Today's guest champions the art of transparent financial conversations and strategic relationship-building. She encourages starting discussions with financial priorities, framing money as a transformative tool, and embracing proactive action while fostering genuine dialogue and understanding to drive impactful social change. Meet Lisa Maynard-Atem, an entrepreneur, public speaker, and member of the General Assembly of the University of Manchester. As a founder member and former Managing Director of the award-winning Black United Representation Network (BURN CIC), she focuses on the economic and social empowerment of the Black community in Northern England. With a strong marketing and social media background, she led Harrods' social media growth from 30,000 to over 2.5M followers. She was also part of the leadership team at Acacia Training as Director of Marketing & Inclusion. In this episode, you will be able to:  Address money topics directly in social justice settings. Frame Funding Requests: Emphasize the impact and clarity of financial asks. Adapt Discussions: Tailor financial talks to individual board members' comfort levels. Engage Investors: Take investors on a journey rather than waiting for ideal timing. Act Timely: Prioritize proactive communication and manage rejection. Support Allyship: Use honest dialogue and reverse mentoring to better support diverse fundraisers. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Pledge. Our friends at pledge have just launched a super easy way to get your campaigns up and running using some pretty cool AI technology. Check out their newest tools pledge.to Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Today's episode offers valuable insights into how to create more intentional, empowered, and balanced ways of working and living. Tune in to discover how to break the cycle of stress and start building a life and career that truly supports you! In this episode, Amanda Gulino delves into the complex world of stress management, emotional intelligence, and self-empowerment. Amanda is a dynamic facilitator and certified coach specializing in career design, team development, and leadership habits. She is passionate about reimagining how we work, lead, and connect, guiding individuals and teams to thrive through intentional practices and meaningful change.   In this episode, you will be able to:  Explore challenges in high-stress roles and nonprofit leadership. Recognize emotional responses as valuable information. Build habits for creating space and managing stress. Understand the "energy bank account" concept for better energy management. Value peer support and the sense of not being alone. Emphasize self-compassion and accountability in leadership. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Pledge. Our friends at pledge have just launched a super easy way to get your campaigns up and running using some pretty cool AI technology. Check out their newest tools pledge.to Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

This episode explores how the future of fundraising is being reshaped, making it easier for fundraisers to thrive and, ultimately, raise more money with greater ease and satisfaction! Join Nick Fitz, the Founder & CEO of Momentum, a pioneering company focused on enhancing the fundraising experience for nonprofits through innovative technology. Nick holds a BA in philosophy and policy from Grinnell College and an MA in psychology and society from the University of British Columbia. His expertise and insights have been featured in prominent publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Nature. Before founding Momentum, Nick was a Senior Behavioral Scientist at Duke University's Center for Advanced Hindsight & Startup Lab, where he led research on the psychology of fundraising and donor behavior. His work blends a deep understanding of human behavior with practical applications in the nonprofit sector. In this episode, you will be able to:  Recognize the importance of focusing on the psychology and well-being of fundraisers and donor behavior. Identify systemic issues and day-to-day frustrations that lead to high turnover and burnout among fundraisers. Learn how improving the work experience for fundraisers can lead to better fundraising outcomes. Explore innovative approaches to streamline fundraising processes. Discover methods to reduce administrative burdens for fundraisers. Appreciate the value of fostering a sense of community and support among fundraisers. Examine strategies to enhance connections and collaboration within fundraising teams. Realize the impact of reducing isolation and promoting well-being among fundraisers. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

When it comes to Gen Z, there is a cultural investigation going on that is challenging older generations to reflect and in many cases reset. Danielle Farage, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, is a “Workplace Futurist” helping the first fully digital generation create a new sense of work-life harmony. As Director of Growth & Marketing at Café, a platform fostering development and collaboration within hybrid environments, Danielle’s mission is to leverage technology in bridging the gap between leaders and talent. The result? Workplace cultures that are more inclusive, equitable, and dynamic. Our conversation touched on everything from the biggest misconceptions about Gen Z’s collective commitment to self-care to the tendency among older generations to default to a workplace ethos that reflects different, less human-centric times. “We have an opportunity to reimagine the workforce and it’s not just about the younger generation. It’s about everyone,” says Danielle. “We have a serious opportunity to change the way things have been for the past however many centuries of work.” Applying her prism as an advocate and educator to the nonprofit sector, in particular, Danielle helped me explore further the tendency among hard-working, committed fundraisers to stay focused on altruistic, empathetic external goals while internally working under toxic conditions. We have to pause and consider: How can we effectively market the core values of our missions if our own workplace practices don’t align? For leaders and team members alike, it all starts with offering vulnerability and authenticity. You’ll discover in this dynamic give-and-take the opportunity we all have to reshape our definitions of work, play, community, compassion, connection, and even marketing. Says Danielle: “The better we create a relationship with ourselves, the more confidently we can show up at work – and in life.”  (02:23) Get to know Danielle, her journey and her work today. (07:11) Impact of mindset coaching on Danielle’s trajectory.  (08:05) How Danielle has helped evolve, rebrand and market the Café platform (11:25) Defining “Work Futurist”  (12:44) Work-life harmony  (17:44) Tips for re-thinking boundaries (19:23) How Danielle thinks about community engagement (and what it illuminates about fundraising dos and don’ts)  (23:16) Why the silo-ing of nonprofit goals (by department or budget line item) is often counterproductive (30:39) What Gen Z wants and the assumptions we hold that are all wrong  (37:42) What leaders can do to respond to the needs of Gen Z  (41:09) Where to find Danielle Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Feathr for making this episode possible. Our friends at Feather help nonprofits like yours level up their digital campaigns every day through their nonprofit marketing platform. Don’t rely on magic this year. Check out Feathr to streamline your digital marketing campaigns and exceed your goals. Learn more and get started today at Feathr.co. And don’t forget to tell them that I sent you! If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Sharing that I’m a person with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) has definitely sparked feedback and conversation, which should come as no surprise. As Margaux Joffe, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is perfectly positioned to explain, neurodivergence is a reality across all kinds of workplaces in every imaginable sector. “It represents the diverse range of human brains and neurocognitive functioning that exists in our species,” says Margaux, an innovator and advocate for people with disabilities of all kinds, but most especially those who are not “neurotypical.” She is helping us understand both the challenges and enormous strengths available to those of us whose brains work differently in a number of different ways.  This first part of our in-depth exploration focuses on identifying boundaries in the workplace (or a lack thereof) and how to put in place systems to support ourselves or those we lead in staying focused, productive and fulfilled in our missions. You’ll come away with some practical tools to deploy and a clear understanding of just how much those of us with ADHD and other disabilities (some 1 billion globally) have to offer when it comes to energy, ideas and fresh approaches. It starts with working across disciplines to ensure accessibility, inclusivity and respect for differing styles of learning and execution. Margaux, who founded the Kaleidoscope Society platform especially for adult women with ADHD, brings not just her personal story but a wealth of experience that will fire you up about disability inclusion inside our organizations – and celebration! Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Feathr for making this episode possible. Our friends at Feathr help nonprofits like yours level up their digital campaigns every day through their nonprofit marketing platform. Don’t rely on magic this year. Check out Feathr to streamline your digital marketing campaigns and exceed your goals. Learn more and get started today at Feathr.co. If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

When it comes to accessibility, do foundation’s insides match their outsides? This episode of What the Fundraising – the second of two parts – takes a closer look at how (or whether) funders embrace the full spectrum of disabilities, not just in the projects they fund but in the accessibility of their funds in the first place. Staying aligned to our missions means ensuring our systems are integral – and inclusive. My guest, Margaux Joffe, a groundbreaking voice on behalf of those with ADHD and neurodiversity in general, is helping us take a deep dive into how to be intentional about opening up the funding process by building better, more accessible, systems. “It’s a mindset shift that we all need to make,” says our guest, “actually understanding that people with disabilities are also working in our companies and are leading. They are visionaries.” Accessibility is an issue that impacts our nonprofit workplaces just as surely as it impacts the “beneficiaries” we seek to support. My discussion with Margaux covers important measures that any funder can undertake to improve accessibility with the end-to-end grant application experience. For starters, that means recognizing that one in three U.S. households include someone with a disability of one kind or another, many of which are “invisible.” The good news is that there are all kinds of strategies to implement and certified experts available to advise us on the latest web accessibility industry standards. Margaux also highlights the importance of pushing the nonprofit platforms we all use to make their digital technologies more accessible to all. You’ll come away from this conversation with actionable ideas for making inclusion a baseline feature of your grantmaking process and framework for meaningful collaboration at every stage of the fundraising journey. If you missed the first part of this two-part discussion, you can find Part I at XXXX. And you’ll also want to check out Margaux’s exciting initiative, the GreatADHDReset, which is all about helping us find compassionate solutions to optimize our unique brains on our own terms! Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Feathr for making this episode possible. Our friends at Feather help nonprofits like yours level up their digital campaigns every day through their nonprofit marketing platform. Don’t rely on magic this year. Check out Feathr to streamline your digital marketing campaigns and exceed your goals. Learn more and get started today at Feathr.co. If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Is so-called “dumb luck” really so dumb? Or is it, in fact, the result of an invitation? As my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising explains, there’s an art and science to this thing called “serendipity.” Christian Busch, author of "The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck," is showing us how to cultivate the unexpected, with insights about why an abundant approach opens doors (and how staying small can literally cause us to miss good fortune right in our path). In addition to sharing fascinating research, Christian is also providing concrete strategies for shifting our luck – as fundraisers and humans. As he explains, incremental adjustments in the permission we give and the environment we create can make all the difference. And if you think luck somehow isn’t credible because, well … it’s just luck, Christian demonstrates the many ways that are not true. We can create an actionable road map to good fortune through flexible attitudes and frameworks. It serves no one to be overly attached to outcomes, says Christian, who highlights examples of organizations that have reaped the benefits of richer, more sustained connections. Make no mistake, says Christian, who also directs New York University’s CGA Global Economy Program, “You can prepare for the unexpected by creating the foundations for it.” Transformational change starts with the decision to open up our worlds and missions to results we can’t even imagine. Is your organization ready to invite – and harness the power of – serendipity? If so, jump in and join the conversation! Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Feathr for making this episode possible. Our friends at Feather help nonprofits like yours level up their digital campaigns every day through their nonprofit marketing platform. Don’t rely on magic this year. Check out Feathr to streamline your digital marketing campaigns and exceed your goals. Learn more and get started today at Feathr.co. If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

