Ask Allison

Allison McElroy
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Sociedad y cultura

The Ask Allison Podcast with Allison McElroy brings nonprofit pros together for real talk, big laughs, and aha moments! Through honest conversations, shared stories, and fresh takes on trends and best practices, Allison keeps it fun, encouraging, and full of heart. Allison McElroy is a bubbly encourager, nonprofit strategist, and proud Arkansan who loves helping people reach big goals. Founder of The McElroy Group, she mixes heart, humor, and hard-won experience to lift others up. Fundraiser, singer, speaker, cheerleader—when in doubt, just Ask Allison!

Episodios

  1. 7 ago

    Ep. 10 - A Lifetime in Fundraising: Lessons from a Fundraising Pioneer with Andrea Kihlstedt

    Artificial personalization is quietly destroying donor trust across the nonprofit sector. Fundraisers are moving so fast with automated outreach that they are actively alienating the people funding their missions, making it critical to step back and evaluate how we actually build real connections. Andrea Kihlstedt joins the show to share her decades of capital campaign expertise and deep understanding of donor psychology. We sit down to dissect exactly what has changed in the industry since the days of index cards and what absolutely remains the same. The conversation moves through the mechanics of modern stewardship, the inherent flaws of traditional feasibility studies, and the necessity of direct mentorship for new development officers. Andrea also unpacks her unique philosophy on the superproductive third quarter of life, challenging the outdated notion that a career slows down after fifty. The reality of this work is that not every organization is set up for success, and recognizing a toxic or stagnant environment is just as important as mastering a campaign ask. We tackle the heavy toll of waking up dreading the workday and why time is the single resource you cannot afford to waste on a bad fit. Listeners will walk away with a clear metric for knowing when it is time to pack up and leave a role, alongside a practical framework for empowering internal leadership to handle major donor conversations instead of hiding behind outside consultants. If you care about authentic donor stewardship, capital campaign strategy, and navigating career transitions, you’ll get a lot from this. Please take a moment to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with a fellow fundraiser who might need a fresh perspective. What is the biggest fear holding you back from sitting down face-to-face with your largest donors?

  2. 7 jul

    Ep. 9 - 10+ Things I’ve Learned After 31 Years in Fundraising

    Treating donors like ATMs is a direct resource leak for nonprofits. With grant guidelines constantly shifting and donor retention requiring deeper attention, leaning into authentic human connection is a practical necessity right now. Today, certified fundraising executive Allison McElroy flies solo to share hard-earned lessons from over three decades of boots-on-the-ground nonprofit work. We get into the exact mechanics of why an organization's database is a list of relationships rather than a ledger of transactions. Specifically, this episode breaks down time-blocking for stewardship, why board members should operate as connectors instead of professional fundraisers, and the hard data behind the Giving USA pie chart that proves individual giving eclipses foundation grants. A primary realization from this solo deep dive is the concept of blessing and releasing unaligned donors so you can dedicate time to those who actually share your core values. Fundraising requires facing the harder parts of the industry, including the raw fear of rejection and the logistical realities of special events going up in literal flames. Viewers will walk away with a clear system for mapping out their development plan based on actual return on investment, a framework for handling event catastrophes with grace, and a mindset shift that transforms a dreaded rejection into a strategic "not right now." If you care about donor stewardship, major gift cultivation, and building a sustainable development strategy, you will get a lot from this. Please subscribe to the channel and share this episode with a fellow nonprofit professional who could use a grounded perspective. What is the hardest part of asking for a major grant that you are ready to overcome this year?

