Episode 14

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Published on:

21st Jan 2025

Moniker Group: Ryan Sisson - The 3 Key Ingredients of an Authentic Community

“For me, that's really where you get the highest ROI. Just to hear from a person: this matters.” - Ryan Sisson

When’s the last time you thought to yourself, “Wow, this is real community”?

That magical, visceral feeling of true human connection? It’s rare—feels like lightning in a bottle. Many nonprofit leaders have tried to capture it within the community they cultivate for their team, their donors, and the people they serve. But the truth is, it can be tricky to nail the secret sauce. 

Luckily, our guest knows the recipe for that kind of community—and it’s just three simple ingredients.

Ryan Sisson is the CEO of Moniker Group, a collective of visionary entrepreneurs crafting spaces that are designed to help people not just gather—but truly connect. From coffee shops and retail stores to coworking spaces and creameries, Moniker creates environments that blend creativity, purpose, and hospitality.

I (Ted) chose Ryan for this conversation because I’ve seen firsthand the powerful communities he cultivates. I’m thrilled to share with you his practical insights for creating environments where people feel safe to offer feedback, encouraged to share ideas, and excited to collaborate. 

In this episode, you’ll discover the one leadership trait that’s a prerequisite for effective communication, the secret to building a team culture so strong it sustains itself, why your people have the potential to make or break your brand, and so much more. 

If you feel like your organization is being held back by a lack of internal or external synergy, this one’s for you.

Want our key takeaways from this conversation? Take a look at the show notes for this episode.

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Presented by Classy

Are you a nonprofit feeling the pressure of constant change and evolving supporter expectations? Are you searching for new ways to engage your community in this new era of fundraising? At Future Nonprofit we seek out the top technology helping propel our sector forward, which is why Classy by GoFundMe is a trusted partner of ours. Classy's online fundraising platform empowers organizations to connect, engage, and grow. With Classy's latest innovation, Classy Studio, you can create personalized fundraising experiences that truly resonate. Build connections, unleash creativity, and raise more... faster! And now, with new features like Intelligent Ask Amounts, which provide personalized donation amounts for each supporter who lands on your page, and improved embedded donation forms, which lead a donor through an optimized checkout flow without leaving your website, Classy's full suite of tools is further engineered for conversion while also allowing you to create lasting relationships. The only question left is... what will YOU build? The future of fundraising is now with Classy. For more information, visit classy.org.

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About the Podcast

Future Nonprofit
Innovate For Good
Explore all things innovation to amplify the future of nonprofit impact. Discover best practices from top nonprofits and social-impact businesses. Learn new strategies and explore daring ways to think about and solve your organization's big problems.

Ted Vaughn, award-winning author and social entrepreneur, invites guests to share their personal narratives, experiences, and hot takes on what is needed to create an innovative organization. Ted illustrates how they can be put into practice on a journey to discover the future of nonprofits.

Watch full raw interviews on the Future Nonprofit Youtube channel.

About your host

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Ted Vaughn