When my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising peers into the future, she sees a world in which well-being isn’t an afterthought but the centerpiece of creativity, innovation, and productivity. As Co-Founder and CEO at Quan, Arosha Brouwer is creating a platform to support sustainable workplace environments through science-based inquiry and behavioral insight. Whether in a for-profit or nonprofit context, the focus is on measuring team and individual performance not just by net productivity but on holistic, long-term outcomes. Arosha brings to Quan tools acquired over years of working to optimize operations in both the private and public sectors – perspectives equally applicable to the burnout-prone world of fundraising. She reflects on the hand-in-hand relationship between resilience and vulnerability as well as why the healthiest workplaces create structures that support psychological safety and the freedom to fail without fear. Above all, says Arosha, Quan’s mission lies in helping leaders support teams in identifying and protecting space for creativity and longevity. “If you’re constantly doing,” she says, “then you’re not stepping back to have those moments of insight that could be the inflection point to do something drastically better.” You’ll come away from this episode with a new understanding of how self-care and wellness fit into – and are in fact essential to – doing our best work and being of service to others.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Feathr for making this episode possible. Our friends at Feather help nonprofits like yours level up their digital campaigns every day through their nonprofit marketing platform. Don’t rely on magic this year. Check out Feathr to streamline your digital marketing campaigns and exceed your goals. Learn more and get started today at Feathr.co. And don’t forget to tell them that I sent you! If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

This episode is a quick personal note from me to you. It includes some recap, a look ahead and what I am thinking about for the sector and fundraisers in 2023 and beyond. It also includes my deep gratitude for you, this community, our guests and our amazing sponsors. Some of the episodes I highlight in the recap include: Britt Frank - THE SCIENCE OF STUCK & HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR FUNDRAISING Gabriel Kram - TRUE SELF-CARE: TENDING TO COMMUNITY, ANCESTRY, AND OUR NERVOUS SYSTEMS Ruthie Lindsey - THE TRUTH ABOUT SELF-LOVE, HEALING, AND THE PATH TO REMEMBERING OUR DEEPEST SELVES Libby DeLana - TAKING THE NEXT RIGHT STEP: HOW A MINDFULNESS PRACTICE BUILDS ALIGNMENT Woodrow Rosenbaum - MOBILIZE YOUR MISSION: DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING IN A RECESSION Sasha Dichter - MEASURING FOR SUCCESS: ALIGNMENT, DATA, AND DONOR CONFIDENCE Mariam Nusrat - MOBILIZE YOUR MISSION: WHAT GAMIFICATION CAN TEACH US ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, RETENTION, & BUILDING COMMUNITY Dominque Morgan - OVERHEAD MYTH, MISSION CREEP, SCARCITY MINDSET: A STUCK SECTOR AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Lynne Twist - HOW TO LIVE A COMMITTED LIFE & RAISE MONEY FROM THE HEART Simone Seol - WHY BRAVERY & NUANCE MATTER: OUR MARKETING & FUNDRAISING MINDSET DEFINES THE DONORS WE ATTRACT Natalia Sanyal - HOW TO WRITE ANTI-OPPRESSIVE MARKETING AND COPY THAT CONVERTS Seth Godin - EFFECTIVE FUNDRAISING AND POWER PARTNER PRINCIPLES Thank you for spending your time with us this year. I’m so grateful for you and the hard work you do to make our world a better place. I hope this holiday season you shine your light back on yourself for some celebration, rest, and rejuvenation. I am wishing you a happy holiday season and happy new year. I’ll see you again on January 3rd, 2023. Follow along on Instagram Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

It’s easy to feel intimidated – or even a little clueless – when it comes to leveraging potential funding sources like stock, cryptocurrency, ETFs, or IRAs. But when we’re avoidant, says my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, we’re leaving money on the table. Vance Roush, Founder & CEO at Overflow isn’t suggesting that people running nonprofits need to become experts in any of these non-cash vehicles. We just need to partner well! That’s why this former Google employee, who recently raised $8 million in 45 days to secure a new church for the growing congregation he founded, developed a platform to manage and educate both donors and fundraisers. “We have an opportunity to unlock unprecedented amounts of generosity if we can remove that friction,” says Vance, who is tremendously optimistic about the future of solving problems like climate change and homelessness. Why? Because there is a palpable entrepreneurial energy among young people who want to do more than make apps and widgets. Vance has seen first-hand a growing wave of collaboration and innovation that he believes will move the needle on the most intractable social inequity.  You’ll learn about how Overflow is working to create a giving platform that – with a single button – opens up entirely new windows of possibility for donors with stock, crypto, and other non-cash resources. The net result? An increase in average donation amounts. And who doesn’t want that? So, as Vance says, it’s time to harness Silicon Valley’s venture-capital approach to fundraising by getting bold, risking failure, and inviting our prospective funders to go on the journey with us! Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team. 

Note the disparity: while commercial businesses have a near 90% returning customers, the nonprofit sector has a staggering 40-45%. Surprising? Then you’ll want to spend some time with Jay Love, Co-Founder of Bloomerang, and my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising. After 11 years as the CEO and Co-Founder of eTapestry, Jay started Bloomerang specifically to address the donor retention issues we have in the nonprofit sector. In addition to our talk about donor retention, you’ll get insight into Jay’s 4-decade journey in this sector and his up-close look at the evolution of technology and data management. Jay walks us through the evolution of donor data storage from post-it notes and file cabinets, to disks and hard drives, and then finally to cloud storage. The history is eye-opening and helpful to understanding where we are today, why we see resistance in certain tech adoption areas, and how we can best utilize the incredible tools we have available to us.   Jay also shares valuable insight into what it takes for nonprofits to succeed in their fundraising, and what keeps donors engaged with their nonprofit partners. A lot of it, as you’ll hear, boils down to two things: authenticity and appreciation, both of which are made easier with the right technology partners. In this era of the digital revolution, data holds so much power and requires a lot of responsibility. Jay talks to us about the most important ways to maintain data hygiene and the right ways to utilize (and protect) donor data. He also explains why transparency and proper handling of data are a must in nonprofits to support donor trust and engagement. But don’t worry, data hygiene doesn’t mean ‘perfect data’ and we talk about the difference and the ways in which most donors have grace for nonprofits when there is an error in lifetime giving data or another metric. The opportunities we gain by utilizing our data and personalizing communications far outweigh the issues with small mistakes here and there. This episode will help you know what to prioritize and why!  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team.

Giving Circles have been around as a concept since the 1980s, but in combination with new technologies, those circles are wider and more generous than ever before. As we learn from Emily Rasmussen, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, having a platform around which to congregate strengthens the communities that are fueling movements. She founded Grapevine in 2018 specifically to facilitate multiple small donations – maximizing their impact and helping to connect the dots between people and organizations. We know that more collaboration equals more momentum. Pooling resources only expands the pie (which is another reason why a scarcity mindset does no one any favors).  In this conversation, you’ll learn about the different models for Giving Circles, what kinds of networks have been most successful thus far, and how technology can aggregate and amplify the interests of small donors and the community. Emily is sharing key ingredients to keep in mind when setting up a Giving Circle modality and highlights the importance of putting an intentional framework in place. “Nonprofits are recognizing this model and seeing the power,” says Emily. “This is a movement. It's only accelerating!” We’re leaving you with lots of points of entry for moving your nonprofit into the fast lane with this form of turbocharged fundraising – and the community purpose it stewards and grows. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Ready to streamline and modernize your organization’s fundraising strategy? Smash through stumbling blocks with my VIP Day, an intensive one-to-one executive coaching experience. You can also click here to learn how I can work with you to pinpoint problems, develop a clear plan, and create content and design habits to support your nonprofit in achieving its goals. Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team. 

Have you met people in the fundraising space who think tech is a silver bullet? And because of that, they invest a lot of time and resources in making decisions around the tech adoption and fail to anticipate the implementation of the tech solution. It’s quite common, and the truth is that I was guilty of it as an Executive Director too. But we need to start talking about technology differently, as an facilitator and support system, with fundraiser enablement at the center of the product. And that’s exactly what we’re diving into today.   In this episode, Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand at NeonOne, shares his insight into the sector, and the new NeonOne CRM elements that he is particularly excited about. While Tim has been at NeonOne for 10 years, his journey in the sector began as a grant writer. Today, he shares nuggets of wisdom to help make fundraising easier with technology, and how to make the fundraiser's job easier with training, support, and community. NeonOne is all about Connected Fundraising and in this episode we get to dig into what that means and how that impacts the product, priorities, and process for continuous growth and improvement.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn And if you haven’t already, please come on over and visit our lively new What the Fundraising community forum. You can join the conversation at this link. Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team. 

Uncover how you can stand out in your industry by adopting ethical email marketing strategies that comply with regulations and make your subscribers feel valued and respected. Learn how to create engaging, emotion-driven newsletters that your subscribers will look forward to, making them want to read and write more emails! Today, we sit down with email marketing expert Tarzan Kay to explore the transformative power of consent-based email marketing. Tarzan Kay is the founder of Tarzan Kay Global, an esteemed online training company dedicated to teaching businesses the art of crafting compelling emails that captivate and engage subscribers. With a passion for email marketing, Tarzan is widely recognized as an "Email Marketing Supernerd," leveraging her expertise to optimize email strategies focusing on ethical practices and engaging storytelling. As a former funnel hacker who advocates value-driven marketing, Tarzan emphasizes the importance of profitability without compromising integrity. Her approach encourages businesses to stay true to their values while enjoying the process of building meaningful connections through email campaigns. With Tarzan's guidance, businesses learn how to create emails that resonate profoundly and inspire action, making email marketing an enjoyable and effective component of their overall strategy.   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand moving from transactional to trust-based email marketing approaches. Implement clear and explicit consent language to enhance subscriber understanding and compliance. Create emotion-driven newsletters that captivate subscribers and encourage interaction. Gain insights from real-world examples to effectively apply email marketing strategies. Discover methods to foster enduring relationships through ethical email practices. Optimize email campaigns by balancing promotions with relationship-building content.   Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Keela for making this episode possible. Our friends at Keela offer nonprofits like yours comprehensive fundraising and donor management software, equipped with powerful tools to expand your reach, increase fundraising revenue, and foster a dedicated community of supporters. Want a user-friendly platform that provides actionable data? Look no further than Keela. Check out Keela at keela.co/mallory.  Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

How’s your data hygiene? No need to panic! As we learn on this episode of What the Fundraising, our metrics don’t need to be perfect. In fact, according to my guest, Nejeed Kassam, Founder & CEO of Keela and Co-Founder of Fundraising Kit, missteps and gaps are a given. But that’s not the bigger problem here. The first hurdle is the tendency to bury our heads in the sand. Prone to perfectionism, many of us in the nonprofit world are afraid that our data isn’t pristine enough, and our numbers are not impressive enough. The truth is, says Nejeed, things are seldom as bad as we fear and always better positioned for success – when we actually look at the numbers! And the Keela platform that he and his team have developed is designed to make your nonprofit’s numbers empowering, not intimidating!  Founded in 2013, Keela’s mission is driven by people like Nejeed, for whom giving back is a core value. Using a targeted, multi-channel communications and marketing approach, the Keela platform was designed expressly to ease the burden on the humans providing the heart and soul of fundraising. So if you’re feeling fearful of all things data-driven, this episode is your point of entry. Take the plunge and you’ll see: What we imagine is never worse than what we actually know – and have the tools to address. There is a powerful upside potential of deploying technologies like artificial intelligence and pinpointed communications if we’re open enough to try them. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Please come on over and visit our lively new What the Fundraising community forum. You can join the conversation at this link. Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team. 

