What the Fundraising

In this episode of What the Fundraising… Change is the hardest thing to sustain but the most important thing in the nonprofit sector. Most of the time, leaders in nonprofit find themselves stuck between knowing what needs to evolve and struggling to make it happen. From outdated systems and burnout to scarcity mindset and fear of failure, the barriers to change are deeply human and structural. This conversation examines why good intentions aren’t enough, how leadership habits can either stall or spark transformation, and what it takes to combine mission, money, and mindset for lasting impact.  Our guest today is Andrew Roger Olsen,  the Executive Vice President of Fundraising Solutions at DickersonBakker. He helps organizations strengthen their fundraising and impact with the knowledge he’s got from over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and consulting. He lives with his family on a small farm in Knoxville, Tennessee. He joined us today to talk about the challenges and solutions for change in the nonprofit sector.  In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize the common barriers that keep nonprofits from turning awareness into real change. Learn how leadership habits, culture, and burnout shape an organization’s ability to evolve. Learn how undervaluing time and avoiding financial discomfort can quietly erode impact. Discover small but strategic steps to align vision, structure, and budget for sustainable growth. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com 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... Fundraising isn’t just about asking; it’s about understanding. The most successful fundraisers know that sustaining an organization couldn’t be done with passion alone. Passion must be combined with skill, strategy, and authentic human connection.  David Rhodes is an award-winning and bestselling author, keynote speaker, educator, deputy director at PennPAC, and founder of Dot Dot Org. With more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, David helped organizations and leaders grow with clarity, purpose, and sustainability. As for a former founder and executive director who led an organization for 15 years, he now focuses on CEO mentoring and coaching. David also teaches nonprofit branding and consulting at the University of Pennsylvania, bringing a practical, real-world perspective to the next generation of changemakers. He is the Axiom Business Book Awards Gold Medal winner for “Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders,” released in November 2024, which helps nonprofit leaders develop the skills and confidence that are needed to lead beyond passion. He and his family now live in New York City. He joined us today to discuss the importance of skills beyond passion for nonprofit leaders.  In this episode, you will be able to: Learn why passion alone isn’t enough to sustain effective nonprofit leadership. Understand how to ask deeper questions that lead to transformational giving. Discover ways to navigate close donor relationships while keeping impact at the center. Understand the importance of embracing authenticity in fundraising conversations. Learn what practical strategies can develop the mindset and skills needed to lead with confidence and clarity. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Zeffy. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Unlike other platforms that take a cut of your hard work through credit card and transaction fees, Zeffy is 100% free from transaction and platform fees. That means every dollar you raise goes directly toward fueling your mission. Trusted by more than 50,000 nonprofits, Zeffy empowers organizations of every size to streamline their fundraising with tools to collect donations, sell tickets, and manage donors all in one place. Getting started takes less than 15 minutes, and once you’re set up, you’ll have more resources to put toward what really matters: your cause. 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 a world where leadership is often measured by individual success, today's episode shifts the spotlight to the strength found in unity and shared purpose. Joining us is Carmen James Randolph, the Founding President and CEO of the Women's Foundation of the South, to explore how collaboration, compassion, and collective power can transform communities and drive lasting change.  Carmen introduces the foundation's mission, which is to uplift the health, wealth, and power of women and girls across the South, and reflects on the challenges that nonprofit leaders face in sustaining their work amid funding cuts and burnout. Carmen emphasizes the vital importance of community and collective strength, urging leaders to rely on one another rather than operate in isolation. She shares insights on board engagement, highlighting how creative campaigns can inspire generosity and involvement. Throughout the discussion, Carmen advocates for clarity of vision, collaboration, and alliance-building as essential tools for social change. She emphasizes the importance of nonprofits forming strategic partnerships, exploring mergers, and collaborating to address the growing needs of their communities. The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation and a shared commitment to continue strengthening the sector through unity, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership. In this episode, you will be able to:  Understand the mission and impact of the Women's Foundation of the South. Recognize the importance of collective support in sustaining nonprofit leadership. Discover strategies to strengthen board engagement and donor participation. Learn how creative fundraising campaigns can inspire generosity. Examine how open communication fosters collaboration and mutual support. Embrace the power of unity and long-term planning for greater social impact. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Zeffy. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Unlike other platforms that take a cut of your hard work through credit card and transaction fees, Zeffy is 100% free from transaction and platform fees. That means every dollar you raise goes directly toward fueling your mission. Trusted by more than 50,000 nonprofits, Zeffy empowers organizations of every size to streamline their fundraising with tools to collect donations, sell tickets, and manage donors all in one place. Getting started takes less than 15 minutes, and once you’re set up, you’ll have more resources to put toward what really matters: your cause. 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 often considered to be transformational, but most of the time it’s designed to measure only transactions. Behind the scenes, a quiet disparity has begun to shape the fundraising sector: a major gift fixation, hierarchies of value within teams, and a culture that rewards revenue over relationships. It’s time to reimagine success by tracking what truly matters. Join us in our journey to prove that sustainable philanthropy grows from trust, equity, and care, not just numbers and spreadsheets.  Leslie (Jablonski) Carmona is Senior Director of Donor Experience and Individual Giving at Wayne State University, a major urban research institution in Detroit. As a rare soul who knew her passion lay in the nonprofit sector from the very beginning, Leslie brings a clear-eyed perspective on the sector’s challenges and opportunities for meaningful change. In this episode, you will be able to: Learn why every donor and every role in fundraising matters, not just major gifts. Discover how proportional giving can reshape donor relationships and build long-term engagement. Gain knowledge on how to flatten internal hierarchies and value all team contributions. Learn practical tips for leading with curiosity, calm, and thoughtful risk-taking to drive meaningful innovation. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Zeffy. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Unlike other platforms that take a cut of your hard work through credit card and transaction fees, Zeffy is 100% free from transaction and platform fees. That means every dollar you raise goes directly toward fueling your mission. Trusted by more than 50,000 nonprofits, Zeffy empowers organizations of every size to streamline their fundraising with tools to collect donations, sell tickets, and manage donors all in one place. Getting started takes less than 15 minutes, and once you’re set up, you’ll have more resources to put toward what really matters: your cause. 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.

