What the Fundraising

In fundraising, success relies less on perfection and more on continuous improvement. This conversation evaluates how nonprofits can balance vision with pragmatism, prioritizing embracing continuous growth instead of unattainable ideals. From identifying what not to do to relationship intelligence, we cover the importance of understanding households, leveraging employer connections, recognizing non-linear donor journeys, and spotting early signs of donor disengagement. Together, these insights offer a blueprint for building stronger relationships and achieving lasting impact in the fundraising sector.  Our guest today is Adam Miller, social entrepreneur, tech founder, and philanthropist dedicated to leveraging technology and innovation for social good. Adam is the founder and CEO of Instill, a technology platform designed to help nonprofits maximize impact. Before launching Instill, he founded Cornerstone OnDemand, growing it from his apartment into the world’s largest educational technology company, empowering over 75 million people in the process. Apart from his tech career, Adam spent two decades involved in the nonprofit sector and helped grow Team Rubicon into a leading global humanitarian aid and veteran service organization. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children and joined us today to talk about the importance of focusing on the right things rather than perfection. In this episode, you will be able to: - Learn how the nonprofits can balance vision with pragmatism. - Get an idea about the illusion of perfectionism.  - Discover the power of relationship intelligence. - Learn about the importance of understanding household dynamics. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.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.

What if doing good, and business isn’t in opposition? Ethical fundraising, value-driven sales, and authentic relationships can thrive in the powerful space created by the intersection of doing good and business. In this episode, we explain how viewing money as a tool rather than a corrupting force aligns with purpose-led work. From rethinking donor fatigue to the value of storytelling, this episode challenges the recurrent assumptions about what it really means to ask, give, and grow. Whether you are a nonprofit leader or a goal-oriented entrepreneur, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on how to lead with value while still achieving growth.  Tamara Jackson is a consultant, advisor, investor, and the founder of Beaconship and LeadReviver™, an advisory and consultancy service. As a former banking executive turned purpose-driven entrepreneur, Tamara brings over 25 years of corporate experience and a lifelong passion for giving back. Through volunteering, philanthropy, and value-aligned business, she used her skills to advance causes she cares about. Her love to operate at the intersection between doing good and doing business is to show that both can be done at the same time. She joined us today to talk about how aligning purpose with profit allows fundraising and sales to become an act of service instead of a transaction.  In this episode, you will be able to:  - Learn how to attract donations by creating values. - Learn about donor motivations and relationship building. - Discover the difference between persuasion sales vs. service-oriented sales. - Learn how to honor silence as a part of the decision-making process.  - Discover how to write with intentionality and clarity.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.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.

Challenging the outdated assumptions about who gives and how in fundraising, research has found that women are not only more generous than men, but they also give differently, diversely, and collaboratively. In this week’s episode, we break down the myths and misconceptions about women donors and examine the importance of relationship-building, storytelling, and recognition. Women seem to redefine philanthropy from giving across various causes to wanting deeper engagement beyond just writing a check.  Jacqueline Ackerman is the interim director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The institute believes that gender matters in philanthropy and that perspective, leadership, and generosity are required from women and men in solving the world's complex problems. After joining the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in 2012, she has grown her career supporting and leading research on various aspects of charitable giving. Jackie enjoys developing relationships and using her knowledge and experience to deliver research with real-world applications. She brings a deep expertise in women donors, gendered giving trends, and the evolving role of women in nonprofit leadership. She joined us today to talk about how to shift your strategies, build authentic relationships, and tap into the real power of women's generosity.  In this episode, you will be able to: - Discover the myths and misconceptions about working with women donors. - Learn about the importance of relationship-based philanthropy. - Learn about the seven Ts of philanthropy. - Discover why it’s important to keep a continuous communication with the donors.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.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.