15 years ago Lynne Twists’ first book - The Soul of Money - completely changed the trajectory of my life, and it became the foundation for much of the work I do today. It is one of my greatest honors to get to interview someone on What the Fundraising who has been so instrumental in changing the course of my life and my relationship with money. Over the course of her extraordinary 40-year career, Lynne Twist has been recognized as a global visionary whose innovative ideas challenge received wisdom. In addition to co-founding The Pachamama Alliance, she is the founder of the Soul of Money Institute. Today, through her new book, "Living a Committed Life: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in a Purpose Larger Than Yourself", Lynne is challenging us to reconsider commitment – the role it plays in our work as nonprofit leaders and the power it has to fuel deep, systemic change.  In this far-reaching conversation, we explore the pillars of commitment and it’s importance to heart-centered fundraising. Lynne explains how she has managed to raise multi-millions over the years, undeterred by rejection: “You make a commitment, and then out of that commitment you hone yourself, or the commitment hones you, into the kind of person you need to be to fulfill it.”  Lynne radiates a sense of mission and asks us to bring every bit as much intention and intensity to our own efforts to serve. We discuss why she gravitates towards – not away from – suffering; how to avoid burnout by staying connected to our purpose; and what it means when the opposite of scarcity is simply enoughness - sufficiency. Lynne’s empowering vision of commitment calls upon – and empowers – us to become the people we need to be in order to fulfill the epic global moment we are in.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’d like to integrate a more integral, heart-centered approach to fundraising then you’ll want to check out this upcoming Soul of Money Institute workshop, Fundraising from the Heart. A big shout-out to our sponsor Bloomerang for the generous support and fantastic resources like their Diversity, Inclusion & Equity policy template. Check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a masterclass here. You might also be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz.

What might happen if we removed the veil and said that no one was a fundraising expert? I think it might lead to a lot more fundraisers trusting their gut, taking risks, testing, and realizing that their constant learning around fundraising is what matters - not being an ‘expert’. That’s what I’m talking about in this episode of What the fundraising with Tim Kachuriak, Chief Innovation & Optimization Officer at The NextAfter Institute. In the conversation, he highlights the forensic research, applied analysis, and behavioral study that are the basis for the actionable resources and training they offer and share. He’s also explaining why he prefers to see nonprofits flip the funnel paradigm and make it instead into a mountain built on understanding and respecting actual donor experience. “Using data to monitor how the donors respond is one of the ways that we can evolve our understanding of who our donors are, what they care about, and how we can message them more effectively,” says Tim. He offers fascinating thoughts about all the micro-decisions that impact fundraising outcomes and how to keep donors motivated. (Hint: It’s all part of creating a genuinely personal, engaging journey.) Much of our conversation focuses on building humility and empathy into nonprofit fundraising culture while also emboldening each of us in our mission to do good from a place of abundance rather than scarcity. The NextAfter Institute’s many original, evidence-based resources and data-driven training have been developed specifically to support long-term, sustainable philanthropic relationships. Tim and I explore what it looks like to use AB testing - a powerful tool for quickly culling what’s working versus what isn’t in terms of metrics like email opens and click-throughs. We also consider the important upsides of failing. The episode wraps with a reminder of why those of us in the nonprofit sector remain committed to the work despite the noisy emphasis on sales and acquisition in our consumption-oriented culture. Two words: Meaning and purpose! Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point!

Today’s episode of What the Fundraising is a conversation with Emmie Erickson, my 3-year-old daughter. For months Emmie has been asking me to ‘make a podcast’ and I decided that GivingTuesday would be a great time for Emmie to read you her favorite book - I Am: Book of Reminders by Juana Medina. There are affirmations inside this book that feel particularly important to remind you of this GivingTuesday. Plus, scientific studies demonstrate that we release all sorts of feel-good chemicals when we see or hear something cute — we're wired to positively respond to cuteness. So, I hope this puts a smile on your face and if you need to practice the affirmations captured here, I highly recommend you listen multiple times and repeat after Emmie. Let’s boost those feel-good chemicals to help get you through this GivingTuesday, listen now to meet Emmie.  You can find today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

Are you ready to get uncomfortable? Whether in the nonprofit sector or the entrepreneurial startup space, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is advocating for a growth mindset that says “okay!” to rejection, makes friends with Imposter Syndrome and just says no to self-critic noise. Estelle Giraud, CEO & Co-Founder of Trellis Health, demonstrates the power of honoring ourselves – even when important funding conversations go south. Pitching a comprehensive health data platform in the hyper-competitive world of venture capital is not for the faint of heart, which is why Estelle has very deliberately chosen to embrace setbacks as nothing more than an opportunity to learn and move on. In other words, it’s nothing personal! For many of us, this isn’t easy to do. But even if the answer is no, we have the right to take up space – without apology. Because remember, as Estelle says, If you’re not getting hit with lots of rejections, you’re probably not aiming high enough! In this conversation, we explore important self-awareness and growing-edge tools, sharing with you some of the strategies we’ve seen work to create safety and somatic calming. And Estelle is also giving us the gift of vulnerability, sharing how she has weathered disheartening rejection by relying on simple, potent strategies to reconnect with her most grounded self. We talk about the mindset women need to take into the board room, whether on behalf of a nonprofit or a startup venture – one that recognizes the valuable skills and impact we’re offering in exchange for funding. We are not beholden! And we are also not without the resources to cultivate wellness in body, mind and spirit. It starts, says Estelle, with a willingness to be honest with – and present to – each other. “There's benefit to sharing some of that (fundraising) journey and learnings, even if it's not perfectly wrapped up in a little bow and successful,” she says. “There is benefit in sharing a raw process as it happens.” Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One, the all-in-one donor management system that keeps small and midsized nonprofits on track with fundraising, communications, events, volunteers, and more. You can learn about Neon One's entire suite of products and services here. If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point!

Can you imagine a vibrant social impact marketplace built on outcomes-based data? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising certainly can – because that’s exactly the platform he and his team at 60 Decibels are building out. CEO & Co-Founder Sasha Dichter explains the why behind creating a foundation for genuine benchmarks and repeatability when it comes to measuring nonprofit results. The goal is to give organizations a window into how their programs are performing relative to peers and to set targets based on meaningful feedback.  Our conversation touches on the power of partnerships and lessons learned when Sasha moved from the corporate to the nonprofit sector. Far from his initial impression of fundraising as the pursuit of dollars at benefit dinners – somewhat remote and hands-off – he quickly identified the importance of building partnerships based on trust, not transactions. As Director of Business Development and then Chief Innovation Officer at Acumen, a strategic investor in organizations and people fighting poverty, Sasha learned first-hand about the transformational impacts that can occur when a clearly defined mission meets a genuinely engaged funder. He shares his thoughts on how to identify the core DNA of your organization, bring confidence to the table with donors (you have something of equal or greater value to offer) and build sustained relationships through authenticity and honest conversations. “You actually want to have the goal of a conversation (with funders) that involves trust and mutual respect,” says Sasha. “If you don't have that, you can't fake it.”  At the end of the conversation we get to learn more about 60 Decibels and it is exciting stuff! With more than 1,000 researchers doing qualitative surveys in 77+ countries, 60 Decibels is creating a tech-enabled resource with huge implications both for incrementally improving the quality of what nonprofits deliver and unleashing capital investment based on systematic metrics that funders can get behind. Think of a future landscape in which this data-fueled tool could be used to pair funders and nonprofits whose values align. There is so much in this episode for nonprofit leaders, you don’t want to miss this one! Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Check out Bloomerang’s fantastic resource:How to Collaborate With Your Community to think through how you can start working smarter, not harder, by aligning yourself with the right partners around the ecosystem. We’re so grateful for their resources and for their support of this episode.  If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point!

You could sit back and relax if only you had a big celebrity attached to your nonprofit, right? Well not quite, as my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising explains. For all her professional skills and the competent staff behind Usher's New Look, President & CEO Careshia Moore still works hard to keep the organization financially healthy, vibrant and strong. Even with the deep, long-term involvement of a major performer like Usher Raymond IV and his mother, Jonetta Patton, no organization is sustainable without multi-level buy-in, sponsorship and community engagement. Fortunately, Careshia and her team are up to the challenge!  In this episode, you’ll learn about the roots of Usher's New Look’s and how it has transformed the lives of more than 50,000 under-resourced young people in Atlanta and New York. Their remarkable programs develop global leaders by sparking their passion and breaking down barriers to entry – whether it be access to quality education, internships or career opportunities. In our conversation, we also explore what it means to operate from a position of abundance, which is often hard for fundraisers (who feel perpetually beholden). Careshia is all about speaking up, owning the power of what her organization brings to the table and offering donors a chance to contribute in multiple capacities. And speaking of capacity, here’s something important to consider: Overhead shouldn’t be a source of shame, says Careshia. It’s actually an opportunity for funders to get involved in the infrastructure that supports all those programs that make everyone feel so good! This conversation is full of actionable strategies, operational and budgetary priority recommendations for unpredictable times and new ways to think about ourselves as mission-driven professionals running enterprises that just happen to have a different tax status.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One, the all-in-one donor management system that keeps small and midsized nonprofits on track with fundraising, communications, events, volunteers, and more. You can learn about Neon One's entire suite of products and services here. If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point!

In this episode of What The Fundraising, James Citron, Founder and CEO of Pledge, shares his top advice for nonprofits wanting to dream big and launch partnerships with companies. Having founded and/or led the growth of three of the largest mobile messaging and engagement companies in the United States and the world, James took a leap of faith eight years ago when he decided to dedicate his life to helping the world on a bigger scale: by creating Pledge, a fundraising platform powered by the generosity of humans.  In this conversation, he reveals how he strengthened Pledge’s professional partnerships – expanding with Zoom, Cameo, and even celebrity e-commerce brands. Despite the pandemic having threatened 1/3rd of the nonprofits to go out of business, Pledge helped meet donors and nonprofits where they were so fundraising could happen more seamlessly. From James’ vantage point, the key to nonprofit success – among other things like risk-taking, resilience, faith, and grit – is transparency. When your donors know where their money is going, you strengthen your impact, says James. he also shares his perspective on nonprofit failure, his faith in the goodness of humanity, and his thoughts on enabling people to help others. There is a lot of great advice for nonprofits inside this episode, plus we know you’ll love hearing their exciting 3% annoucement too!   Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Ready to streamline and modernize your organization’s fundraising strategy? Smash through stumbling blocks with my VIP Day, an intensive one-to-one executive coaching experience. You can also click here to learn how I can work with you to pinpoint problems, develop a clear plan, and create content and design habits to support your nonprofit in achieving its goals.

Here’s a thought: What if we had a platform for nonprofit grant writing like the online Common App that colleges and universities have adopted with such great success? That was similar to the initial inspiration for my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, Gauri Manglik. Gauri is the CEO and Co-founder of Instrumentl, a platform that brings grant discovery, research, and tracking to one place. With Instrumentl, development staff are more effective and efficient at finding the right grants for their nonprofits and in this episode, she talks about the journey to creating this powerful tool and a lot of lessons and insights she gathered along the way.    Gauri challenges nonprofits to integrate a more data-driven, tech-inspired orientation, while also offering important advice for startups that aren’t quite there yet. I love that she talks about who is and who ISN’T right for Instrumentl - alignment is everything and it’s clear that Gauri doesn’t just want more organizations on her platform, she wants the right organizations on her platform. We touch on Instrumentl’s functionality, which includes robust prospecting, calendaring, collaboration, and tracking tools. Gauri shares thoughts on building blocks nonprofits want to have in place before focusing on grant writing in a significant way, including establishing baseline traction as an entity and adopting an empowerment mindset. We also talk about why metrics aren’t robust enough in the nonprofit space and how a commitment to leveraging a more data-driven approach can yield payoff in terms of conversion rates, and help identify formulas, and the right levers to pull. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Want to raise more from the right funders without hounding them? Mallory’s FREE masterclass offers a great starting point! Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team.   

Want to build trust with donors at first glance? That’s what happens when you have a solid, user-friendly platform like the one my guest, Justin Wheeler, has developed. As he shares in this episode of What the Fundraising, years of field experience are baked into Funraise, a digital ecosystem that streamlines nonprofit messaging and fundraising. Their state-of-the-art tool is designed to help nonprofits acquire donors at scale by tapping all the traditional and new fundraising channels available with amazing results. The more efficiently we fundraise, the more deeply our organizations can focus on the core mission! You’ll learn all about what Funraise’s platform has to offer, including everything from event ticketing and management to recurring giving, online campaigns, email automation, CRM, automated workflows, data mining, and dashboard/reporting. Justin shares insights from his experience building up multi-million-dollar philanthropic organizations (Invisible Children Uganda and Liberty in North Korea), busts some fundraising myths and reminds us of the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. In wrapping up, Justin reflects on things he knows now that he wishes he knew earlier in his fundraising journey as well as the essence of Funraise’s top priority: Modernizing giving through a powerful platform maintained at a price point accessible to nonprofits with budgets of any size. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: (00:30) How an "Invisible Children" documentary changed the course of Justin’s life.  (01:32) Justin’s work with Liberty in North Korea. (03:02) The myth of fundraising ratios. (05:20) How to inspire donor trust by ensuring a user-friendly experience. (08:00) What it looks like to establish digital trust and remove donor doubt. (09:09) Trends that Funraise is monitoring. (10:10) Mallory and Justin reflect on the important influence that narratives – positive and negative – have on donor behavior.  (14:00) Why it’s so important to incorporate clear, repeated “asks” without fear of overstepping.  (16:26) What Justin wishes he’d known during his early days in the trenches. (18:00) Funraise’s core mission.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Ready to streamline and modernize your organization’s fundraising strategy? Smash through stumbling blocks with my VIP Day, an intensive one-to-one executive coaching experience. You can also click here to learn how I can work with you to pinpoint problems, develop a clear plan, and create content and design habits to support your nonprofit in achieving its goals. Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team. 

Today, three inspirational figures, Dana Snyder, Kishshana Palmer, and Becky Endicott, join us for an unfiltered conversation about the realities behind balancing business, motherhood, and personal life. They are exceptional leaders, each dedicated to making a meaningful difference through their unique skills and passions! Dana Snyder is the Founder and CEO of Positive Equation. As a passionate speaker, teacher, and podcast host, Dana dedicates her work to empowering nonprofits with the knowledge to use social media ads effectively. Her mission is to help organizations attract potential supporters and create sustainable giving models, building robust monthly giving programs that transform everyone into philanthropists. Becky Endicott, CFRE, APR, is the Co-Founder and Chief Storyteller of We Are for Good and Co-Host of the We Are For Good Podcast. Becky is a master storyteller and a champion of kindness, celebrating philanthropy, seeking justice, endorsing humanity, pushing boundaries, and embracing people. Known for her authenticity, she often shares self-deprecating stories to forge genuine connections, understanding that true bonds are formed in moments of joy and in life's messy and challenging times. Kishshana Palmer, CFRE, is the CEO of ManageMint, Inc., a leadership consulting firm specializing in strategy, management, and growth. As a renowned keynote speaker, event host, TEDx alumnus, and trusted advisor to executive leaders, Kishshana brings real-world solutions and authentic, high-impact experiences to CEOs, senior leadership teams, organizations, companies, and solo entrepreneurs. Her expertise and vibrant personality make her a sought-after figure in leadership and management consulting. In this episode, you will be able to: - Identify challenges and triumphs faced by women in career, personal growth, and family life. - Explore themes of vulnerability and authenticity in professional and personal spheres. - Recognize the importance of supportive networks in achieving goals. - Challenge the notion that success requires perfection. - Gain strategies for managing life's highs and lows, fostering resilience. - Learn from stories and advice for personal growth and balance. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  "This week's episode is sponsored by Keela. Keela is a fundraiser’s CRM, meaning that it goes beyond a data management platform. It enhances your work and propels you to achieve fundraising success. From email and communications tools to AI-powered donation pages, your unique needs will be met with Keela, the CRM built BY fundraisers FOR fundraisers. Learn more at keela.co/mallory Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

SEO. The mention of those three little letters sends many of us in the nonprofit sector scurrying for cover. But spend a little time with my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising and I promise you’ll feel empowered to explore all things Search Engine Optimization! Rafi Norberg, President of Nexus Marketing, walks us through what it means to raise your online profile and shares some great (free!) tools to get even the most tech-phobic among us started. You’ll be interested in hearing how the world of digital marketing has evolved over the eight years since Rafi founded his company and the ways in which he has pivoted. Riding the tides of change and a human-centric approach, Nexus has kept the work fresh, engaging and organically satisfying. How? By emphasizing a collaborative, relationship-based approach to getting the job done. Whether we’re talking community awareness or donor engagement, Ravi believes that partnerships are foundational to growth. “Being open to more conversations generally leads to different opportunities,” he says. “If you're overly exclusive … it actually makes the process of building your digital brand very difficult.” Ready to raise your online profile and boost your outreach? This episode will give you the digital insights and tools you need to get started on that path! Get all the resources and timestamps from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Have you stopped by our new What the Fundraising community forum? Check it out and join the conversation at this link. Ready to streamline and modernize your organization’s fundraising strategy? Smash through stumbling blocks with my VIP Day, an intensive one-to-one executive coaching experience. You can also click here to learn how I can work with you to pinpoint problems, develop a clear plan, and create content and design habits to support your nonprofit in achieving its goals. Please note: This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team.

The truth is, all limiting beliefs aside, we can make giving fun. And Max Friedman and the team at Givebutter are proving this to be true each and every day. They have created a crowdfunding platform that seeks to raise funds that will empower the next generation of changemakers. In this episode of What the Fundraising I get to talk to Max about his entrepreneurial journey, from starting in his college dorm room, to what it’s like to be a 27 year old leader of a rising tech company. There are so many great fundraising tips in this episode, from automation suggestions to effective prompts to innovative engagement strategies, but my favorite topic that we talk about is Max’s imposter syndrome. Max, like all of us, experiences moments of self-doubt and his vulnerability in this episode is a true gift to the sector. He talks to us about how he manages his imposter syndrome and his top tips for nonprofit leaders dealing with similar doubts. You don’t want to miss this episode!  [02:48] Understanding Max’s journey to founding Givebutter. [03:57] How Givebutter has evolved over the years. [05:53] Max narrates his experience with non-profits.. [08:10] How Max deals with his imposter syndrome. [11:43] The fundraising space needs to go back to the basics.  [13:06] Are we over automating in a way that leads to a loss in authenticity and connection?  [16:02] Social media and authenticity. [18:07] How you can prompt people to give. [21:32] Hear how Max keeps himself motivated when he is having hard days. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Ready to streamline and modernize your organization’s fundraising strategy? Smash through stumbling blocks with my VIP Day, an intensive one-to-one executive coaching experience. You can also click here to learn how I can work with you to pinpoint problems, develop a clear plan, and create content and design habits to support your nonprofit in achieving its goals. This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. This series is unsponsored content and editorial decisions came from the What the Fundraising production team.

Here’s a data point worth highlighting: Dollars invested in female-founded startups offer an average 63% better return on investment than those with male founders. That’s not merely anecdotal, says my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising. Katica Roy, a Gender Economist, and CEO at Pipeline Equity, has all the stats and research to back up her assertions about intersectional inequity and its many costs – both social and economic. Her powerful Pipeline platform operationalizes gender equity, drives improved business performance, and offers success metrics to back it up. Inspired by her parents’ dramatic journeys -- from refugees to capturing the American dream – Katica is devoted to making a systemic change that is backed up by measurable controls, top-down corporate commitment, and supportive, smart policy.  Our conversation illuminates a number of disturbing statistics as well as avenues for making meaningful change. That change, however, all has to start with our individual and organizational ability to look candidly at biases clearly being perpetuated, even among nonprofits whose missions are dedicated to fostering justice and fair access for the under-served. The episode wraps up with some fascinating advice from a formidable female entrepreneur who has experienced first-hand the uphill battle women face in trying to secure funding. Among the many things she has learned? “Standing in your own power is important … You will get pushback and that's okay. That just means you're doing something right!”  Check out Bloomerang’s fantastic resource: Diversity, Inclusion & Equity policy template to start the process of creating equity in your nonprofit. We’re so grateful for their resources and for their support of this episode.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn  🚨Breaking News: We have a new What the Fundraising Community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

We’ve all been there: Ghosted by a donor and wondering why, why, why? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is showing us how to redirect our minds, dismantling the reflexive responses that play in our heads and inhabit our bodies.  Britt Frank, a somatic psychotherapist, trauma expert, and author of "The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward," walks us through the many ways in which our reactions (and overreactions) are embedded within our bodies.  Because so many of us are detached from our own sensations, we revert automatically to our brains in search of solutions. And that's all too often pinging around inside our heads? Lots of noisy self-doubts, recrimination, and other negative thoughts that do not serve. As Britt explains, however, we can befriend even the most toxic of emotions and in so doing diffuse them. “When we know how our brains work, we can feel like we're in the driver's seat of our life,” she says, “instead of locked in the trunk of the car, driving 95 miles down the highway.”  You’ll love hearing how this multi-modality therapist and thinker came to her work, why ultimatums are less effective than healthy boundaries, and what modest actions you can take to interrupt when your body has taken over the driver’s seat. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Want to raise more from the right funders without hounding them and banish your self-doubt in the meantime? Mallory’s FREE masterclass offers a great starting point! Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.

Are you a changemaker? The call to action on this episode of What the Fundraising is rooted in the notion that we can all be leaders of the change we seek. Alex Budak, a faculty member at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, believes leadership is ripe for redefinition – and has data to prove it! He walks us through how the human tendency to maintain the status quo impacts social change and why the greatest CEOs tend to balance confidence with a lot of humility. We’re also hearing all about Alex’s new book, "Becoming a Changemaker: An Actionable, Inclusive Guide to Leading Positive Change at Any Level," as well as the quantitative work behind his “Changemaker Index.” A teacher, speaker, and consultant, Alex’s primary mission is to help empower people from all walks of life to become changemakers – activists leading the charge in whatever their realm. He has given talks on leadership, entrepreneurship, and changemaking worldwide, from Cambodia to Ukraine – and has also advised at the White House and UN agencies.    You’ll come away from this episode with a new perspective on our culture’s tendency to glorify social entrepreneurs and leaders in general, a clear understanding of Alex’s “Three Pillars of Changemaking” and a fresh resolve to stand tall and lean into fear. We break down what failure really looks like and exercises for getting acclimated – which we all need to do. Why? Because there’s lots of work to be done, whether you’re a fundraiser in the nonprofit sector or a community member who knows things can be better. “There’s so much leadership to go around if we’re willing to seize those leadership moments,” says Alex. “And that’s my call to action: For all of us to see those moments around us and step into them.” See all the show notes at malloryerickson.com/podcast.  Follow along on Instagram at @whatthefundraising_ Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Many thanks to our sponsor Cosmic, the social impact creativity agency that delivers compelling stories, builds brand awareness, and inspires action. The team at Cosmic knows how to leverage clarity to catalyze real-world change and help you become the changemaker you were meant to be. 

Perfectionism can be sneaky. We think we’re just working hard, doing our best, and tirelessly serving others. And we are. But, as my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising points out, there can also be a lot of ego driving our behaviors and it needs to be explored. Kamilah Martin, Founder & CEO of Katalyst Consulting Group, leverages her decades of nonprofit experience to help align leaders in the sector – especially those whose organizations are experiencing transition. We are untangling the many ways that we can get in the way of our own best intentions – especially when we’ve got unexplored blind spots. That’s where a well-grounded executive coach can make all the difference, holding space for self-inquiry around deeply ingrained (often counter-productive) beliefs. The work is invaluable, says Kamilah, whose experience has been that self-aware leaders tend to be the most successful. Why? Because they bring a humanity-centered set of tools and solutions.  Even when we’re doing all the work and showing up for ourselves the best we know how there are going to be emotional triggers. Fundraisers – like all humans – will always be a work in progress. This conversation nudges us to take some grace and loosen that perfectionistic death grip. Openness is like a breath of fresh air, plus it truly helps our organizations thrive. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point! Many thanks to our incredible sponsors at DonorPerfect. DonorPerfect has a lot of free educational resources for fundraisers. Learn more and download some of their guides and tools today at donorperfect.com/mallory.

We are looking at leadership strengths through a feminine lens on this episode of What the Fundraising with my guest, Natalie Rekstad. As Founder and CEO at Black Fox Philanthropy, Natalie is mobilizing resources in all kinds of innovative ways and – as importantly – makes them open source and welcoming to even the smallest organizations to tap a wealth of wisdom.  In the process of helping domestic nonprofits and international NGOs build capacities and strengthen their leadership frameworks, Natalie has also gathered tremendous data points on what kinds of qualities define the most highly functional organizations. One of the consistent throughlines, says Natalie, is leaders with a passionate commitment that is not all about themselves. While in the past there has been a lot of deference to charismatic, overtly strong male energy in leadership, we are seeing today a shift in appreciation towards the power of other, more nuanced qualities. Natalie shares a long list of the questions she asks when assessing who is at the helm of an organization and how their most pronounced qualities impact the culture. We also take a deep dive into the power dynamics that can trip up fundraisers, including feeling beholden or disempowered when presenting to funders. It’s about an equal exchange, says Natalie, and understanding that nonprofit teams have something as important as financial resources to bring to the equation.  If you’d like to learn more about how Black Fox’s trusted advisors deliver fundraising expertise to organizations of all sizes and budgets, you can read their blog, with fascinating articles like this one, “Choreography that Translates into Deeper Relationships and Increased Funding.” Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Follow along on Instagram  Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn Want to raise more from the right funders without hounding them? Mallory’s FREE masterclass offers a great starting point! Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One, the all-in-one donor management system that keeps small and midsized nonprofits on track with fundraising, communications, events, volunteers, and more. You can learn about Neon One's entire suite of products and services here and join me at this year’s Generosity Exchange by grabbing your ticket here.

What does it look like to come from a place of wholeness – fully embodied and aligned with our core values? And why is it so hard in this day and age to feel whole? In this episode of What the Fundraising, we start that conversation with an understanding of our nervous systems. Today’s guest, Gabriel Kram, is a convener of The Restorative Practices Alliance, Co-Founder of the Academy of Applied Social Medicine, and Founder and CEO of Hearth Science, Inc. In this conversation, Gabriel explains the powerful benefits of cultivating a state of balance rooted in our thoughts, reactions, and connection with others. Gabriel walks us through polyvagal theory and breaks down the difference between sympathetic, ventral, and dorsal responses in our bodies. He also uses water in its various states as a powerful visual to help us identify the states (often reactive) in which our bodies are living at any given time. Once we understand this framework, it’s easier to find the right practices to move us towards harmony. There is a process to achieving this balance, and Gabriel has some wonderful tools to help us get started. You won’t be advised simply to be more mindful (which can mean so many things) or told you’ve got to keep your body from being fidgety (nervous systems do that).  True self-care, explains Gabriel, is about so much more than any particular posture or activity. It’s about a deeper dive into our ancestrally-inspired human responses, deeply embedded traumas that extend well beyond our personal lived experiences, and the role of social connection in creating safe spaces where we can rest, reset and heal. We wrap up the episode with some actionable tips for coming back to our bodies and staying there.  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: (03:30) About Gabriel’s work. (04:55) What exactly does it mean to live in our wholeness?  (06:40) The two ways humans tend to separate themselves from wholeness. (07:33) About the neurological implications of feeling connected. (08:53) The dorsal state is one of physiological paralysis. (10:04) Polyvagal theory and our autonomic nervous system. (11:40) An explanation of our three primary states of being. (13:25) Gabriel breaks down the attributes of paralysis. (16:05) The connection between these states and fundraising. (17:51) How to navigate anxiety and aroused states when fundraising. (18:16) Ventral and sympathetic states. (20:37) Neural exercises help to keep our nervous systems balanced. (22;10) Our resistance to practices that bring us back into our bodies. (26:16) Self-care vs. community care.  (29:37) Principles and practices to help manage your body when it’s in a “steam” state. (33:16) Further thoughts on the dorsal state and how to come out of it. (38:36) Learn more about Gabriel and Restorative Practices Alliance.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One, the all-in-one donor management system that keeps small and midsized nonprofits on track with fundraising, communications, events, volunteers, and more. You can learn about Neon One's entire suite of products and services here and join me at this year’s Generosity Exchange by grabbing your ticket here. 

Political fundraising versus nonprofit fundraising. They might be very different animals, but there are still common lessons to be learned. My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is offering fascinating insights into what does – and doesn’t – work when it comes to attracting and retaining a loyal donor base. A certified NationBuilder expert, Ian Patrick Hines knows how to leverage game-changing tools and why it’s important to differentiate between high-pressure, quick conversion campaigns and the kinds of high-quality, sustained communications that cement nonprofit partnerships. Ian offers great strategies for shifting your fundraising model from one of scarcity to deep abundance, fills us in on the current status of various modes of pitching, and reframes donor communication as an ongoing conversation rather than endless series of “donate now” emails.  You’ll learn about the inverse relationship between pseudo-urgency and long-term donor engagement as well as how to develop a communications style that will establish your organization as a trusted advisor – rather than another source of noise simply to be tuned out. Updates featuring personal narratives and compelling voices, in the long run, says Ian, are far likelier to generate the donor relationships that fundraisers seek. His best advice? If he was running a nonprofit, he would email a lot. But he would rarely ask for money. Episode Highlights: (02:57) Ian’s fundraising journey  (03:40) The changes we’ve seen in political fundraising and campaigns generally (05:12) Scarcity versus Abundance (08:37) Quality Matters (10:16) The pitfalls of taking an overly aggressive or deceptive startup approach  (13:23) Time-box moments. How to do them right and wrong. (17:05) The challenge to keep fundraising authentic in a click-bait world. (22:20) Conversion rates and real on-the-ground responses (25:27) Ian’s advice for nonprofits on their communication’s strategy.  (26:50) Establishing trust through your communications.  (30:36) The numbers Ian uses to know if he’s ‘on track’ with his fundraising (31:30) All about fundraising via text. (37:42) More about Ian and where to find him.  Many thanks to NationBuilder, the innovative software platform that builds movements, for sponsoring this episode of What the Fundraising. With everything in one integrated system, NationBuilder tools empower nonprofits and drive dynamic campaigns. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach that helps you identify the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point! You might also be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz.

Feel like getting outside your box? Then spend some time with Mariam Nusrat, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising! A lightbulb realization during her 12-year frontlines career working on educational policy and behavioral change in developing countries for the World Bank has transformed her into a video games visionary. As Founder and CEO of GRID (Gaming Revolution for International Development), she has unleashed a not-for-profit platform that is democratizing mobile games, advocating for a better world, and offering players of all ages, cultures, and geographies a ton of fun along the way! And fun = retention! But there’s more … Mariam has more recently launched Breshna.io, a startup that empowers global users to create, share and monetize their own purposeful Web3 video games, with no code and at lightning speed. She is sharing thoughts on how nonprofits can incorporate interactivity and other tech tools to enliven fundraising and deepen connections with funders, volunteers, and donor recipients alike. As Mary Poppins famously said: “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” Video gaming is Mariam Nusrat’s engaging and playful strategy for driving a new, more equitable frontier built on interactive community, collaboration, and education, and there is so much that nonprofits can learn from her. Episode Highlights: (02:20) Mariam's experience at the World Bank brings her to today (03:36) The founding of Breshna.io and raising $2.4 million of seed capital  (06:09) The three I’s that make gaming such a compelling educational tool (06:41) How do mobile games get the best retention  (09:14) Gamification: What it is and how it works.  (14:14) The similarities between nonprofit proposals and mobile games (15:33) How to create the gamification of nonprofit functions  (20:09) The “crystal ball” effect (22:44) Taking bite-sized steps forward (25:03) Collaborative versus Competitive environments (27:35) About the psychology of “showing up”  (29:48) The trade-off between too easy and too difficult (33:03) Retention is about more than luck. (34:51) NFTs and how to make donors feel lucky and exclusive in an equitable way.  (40:41) What it means to have a “building in public” philosophy  What’s more powerful than a stellar fundraising strategy? Integrated software that helps you manage with ease. Visit NationBuilder, our sponsor for this episode of What the Fundraising, to learn about their ready-to-go donation pages, express payment options, and other tools to support you on every step of your nonprofit’s journey!  If you’re looking to lift your nonprofit to that next level, my Power Partners Formula offers a step-by-step plan to get you there, including how to identify the right partners and design the right campaign. This free masterclass offers a great starting point!