Tyler Mallory, a major gifts officer at the University of Illinois with a diverse background in sales and nonprofit leadership, shares insights on nurturing donor relationships. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and flexibility to genuinely connect with donors while discussing the changing landscape of cause-based giving. Tyler argues that AI can assist fundraising efforts but should never replace the human touch. He highlights overcoming fear in donor conversations, stressing the value of long-term engagement and authentic connections.

The emerging technologies force the social impact world to see an uncomfortable truth: progress requires both courage and conscience. This conversation highlights not only the ethics of using AI responsibly but also the responsibilities that come with choosing not to use it, the opportunity to let technology amplify human connection rather than erode it, and how institutions can prepare for a future where technology moves faster than our comfort. Joining Mallory today is Joe Manok, vice president for advancement at Clark University and founder of GlobalPhilanthropy.ai, a platform that guides nonprofits and academic institutions in leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance global fundraising outcomes. Born and raised in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, Joe’s path to higher education began with a scholarship funded by a donor he never met, an experience that ignited his lifelong commitment to philanthropy. With a background in computer science and leadership roles at the American University of Beirut and MIT, Joe now leads with a passion for the transformative potential of AI in advancement. In this episode, you will be able to: - Learn how to balance human connection and technology in fundraising for deeper donor engagement. - Discover strategies for building AI readiness while staying ethical and values-driven. - Uncover the importance of differentiating personal values from institutional ethics when adopting new tools. - Gain practical ways AI can empower fundraisers to work more efficiently without losing the human touch. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Zeffy. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Unlike other platforms that take a cut of your hard work through credit card and transaction fees, Zeffy is 100% free from transaction and platform fees. That means every dollar you raise goes directly toward fueling your mission. Trusted by more than 50,000 nonprofits, Zeffy empowers organizations of every size to streamline their fundraising with tools to collect donations, sell tickets, and manage donors all in one place. Getting started takes less than 15 minutes, and once you’re set up, you’ll have more resources to put toward what really matters: your cause. Give your fundraising team more confidence — one conversation at a time. Learn more about Practivated. 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 Give your fundraising team more confidence — one conversation at a time. Learn more about Practivated. 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.

