CNPS Program Notes Interviews FAQs

Q: What exactly IS Program Notes? A: It's a series on the Cain Nonprofit Solutions blog where Ashley Cain interviews professionals working at arts nonprofits to get their opinions and ideas about real issues facing the industry and the nonprofit workforce today.

Q: How long are the interviews? A: I probably wouldn't want them to be any shorter than 15 minutes because you wouldn't have enough time to really dig into anything of substance. But they don't have to be long either. We can schedule an interview timeframe that makes sense for you and what you want to talk about.

Q: Would I have to talk about something specific? A: No. As long as it pertains to the arts and the nonprofit sector, I'm open to talking about most topics. If you have something in mind, please let me know. If you want to do an interview, but don't have a specific topic, I can make recommendations.

Q: What if someone already talked about the same topic I want to talk about? A: We can discuss it again. Chances are good that you have a differing opinion or a different perspective than previous interviewees. That's valuable, so I see no problem with exploring the same topic more than once.

Q: I'm not an Executive Director. Would you still want to talk to me? A: Yes! I'm not interested in only interviewing those with power. No matter what your role is, I would love to hear from you. That includes all staff, board members, and volunteers. Heck, it might even be interesting to hear from the spouse or partner of a nonprofit worker!

Q: Would I be put on the spot in an interview? A: No. You and I would discuss your topic first and then I would send you a list of questions for you to look over. You can make additions or suggest changes to those questions, too. It's a totally collaborative process. I'm not looking to ambush my guests. I want it to be a good experience for everyone so you would definitely get to see all the questions in advance and have time to craft your answers.

Q: What if I need to remain anonymous and/or I can't name the organization I work for? A: I can handle that. We never have to name names if you don't want to and I can even blur or block out your face in the interview. If you have other concerns or requirements for anonymity, just let me know and we'll work it out.

Q: How would we actually do the interview? A: We will schedule a time that works for both of us. The day of the interview, I'll send you a video conference link and we will record the video conference of you and I talking.

Q: What if I don't have a webcam, I'm not comfortable on video, or there's another reason I can't use video? A: We can always do an old-fashioned phone interview if that's better and just record our voices. Or we can do a written interview where I send you questions and you write back. I woulkd always prefer to do video, but if that's not an option let's talk about it and see if we can find a good solution!

Q: What about after the interview? Do I get to see everything before you post it for all the world to see? A: Yes. After we record the interview, I'll edit it and send it to you to review. If there's something you want to cut out, we can can cut it out. Once you've signed off, I'll add captions, final edits, and we'll post it to the blog!

Q: Can I share and use this interview on my blog/social media/etc. as well? A: Of course.

Q: Can I get a final copy of the interview video for myself? A: Of course.

Q: I have some other questions not addressed on this FAQ page. How should I go about getting them answered? A: Contact Ashley directly at ashley@cainnonprofitsolutions.com or at (513)795-7503.