Ep 14: Values Over Vanity - Rewriting the Nonprofit Playbook with Maria Rio

#Fempire

Welcome back to #FEMPIRE. Today’s guest is a powerhouse in the nonprofit world—shaking things up with bold ideas, lived experience, and a strategic vision for change. Maria Rio is the founder of Further Together, a fundraising consulting firm she launched in 2023. But her story doesn’t start there.

Maria came to Canada as a refugee, and her early experiences with charitable services sparked a lifelong commitment to equity, community, and transformative nonprofit work. From her first days as a face-to-face fundraiser back in 2011 to leading development and communications at small and mid-sized nonprofits, Maria has seen it all—and she’s not afraid to challenge the status quo.

Throughout her fundraising roles, Maria encountered persistent roadblocks to implementing equity-driven approaches: boards fixated on exclusive galas, leaders resistant to strong social stances, and organizations benefiting from her social justice expertise while rejecting anything deemed "too political."

What makes Maria’s approach truly transformative is her deep understanding of both nonprofit leadership and donor behavior. Through thoughtful, tailored fundraising strategies, she empowers donors and board members with knowledge—inviting them into conversations about wealth hoarding, white supremacy, and systemic inequity. Rather than encouraging performative giving, Maria helps stakeholders understand the why behind their generosity, shifting the focus from simply “throwing money at a problem” to fostering informed, values-driven impact.

Perhaps most powerfully, Maria challenges the entire food bank model, questioning arrangements that benefit grocery corporations through tax receipts and waste disposal while sometimes providing unsuitable products to vulnerable communities. "If I wouldn't feed it to myself," she explains, "we're not going to hand it out." This dignity-centered perspective informs everything from her storytelling techniques to her social media strategy recommendations.

As political divisiveness threatens vulnerable communities, Maria calls on nonprofits to speak boldly rather than retreat to "safer" charitable approaches. Her definition of success centers on operationalizing values – piloting a four-day workweek, providing free educational resources, and creating spaces for authentic conversation about challenging topics.

Connect with Maria and explore her Community-Centric Fundraising approach at Further Together, where old nonprofit playbooks are being rewritten with knowledge, justice and equity at their core.