What the Fundraising

Mallory Erickson
What the Fundraising Podcast

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.

  1. A Deep Dive into Monthly Giving with Dana Snyder

    3 DAYS AGO

    A Deep Dive into Monthly Giving with Dana Snyder

    Elevate your fundraising game by turning monthly donations into a powerhouse of support! In this episode, we dive deep into monthly giving with Dana Snyder, the CEO & Founder of Positive Equation. As a speaker, teacher, and podcast host of "Missions to Movements," Dana empowers nonprofits with strategies for leveraging social media ads and building sustainable monthly giving programs, aiming to make philanthropy accessible to everyone.   In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how to provide flexible giving opportunities to major donors, making it easier for them to contribute. Learn the power of storytelling and writing to connect with donors and amplify your mission. Understand the value of creating peer support networks for accountability and encouragement. Explore how to use donor data to identify and engage potential monthly supporters. Learn how to set and achieve micro goals in fundraising to build momentum. Discover how to use donor data to identify and engage potential monthly supporters. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  2. The Importance of Finding Alignment in your Funder Partners  with Andrea Bouch

    10 SEPT

    The Importance of Finding Alignment in your Funder Partners with Andrea Bouch

    Meet Andrea Bouch, a seasoned leader with 15+ years of experience at the intersection of social impact, tech, and employee experience. Andrea has led global talent programs, managed nonprofits, and founded businesses. Moreover, she has led the strategic design and implementation of Stripe's first social impact and corporate philanthropy program.  During today's conversation, Andrea shares her journey while offering a candid look into her experiences, from the challenges of balancing personal connections with strategic focus to the art of engaging with fundraisers who may feel frustrated by strict corporate funding strategies.  In this episode, you will be able to:  Explore the balance between personal connections and strategic focus in corporate philanthropy. Understand how to engage with fundraisers who feel constrained by corporate policies with empathy and constructive dialogue. Learn the importance of genuine curiosity and authenticity in building strong, effective relationships with potential grantees and partners. Dive into the dynamics of working with individual donors versus family foundations, and navigate their unique emotional nuances. Uncover how aligning perspectives and being upfront about organizational priorities can lead to more meaningful engagements. Discover strategies for balancing corporate constraints with maintaining the human side of philanthropy. Identify ways to leverage sincere connections to create unexpected and valuable opportunities in the field of corporate 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min
  3. Leadership Transitions and Personal Mission with Amber Melanie Smith

    3 SEPT

    Leadership Transitions and Personal Mission with Amber Melanie Smith

    This episode of the What the Fundraising podcast features Amber Melanie Smith. She is a speaker, award-winning nonprofit founder, social entrepreneur, and social impact YouTuber. Moreover, Amber empowers individuals to craft a life and career dedicated to creating positive social change through her growing online community, speaking engagements, and educational content. Tune in to explore Amber's journey, learn from her experiences, and discover strategies for aligning personal passions with professional pursuits!   In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the impact of leadership transition on organizational effectiveness. Identify and address burnout in leadership roles. Examine the importance of aligning personal work style with organizational needs. Explore how to manage the emotional challenges of leaving a long-term role. Learn ways to clarify and stay true to your personal mission.   Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  This week's episode is sponsored by DonorPerfect.  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  4. Financial Transparency and Building Impactful Relationships in Fundraising with Lisa Maynard-Atem

    27 AUG

    Financial Transparency and Building Impactful Relationships in Fundraising with Lisa Maynard-Atem

    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min
  5. Breaking the Cycle: Empowerment, Stress Management, and Sustainable Leadership with Amanda Gulino

    20 AUG

    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. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  6. Injecting Curiosity  and Creativity into Fundraising with John Lepp

    13 AUG

    Injecting Curiosity and Creativity into Fundraising with John Lepp

    This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to inject more curiosity and creativity into their fundraising efforts! Today’s guest is John Lepp, a partner at Agents of Good with over 25 years in direct response, marketing, and design. He is also the author of Creative Deviations, which highlights innovative donor communications worldwide. As an international speaker, John shares his expertise in infusing emotion and vulnerability into fundraising. Passionate about fostering genuine connections, he helps fundraisers engage more authentically with donors, leading to increased giving and loyalty. In this episode, you will be able to: Explore innovative approaches to donor-centered communications. Understand how to infuse emotion and vulnerability into fundraising efforts. Learn the benefits of embracing creativity and authenticity in donor interactions. Discover techniques for making minor, impactful adjustments to fundraising strategies. Recognize the importance of adapting to real-time changes and feedback. Understand the value of staying present and focused on current donor needs. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  7. Creating a Culture of Emotional Authenticity and Support in Fundraising with Rickesh Lakhani

    6 AUG

    Creating a Culture of Emotional Authenticity and Support in Fundraising with Rickesh Lakhani

    Uncover the hidden emotional barriers in fundraising, revealing how vulnerability can transform the process from an uncomfortable task to a meaningful connection! Learn more about aligning your values with your daily practices and building a more inclusive and supportive work environment! Today, we sit down with Rickesh Lakhani, the founder and lead consultant of Radiance Advisory, to explore the multifaceted nature of emotional expression and its impact on both personal and organizational levels. With nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and social impact sectors, Rickesh brings a wealth of knowledge on aligning values with day-to-day behaviors, particularly within fundraising and leadership.   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the impact of suppressing emotions on human connection and professional environments. Learn strategies for creating safe spaces where vulnerability and emotional expression are encouraged. Explore the challenges of balancing personal and professional boundaries in the workplace. Gain insights into how personal experiences and upbringing influence responses to others' emotions. Recognize the need to unlearn outdated notions about emotional expression and leadership. Identify the importance of genuinely supporting employees beyond just having an open-door policy. Discover the value of being heard and understood rather than simply fixing issues. Acknowledge the necessity of processing emotions entirely rather than avoiding them. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min
  8. Addressing Burnout and Systemic Change in Nonprofits with Radha Friedman

    30 JUL

    Addressing Burnout and Systemic Change in Nonprofits with Radha Friedman

    This episode is a call to action for fundraisers, donors, and nonprofit leaders to rethink their strategies and work together to create a more sustainable and impactful future! Radha Friedman is an intersectional philanthropy and social impact strategist dedicated to directing resources to underserved communities, especially women and girls of color. With over 20 years of global experience, she has partnered with philanthropic and nonprofit leaders to drive movements and effect change. Radha's work spans 60 countries, guiding businesses, foundations, and philanthropists to maximize their impact through an equity lens. She's collaborated with Nobel laureates and justice leaders and has been featured in Forbes and The Guardian. Radha is also a bestselling author of Fundraising Without Burnout.   In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the roots and impacts of burnout in the nonprofit sector. Explore strategies to address and prevent burnout effectively. Recognize the gendered dynamics of burnout and compensation in nonprofit work. Learn how to advocate for systemic changes in fundraising practices. Discover ways to initiate courageous conversations with funders. Uncover the importance of wellness and realistic expectations in fundraising. Identify the benefits of unrestricted and multi-year funding. Emphasize the need for cross-sector collaboration to address complex issues. Practice self-compassion and balance in high-stress roles.   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

About

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.

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada