Secrets of Social Impact Communicators: A Silver Maple Strategies Podcast 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.
Episodes
How do you lead a nonprofit with clarity, morale, and flexibility when the world around you is rapidly changing?
In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, Nate Birt sits down with Beverly Coberly, CEO of Extension Foundation, for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation on what it means to lead through complexity without losing your values, your vision, or your team’s energy.
Bev brings deep insight from her decade...
Episode Summary
In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, host Nate Birt speaks with Mike Servello, Founder and CEO of Compassion Coalition, Inc. Mike shares how his nonprofit has grown from a providential beginning in Utica, New York, into a model for feeding millions of people without taking on debt or relying on ongoing government funding.
You’ll hear how a donated wa...
Soil health. Sustainable ag. Regenerative practices. These topics are no longer niche. They're front and center in conversations about the future of food, farming, and resilience.
This week on Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, I sit down with Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, president of Field to Market, a nonprofit coalition of nearly 200 organizations working to advance sustainable agriculture. Carrie is a ...
Too many hiring systems are broken, and moms are often the ones getting left behind. But what if there was a better way?
In this inspiring episode, I talk with Mary Kay Ziniewicz, founder and CEO of Bus Stop Mamas, about how she’s radically reimagining what work can look like for mothers. From her early career in law firm marketing to building a national platform that connects talented women with flexible, meaningful jobs, Mary Kay...
What if the path to real social impact began with letting go?
In this episode, I sit down with Alfredo Mathew III, founder and CEO of SPCC One—the world’s first Shared Prosperity Community Corporation. Alfredo is a former public school educator turned social entrepreneur who’s building a bold, transformative model that reimagines capital, ownership, and community.
Alfredo shares how his work empowers small businesses—especially Bla...
Do you ever feel like you're encountering a series of neverending bottlenecks within your nonprofit? Here at Silver Maple Strategies, we see this all the time - and it's nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, it's part of the natural growth of any purpose-driven organization. The best part? There are tremendous solutions available to any leader looking to break through bottlenecks and deliver increasingly higher levels of impac...
Are you struggling to get noticed by funders and strategic partners — even though your nonprofit is doing critical, impactful work?
In this episode, I'll walk you through the essential keys to making your nonprofit brand unforgettable. Drawing on insights from more than 17 years in communications and 8+ years advising nonprofit leaders, I share ...
In this episode, I walk nonprofit leaders through timely strategies for building fundraising resilience in a complex and fast-evolving 2025 landscape.
You'll walk away with actionable ideas, renewed confidence, and a powerful framework to tackle today’s toughest fundraising challenges.
I introduce our...
In this episode, I sit down with Eva Goulbourne, Founder and CEO of Littlefoot Ventures, for a fascinating discussion of why this is a historic moment for addressing climate change via food and agriculture.
Eva's food systems and sustainability strategy firm focuses on using food systems transformation as the climate solution. She brings extensive expertise serving both for-profit and nonprofit executives including food business te...
In this episode of Secrets of Social Impact Communicators, I welcome Jan Barlow, founder of Better Job Fit, for an insightful conversation on career transitions, leadership, and purpose-driven work. Jan shares her incredible journey from a successful corporate career in pharmaceuticals to creating an organization that helps vulnerable populations such as veterans and foster care communities transition into civilian work.
Jan opens ...
In this episode, B3C Global CEO and Founder Cytandra Hoover shares her fascinating experiences building climate resilience in local communities and advancing equity across the world. Cytandra is a seasoned expert in global social impact and inclusive insurance. You'll learn something new and be inspired in equal measure, I promise!
<...In this fascinating episode, we dive deep into the world of social impact crowdfunding with Devin Thorpe, the CEO and Champion of Social Good at Super Crowd Inc. Devin, an acclaimed author, speaker, and a beacon of hope for entrepreneurs and investors alike, shares valuable insights into leveraging crowdfunding for meaningful social change.
Highlights from our conversation include:
In this episode, I'm delighted to introduce you to Tamika Bickham, founder, CEO, and creative director at TB Media Group. We bonded immediately over our shared background in journalism and dived into a fascinating discussion of human-centered storytelling.
During our conversation, Tamika discusses her journey into purpose-driven work, shares real-life examples of powerful stories that address challenging issues with authenticity a...
In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Deborah Marshall, director of sales and marketing at Missouri Life, an iconic B2C media brand in my adoptive state of Missouri. Deborah is a true leader in the world of sales, marketing, and purpose-driven communication.
During our conversation, Deborah talks about where her best ideas come from - and how other social impact communicators can spark their own creativity. She also tal...
Have you ever worked with a communications consultant - or considered hiring one? In my latest episode, I sit down for a fantastic conversation with Jacque Matsen, owner and president of Relate Strategies LLC. Jacque's communications consulting firm specializes in a range of services including communications strategy planning, thought leadership development, crisis response planning, and much more.
Jacque offers a window into her ...
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Bing Chat are transforming all kinds of industries - and social impact communicators should pay attention.
In this week's episode, I chat with Grantable Cofounder and CEO Philip Deng about what the rise of artificial intelligence means for grant writers, grant consultants, and anyone seeking funding from grants.
Learn how you can save time and gain efficiency on the tedious parts of grant p...
Have you ever pursued grant funding and wondered, "What's up with this 'match' or 'matching funds' requirement?" You're not alone! In this episode, I'll help you unpack the concept of "match" and "matching funds," whether you're pursuing a government grant or funding from private philanthropy.
To keep things fun for you, I'm going to explain how match is like co-hosting a party with a friend. Your assignment? To bring all the reso...
As important as your social impact mission is, nothing can get back those moments with family and friends you cherish. So whatever you're doing this week, be intentional about closing out your work and dedicating time to the people who matter to you.
This week's episode is short and sweet - enjoy!
Energy is as essential to your social impact communication career as water is to life. Yet it's often invisible, tough to access and hard to sustain.
In this episode, I explain how you can find it, draw from it and maintain it to propel your career (and life) to the next level.
Enjoy the episode? Thanks for listening! Please hit the "Subscribe" button, then rate and review the show.
Interested in learning more about social impact...
Have you ever been asked, "So what do you do?" If the answer is yes, and you work in social impact communication, you might have struggled to come up with a good answer.
In this episode, I walk you through a quick framework for how to explain what you do to others.
Enjoy the episode? Thanks for listening! Please hit the "Subscribe" button, then rate and review the show.
Interested in learning more about social impact strategy, co...
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