Animal lovers and changemakers unite?! 🐶🐱



Introducing:
Social Issue Deep Dive Videos

Read time: 3-4 Minutes

A few newsletters back, I mentioned how I was expanding my YouTube content with a new series on fundraising.

But actually, that’s not all.

As part of my new Changemaker Cafe content, we’re also going to explore the ins and outs of different social issues together – from homelessness, to food insecurity, and more. I’m starting with the topic of Animal Rescue (something I know is dear to many of your hearts!), but we’ll tackle different subjects over several months.

We’ll be experimenting with this new type of content with a video each Wednesday (in addition to content on my usual topics). I’m trying new things, so your feedback is super important here. I hope you’ll let me know what you think!

In this issue of Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, I’ll share what this new series is all about, why we’re starting with animal rescue, and how you (or your nonprofit) can use this as a tool to educate and inspire action.

🎥 Watch the Animal Rescue Series Preview

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Why Social Issue Deep Dives?

For years, I’ve heard from passionate changemakers who care deeply about social issues but aren’t sure where to begin.

How do you actually help? What’s going on at the root of these issues? Where do you find the right resources? This new YouTube content is aimed at answering those questions.

In Social Issue Deep Dives, I aim to break down the issue and explore it from various angles, hopefully demystifying it, with the help of experienced on-the-ground leaders I’ve interviewed along the way.

🐾 We’re starting with Animal Rescue because:

  • Animal shelters and rescue organizations save millions of lives every year, but they face enormous challenges.
  • Many people want to help but don’t know where to start.
  • Nonprofits working in animal rescue need more awareness, volunteers, and resources—and I truly believe more content about this can help.

What You’ll Learn in the Animal Rescue Series

Whether or not your social impact focus is animal rescue, I’m hoping there’s something for everyone in this series.

As I interviewed animal rescue leaders for the creation of these videos, I learned so much myself – about the challenges overcrowded shelters were facing, the burnout of animal care professionals, and more. We’re going to talk about all of it.

I know several people on my email list here are still figuring out how they want to make an impact. For those of you in the beginning of your changemaking journey, maybe these videos can even help you narrow down what you want to do, or get some clarity about the role you want to play in this space (or others).

🎥 Episode 1 goes live Wednesday - make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

For Animal Rescue Nonprofits

My sincere hope is that I can do this topic justice. My goal is that you’ll be able to use the content as another tool in your toolbox to help educate the communities you serve. And thinking bigger picture, I hope content like this can help attract more and more supporters and volunteers to the issues you’re working hard to address.

Maybe, just maybe, this series can support you as you…

  • Educate your supporters, volunteers, and board members on the challenges of animal rescue work.
  • Provide an inside look at animal rescue–introducing people to key issues.
  • Spread awareness, start conversations, and inspire action.

What’s Next?

Like I said, the Animal Rescue series is just the beginning (I hope).

I’d love your input:

What social issues should we tackle next?
Hit reply and let me know.

💲

Funding Opportunities

  • Due by April 25, 2025: The J.M.K. Innovation Prize provides a cash award of $150,000 to support social entrepreneurs (nonprofit or mission-driven for-profits) across the U.S.A. tackling America’s most pressing challenges through social innovation.
  • Due by April 30: The Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust provides grants to nonprofits empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives.
  • Due by May 15: Journey For Good Foundation provides grants ranging $7,500-$32,500 to organizations fighting poverty with food, shelter, education, and workforce development projects.

📅

Events & Programs

Keep an eye out for future workshops and events open to the public! In the mean time, need an event speaker or workshop trainer in 2025? Learn more about my services here.

Enjoy this week's newsletter? You might find this video helpful, too.

3 more ways I can help you

  1. I have lots of free content for you! Check out my library of 300+ educational videos on nonprofits, social entrepreneurship, fundraising, and more on my YouTube channel. If you like what I'm trying to do, help me reach more people like you - who want to make an impact - by subscribing to the channel and sharing it with a changemaker friend! 😁
  2. Need extra support to build or grow a nonprofit or social enterprise? Check out my Changemaker Accelerator membership. Learn more and join.
  3. Need a speaker or training workshop for your social impact event? I'm currently booking 2025 speaking engagements -- check out my speaking and workshop opportunities to learn how I can help you make your event inspiring and actionable!

Hey, Changemaker!

I'm Amber, writer of the Changemaker Mondays newsletter! I'm a nonprofit founder, speaker, and social entrepreneur on a mission to equip you with the tools you need to create positive change where ever you live -- whether you're starting a nonprofit or socially-conscious business, looking for a social impact job, or leading a volunteer project in your city. Don't hesitate to connect (socials below), or reply to this email if you ever have any feedback on how we can make Changemaker Mondays the best newsletter for supporting changemakers in the world!

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Amber Melanie Smith

I am on a mission to equip nonprofit and social impact changemakers with the tools and resources to grow their impacts. Join me and over 73,000 changemakers on my social impact-focused YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ambermelaniesmith!

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