What the Fundraising is the podcast for impact leaders and change-makers who are tired of doing things the old school way and are looking for best practices to raise money, run their organization, and think about the nonprofit sector in a whole new way. Every Tuesday for 40-60 min, your host, Mallory Erickson, will be having real and raw conversations with some of the best personal and professional development experts, many of whom are outside the nonprofit sector. These are bestselling authors, world-renowned researchers, and TEDx experts, most of whom have never spoken to a non-profit audience before. They have come ready to share expertise, lessons, and stories that will fundamentally change the way you show up as a leader and fundraiser. There are so many valuable lessons nonprofit leaders are missing because they are outside of their typical orbit, but no more. Mallory is bringing them in and helping to apply her guest's expertise to disrupt the nonprofit sector once and for all. So if you are ready to learn how to upgrade your fundraising strategy, leadership skills, energy, habits, and mindset to bring in more funding and actually have some fun doing it, then this is the right podcast for you. If you’re wanting to implement ideas you heard, visit MalloryErickson.com/Podcast for the top tips and tools, full transcripts, quotes, videos, and additional resources from each episode.
310: Fear, Mindset, and Money: How Fundraisers Build Courage for Major Donor Asks
Behind every successful fundraiser is someone who has learned to face fear, embrace discomfort, and build the confidence to keep moving forward. In this conversation, we explore why mindset, not just strategy, is often the biggest factor in fundraising success. Michael Mitchell, Co-Founder and CEO of The Fundraising Academy, shares insights drawn from years of coaching fundraisers and nonprofit leaders. Rather than focusing solely on scripts, templates, or techniques, he explains why lasting success begins with understanding the beliefs, emotions, and internal barriers that influence how people approach fundraising. His coaching philosophy emphasizes self-awareness, courage, and personal growth as essential ingredients for becoming a more effective fundraiser. Throughout the conversation, Michael discusses the emotional realities of fundraising, including fear, rejection, and overwhelm, and why these feelings should be normalized instead of ignored. He explores the powerful coaching principle of "naming it to tame it," showing how identifying underlying emotions can reduce their influence. The discussion also highlights the value of safe yet challenging coaching relationships, constructive feedback, emotional regulation, and the importance of leaning into discomfort rather than avoiding it. In a nutshell, fundraising isn't just about making the ask. It's about mastering the emotions that come with it! In this episode, you will be able to: - Understand the emotional side of fundraising. - Recognize fear and discomfort as normal. - Shift from tactics to mindset. - Identify limiting beliefs around fundraising. - Apply the "name it to tame it" approach. - Build emotional regulation skills. - Develop courage to make the ask. - Build a resilient fundraising mindset. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
AI is no longer a future trend. It is reshaping how organizations lead, innovate, and create impact today, and nonprofits are no exception. DeAnna Hoskins is the President and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA, an organization led by formerly incarcerated people. She also served as a senior policy advisor during the Obama administration. Her experience in government and nonprofit leadership gives her a unique view on how technology, policy, and community work can come together to create positive change. During the conversation, DeAnna explains why nonprofits should invest in AI training before adopting new tools. She mentions that AI should support people, not replace them, and that human oversight is always important. She also talks about the need to reduce bias in AI, to create clear guidelines for its use, and to continue learning as the technology evolves. Furthermore, DeAnna discusses the role of philanthropy in funding AI education and helping organizations build the skills they need. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the value of AI training. Use AI with human oversight. Build responsible AI guidelines. Identify AI bias and risks. Create long-term AI strategies. Use AI to support teams. Understand AI funding needs. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
What if the best way to raise more money is not just to find new donors, but to help existing donors give more meaningfully? Today, let's explore how matching campaigns can turn fundraising into a shared experience that builds trust, excitement, and community. Pooya Pourak is an industrial and systems engineer, human-centered designer, host of The Nonprofit Lab podcast, and the founder of MatchNice. His career began in consulting, where he created human-centered solutions for health and human services programs that support families through Medicaid, foster care, food assistance, and childcare. Passionate about creating social impact, he built MatchNice to help nonprofits, businesses, communities, and donors work together to make a bigger difference. In this conversation, Pooya shares how the COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of MatchNice and why donation matching is a powerful but often overlooked fundraising approach. He explains how matching works, why transparency and urgency motivate donors, and how nonprofits can engage everyday supporters and mid-level donors as matching partners. Through real examples, Pooya shows how matching campaigns can increase donations, bring in new supporters, strengthen donor relationships, and help nonprofits create greater impact. In this episode, you will be able to: Explain how donation matching boosts fundraising. Understand the psychology of matching gifts. Identify different types of matching donors. Engage existing donors as match sponsors. Create milestone-based matching campaigns. Use progress tracking to motivate giving. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