This week on What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Lindsey Fuller, a human-centered leadership coach, keynote speaker, and executive director of The Teaching Well, an education administration program based in Oakland, CA. Together they explore a crisis that too many of us are navigating: burnout. Together, we unpack the intersection of workplace wellness, self-awareness, accountability, and systemic barriers to healing. Lindsey doesn’t just name the problem, she offers a path forward. From reimagining self-care to fostering collective accountability in organizational culture, Lindsey shares micro-wellness practices that can help leaders and teams sustain themselves through turbulent times. . Lindsey taught in both South Central LA and North Oakland, and then served as a site administrator at a school in deep East Oakland. Lindsey has been a trainer in restorative practices for over a decade and is state certified in mediation, working to build adult working cultures we don’t need to heal from. Under Lindsey’s visionary leadership, the organization has experienced extraordinary growth in just 4 years—more than doubling its staff, increasing its budget from $800K to $2.6M, and expanding its transformative support for educators from 4 states to 24 nationwide She is a true believer that in order to reach collective liberation, it’s a must to find ways to sustain adults in schools to ensure trauma-sensitive continuity of care. She joined us today to talk about the ongoing staffing and burnout crisis in the social sector and philanthropy.  In this episode, you will be able to; - Learn about the importance of mindset shift in the workplace. - Discover practical steps for microdosing wellness.  - Learn about the importance of recognizing and reclaiming individual agency. - Learn about the role of accountability in self-care.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.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.

What does it mean to lead and fundraise with honesty, especially in uncertain times? In this week’s episode, we address how to build donor trust, resist action bias, and push back on the scarcity-driven leadership in times like this. Starting from ethical storytelling, we look at what fundraisers can do to stay grounded, strategic, and value-aligned, no matter what challenges arise.  Maria Rio is the CEO and founder of Further Together, a consulting firm started in 2023. Her passion for nonprofit work came as a result of witnessing charitable services as a refugee who arrived in Canada. She begun fundraising in 2011 as a face-to-face fundraiser and transitioned into in-house roles later. In Further Together, they help community-led nonprofits increase their revenue without burning out or risking their values. She joined us today to talk about staying grounded and value-driven in the face of uncertainty.  In this episode, you will be able to,  - Learn about the importance of continuous fundraising in difficult times. - Discover the importance of continuous storytelling. - Understand why it’s important to share impact without waiting for the finish line. - Learn how to push through scarcity culture in the workplace.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.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 Podcast… Mallory is joined by Kathy Archer, a leadership development coach who helps women confidently lead their nonprofit. What does it mean to lead with authenticity, integrity, and alignment? Women in mission-driven roles are always praised for handling it all while silently losing and disconnecting from their own values. Reclaiming the values you lost due to the external expectations will make the pathway to being both the best version of yourself and a leader who promotes authenticity.  Kathy hosts The Surviving to Thriving Podcast and is also the author of the best-selling book “Mastering Confidence: Discover your leadership potential by awakening your inner guidance system.” Her mission is to empower nonprofit women leaders with her online training library that offers affordable, relevant, and practical content to keep leaders engaged and excited, and boost their leadership capacity and personal growth. She joined us today to talk about the importance of self-reflection, aligning actions with values, and the need to process emotions for the women in mission-driven fields.    In this episode, you will be able to: - Discover the key components of becoming an authentic leader. - Learn how to recognize the incongruences in leadership. - Learn about the role of self-reflection in character development. - Notice the importance of creating a safe space to process emotions.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. I love partnering with Neon One because I believe they care for the whole nonprofit, and I know that my clients will be well taken care of. I also love how they work with consultants to value our time and expertise. They pay for speaking at their events, and they understand how consultants support the entire sector. To learn more about Neon One’s partner program CLICK HERE. 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.

It’s often easy to blur the line between personal identity and work identity where heart and mission lead in a field like nonprofits. This conversation focuses on the tension between deep care and personal sustainability and how passion can both fuel and consume us. We unpack what it means to lead with empathy without surrendering ourselves in the process. From embracing structure to letting go of over-sacrifice, we invite leaders and others alike to consider a healthier and more honest way of showing your enthusiasm.  Jamie Tworkowski is a keynote speaker, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide, and NYT bestselling author of ‘If You Feel Too Much’. Having known him for his sensitivity, big feelings, and later-in-life ADHD diagnosis, Jamie has grown into a grounded, intentional leader. With over a decade of experience in the movement, Jamie now advocated for mental health, self-awareness, and sustainable ways of caring for others and for oneself. He is also a strong believer that vulnerability leads to connection, that connection is crucial to life, and ultimately that life is worth living. He joined us today to talk about the complexities of leading with heart in the nonprofit sector.  In this episode, you will be able to: - Discover the importance of self-awareness. - Learn about the importance of understanding motivations, honoring limits, and finding worth outside of performance. - Understand why a culture that supports rest and care needs to be created. - Uncover the complexities of intertwined personhood and work identity.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. I love partnering with Neon One because I believe they care for the whole nonprofit, and I know that my clients will be well taken care of. I also love how they work with consultants to value our time and expertise. They pay for speaking at their events, and they understand how consultants support the entire sector. To learn more about Neon One’s partner program CLICK HERE. 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.

