81. The People Behind the Products: Imposter Syndrome & Authentic Relationship Building with Max Friedman

The truth is, all limiting beliefs aside, we can make giving fun. And Max Friedman and the team at Givebutter are proving this to be true each and every day. They have created a crowdfunding platform that seeks to raise funds that will empower the next generation of changemakers. In this episode of What the Fundraising I get to talk to Max about his entrepreneurial journey, from starting in his college dorm room, to what it’s like to be a 27 year old leader of a rising tech company. There are so many great fundraising tips in this episode, from automation suggestions to effective prompts to innovative engagement strategies, but my favorite topic that we talk about is Max’s imposter syndrome. Max, like all of us, experiences moments of self-doubt and his vulnerability in this episode is a true gift to the sector. He talks to us about how he manages his imposter syndrome and his top tips for nonprofit leaders dealing with similar doubts. You don’t want to miss this episode! 

[02:48] Understanding Max’s journey to founding Givebutter.

[03:57] How Givebutter has evolved over the years.

[05:53] Max narrates his experience with non-profits..

[08:10] How Max deals with his imposter syndrome.

[11:43] The fundraising space needs to go back to the basics. 

[13:06] Are we over automating in a way that leads to a loss in authenticity and connection? 

[16:02] Social media and authenticity.

[18:07] How you can prompt people to give.

[21:32] Hear how Max keeps himself motivated when he is having hard days.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

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This episode is a part of a very special series called The People Behind the Products. More than ever, nonprofits care about the company behind their technology and service providers. What’s the underlying mission and vision of the company? What do they stand for? And how are they thinking about the sector and serving nonprofits? This series is an opportunity to get to know some of my favorite nonprofit technology companies so that the next time you’re making a tech decision, you can understand a little bit more about the people behind the product. This series is unsponsored content and editorial decisions came from the What the Fundraising production team.