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their nonprofit's fundraising strategy through multi-channel integration and innovative thinking! Today, we are joined by Dan Sonners, a seasoned expert in the fundraising industry with a 17-year career dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations to discover new donors, raise more funds, and optimize their programs with innovative strategies. Throughout this conversation, he shares practical advice on testing and measuring the effectiveness of integrated marketing strategies. Moreover, he challenges fundraisers to seek knowledge beyond their specialties to build more substantial and collaborative fundraising efforts. As Vice President at Conrad Direct, Dan oversees acquisition efforts for a diverse group of nonprofits, utilizing a data-driven approach to provide tailored lists and media recommendations. His role encompasses various aspects of donor acquisition, including results analysis, list planning, data segmentation, list modeling, co-op management, and multi-channel expansion. Also, Dan excels in tailoring bespoke solutions that align with the distinctive missions, goals, and market dynamics of various organizations. His adept strategies have garnered millions of donors and propelled revenue into the hundreds of millions. Additionally, he is the esteemed host of the Dynamic Nonprofits podcast.   In this episode, you will be able to: - Understand the power of multi-channel marketing and integrating direct mail with digital strategies. - Discover the benefits of combining direct mail with SMS, email, and social media. - Explore breaking down silos and fostering cross-channel collaboration. - See how connected TV and direct mail can capture and maintain donor attention. - Recognize the value of a data-driven approach in optimizing fundraising strategies. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  "This week's episode is sponsored by Keela. Keela is a fundraiser’s CRM, meaning that it goes beyond a data management platform. It enhances your work and propels you to achieve fundraising success. From email and communications tools to AI-powered donation pages, your unique needs will be met with Keela, the CRM built BY fundraisers FOR fundraisers. Learn more at keela.co/mallory Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Many nonprofits are exploring a shift away from old-school donor-centric fundraising, but are unclear about what that would look like. In this episode of What the Fundraising, Erica Chomsky-Adelson is sharing the compelling, community-centric alternative she and her team at Culture Aid NOLA (CAN) have put in place. Born at the height of the pandemic, their non-traditional food bank knits donors, volunteers, and guests together in a vibrant ecosystem of mutual support. With demand higher than ever in today’s inflationary environment, CAN distributes 30,000 pounds of barrier-free, stigma-free food to 3,000 people a week. And it’s all happening in an atmosphere of collaboration, joy, and music! (It’s New Orleans, after all …)  Prior to becoming executive director at CAN, Erica worked in the world of disaster response, which is constantly impacted by the feast-or-famine cycles of crisis-based giving. It’s a paradigm she doesn’t believe is sustainable, desirable, or equitable, so in New Orleans, she and her team have instead built a grassroots partnership designed to empower people over the long haul. There are no federal government restrictions on who is entitled to pick up groceries or artificial dividing lines between those who help, those who receive help, and those doing both (in fact, the mindset is that EVERYONE is helping in their own way).  CAN puts trust and respect at the center of every interaction. Words are carefully chosen, with maximum attention to inclusivity and the dignity of guests. You don’t want to miss this episode that will move you to reimagine fundraising and community building in the best way.  Episode Highlights: (02:41) – Erica’s journey and the roots of Culture Aid NOLA (CAN) (03:54) Beyond the Height of Crisis (10:14) CAN’s no-barriers model. (11:45) The importance of word choice.  (12:47) Navigating urgency without fear, need, guilt and exploitation.  (14:14) The role of trust in CAN’s model. (17:40) The feast-or-famine cycle we’re used to in this sector. (18:51) Focusing on stewardship over urgency.  (22:58) Closing the gap between funders and recipients. (25:45) Erica sees CAN’s work as part of an ecosystem that relies on all its elements. (27:08) About Community-Centric Fundraising Principles. (28:20) Erica shares thoughts on how NationBuilder’s platform is a huge equalizer. This episode was made possible thanks to our friends at NationBuilder, whose integrated platform helps nonprofits connect with their communities at every point of entry. Click here to learn more about how NationBuilder’s tools to power nonprofits, movements, and dynamic campaigns. Are you feeling stuck on how to implement new fundraising practices like the ones mentioned in this episode? My VIP Day is an intensive one-to-one executive coaching experience that smashes through fundraising obstacles. Click here to learn how together we can pinpoint problems, develop a clear plan, and create content and design habits to support your nonprofit in achieving its mission.

Your head will spin with the data-driven insights and post-pandemic strategies my guest has to share on this jam-packed episode of What the Fundraising. Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer at GivingTuesday, brings a powerful lens on fundraising based on his previous career in commercial marketing as well as the detailed metrics he’s constantly scanning for clues to donor behavior. In large part because of the COVID-19 global impact and response, many of the nonprofit world’s old-school models, false assumptions, and self-limiting strategies are up for re-evaluation.  From his viewpoint at GivingTuesday, the donor movement unleashing radical generosity around the world, Woodrow has a unique and broad-based understanding of the dynamics at play in today’s fluid giving environment. We’re all being called upon to break old models, be brave and shift from a scarcity mindset into one of abundance!  Among the many things Woodrow shares thoughts about:  Abandoning zero-sum competitiveness in favor of helping all boats rise together Why many fundraising truisms no longer hold What makes for the most resilient nonprofits, especially in recessionary times Why fundraising that exclusively emphasizes the transactional leaves money – as well as goodwill and long-term engagement – on the table Why Donor Fatigue actually isn’t a thing  How recurring donations are a boon and why they’re sticky Woodrow unpacks what it means to approach nonprofit work holistically, aligning fundraising with story-led marketing activities that expand nonprofit missions, build community, drive social movements and inspire donors to get on board with giving, again and again. You won’t want to miss the surprising research insights or leading-edge practical advice inside this episode.

My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is challenging all of us to throw out self-limiting beliefs in favor of playfulness and transparency. Simone Seol, a coach, and host of The Joyful Marketing Podcast, shows us what it can look like to step away from self-doubt, fear of rejection, and perfectionism. “How we get to show up is our decision,” she says. “You get what you think you deserve and you call in who you speak to.”  This is such a powerful message for nonprofits whose goal is to cultivate long-term, trust-based relationships with donors! We can push back on old narratives not based on current realities. And that constant drive fundraisers feel to do good and be seen as good? Simone believes the harder we work to be sainted martyrs the farther we get from authentic, resilient connection with our partners – whether in business, philanthropy, or life.  Simone is an evangelist for truth and vulnerability – which shines through in her work with life coaches and her lively Instagram posts. Her own candor gives us all permission to dig deeper in service of universal stories and nuance. It’s through humanity-centered narratives and shared experience, she says, that we transcend “no” to live instead in a powerful place of connection and joy. This inspiring conversation is sure to open you up to new ways of thinking.  Episode Highlights: (02:15) Simone shares her background, as the overview of her work and history in the nonprofit sector (04:00) About stepping into higher levels of giving, receiving, and becoming (05:55) Goals, fears, and a commitment to upgrading our internal operating systems (08:13) How a siloed approach to marketing reinforces self-limiting beliefs and cringe-y tactics. (09:33) The pillars of humanity-centered marketing  (10:41) Thinking about fundraising in a more holistic way  (12:36) Flipping the paradigm when it comes to “no.”  (15:07) Simone offers up a mantra and play and fun. (16:11) What happens when we adopt a more playful and integrated approach? (19:10) A look at the fear around getting authenticity wrong. (21:1) The bumps and bruises are part of any journey to alignment!  (25:41) Somatic legacies live on in our bodies and shape our deepest ways of being. (27:49) The more we resist risk, the harder it becomes.  (29:21) Normalizing the ebb and flow of life. (33:15) A closer look at self-fulfilling prophesies in fundraising. (37:26) Persuasion & nuance (38:55) Real relationships are built on honesty and trust – not hype.  (43:30) Learn more about Simone and her work.  Many thanks to our sponsor Cosmic,  the social impact creativity agency that delivers compelling stories, builds brand awareness, and inspires action. The team at Cosmic knows how to leverage clarity to catalyze real-world change. 

After last week’s episode with Seth Godin, we wanted to dig deeper into the marketing and content side of nonprofit fundraising. And this next episode definitely delivers. As nonprofits, we are constantly scrambling to come up with fresh, compelling stories to illustrate our missions, but are we being mindful? On this episode of What the Fundraising we’re pausing to take a hard look at content – and the harms our words can inadvertently cause. My guest Natalia Sanyal is applying a humanity-centered, anti-oppressive lens to the art and craft of copywriting. Having seen first-hand in her commercial career how even the most mindful of us can perpetuate hurtful language, she’s bringing tools to help raise our consciousness.  When she performs her copy audits on the average business, she uncovers terms that are exclusive, demeaning, or that undermine the organization’s core values. In this episode, we are untangling all of this, without judgment or shame.  Natalia believes we’re all figuring it out together and the first step is just to get honest. Among the topics we discuss: Manipulative writing tactics that don’t yield the results nonprofits desire. Positive ways to use psychological insight to secure donor participation and retention. How to avoid words and stories that can trigger negative responses. Why informed decision-making (or conscious choice) is important. What it means to build long-term trust with donors through honesty (not scare tactics).  Steps you can take to generate copy without generating harm. What it means to be an ethical, trauma-informed storyteller.  You’ll come away from this episode with thoughts and ideas to ensure your messaging is really capturing – rather than undermining – your organization’s ethos and achievements. “It’s all about not being fake and being transparent,” says Natalia, and it starts with intentional conversations like this one! If the content of this show resonated with you, then you definitely want to check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a FREE masterclass here. Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.

When it comes to marketing, leadership, connection, and inspiring change, there is no one else out there quite like Seth Godin, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising. Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, and Tribes (just to name a few of my favorites). Seth has spent his career trying to get us to be the best version of ourselves and when necessary, change everything.  As the son of parents rooted deeply in the nonprofit sector, Seth grew up around fundraising and regards fundraisers as powerful, professional agents for change. He’s not mincing words: it’s up to us to value and believe in exactly what we bring to the table. And fundraisers are bringing a lot of value to the table - the opportunity to give is a gift. You’ll want to take notes on Seth’s actionable advice for managing everyday fundraising challenges like internal resistance, demanding donors, fundraising in moments of uncertainty, and why hyper-focusing on outcomes is a recipe for burnout. And of course, because it’s Seth Godin, we had to talk about the need to build real relationships with our donors if we want long-term donors and sustainable fundraising. The pants-on-fire marketing and fake urgency not only shut serious donors down at the moment, but they burn a bridge for years to come. We decide how we show up in our communications; we can’t show up transactionally and then be surprised when we have low donor retention because we designed our fundraising for that outcome. The good news is that there is an entirely different way to fundraise. Seth’s famous quote, “people like us do things like this” demonstrates the way that donating is an important behavior rooted in identity. We talk about the fact that people not only choose your organization based on their current alignment with your work but inspiring people to give to your organization actually helps people cement their identity. Why does this matter? Because it means that fundraising isn’t just a ‘necessary evil’ to run our programs or a ‘means to an end’. It means that fundraising in itself - the movement of money in alignment with who people want to be - is actually a critical part of building your movement and community all on its own.  We also talk about how nonprofits should think and talk about ‘failure’. Seth gets that nonprofit work is about constantly pioneering and “doing experiments on the frontier,” which means we’re going to feel anxious, out of our depth, and at risk of failure — and that’s okay! In fact, that’s the point. We’re trying to solve problems that have never been solved before, testing and experimentation is the only way. And while failure is a loaded word it’s actually critically important because then we have learned one more thing that didn’t work. “Publishing your failures is an extremely generous thing to do,” says Seth, who believes the more data nonprofits share the quicker we can figure out what not to do. There is so much advice jam-packed into this 30min interview and it’s only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how Seth’s wisdom translates to nonprofit leadership. If we want to change the sector, and we want to change the fundraiser experiences in the sector, we have to change the way we think about the sector and our specific work. My hope is that this episode helps us do exactly that. Check out The Carbon Almanac to see the work Seth calls the most important project of his career. You should also run and sign up for Seth’s Blog and you can also learn more about his many upcoming workshops at this link. To get all of the show notes and takeaways visit: https://malloryerickson.com/podcast/episode-68-effective-fundraising-and-power-partner-principles-with-seth-godin/

Did you know that connecting is entirely different than networking? The mindset is different according to Susan McPherson, author of "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships." As a social impact strategist, she has developed a methodology that turns certain nonprofit conventions on their head, as we learn in this episode of What the Fundraising. Our fundraising superpower starts with broadening beyond the goal of racking up dollar commitments to instead ask: “How can I be of use? How can I contribute? What can I provide?” Corporations and other funders want to feel their contributions are more than transactional; that they are cultivating community, offering employees ways to engage, learning and helping think creatively about the issues of our times. Nonprofits bring to the table huge resources, knowledge, and ability. It’s a value-add that should not be underestimated! Susan walks us through her methodology and offers terrific practical advice for upping our levels of engagement and building confidence. She’s also reflecting on what defines a nourishing workplace and some of the evolving standards for behavior, programs and that promise meaningful corporate change. Millennials and Gen Zers are demanding it!  Finally, we wrap up with Susan’s thoughts on everyday opportunities for advocacy and engagement. Enjoy this whirlwind conversation with a remarkable strategist – and force – within the world of social impact and beyond! Interested in following what Susan is up to? You can subscribe to her bi-weekly newsletter, The McPherson Memo here. You can also click on this link to purchase her book, "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships." Is your nonprofit ready to scale up? Our sponsor DonorPerfect has evolved a powerful platform to get you there. Click here to learn more about how this collaborative all-in-one fundraising hub can help your organization drive results, coordinate development, and foster donor engagement. To learn more about how to build long-term strategic partnerships, check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a FREE Masterclass to get the entire blueprint here.  Episode Highlights: (02:09)– Where Susan’s Work Focuses Today (04:30) – Nonprofits and for-profits have points of intersection that can be leveraged (07:00) – Funder behaviors and what drives decision-making:  (07:47) – Nonprofits potentially offer businesses very real ROI (09:55) – Mallory explains the “Asset Mapping” module within her Power Partners Formula  (11:36) – About Susan’s Book "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships"  (12:29) – The three sections that comprise Susan’s book are: Gather, Ask, Do  (14:46) – The self-assessment process. (16:21) – Managing connections in a way that works for you (17:04) – A few practical habits from Susan (19:40) – How to avoid being transactional and giving people multiple ways to participate  (21:30) – Susan’s big-picture goal (22:48) – Susan shares her definition of what constitutes a nourishing workplace (24:28) – Examples Susan has seen of new, surprising, and admirable initiatives (27:00) – What Nonprofits have to offer  (30:31) – Susan and her superpower  (31:32) - Learn more about Susan and Order the Book 

Faced with the death of her beloved brother, Monique Parker, my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising, reinvented herself and enlivened her purpose. She launched a candle-making business whose revenue she funneled into philanthropies that honored the spirit of her brother. And now she’s taking her nonprofit support one step further. Leveraging her corporate experience in the tech sector, where she was responsible for granting funds to nonprofits, Monique has launched A Little Bit of Good, a capacity-building accelerator program, to close the gap in funding for Black-led nonprofits. Monique is uniquely positioned to deconstruct institutional giving and highlight the ways in which nonprofits can best work with corporate partners to build long-term, sustainable strategic partnerships. You are not going to want to miss these takeaways! Monique’s program is designed to equip Black nonprofit leaders with the strategy, resources, and capital necessary to create sustainable and scalable impact within their communities. “If you don’t have a focus on diversity, your initiatives will always be a Band-aid,” says Monique, who believes real healing lies in demographics, data, and other concrete measures for demonstrable change.  Listen now for all of the takeaways for nonprofits, corporate partners, and the sector alike! And if you want to see your dollars at work in a hands-on, targeted way, consider clicking here to support Monique’s work. Here is the link to help support A Little Bit of Good. Is your nonprofit ready to scale up? Our sponsor DonorPerfect has evolved a powerful platform to get you there. Click here to learn more about how this collaborative all-in-one fundraising hub can help your organization drive results, coordinate development, and foster donor engagement. Episode Highlights: (03:09) – Monique’s journey to creating Blow Candle Co. and working with nonprofits in her area. (05:00) – A Little Bit of Good: Why Monique wants to focus on Black-led nonprofits (07:25) – Using her skills to incubate, accelerate and connect resources  (10:54) – Short-Term Vision v. Long-Term Priorities (11:54) – From a corporate funder’s perspective (13:05) – Monique’s tips for positioning budgets for long-term corporate commitments  (16:28) – Getting feedback from funders (20:20) – What Monique noticed in nonprofit pitches to her company  (22:13) – Donor-nonprofit relationships that are more than transactional. (23:07) – Monique’s recommendations for reaching out to companies  (27:21) – Trend Watch: Monique notes what a lot of companies are looking for right now  (29:47) – What the most sustainable, successful nonprofit efforts offer  (32:20) – Monique breaks down the difference between performative giving and impact investing (34:07) – The huge discrepancy between white- and Black-led nonprofits  (35:48) – Grantmaking processes often exclude small grass-roots organizations  (37:00) – Antiracism, comfort, and shifting funding structures  (40:08) – Not all diversity hiring is equally impactful (41:47) – The difference between a Band-aid and real systemic change (44:21) – Learn more about Monique and Little Bit of Good  Is your nonprofit ready to scale up? Our sponsor DonorPerfect has evolved a powerful platform to get you there. Click here to learn more about how this collaborative all-in-one fundraising hub can help your organization drive results, coordinate development, and foster donor engagement.

My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising brings not only deep experience as a successful fundraiser for large cultural and educational institutions, but he’s also changing the conversation with fresh perspectives on both the nonprofit and donor sides of giving. Louis Diez, VP for Community at Almabase & Host at the Donor Participation Project, is sharing with us some of the research and insights that are going to blow your mind. In the theme of this week's mini-series, Friendraising, we explore top-of-mind topics such as what it takes to become a trusted partner, how to cultivate the elements of a holistic fundraising campaign, and why it’s important to look at our campaigns through our donors’ eyes. We also take a look at the definition of community and how it applies when it comes to engaging donors in sustained and meaningful ways. This conversation is peppered with fascinating food for thought, from the changing face of fundraising in a world with ever more diverse platforms for direct giving to the identification of new donor segments and the potential resource they represent. It all starts with establishing that all-important trust equation: Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy = Donor connections that go the distance. Click here to learn more about upcoming Donor Participation Project events for fundraising professionals who want to move the needle by building better programs and leadership. Is your nonprofit ready to scale up? Our sponsor DonorPerfect has evolved a powerful platform to get you there. Click here to learn more about how this collaborative all-in-one fundraising hub can help your organization drive results, coordinate development, and foster donor engagement. There is a lot of overlap in Louis’ recommendation with what I teach inside my Power Partners Formula. Register here for the FREE masterclass to get the full blueprint. You might also be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz. Episode Highlights: (02:31) – Louis traces the arc of his career  (05:20) – Defining the art (and science) behind fundraising (07:35) – The disconnect between the fundraising ask and other elements of donor relations. (08:33) – The driver behind the Donor Participation Project (10:34) – Understanding trust  (15:25) – A more human-centric approach  (17:14) – How nonprofit outreach can reach a complex group of humans (19:50) – “We-centric” Work (22:03) – All about overhead (28:23) – A change in donor patterns and how to diversify the way donors give  (30:53) – Louis offers a definition of community  (32:09) – How Louis applies his community framework to fundraising (36:03) – How to lead with purpose and guide volunteers  (38:29) - Learn more about Louis and the Donor Participation Project Huge thanks to our sponsors over at DonorPerfect. If you’re looking to scale up, DonorPerfect has evolved a powerful platform to get you there. Click here to learn more about how this collaborative all-in-one fundraising hub can help your organization drive results, coordinate development, and foster donor engagement.

Dominique Morgan is a powerhouse executive director – most recently at The Okra Project, a collective addressing the needs of Black Trans people – but hers is a story that could have gone a different way. Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, Dominique was repeatedly incarcerated. It was a lived experience without dreams or prospects – until she had a few life-changing experiences. A single volunteer gig working at a Pride festival started Dominique on the path to higher education, paid nonprofit work that she loved, and an unstoppable voice in the movement to dismantle broken systems.  This impressive leader previously took Black & Pink from a modest budget into the multi-millions, leveraging her passion for abolishing violence against LGBTQ people in prison through advocacy, education, direct service, and organizing. While moving through the nonprofit world, Dominique has brought her unique prism to the psychological and practical baggage that too often diverts us from our core missions. But she now knows how to fundraise powerfully for her work through an abundance mindset that also allows her to see where she can redistribute funds or make connections to help others move forward on the path to their shared north star.  Dominique embraces both celebration of all that nonprofits accomplish, while also seeing and calling out the shadow work that we must continuously do to fully stand in our integrity and purpose. You’ll come away from this wide-ranging conversation with a refreshing sense of what can be achieved if we choose to allow vulnerability, share our stories, and support one another.  Many thanks to NationBuilder, the software that builds movements, for sponsoring this episode of What the Fundraising. With everything in one integrated system, NationBuilder tools are designed to power nonprofits, movements, and dynamic campaigns. Check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a masterclass here. You might also be interested in taking my fun, informative Fundraising Superpower Quiz.  Episode Highlights: (02:43) – Dominique reflects on the impacts of violence, isolation, displacement, and ultimately incarceration. (04:20) – How a simple volunteer experience changed her life (06:21) – Dominique’s journey through nonprofit and how she grew to want and ask for more (09:51) – The psychology of money and the nonprofit-industrial complex (14:29) – Scarcity mindset and what feels available to us based on our lived experience (15:49) – Dominique's journey to an abundance mindset  (19:05) – Nonprofit pay and why the status quo needs to be disrupted  (21:22) – How Dominique manages staff pay with transparency, curiosity, and nuance  (24:14) – The importance of shadow work in the nonprofit sector (27:55) – Mission creep and budgetary realities - how to make it all work  (28:51) – How sharing resources underscores integrity, signals confidence, and leads to respect with funders (35:00) – How the Okra Project is distributing funding  (37:10) – You need to know what’s happening with other nonprofits in your space.

