How Mentorship Can Grow Your Fundraising with Ken Miller

Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell

What if mentorship could help you grow your career, and your fundraising bottom line?  

This week, I’m joined by the amazing Ken Miller, CFRE—a powerhouse in the nonprofit world and a true advocate for professional growth. Ken is the president of Denali FSP Fundraising & Grant Consultants, a fundraising consultancy he founded in 2014 after a long and successful career in development. He’s also deeply involved in leadership roles with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and other organizations working to advance equity and excellence in philanthropy.

In our conversation, Ken shares his wisdom on mentoring, coaching, and workplace sponsorship—three powerful tools for helping fundraising professionals thrive. We explore what makes these relationships so valuable, how to find the right mentors and sponsors, and why they’re game-changers for anyone looking to grow in their career. Ken also opens up about his personal journey, lessons learned, and his passion for mentoring the next generation of nonprofit leaders.

If you’re in the nonprofit sector—or considering it—this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration to help you take your career to the next level.

Connect with Ken on LinkedIn. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • The difference between mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship—and why all three matter.
  • How to find mentors and sponsors who align with your goals and values.
  • Why workplace sponsors can open doors that mentorship alone might not.
  • Ken’s personal insights on supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion through mentorship.
  • Practical tips for mentoring others and building meaningful professional relationships.

🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷

What if we named things for what they're not? We'd give teachers non-apples and fly non-cars.  Ridiculous, right? So why is your world-changing organization called a "nonprofit"? Truth is you're for-purpose. And the more you raise, recruit, and retain, the more good you can do.

That's where Bloomerang comes in. Bloomerang's Giving Platform is built for purpose, with easy-to-use tools and powerful insights that help you understand your donors better than ever and unleash generosity! (Slightly faster, more energetic) Imagine... spending less time on admin tasks and more time on what matters: your mission. Bloomerang customers raise an average of 26% more!
Ready to join them? Visit jcsocialmarketing.com/bloomerang to learn more and start making an even bigger impact.  

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