Systemic doesn’t happen in isolation; it begins when power is shared. By placing decision-making in the hands of communities most affected by inequity, collaborative funds are reshaping philanthropy. This approach redefines who leads, who decides, and how trust is built in the places that haven’t always been welcoming.  Rebecca Darwent is the founder and philanthropic advisor at Rebecca Darwent Global Inc. She is an internationally recognized expert in philanthropy, a champion of collaborative giving, and a social entrepreneur dedicated to advancing equity, liberation, and abundance through wealth and resource redistribution. She co-founded the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) in 2022 and led fundraising, community engagement, and advocacy that resulted in a historic $200 million capital transfer from the Canadian government to Black philanthropy. Through her advisory firm, Rebecca helps families and foundations channel their wealth and networks to empower the underfunded communities. She is also a 2024 Young Global Leader, a Women Leader for the World Fellow, and a Canadian Millennium Laureate.  In this episode, you will be able to: - Discover how collaborative funds are redistributing power and reshaping traditional philanthropy. - Learn why community-led decision-making creates more equitable and lasting impact. - Understand what it takes to build trust and partnership in historically unwelcoming spaces. - Learn why relationship-building is essential for breaking cycles of exclusion and mistrust. - Discover how Black leaders are navigating and challenging systemic barriers in philanthropy. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform.  Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there. 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 engaging discussion, Karen Kelly, Development Manager at the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and co-founder of Through the Heart, shares her journey from managing nonprofits to mastering fundraising. Karen emphasizes viewing donor asks as relationship-building investments rather than mere transactions. She busts the myth that fundraising is only for extroverts, highlighting how data-driven strategies can transform efforts, such as re-engaging lapsed donors through targeted messaging. Listeners will discover how to leverage clean data and storytelling to boost their nonprofit's fundraising potential.

Leadership is framed around performance and results too often, ignoring the more profound needs of inclusivity, safety, and authentic expression. True leadership is something that is beyond token inclusion; it's about creating spaces where people feel empowered, valued, and feel free to bring their whole selves forward. Joy, curiosity, and play allow leaders to reframe challenges, nurture resilience, and cultivate strong connections.  This week, Mallory is joined by Sarah Ali, founder & CEO of Sarah Ali Philanthropy Inc., a Toronto-based but globally operating full-service agency supporting nonprofits in scaling their revenue engines. With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has worked across digital-first giving, institutional fundraising, and funder engagement. She joined Mallory to explore how rediscovering joy and clarity of purpose can transform the way diverse leaders show up, making the workplace not only functional but also thriving with authenticity and shared human experience.  In this episode, you will be able to: - Understand why token inclusion is not true inclusivity. - Discover how stress and burnout hinder our thinking. - Learn about the role of Play in building safe, supportive spaces for diverse teams. - Figure out how reconnecting with joy and purpose can strengthen fundraising, leadership, and organizational culture.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Zeffy is a game-changing fundraising platform built exclusively for nonprofits. Unlike other platforms that take a cut of your hard work through credit card and transaction fees, Zeffy is 100% free from transaction and platform fees. That means every dollar you raise goes directly toward fueling your mission. Trusted by more than 50,000 nonprofits, Zeffy empowers organizations of every size to streamline their fundraising with tools to collect donations, sell tickets, and manage donors all in one place. Getting started takes less than 15 minutes, and once you’re set up, you’ll have more resources to put toward what really matters: your cause. 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

Building a nonprofit that genuinely connects with people requires more than a compelling mission; it demands empathy, strategy, and courage. Mark Dombkins, Founder at Forever Projects, shares insights from his journey leading a nonprofit dedicated to ending the Tanzanian orphan crisis through income creation for women. He and his wife Anna live in Australia with their six children, three of whom they adopted while working in Tanzania between 2010 and 2013. During the conversation, He mentions the importance of clarity and naivety in leadership, emphasizing storytelling as a powerful tool for inspiring generosity and trust. Mark emphasizes the importance of meeting donors where they are, understanding their realities, pressures, and motivations, rather than expecting them to adapt to an organization's mission. He describes how his team grew brand awareness and future demand through lean, abundance-minded strategies such as community events. These gatherings weren't designed to convert donors immediately but to create joy, hope, connection, and insight, trusting that value-driven experiences would naturally lead to deeper engagement. Mark also reflects on the constant tension between short-term fundraising pressures and long-term strategy, stressing the importance of supportive governance and the courage to say no to opportunities that don't align. For him, discomfort is a vital teacher, both in leadership immersion trips and in the discipline of reframing opportunity costs as signs of focus and progress. Finally, Mark explores how innovation, culture, and identity shape giving. He notes that many major donors are motivated as much by new ways of solving problems as by the cause itself. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how storytelling and empathy can transform donor engagement. Understand the power of meeting donors where they are and creating meaningful community experiences. Gain insights into balancing short-term fundraising pressures with long-term strategic vision. Explore the discipline of saying no and embracing discomfort as a tool for growth. Learn how innovation, culture, and identity shape giving and strengthen a nonprofit’s impact. Agency in giving is crucial for fostering genuine generosity. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com 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.