Raising young people out of poverty takes far more than good intentions. It requires trust, healing, opportunity, and unwavering community support. Also, meaningful mentorship can become a powerful force for breaking generational barriers. Meet Renee Daniel Flagler, President of the National CARES Mentoring Movement. Today, she reflects on her personal journey into nonprofit leadership, inspired by a transformative volunteer experience that revealed the life-changing impact of supporting vulnerable youth. She discusses her organization's mission to empower young people through mentoring, trauma-informed healing, wellness, and workforce development. Moreover, the conversation explores the organization's holistic mentoring model, which combines mentor recruitment, emotional wellness, workforce readiness, and economic mobility to address the complex realities facing underserved communities. Renee explains why trauma-informed care is essential for long-term success, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19, and discusses the challenges of securing funding for comprehensive programs. She also highlights the importance of mission-aligned philanthropic partnerships, organizational adaptability, and reimagining philanthropy by removing unnecessary barriers so nonprofits can focus on creating lasting, life-changing impact. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand how mentoring can help break the cycle of generational poverty. Recognize the importance of trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches in youth development. Explain why mental health and emotional well-being are essential for long-term success. Identify the value of combining mentoring, workforce development, and wellness into one holistic model. Understand why addressing root causes leads to more meaningful and lasting impact. Learn how strong, mission-aligned partnerships can strengthen nonprofit outcomes. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
306: Healing Starts Within with Dawn Wensel
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs begin with the hardest struggles! Today, Mallory and Dawn Wensel, the Director of Development at Hope Street Group, talk about healing, resilience, and the powerful connection between the mind and body. Their honest stories remind us that growth often starts with understanding ourselves. During the conversation, Dawn shares her journey from being a teacher to building a successful career in fundraising. Alongside her career, Dawn opens up about her long battle with chronic pain and how it affected both her work and personal life. She explains how reading John Sarno's book helped her see the link between stress and physical pain. Through journaling, reflection, and self-awareness, she found healthier ways to manage her symptoms and regain confidence. The conversation explores how stress can show up in the body and why it is important to address the root causes instead of only treating symptoms. Dawn introduces Positive Intelligence and explains how it can improve both personal well-being and fundraising success. Dawn also discusses the value of supportive leaders, self-compassion, curiosity, and community. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the connection between mind and body in health and performance. Explore how stress can show up physically in everyday life. Learn how journaling supports emotional balance and stress relief. Build self-awareness to notice and shift thought patterns. Use curiosity to better understand emotions and reactions. Shift from perfectionism toward self-compassion and acceptance. Value community support in building resilience and reducing isolation. See how openness about struggles builds connection with others. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
Fundraising is changing, and organizations need new ways to connect with younger people! In this conversation, Michael Wasserman explains how digital communities and online creators are shaping the future of fundraising. He shares why traditional methods are no longer enough and how organizations can build stronger relationships with younger supporters. Michael Wasserman, CEO and co-founder of Tiltify, talks about his journey and the inspiration behind creating the platform. While working as a consultant for charities, he repeatedly heard the same problem: organizations struggled to attract younger donors. He realized that younger generations were already active on platforms such as Twitch and TikTok, but charities were not reaching them. This led him to create Tiltify in 2014, a platform designed around the needs of fundraisers rather than charities. The conversation also explores the shift from one-time donations to community-based fundraising. Michael explains that people want to participate, interact, and feel connected, rather than simply make a donation and leave. He discusses the challenges organizations face in adopting new technology and shares practical ideas, such as simplifying fundraising processes, improving communication, and creating engaging digital spaces that encourage long-term donor support. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the shift from traditional to digital fundraising. Recognize the importance of meeting donors on modern platforms. Learn why email is less effective for younger audiences. See the value of community-driven fundraising models. Understand the move from transactional to participatory giving. Learn how digital communities increase engagement. Recognize resistance to adopting new technology. See the benefit of simpler, easier donation processes. Understand the impact of influencers on donor behavior. Learn the need to adapt to changing donor expectations. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
304: The Hidden Challenges of Skill-Based Hiring with A.P Porch
Fundraising and alumni relations are evolving faster than many institutions are prepared for. But the concept of hiring people who make us feel comfortable remains the biggest threat to innovation since these practices often remain rooted in familiarity, rigidity, and outdated ideas of “fit.” A.P. Porch is a higher education and philanthropy professional with nearly 15 years of experience in nonprofit and advancement spaces, currently serving as the University-Wide Director of Alumni Engagement at Loyola University, New Orleans. Her work centers on strengthening alumni and donor relationships while supporting the “life of the mind” through mission-driven engagement, leadership, and community building. She joined Mallory to talk about what it takes to build stronger, more sustainable advancement teams in the fundraising sector. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the hidden challenges behind skill-based hiring in fundraising and alumni relations. Have a clear understanding about the difference between hiring for competency versus hiring for familiarity. Learn why burnout and turnover are often symptoms of deeper organizational issues. Discover how curiosity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence can strengthen donor relationships. Learn how “culture fit” can unintentionally limit innovation and diversity of thought. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
The secret to a successful campaign is a culture shaped by trust, collaboration, emotional resilience, and a shared sense of purpose. A successful implementation of a fundraising team is more than just hitting financial goals; it demands leadership that understands and values institutional culture, supports people through high-pressure moments, and creates a system that will thrive without burning out. From donor relationships to preventing isolation, this conversation explores how transparency, accountability, empathy, and collective support can build a sustainable fundraising culture. Jill C. Anderson is the current Vice President of Development and Alumni Engagement at Moravian University, Pennsylvania. She is an expert in campaign strategy, major gifts, and donor engagement. With nearly 26 years of experience in advancement and an earlier career in finance, she brings a strategic, systems-oriented approach to philanthropy and organizational growth. She is also a doctoral student at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Having grown up as a daughter to a professional baseball coach, Jill believes deeply in team-centered leadership and cross-functional collaboration. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the unique challenges of building and leading fundraising teams. Learn about the effect of organizational culture on donor relationships and campaign success. Understand the importance of accountability and transparency during periods of growth and crisis. Explore strategies for reducing isolation and strengthening team connection in fundraising environments. Discover how collaboration and cross-functional understanding strengthen fundraising teams. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
History doesn't only live in books. It lives in who gets remembered, who gets silenced, and who chooses to speak anyway! Meet Kristi Williams, a descendant of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and member of Historic Vernon AME Church, who brings a deeply personal lens to historical preservation, and Emma Willis, who complements this perspective by focusing on advocacy, ethical philanthropy, and the importance of treating lived experience with care and dignity. Together, they emphasize how community memory and historical truth are shaped by those closest to it. The discussion expands into the erasure of Black history in education, including policies such as Oklahoma's House Bill 1775, and the broader challenge of restricted narratives in schools. Kristi and Emma highlight practical ways everyday people can contribute, such as reading widely, including banned books, journaling present-day experiences, and preserving family and ancestral documents. They also explore philanthropy as a relational practice rather than transactional giving, stressing collaboration with communities. Ultimately, the conversation connects personal storytelling, institutional responsibility, and collective action as essential tools for preserving history and strengthening democracy. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand how everyday people contribute to preserving history. Recognize the importance of descendant-led storytelling in historical preservation. Identify how oral histories and personal archives protect erased narratives. Analyze the impact of banning or restricting historical books. Appreciate the role of Black history in strengthening democratic understanding. Describe how philanthropy can support community-led cultural preservation. Distinguish between transactional giving and relational philanthropy. Apply journaling as a tool for documenting lived experience for future history. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Alumni relationships are shifting from tradition-bound loyalty to something more dynamic, personal, and value-driven. In this conversation, the focus turns toward what institutions are getting wrong and how listening more carefully could reshape the future of fundraising and engagement. Howard Heevner brings deep experience from a 30-year career in higher education fundraising, beginning at the University of Iowa and later serving as executive director of annual programs at UC Berkeley. He is also a co-founder of the National Alumni Survey. This large-scale initiative has grown significantly over time, expanding from tens of thousands of responses across dozens of institutions to well over 150,000 surveys. His work centers on understanding donor behavior patterns and challenging long-held assumptions about alumni generosity and awareness. The discussion highlights key shifts: declining donor participation, the emergence of distinct giving cultures across age groups, and the misconception that non-donors are simply uninformed. Instead, many already give elsewhere, signaling a need for institutions to move from assumed loyalty to earned trust. The conversation also emphasizes personalization, better use of technology for listening rather than broadcasting, and the importance of making alumni feel seen, relevant, and considered. Ultimately, it calls for a more responsive, value-aligned approach to engagement and fundraising systems. In this episode, you will be able to: - Understand shifting trends in alumni engagement and fundraising behavior. - Recognize the importance of moving from assumed trust to earned trust. - Identify how alumni giving patterns vary across age and value systems. - Learn why personalization improves relevance and alumni connection. - Understand the need to make alumni feel seen and considered. - Identify gaps between investment in student vs alumni experiences. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
300: Rethinking Nonprofits as Businesses: Earned Revenue, Sustainability & Innovation with Pradnya Haldipur
The nonprofit world is changing faster than ever, and organizations are being forced to rethink how they survive and grow in uncertain times! This episode features Pradnya Haldipur, who brings more than 30 years of experience across the nonprofit landscape. Her career has spanned the arts, software, academic medicine, and global humanitarian work with Doctors Without Borders. Recently, she transitioned to running her own consultancy, advising mission-driven organizations on strategy and sustainability. Her diverse background gives her a unique intersectional perspective on funding, leadership, and organizational growth, making her insights both practical and deeply informed by real-world experience. In this conversation, Pradnya dives into the realities of modern fundraising, the pressure nonprofits face in today's economy, and why innovation can no longer be optional. From controversial revenue ideas to challenging long-held beliefs about mission-driven work, the discussion explores how organizations can remain financially sustainable without losing sight of their purpose. It is a conversation that pushes listeners to question traditional nonprofit thinking and consider bold new possibilities for the future of the sector. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand why nonprofits need diversified revenue streams. Learn how earned revenue can support long-term sustainability. Explore innovative funding strategies beyond traditional philanthropy. Learn why flexibility and innovation matter in the nonprofit sector. Explore the stigma around nonprofits generating revenue. Gain insights into building self-sustaining program models. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
299: What Most Fundraisers Are Doing Wrong Today with Meredith Johnston
This conversation explores why modern fundraising still struggles with outdated systems despite living in a technology-driven world. It raises important questions about how fundraisers are expected to manage hundreds of donor relationships while spending hours on administrative tasks rather than building meaningful connections. The discussion challenges traditional fundraising methods and reveals how technology, automation, and better workflows can completely transform donor engagement and fundraising success. Meet Meredith Johnston, who serves as the Vice President of Development at Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD). Since 1970, FHCSD has been dedicated to delivering compassionate, affordable, and high-quality health care and supportive services to all individuals, with a strong focus on uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved communities. Today, FHCSD is recognized as one of the 10 largest federally qualified health centers in the United States, operating more than 90 locations throughout San Diego County. Each year, the organization serves over 227,000 patients, including 91% who are low-income and 29% who are uninsured. Throughout the conversation, Meredith shares practical insights from her career journey, explaining how fundraising has evolved and why organizations must adapt to changing expectations. Her experience gives credibility to the discussion around leadership, donor management, and operational efficiency. Meredith discusses the importance of using technology to support fundraisers rather than overwhelm them with manual tasks. She explains the value of tracking donor behavior, improving data quality, and focusing on active relationship-building. The conversation also addresses perfectionism, anxiety, and the fear of making mistakes, encouraging fundraisers to take action, embrace imperfection, and prioritize meaningful donor interactions over passive busywork. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the importance of technology in modern fundraising. Understand how outdated systems limit fundraiser effectiveness. Identify tasks that should be automated to save time. Learn how data quality improves donor engagement and workflows. Recognize the value of focusing on relationship-building activities. Understand the difference between active and passive fundraising actions. Recognize how perfectionism can prevent meaningful action. Learn why major gift officers should focus on tasks only they can do. Understand how leadership support improves fundraiser productivity. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
298: What if Fundraising Were Really About Connection, Not Money? with Matt Roben
Fundraising is often seen as simply asking for money, but it is much deeper than that. What makes people truly connect with a cause? How can fundraisers create moments that donors remember long after an event ends? Meet Matt Roben, benefit auctioneer & farm sanctuary co-founder, who brings a unique background to fundraising, shaped by diverse careers. Before working in fundraising, he spent time as a performer, personal trainer, dietitian, and even a police officer. In each role, his main goal was always the same! It was helping people. He explains that whether he was performing for a crowd or speaking with donors, creating a real human connection was always the most important part. The discussion focuses on how connection and presence are important in fundraising. Matt explains that fundraisers should create meaningful experiences, just like performers connect with their audience. He talks about being intentional by clearly understanding the purpose of an event, preparing well, and linking every fundraising activity to the mission. He also breaks common fundraising myths by reminding people that fundraising should be thoughtful, personal, and deeply connected to the cause, not just about collecting donations. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize how connections improve fundraising outcomes. Understand the importance of intentionality in fundraising. Identify common fundraising myths and how to challenge them. Recognize the importance of audience awareness in events. Learn how follow-up builds trust and lasting support. Understand how empathy improves donor experience and connection. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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 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
297: Why Big Giving Falls Short and How Fundraisers Can Push Back with Glen Galaich
What happens when philanthropy becomes more about control than community? Can generosity still be called generosity when tax benefits and personal recognition take center stage? Join us for today's episode to question the hidden dynamics behind modern fundraising and explore what true public stewardship really looks like! This conversation features Glen Galaich, a respected philanthropy leader with more than 25 years of experience in donor education and fundraising. As the founder of the Stupski Foundation, which works across San Francisco, Oakland, and Hawaii, Glen has spent years examining how wealth shapes giving. He is also the author of the book Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short, in which he challenges traditional philanthropic systems and calls for greater accountability, trust, and honesty in the sector. Throughout the conversation, Glen unpacks the idea of donor-centric fundraising and its historical roots, tracing it back to Andrew Carnegie's "Gospel of Wealth." He discusses how philanthropy often becomes tied to power, ego, and tax advantages rather than genuine generosity. Glen explains the psychological shifts that can happen when people gain significant wealth, often leading to insecurity and a stronger desire for control. He also explores trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, and the importance of unrestricted funding. Furthermore, Glen emphasizes that donors should act as public stewards, staying accountable to the communities they aim to serve, while fundraisers must create honest conversations and challenge unhealthy power dynamics within philanthropy. In this episode, you will be able to: - Recognize the difference between generosity and philanthropy. - Learn how donor control can affect community impact. - Understand the importance of trust-based philanthropy. - Identify why unrestricted funding supports stronger outcomes. - Learn how tax benefits influence philanthropic decisions. - Recognize the role of fundraisers in guiding donor accountability. - Understand how wealth can shape donor behavior and mindset. - Learn why public stewardship should guide charitable giving. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. 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.