Digital transformation isn’t just about adopting new tools; it’s about establishing the right environment for change to take root. The human-first approach of digital transformation values curiosity over control and sees innovation as something grown, not forced. This episode is a great opportunity to witness what’s possible when people, not platforms, are at the center of progress.  Matt Leta is the CEO and partner at Future Works, a next-gen digital transformation services company that drives speed, value, and results. Matt is also a creative director who has over 15 years of experience, a digital generalist, and an entrepreneur. In 2020, he started Future Horizon, a community and non-profit organization, gathering business & community leaders, indigenous leaders, artists, and investors to solve problems of tomorrow.  In this episode, you will be able to, - Learn the importance of having an ideal external presence. - Discover the relationship between core messaging and strategic planning. - Learn why you need to extract and codify the founder’s vision. - Discover the role of clarity and consistency in core messaging.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. I love partnering with Neon One because I believe they care for the whole nonprofit, and I know that my clients will be well taken care of. I also love how they work with consultants to value our time and expertise. They pay for speaking at their events, and they understand how consultants support the entire sector. To learn more about Neon One’s partner program CLICK HERE. 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 Podcast… In today’s landscape of fundraising, where pressure and performance often obscure purpose, value alignment is more crucial than ever. Restorative philanthropy, embedded in authenticity, mutual respect, and shared purposes, can transform donor relationships and support healthier, more sustainable practices. Rather than centering persuasion, fundraisers can focus on clarity and connection and build trust through honest conversations. This approach not only boosts the impact but also protects fundraisers against burnout, allowing organizations to invest in relationships that truly reflect their values.  Tanya Rumble is an inclusive fundraising and restorative philanthropy thought leader, award-winning executive director of development, facilitator, researcher, writer, and speaker. Tanya possesses nearly 15 years of experience in leading high-performing teams to raise millions for respected institutions and was recognized as one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women in 2023. She currently works as the executive director of development for University-Wide Initiatives at TMU. She joined us today to talk about the importance of values alignment in fundraising relationships.  In this episode, you will be able to:  - Learn the importance of an abundance mindset and shared values. - Discover the role of restorative philanthropy in building honest, value-aligned relationships. - Learn how to balance the fundraising ecosystem. - Learn about the burnout, stress, uncertainty, rejection, isolation, and power dynamics experienced by fundraisers. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. I love partnering with Neon One because I believe they care for the whole nonprofit, and I know that my clients will be well taken care of. I also love how they work with consultants to value our time and expertise. They pay for speaking at their events, and they understand how consultants support the entire sector. To learn more about Neon One’s partner program CLICK HERE. 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.

This week on the What the Fundraising podcast, Mallory is  joined by Boomer Anderson, a health optimization practitioner, investor, husband, podcast host, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Smarter Not Harder, Inc.  Mallory and Boomer explored how nonprofit leaders, often stretched thin and managing chronic stress, can rethink their approach to personal well-being, not just for themselves, but for the sustainability of their mission-driven work. This conversation is a masterclass in alignment. Aligning your health practices with your leadership values, and understanding that optimizing yourself is foundational to optimizing your impact. Boomer is  the CEO of Health Optimization Medicine and Practice, a nonprofit focused on educating doctors and practitioners on how to optimize health instead of treating the disease. He also serves as a strategic advisor to Welldium and is a TEDx speaker. In this episode, you will be able to: Learn about the empowered responsibility in health. Learn about the issue of overwhelm in the age of information. Discover the anxiety around giving up alcohol. Learn about the cultural and social implications of health choices. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. I love partnering with Neon One because I believe they care for the whole nonprofit, and I know that my clients will be well taken care of. I also love how they work with consultants to value our time and expertise. They pay for speaking at their events, and they understand how consultants support the entire sector. To learn more about Neon One’s partner program CLICK HERE. 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.