What the Fundraising
Mallory Erickson
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 27, 2026 • 29min
332: The Art and Science of Prospect Research with Katherine Scott and Sarah Marcotte
Sarah Marcotte and Katherine Scott, prospect development professionals and co-authors of From the Ground Up, explore the art and science of prospect research. They discuss turning wealth data into meaningful donor connections, balancing metrics with fundraiser experience, and avoiding outdated profiles and biased AI. A thoughtful look at collaboration, curiosity, and delivering sharper insights instead of data overload.
Oct 20, 2026 • 31min
331: Ditch the KPI Hamster Wheel with Charlie Melichar
Charlie Melichar, Principal at Foster Avenue, helps mission-driven organizations sharpen their positioning and fundraising strategy. He explores why chasing KPIs can damage donor relationships, how to define a meaningful North Star, and why teams need mentorship and room to learn. The conversation also examines balancing short-term results with long-term trust and using data to spark curiosity rather than trigger transactional outreach.
10 snips
Oct 13, 2026 • 42min
330: AI for Nonprofits: How to Start with the Problem, Not the Technology with Naomi Morenzoni
Naomi Morenzoni, Salesforce’s corporate philanthropy leader, explores the company’s 1-1-1 giving model and its AI for Impact Accelerator. She discusses practical AI applications for nonprofits, why organizations should begin with a clearly defined problem, and how to assess data readiness. The conversation also covers building AI fluency through small experiments, managing AI agents, and creating stronger partnerships among funders, nonprofits, and technology companies.
10 snips
Oct 6, 2026 • 43min
329: How to Stop Making Assumptions About Your Donors and Asking Better Questions with Kyle Buchmann
Kyle Buchmann, Senior Vice President of Development at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, brings deep higher-education fundraising experience to a conversation about stronger leadership and donor relationships. They explore navigating uncertainty, spotting assumptions with the Ladder of Inference, asking better questions, listening beyond donor data, and using DISC profiles to prevent communication misunderstandings.
10 snips
Sep 29, 2026 • 36min
328: How Nonprofits Can Use AI Without Amplifying Bad Culture with Tim Lockie
Tim Lockie, a human-centered technology and AI expert and founder of The Human Stack, explores why nonprofit tech projects fail when culture and habits remain unchanged. He compares tools to instruments in an orchestra, champions “first chairs” to guide teams, and examines belonging, shame, and human judgment in technology adoption. AI’s biggest risk? Amplifying broken systems at remarkable speed.
9 snips
Sep 22, 2026 • 34min
327: Thousand Day Planning: A Different Approach to Fundraising Leadership with Jay E. Davenport
Jay E. Davenport, Penn State’s Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, brings 32 years of higher-education advancement experience to a lively conversation about relationship-centered philanthropy. Explore base building, lifelong alumni engagement, cross-team collaboration, and “innovating on behalf of tradition.” Jay also unpacks his 1,000-day planning framework for turning big visions into clear priorities, milestones, and shared accountability.
10 snips
Sep 18, 2026 • 1h 5min
326: How to Build Win-Win Content Partnerships in the Social Impact Space with Cindy Wagman
Cindy Wagman, nonprofit consultant, educator, and founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, explores smarter partnerships in the social impact world. She and Mallory Erickson unpack sponsorships, referrals, webinars, speaking opportunities, and AI collaborations. They examine alignment, fair compensation, audience growth, ethical affiliate practices, transparency, and protecting intellectual property when technology enters your work.
7 snips
Sep 17, 2026 • 22min
325: From Free Webinars to $10K Keynotes: How I Built My Speaking Business with Mallory Erickson
Mallory Erickson shares the behind-the-scenes path from unpaid talks and free webinars to $10K keynotes. She explores content partnerships, referrals, testimonials, speaker reels, and media kits, along with pricing around preparation, travel, family commitments, and fairness. She also discusses protecting calendar space and building lasting relationships with event organizers.
Sep 17, 2026 • 23min
324: Writing a Book: The Unfiltered Truth About My Book-Writing Process with Mallory Erickson
Mallory Erickson shares the messy reality of writing and publishing a book, from signing a contract without a thesis to rewriting everything six weeks after giving birth. She explores perfectionism, ADHD, sequencing big ideas, choosing a publisher, and using AI for feedback without losing her voice. She also reflects on how writing reshaped her thinking, speaking, and business strategy.
Sep 15, 2026 • 29min
323: Starting a Podcast with Mallory Erickson
Mallory Erickson goes behind the scenes of building a podcast that has lasted more than 300 conversations. She explores starting from genuine curiosity, creating a public learning lab, landing early sponsors, and fostering more authentic discussions without pre-show calls. The conversation also covers pitching distinctive stories, using podcasting to build relationships, tackling uncomfortable topics, and choosing joy and value over rankings.