296: Real Talk on Confident Fundraising: Answering Your Questions with Mallory Erickson
This episode takes a slightly different approach. Instead of the usual format, Mallory responds directly to a range of thoughtful questions from her community! She begins by discussing how to handle anxiety before donor conversations, encouraging fundraisers to acknowledge their feelings rather than push them away. Simple techniques, such as validating emotions with phrases such as "that makes sense," can help reduce stress more quickly. She also explains that preparation and practice are key to building confidence, introducing AI-based tools that allow fundraisers to rehearse conversations and develop strong muscle memory. Mallory also highlights how confidence impacts fundraising success, noting that low confidence can lead to missed opportunities and inefficiency. She further addresses burnout and loss of motivation, explaining the "freeze" response and suggesting that sometimes people need energizing activities rather than just rest to regain momentum. A key theme in the episode is a shifting mindset. Mallory encourages fundraisers to stop feeling guilty about asking for money and instead see it as an opportunity for donors to contribute to meaningful change. She also emphasizes curiosity when handling objections, focusing on understanding donors rather than persuading them. Overall, the episode reinforces the importance of practice, emotional awareness, and purpose. Mallory also points to the growing role of AI in supporting fundraisers, helping them build skills while keeping human connection at the center. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize practical ways to manage anxiety before donor conversations. Learn how validating emotions can reduce stress and improve performance. Understand the role of preparation and practice in building fundraising confidence. Explore how mindset shifts can transform asking for money into meaningful invitations. Gain insights into handling donor objections with curiosity and alignment. Identify the impact of confidence on time management and fundraising success. Understand the nervous system’s role in stress, burnout, and motivation. Learn simple grounding techniques to stay present during donor conversations. Discover the importance of consistent practice and role-play in skill development. Explore how AI tools can support training and enhance fundraising effectiveness. 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
295: Breaking the Cycle: Empowerment, Stress Management, and Sustainable Leadership with Amanda Gulino
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. 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
294: Navigating Fear: Insights from Neuroscience, Trauma Research, and Fundraising Challenges with Arash Javanbakht
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Join Arash Javanbakht, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC), as he delves into the intricate workings of fear and anxiety. With expertise spanning neuroscience, trauma research, and nonprofit fundraising, he offers a comprehensive exploration of how fear manifests in our brains, its evolutionary origins, and practical strategies for managing it in various aspects of life! Arash's clinical focus encompasses civilians, law enforcement, and refugees, particularly those affected by war trauma in regions like Syria and Iraq. Through STARC, he conducts groundbreaking research into the biological and psychological factors contributing to resilience and vulnerability in trauma response. Also, Arash pioneers the integration of technology into mental health care, exploring augmented reality and telemedicine for innovative in vivo treatment of anxiety disorders and PTSD. Moreover, his work has received widespread acclaim, featuring in prominent media outlets such as CNN, Al Jazeera, NPR, and The Washington Post. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the biology and psychology of fear responses. Analyze fear's influence on decision-making, particularly in nonprofit fundraising. Develop strategies for overcoming fear-related challenges. Cultivate resilience and find meaning in adversity. Apply practical tips for harnessing fear as motivation. This week's episode is sponsored by DonorPerfect. DonorPerfect's Community Conference is igniting a passion for change! This year's event, on June 4th & 5th, will equip you with the tools to excel in donor management, program innovation, community engagement, and organizational growth. Remember, every powerful movement starts with a single spark.Your expertise is that spark! Head over to donorperfect.com/donorperfect-conference to register today! 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
