E94: Scaling Impact with SOPs — How Nonprofits Can Document Processes to Prevent Burnout and Drive Growth with Stephanie Sloan

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast, your nonprofit leadership podcast focused on heart-led strategy and sustainable growth. This week, I sit down with Stephanie Sloan, founder of JLC Systems and an expert in streamlining nonprofit operations through effective SOPs.

Stephanie shares her IMPACT Method — a practical framework for evaluating workflows, preventing burnout, increasing donor and volunteer engagement, and preparing your organization for funding success. If you’ve ever felt like you’re building the plane while flying it, this episode is your permission to pause, document, and scale with intention.

In this episode:

• [03:05] Stephanie’s background in processes and systems
• [05:00] Why so many nonprofits struggle with efficiency
• [08:14] How to create an effective SOP
• [13:45] The value of evaluating and documenting processes
• [19:31] Evaluating processes to move from a reactive to a proactive mindset
• [25:19] How small nonprofit teams can benefit from SOPs
• [27:09] Storing SOPs and the people involved in creating them
• [31:09] Stephanie’s IMPACT method for developing organizational efficiency

RESOURCES

E42: Empowering Nonprofit Leadership Development and Growth with Kristin Harrington, Partner at Lead Star

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“ This is not hard. Just take the one thing that is the most important to your staff and the most important to your mission and make sure it's documented.” - Stephanie Sloan

“If we all ceased to exist tomorrow, would the mission move forward? That’s the power of a well-written SOP.” – Stephanie Sloan

CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE

LinkedIn:

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

Produced by Ideablossoms