a reflective, energizing reset for 2026.
This is not your average strategy podcast. It's a hands-on series of guided journaling prompts you can use to evaluate where you've grown, what you've overcome, and where your organization is headed next.
You'll also learn about some key trends affecting nonprofit giving, donor behavior, and funding diversification. Keep an eye on these factors in 2026 and beyond so you can creatively grow your revenue and deliver even greater impact in the New Year.
This episode is for you if you:
Want to hit pause, take a breath, and reflect before jumping into planning mode
Crave more alignment and greater morale across your team and board
Need practical ideas for adapting to donor trends and funding volatility
Want a clear framework to set meaningful, motivating goals for 2026
You'll Walk Away With:
10 powerful journaling prompts to use with your board, team, or just for yourself
A resilience framework you can apply to any season of uncertainty
Emerging trends in donor behavior, DAFs, and general operating support
A renewed sense of purpose for the year ahead
Bonus: Hear Nate's personal Word of the Year and find out why this practice can be a great way to unlock sustained inspiration to fuel your next chapter. Then, choose your own personal Word of the Year.
Take the Next Step:
Share your feedback on this episode: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
View and register for future webinars: www.silvermaplestrategies.com/webinars
Get Nate's newsletter: www.silvermaplestrategies.com/newsletter
Book Nate to speak or facilitate a strategy session with your nonprofit or association: https://www.silvermaplestrategies.com/speaking-engagements
Connect with Nate:
🌐 SilverMapleStrategies.com
📧 nate@silvermaplestrategies.com
💼 Connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natebirt/)
Special Thanks
Big thanks to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode, and to Audrey for helping bring these ideas to life through thoughtful design and marketing. I'm grateful for your partnership!
8 Dec 2025
S1: E26 - Leading Big Change, Communicating Across Divides, and Staying Grounded with Sheila Voss
How do you lead transformative change in a complex, fast-moving world without losing your sense of purpose?
In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, host Nate Birt talks with Sheila Voss, Senior Vice President of Communications at the Good Food Institute, about what it takes to lead mission-driven work with courage, clarity, and heart.
Sheila's career spans environmental education, biodiversity, and global nonprofit leadership. Although her current work focuses on protein innovation and reimagining the food system, her insights apply to any nonprofit leader navigating systems change and seeking to make a meaningful impact.
In this conversation, you'll hear:
A powerful mindset shift for reducing polarization in public-facing work
Practical strategies for communicating complex ideas with clarity and compassion
How to lead through uncertainty while building long-term partnerships
Why regional collaboration and cross-sector engagement matter more than ever
A fresh take on sustaining your energy and motivation in purpose-driven work
Whether you work in health, education, environment, or human services, Sheila offers timely wisdom on how to connect your mission to what people care about most.
Resources Mentioned
Learn more about the Good Food Institute: gfi.org (https://gfi.org/)
Recommended reading: Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
Follow food systems strategist Jack Bobo (http://linkedin.com/in/jackbobo)
More from Nate
Subscribe to the free newsletter: Secrets of Social Impact Communicators
Take the free Book Nate as a speaker or facilitator for your next event
Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode and to Audrey Anderson for podcast publishing support!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate & review the show to help us grow!
24 Nov 2025
S1: E25 - Art Meets Impact: Balancing Mission, Money, and Audience in Nonprofit Leadership
How do you stay true to your mission and pay the bills? How do you engage your community and challenge them to think differently? And how do you do all that without burning out?
In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, I'm joined by Sara Dean, Artistic Director at The Pear Theatre in Silicon Valley, CA, and a board member of Theatre Bay Area. Sara brings an incredible mix of creative courage, business pragmatism, and heart-centred leadership to nonprofit work, offering takeaways for anyone navigating mission-driven challenges.
We talk about:
Navigating the tension between program impact and financial sustainability
Leading through complexity in one of the most expensive regions in the U.S.
Rethinking traditional nonprofit models to serve evolving audiences and communities
How storytelling, inclusivity, and data work together to inform programming decisions
The reality of nonprofit burnout and how Sara holds space for balance and joy
You'll walk away inspired by Sara's leadership journey and equipped with real-world lessons on balancing stakeholder needs, delivering impactful work, and sustaining your own energy and vision as a nonprofit leader.
Plus: Sara shares strategies for achieving representation in casting, insights on the process of reimagining classics such as Henry V, and best practices for listening deeply to audiences to shape future programming.
Looking for a human-centered and ethical way to use artificial intelligence tools in your nonprofit?
Email me at nate@silvermaplestrategies.com and I'll share a free action guide + access to a ChatGPT tool we've built just for you, packed with ready-to-use prompts for grants, donor appeals, project planning, and more.
Connect + Learn More
Visit The Pear Theatre website: https://www.thepear.org/ (https://www.thepear.org/)
Visit Silver Maple Strategies' website: https://www.silvermaplestrategies.com/
Follow Silver Maple Strategies on LinkedIn and Facebook!
Hosted by Nate Birt, founder of Silver Maple Strategies
Thanks as always to Lee Williams for editing and producing this episode and to Audrey Anderson for podcast publishing support!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate & review the show to help us grow!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
212
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
60
Contact Secrets of Social Impact Communicators with Nate Birt
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators with Nate Birt?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
