Jon Burgess on Celebrating Failure and Innovation in Nonprofits

We’re featuring Jon Burgess on The Modern Nonprofit Fundraiser podcast. Jon has worked as a JAG in the Air Force, an Air Force lawyer and a marketing professional at Apple during some of the most important years of the company. Now, he’s using his knowledge as the Chief Publishing Officer at David C. Cook.

Jon offers insights on how to create a culture where your employees know that failing is not only safe, it’s encouraged. He talks about reaching today’s younger donor and what it means to change the culture of your nonprofit. Hear all of that and more on today’s episode.

Here are a few insights you can’t miss from our episode with Jon.

1. Tell the truth in your marketing. Use examples from your work, the good and the bad. Don’t search for the best you can find, tell the truth to your audience.
2. If you’re struggling with growth and impact, that is exactly the right time to lean into change. Don’t move away from big ideas, move towards them.
3. Clear focus on the impact your organization is making helps you grow, despite any trends in the industry. You can’t change the entire world all at one time.
4. Create a culture that proves to your team that you are ok with failure. That’s how you get the big ideas.
5. Prepare a change management plan when you want to implement big ideas. Your people need to see the vision of your changes.