How busy are you? How rarely are you able to cut through all the noise? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is inspiring us all to carve out a daily practice because – no matter how modest – our human spirits need dedicated moments and rituals. When Libby DeLana committed to taking a daily walk around her Newburyport, MA, neighborhood 10 years ago, she had no idea how transformational it would be. Without fail, she has integrated a walk into her daily life. Every day. No negotiation. The results have been life-changing for this award-winning advertising executive, who then created #thismorningwalk as a safe place for self-inquiry, reimagination, and liberation. Her daily ritual opens space to contemplate the literal ground on which she walks, the energy she brings to each step, and the constraints of self-definitions that no longer serve. And in this episode, she shares her process, learning, and recommendations for us all.  Whether we’re courting a donor or racing to get to the airport on time, more often than not we have less control over outcomes than we’d like to believe. But by adopting a practice such as Libby’s we can claim some agency. We can show up and define the parameters of how we choose to be present – to ourselves, our loved ones, our colleagues, and the environment around us.  Libby exemplifies the power in putting one foot in front of the other. In her case, each next right step (even on the coldest New England winter days) has resulted in the equivalent of a global circumnavigation. We can start small, of course. It’s the intent that matters. So pull on your shoes – metaphorical or real – and join us for this energizing conversation. We’re being invited to step into our most aligned selves and create the spaciousness we all deserve! https://www.thismorningwalk.com/ Check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a masterclass here. You might also be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz. Episode Highlights: (03:32) – Libby’s professional backstory and the origin of #thismorningwalk  (05:33) – What it means to put one foot in front of the other  (08:45) – The importance of personal with non-negotiable commitments. (12:50) – Managing not “enough-ness” in the small rituals that seem ‘too easy’ (14:30) – Reimagining the narratives around fundraising (15:58) – Sitting with the unknowing  (18:03) – Hello Inner Critic (22:46) – Libby shares some of the most compelling lessons she’s learned (26:50) – The power of the walk (29:54) – How to find those daily small pockets  (31:55) – The power of mindfulness practices (34:10) – Changing the way we see ourselves (40:32) – The quiet spaces and examining our assumptions (41:05) – Shifting with self-love instead of judgment  (42:17) - Learn more about Libby and #thismorningwalk This episode of What the Fundraising was sponsored by Neon One, the comprehensive platform for coordinating donor and member management, fundraising, volunteers, and grants as well as all kinds of information about the when, where, why, and how of giving. Head over to this link to learn more!

Have a renewed perspective on the vital role of sales and fundraising in driving mission-driven work, as well as practical insights for fostering a positive money mindset and empowering nonprofit teams to make a meaningful impact! Meet Dr. Nadia Brown, the Founder and CEO of The Doyenne Agency, a premier sales and sales training organization specializing in national coaching, personal development companies, and small boutique businesses. With a mission to empower business founders to build powerful sales teams from their existing non-sales team members and armed with a doctorate in organizational leadership, Nadia brings unparalleled expertise to today's discussion.   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand ongoing money mindset conversations in nonprofits. Explore emotional challenges in fundraising. Learn to reframe the purpose of sales and fundraising. Recognize sales and fundraising beyond financial gain. Gain confidence in making asks. Explore methods for fostering a culture of collective responsibility and empowerment within nonprofit teams. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Keela for making this episode possible. Our friends at Keela offer nonprofits like yours comprehensive fundraising and donor management software, equipped with powerful tools to expand your reach, increase fundraising revenue, and foster a dedicated community of supporters. Want a user-friendly platform that provides actionable data? Look no further than Keela. Check out Keela at keela.co/mallory.  Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

Do you see financial resources as a zero-sum game? If another fundraiser gets more, does it mean your nonprofit receives less? Check that mindset! My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is here to offer a completely different – far more generous – lens on wealth. Angela Matthews, the founder of the Happy Investor Method, shares an approach fueled by her vision of bounty in both business and in life. “Long gone are the days of martyrdom and choice poverty because I have something that someone else doesn’t. I’m over it,” says Angela. Having grown up poor and determined to change the narrative, she started looking for tools to unlock wealth and an abundance she could share. Based on her investing success, Angela has developed a step-by-step program to help clients banish shame in favor of agency, opening doors to opportunity in unexpected ways! To get there, however, we first must be willing to sit with messy, uncomfortable money issues embedded in our psyches and deal with scars that are often passed down trans-generationally.  You’ll learn what brought Angela to this work and why claiming financial purpose is an essential first step toward shifting self-limiting beliefs. We discuss the binary approach to money that leave nonprofits unnecessarily constricted and unpack what it might look like for fundraisers to take an entirely different approach to how we talk about money. If you’re ready to make the connection between happiness and wealth, use this link to learn more about Angela’s program or, better yet, schedule a discovery call here. Many thanks to our incredible sponsors at DonorPerfect. DonorPerfect has a lot of free educational resources for fundraisers. Learn more and download some of their guides and tools today at donorperfect.com/mallory. Episode Highlights (02:20) A brief intro to Angela and her hands-on approach to bringing a realistic but also intentionally abundant lens to fundraising. (03:12) Angela shares her personal money story, from her early experience of poverty to the Google research she did to set her course towards sustainable, self-made wealth. (06:43) Angela explains her starting point when it comes to helping others unlock abundance. Often it starts with identifying (then releasing) trauma of some kind, either bad choices we’ve made in the past or transgenerational wounding around money. (07:48) What do I have to show for it? Reframing money with a more nuanced understanding of value. It isn’t always demonstrable or tangible.  (11:40) Investing and what it means to sit in the discomfort of temporary loss, maintaining equanimity and a sense of safety in trusting the future. (14:50) Angela helps us to zoom out to look at investments and the market with proportion and a long-term perspective, whatever the season. (20:40) Everything changes when more of us get wealthy, opening up global pathways away from scarcity and towards abundance, generosity, and growth. (26:17) Ditch the binary! The story of money is that it comes and goes, ebbs and flows. One person’s gain does not equate with another person’s loss, so if you do something nice for yourself, it doesn’t follow that you are depriving someone else. (28:19) Angela urges us to take a holistic view of money, allowing space for generous investment in others as well as in ourselves.  (30:47) Angela challenges nonprofits to flow more abundance into their donor engagement models, incorporating new and humanizing connections.   (32:51) Money is complicated and fraught, steeped in everything from transgenerational trauma to knotted emotions and attachments.  (36:28) So much of the work Mallory believes that fundraisers must do around money requires grappling with discomfort. (37:25) You can have the perfect pitch deck and impact report for a major donor meeting, but if you’re still harboring uncomfortable, unexplored money issues then you are not ready to own the room! (40:02) Learn more about Angela 

Ever had that sensation of running, running, running, and not even really knowing where you’re running to? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is asking us to pause and consider: Might there be something we’re unconsciously running away from? Goli Kalkhoran, Coach and Host of Lessons From A Quitter, is all about stripping away the layers of identity and self-limiting beliefs that drive so much of our lives. It’s so common that we run from shame, guilt, disappointment, and ultimately from ourselves, but there is actually an entirely different way to show up. We are unpacking the roots of maladaptive behaviors (those things we do to ourselves that are not in fact good for our “selves”). Much of it comes from feeling (or having been given the message) that we can’t trust ourselves and that we need external validation. Herself a recovering Type-A lawyer, Goli believes women are often acculturated to be people-pleasing perfectionists when, of course, no one gets out of life without making mistakes. Lots of them. So why not surrender and even celebrate the fact that we are all in a position to assess, accept, pivot, and try again? Enjoy this life-affirming look at career, and why it’s so important to push back against the cues women especially receive about money, greed, and that most elemental of human conditions: wanting more. If you have a toxic relationship with money or self-judgment (as so many of us in the nonprofit world do!) then this is an episode you definitely won’t want to miss! Episode Highlights: (02:16) – Goli’s pursuit of a legal path that ultimately left her miserable and depleted  (03:03) – How Goli’s coaching and Lessons From A Quitter platform came into being. (04:11) – About people-pleasing, perfectionism, and other core assumptions. (05:39) – Lies that Goli believes are at the root of maladaptive behaviors (08:51) – Understanding how increased confidence correlates to embracing imperfection.  (10:26) – Fundraising is scary. We don’t need to deny that.  (11:25) – Why all-or-nothing thinking robs us of the ability to grow incrementally.  (15:00) – How Goli teaches clients to process the discomfort that goes with being outside of their comfort zones.  (16:27) – There is a mixture of art and science in distinguishing the source of emotions. (19:05) – Goli offers thoughts on redefining success outside of external validation. (21:30) – There’s power in allowing a change of mind.  (23:05) – Slowing down and acknowledging seasons of life mitigates stress and anxiety.  (25:00) – Ideal visions don’t necessarily have to be achieved and here’s why. (28:53) – Creating space to take a pause, reflect and process is critical. (30:13) – If you’re one of the people scrambling the most. (30:55) – Examples of anchoring behaviors. (33:43) – Why harsh inner voices keep us busy and disembodied. (36:32) – The perfect time for being in the moment will never come.   (40:21) – Strategies for individuals and organizations trying to untangle assumptions and judgments around money. (42:03) Our complex relationship with greed.  (47:12) Find out more about Goli and her work.  This episode of What the Fundraising was sponsored by Neon One, the comprehensive platform for coordinating donor and member management, fundraising, volunteers, and grants as well as all kinds of information about the when, where, why, and how of giving. Head over to this link to learn more!

Why is it so hard for women to bring all of ourselves, imperfections included, to the table? For starters, we’ve inherited deeply ingrained narratives — stories that shame us and drive our truest natures into hiding. That’s why we all need the support of someone like Ruthie Lindsey, my remarkable guest on this episode of What the Fundraising. She is an author, coach, speaker, and extraordinary healer whose rare wisdom provides a beautiful mirroring of all that we are, including the difficult pieces so many of us are reluctant to expose.  In this episode, Ruthie invites us to embrace our truest selves through practices such as intentional expression (Dance! Journal! Scream!) and the RAIN framework that author and psychologist Tara Brach recommends for processing jealousy and other challenging emotions.  Enjoy this powerful conversation with a woman who has worked tremendously hard to fully embrace every facet of herself and is now serving as a beacon for others finding their way towards self-love and acceptance. If you work in the service or nonprofit world, this episode is likely especially relevant. Here’s a chance to pause and reflect on what it means to feel nourished and deeply worthy, which in turn will fuel your life goals and mission! If you need a reminder of your fundraising magic specifically, you might be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz.  Episode Highlights: (03:12)  A brief intro to Ruthie Lindsey  (05:03)  Ruthie’s “Love Reflection Sessions”  (06:20) Mallory and Ruthie’s first meeting, where Mallory lied to her. (08:40) The inherited stories we tell ourselves about not being worthy or deserving of time, love, and tenderness.  (12:22) The way we “fold ourselves up” in an effort to be accepted and loved.  (15:14) All about jealousy and comparison. (17:39) Ruthie shares Tara Brach’s RAIN framework.  (22:19) Showing up with self-love rather than a place of needing to be needed. (23:50) “Doing good’ vs. showing up with an honest, sustainable, positive energy.  (27:23) Embracing tears and the power of crying.  (31:34) Greeting hard narratives with compassion in order to create a liberating shift in the story. (34:01) The discomfort and necessity of setting boundaries.  (35:42) The daily practice of belonging. (42:25) Small rituals that Ruthie recommends to shift towards self-love and healing. (47:03) Creating a container where our truest feelings are safe to emerge. (49:54) Where to connect with Ruthie Lindsey This episode of What the Fundraising was sponsored by Neon One, the comprehensive platform for coordinating donor and member management, fundraising, volunteers, and grants as well as all kinds of information about the when, where, why, and how of giving. Head over to this link to learn more!