  3. 7 jun

    Ep . 8 - Capital Campaign Triumphs: Beating the Deadline with Frankie Rankin

    With shifting economic landscapes and looming federal budget cuts, fundraising leaders must learn how to strategically leverage big opportunities before time runs out. In this episode, Allison McElroy sits down with Frankie Rankin, the CEO of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, to uncover how her organization successfully unlocked a major milestone under immense pressure. We sit down to unpack the high-stakes world of challenge grants and the precise strategies required to execute them successfully. Frankie shares the behind-the-scenes realities of managing a massive capital campaign, detail by detail, including the specific rules governing structures like the Tulsa-based challenge framework. The conversation details how to manage dual campaign spreadsheets, navigate public vs. quiet phases, and mobilize board members who are terrified of traditional asking but brilliant at relationship handoffs. The true turning point of the episode centers on a massive $590,000 deficit with only 48 hours remaining on the clock, demonstrating how deep stakeholder trust can inspire a jaw-dropping final hour save. The road to achieving these monumental fundraising milestones is never clean, straightforward, or without immense professional strain. Campaigns rarely move in a straight line, and leaders often face severe plateaus, internal team transitions, and moments of sheer defeat where giving up feels like the only logical choice. Viewers will walk away with a grounded framework for building authentic donor transparency, specific strategies for structuring multi-year pledges, and a reminder that fundraising success relies on methodical planning rather than luck. If you care about non-profit sustainability, strategic capital campaigns, and leveraging board relationships, you’ll get a lot from this episode. Please remember to Subscribe and Share to help us expand our reach. What is the most unexpected breakthrough your team has experienced during a tight deadline? Let us know in the comments below!

  4. 7 may

    Ep. 7 - Mission Possible: Solving Your Board Problems with Linda Phillips

    Board member disengagement is a silent profit leak that keeps most nonprofits playing small. Many executive directors feel like they are pulling teeth just to get a board member to share a post or make an introduction, but the reality is that most members are simply intimidated by the "F" word: fundraising. If your board views their role as a monthly meeting rather than a mission-driven partnership, you are missing out on the organic growth that only peer-to-peer influence can provide. In this episode, I sit down with my long-time friend, mentor, and thirty-year fundraising veteran Linda Phillips to discuss how to move past the fear of the "ask." We get into the tactical reality of turning a passive board into a group of high-performing connectors. We sit down to discuss the "spoon-feeding" method for social media, why a clear job description is the foundation of engagement, and how "mission moments" can arm your members with the stories they need to be effective ambassadors. Linda shares her "secret sauce" for identifying natural connectors and explains why a simple cup of coffee or a "porch party" is often more effective than a high-cost gala. We also dive into the technical necessity of 100% board participation for grant applications and building donor trust. The unglamorous truth is that fundraising isn't about being a slick salesperson; it's about the grit of consistent relationship-building and the willingness to be authentic. You’ll walk away with a practical system for arming your board with "Monday Mission Moments" and a specific strategy for asking for just one introduction per month. We break down the myth that hosting events must be elaborate, proving that vulnerability and passion are your most valuable assets when inviting people into your organization's world. If you care about nonprofit sustainability, effective board management, and lowering the cost of donor acquisition, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Please subscribe to the Ask Allison podcast and share this episode with a board member or executive director who needs a "fundraising therapy" session today.

  5. 7 abr

    Ep. 6 - Legacy Gifts: Impact That Lasts with Amy McGovern

    A lot of people think fundraising is just asking for money. That idea is not only wrong, it can quietly wreck your donor relationships. I’m joined by Amy McGovern, Director of Development for the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and President of AFP Northwest Arkansas, for a real-world conversation about what actually moves giving: listening, trust, and inviting people into something they already care about. Amy shares her unexpected career path into development, then breaks down how the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas works, from managing charitable funds and endowments to supporting communities through a robust nonprofit grants program. We talk funding priorities, why “Methodist” in the name doesn’t automatically mean “not for you,” and how sponsorships and grants can help nonprofits tackling issues like poverty and food insecurity. If you’ve wondered where to look for nonprofit funding in Arkansas, this will point you in a practical direction. We also get honest about what nonprofits can do better, especially around impact reporting and donor stewardship. Stats matter, but stories stick. You’ll hear why handwritten thanks, clear outcomes, and a real human face can outperform the prettiest annual report. Then we zoom out to professional growth through the Association of Fundraising Professionals, including ethics, mentorship, scholarships, and the community that keeps fundraisers from feeling like they’re doing this work alone. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a nonprofit friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one fundraising “rule” you’re ready to unlearn?