293: Fundraiser Wellness & Healing Your Nervous System with Dr. Linnea Passaler
As a fundraiser, your ability to handle stress is constantly tested. Fundraising requires lot of hard work, sacrifice, rejection, and honestly, sometimes trauma. If you have a sensitive nervous system, like many fundraisers do, you’re more prone to burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress. So, how can we prevent that? Today’s guest is here to help! Dr. Linnea Passaler is the Founder and CEO of Heal Your Nervous System, a digital health startup that uses a combination of neuroscience and somatic work to help those struggling with overwhelm, trauma, burnout, and anxiety to heal their dysregulated nervous systems and thrive. This episode is particularly important to me because the more I have learned about the nervous system over the years, the more I have realized that one of the main barries that fundraisers face is that the work of fundraising can be very disregulating. And without the right understanding, tools and framework we don’t understand why we’re constantly experiencing low energy, dread, and burnout. We keep trying to manage our time, but I really think it’s all about how we manage our nervous system. During this conversation, Linnea teaches you how to regulate your nervous system so that you can handle stress and accomplish more without it leading you to dysregulation and burnout. She details the connection between trauma and burnout and shares her 5-step framework for healing your nervous system. Because of your brain’s neuroplasticity, we can reverse the damage that’s done when we feel overwhelmed or powerless. If you’ve been feeling powerless, constantly overwhelmed, or a lack of purpose in your role as a fundraiser, don’t worry. You’re not alone and there is a light at the end of the tunnel! These tips are just what you need. A big shout out to our sponsor Instil, the holistic tool that reimagines nonprofit technology in ways that deepen community relationships and nonprofit processes to magnify impact. The platform’s advanced UX design and real-time analytics supercharge donors, increase volunteer engagement, and smooth donor management and operations across your entire organization. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_ 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.
292: The Science of Stuck & How to Move Forward in Your Fundraising with Britt Frank
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.
291: Harnessing Your Inner Voice for Fundraising Success with Dr. Ethan Kross
Do you hear negative, nagging, bullying voices in your head? Are they telling you you’re a bad leader or fundraiser? That you’ll never raise what you need to grow your organization? In this week’s episode, I talk to Dr. Ethan Kross, psychologist, neuroscientist, professor, and the author of Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters and How to Harness It. There is so much chatter that inhibits action, like negative thoughts and limiting beliefs about perfectionism, scarcity or what someone will think if we ‘ask them for money’. Tune in as Dr. Kross explains a few of the tools from his book to help reduce toxic mental chatter and how we can apply them as leaders and fundraisers in the nonprofit world to move more money into our organization and the sector as a whole. Episode highlights: (02:28) - Dr. Ethan Kross and all the work that went into his amazing book: Chatter (04:27)- Why turning your attention inward can help us solve problems or make us miserable. (06:32) - What does “chatter” refer to? The amazing things our inner voice allows us to do and the negative dark side of it. (10:39) - One of Chatter’s tools: Distance self-talk, using your name and the second person pronoun to coach yourself through a problem. (16:44) - Why single quick fixes don’t exist!: How to mix and match different tools to find healing. (24:03) - Cultivating the witness: Distancing yourself and the ability to step back to approach the problem with more objectivity. (27:40) - Stop zooming into negativity: How the nonprofit fundraising space can benefit from changing the narrative. (33:04) - How to find resources hidden in plain sight for your unique chatter triggers. (40:34) - Minimize the toxic effects of chatter: Why negative emotions aren’t something we want to avoid completely. (47:49) - Shout out to Dr. Kross’s favorite nonprofit: Angela Duckworth’s The Character Lab. If you’re wanting to implement ideas you heard, visit MalloryErickson.com/Podcast for the top tips and tools, full transcripts, quotes, videos, and additional resources from each episode.
Producer's note
Steal the structure. Not the show.
Keep the useful structure, then change the audience, point of view, and voice until the idea is unmistakably yours.