  6. 7 mar

    Ep. 5 - Funding Follows Clarity: Nonprofit Marketing Secrets with Peyton Stewman

    What if your marketing plan isn’t extra, it’s the engine? We sit down with Peyton Stewman, marketing strategist at the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County, to unpack how communications becomes core infrastructure for fundraising, trust, and long-term growth. Peyton shares how she helped launch and legitimize a $15M capital campaign, moved storytelling in-house, and built a steady cadence that turns casual followers into committed donors. We dig into the mindset shift that changes everything: funding follows clarity and trust follows consistency. That means ditching throwaway holiday graphics and leaning into content that matters, prevention education, stat posts with context, therapy milestones, and real moments that humanize your team. Peyton walks through her monthly prevention video series, the categories that keep content fresh, and why a grainy photo of your staff can outperform a glossy graphic. We also talk platforms: why Facebook and Instagram are essential, how to use LinkedIn for professional recognition, and where TikTok fits as an education-first play. Board activation becomes a turning point. You’ll hear how clear expectations, post notifications, and platform-specific sharing transformed engagement and grew legitimacy with local media. We break down proactive press strategy, crisis sequencing, and how to share tough funding news without fear-mongering, starting with donors via mail and email, then scaling to social and the news. On the metrics front, Peyton shares what she actually tracks: follower growth from reels, shares beyond staff, second-degree comments, email clicks, and light paid boosts for key posts. If you’re a one-person shop, you’ll leave with a simple plan: 30 minutes at month’s end to map real-life moments, a lean content calendar, captions with your authentic voice, and a commitment to email as your most reliable conversion tool. When people understand your mission and feel connected to the humans behind it, they don’t just follow, they show up, give, and stay. Subscribe, share with a nonprofit friend, and leave a review to help more mission-driven teams find us.

  7. 7 feb

    Ep. 4 - Strategic Stillness: Simple Self-Care for Overworked Hearts

    Ever feel like you’re running at 95% capacity and one small hiccup sends the whole day sideways? We’ve been there. That’s why we sat down with meditation teacher and former publisher, Leslie Zanoff, to unpack how small, simple practices can restore your energy, sharpen your focus, and help you lead with calm, even when budgets are tight and event season is on fire. We start by busting myths around mindfulness. You don’t need a cushion or a candle; you need a moment. Leslie explains why stillness can feel uncomfortable at first and shares science-backed practices you can use anywhere: box breathing, fingertip anchoring, gentle tapping over the heart, and five-minute pauses that retrain your nervous system over eight weeks. We talk about “calm excellence” as a leadership standard, making space to respond thoughtfully instead of rushing into urgent perfectionism, and how language and boundaries protect your best work. This conversation also gets personal. Allison opens up about her long weight loss journey and the mindset shift from all-or-nothing to progress over perfection. Movement became medicine: dancing in the living room, walking outside, water workouts, joyful, doable choices that sparked momentum. We explore how exercise can double as meditation, why gratitude is a powerful nightly reset, and how to claim the “snow day” feeling on an ordinary Tuesday by issuing your own permission slip to pause. We honor faith and skepticism, too. If prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening, no beliefs required to practice presence. Whether you lead a nonprofit team or carry a heavy caseload, these tools are for you: five minutes to breathe, reset, and return to the work with clarity. If anxiety is chronic, bring in therapy or medication; mindfulness complements, it doesn’t replace. Ready to release the belief that it has to be hard? Hit play, try one practice today, and share this with a colleague who needs a reset. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the one small habit you’re starting this week.

  8. 7 ene

    Ep. 3 - Crisis Mode: How to Lead When the Money Stops

    What happens when the grant you’ve always counted on disappears? We sit down with Teresa Mills, CEO of Peace at Home Family Shelter, to unpack a calm, practical roadmap for nonprofits facing sudden funding cuts. From building a pet sanctuary that keeps survivors and their animals safe to rebuilding donor trust after tough seasons, Teresa offers clear steps leaders can use right now. We start with radical transparency that steadies your inner circle, board, staff, and core donors, without alarming the people you serve. Teresa breaks down how to communicate early and often, frame the real gap, and invite supporters to stand with you. Then we get tactical: how to identify mission-critical programs, rank ROI, and protect the services that change lives. You’ll hear how to diversify revenue so no single grant or gala dominates, and why small, steady reserve-building transforms your ability to weather delays, shutdowns, and policy shifts. If you’ve ever questioned whether events are worth the grind, this conversation will resonate. Teresa shares how cutting a signature event freed up time for deeper donor relationships, monthly giving, and a simple stewardship luncheon that actually strengthens community. We dig into the mechanics of booking donor meetings, what to say on the phone, and how executive directors should lean into fundraising every single day. Along the way, you’ll get practical scripts, post-event follow-up tips that convert attendees into supporters, and a reminder that hope and focus are strategic assets. Looking for one step to take this week? Call five core donors with a candid update and a clear plan.  If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs it today, and leave a review so more nonprofit leaders can find it.

  9. 07/12/2025

    Ep. 2 - From Galas To Good: Rethinking Nonprofit Events

    The room goes quiet, the story lands, tears well up—and then the program shifts and the moment to give disappears. If you’ve ever watched donations evaporate in a 30-second transition, this conversation will feel like a masterclass in what to fix and how to do it fast. I sit down with 3W Magazine founder Kasie Yokley to unpack the playbook that helped Northwest Arkansas stop stepping on its own toes. Years ago, galas stacked up on the same night, sponsors were stretched thin, and donors had to choose. Kasie's answer was deceptively simple: build a charitable events registry that lets nonprofits see each other, coordinate dates, and plan with confidence. That single system turned competition into collaboration and raised the bar for fundraising across Benton and Washington counties. We get into the details that leaders rarely say out loud. Why “black tie optional” wrecks your photos and brand. Why bloated auctions should shrink to two or three experiences. Why smaller, intimate events with higher tickets and strong themes win hearts and wallets. And most importantly, how to design the moment of impact: tell the mission story, then ask clearly, with pledge cards and QR codes ready—plus a monthly giving option that compounds support without burdening donors. You’ll hear practical tactics for better ROI—counting staff time, investing in AV so your message carries, choosing flexible venues that allow donated F&B, and sending concise, bullet-point follow ups that show results fast. We also make a case for balance: one signature event to build awareness, and a second, low-lift touchpoint where donors see programs up close, offer input, and feel like true partners. If you plan events, sit on a board, or just want your giving to matter more, this is your permission slip to simplify, clarify, and be brave. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review with your best event idea or biggest pet peeve—we’ll feature our favorites in a future episode.

  10. 07/11/2025

    Ep. 1 – The Real Cost of Doing Good

    If you’ve ever been told to keep “overhead” low, this conversation might change your entire fundraising playbook. Allison sits down with grant-writing powerhouse Melanie Palmer to unpack the long-standing myth that administrative costs should be separate from program costs, and reveals a better way to budget, report, and raise money that actually fuels impact. We dig into how 990 categories and charity watchdogs nudged the sector into chasing ratios with no evidence behind them. Melanie shares a practical, test-anywhere definition: a program expense is anything your program cannot function well without. With that lens, leadership, accounting, audits, rent, utilities, insurance, technology, and communications are not extras; they’re the backbone that keeps services alive. You’ll hear a stark pandemic story of a nonprofit that avoided an “admin” hire, overloaded program staff with accounting tasks, and lost a generation of talent, causing a break in services for people who needed help most. Then we get tactical. You’ll learn how to build full-cost program budgets by adding one internal step: allocate your board-approved total costs across each program using reasonable, documented methods (time allocation for staff, square footage for facilities, and logical drivers for shared services). Think of it as Lego budgeting; you’re not adding bricks, just arranging them by function. We cover how to present these budgets in grants and major gifts, invite donor restrictions without hiding true costs, and reframe stewardship conversations around outcomes and sustainability rather than arbitrary ratios. Along the way, we share templates, training ideas for boards, and simple scripts to educate corporate funders who already fund their own operations without apology. If you’re ready to move from scarcity to clarity and raise what your mission actually requires, this episode gives you the language, the model, and the courage. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review to help more nonprofits fund impact, not ratios.

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The Ask Allison Podcast with Allison McElroy brings nonprofit pros together for real talk, big laughs, and aha moments! Through honest conversations, shared stories, and fresh takes on trends and best practices, Allison keeps it fun, encouraging, and full of heart. Allison McElroy is a bubbly encourager, nonprofit strategist, and proud Arkansan who loves helping people reach big goals. Founder of The McElroy Group, she mixes heart, humor, and hard-won experience to lift others up. Fundraiser, singer, speaker, cheerleader—when in doubt, just Ask Allison!

Información

  • Creador
    Allison McElroy
  • Años de actividad
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodios
    10
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ask Allison
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