What the Fundraising

The importance of measuring a person's connection to an organization cannot be underestimated, as it transforms the way nonprofit fundraisers prioritize and prompt potential donors. By utilizing artificial intelligence, fundraisers can focus on building relationships with individuals based on their genuine interest in the cause rather than simply targeting them because of their wealth. This approach leads to more meaningful and fruitful partnerships, which positively impacts the efforts of the organization in the long run. In this episode, I get to speak with Nathan Chappell, a trailblazer in the world of AI-driven fundraising and co-author of the book Generosity Crisis. Nathan brings his vast experience and innovative ideas to the conversation and there is so much to learn! With a background in technology and business ownership, Nathan embarked on a 20-year journey in the nonprofit sector before joining Donor Search AI. In this episode, Nathan shares his insights on using AI to measure connections, stressing its ability to challenge assumptions and improve accuracy when modeling donors and prospects. For example, by treating donors and non-donors as separate entities and considering their ever-evolving priorities, AI enables fundraisers to make informed decisions about which individuals are most likely to offer valuable support. Nathan's expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing has enabled him to challenge traditional assumptions and deliver groundbreaking insights into donor behavior.In this episode, you will be able to: 1. Discover the innovative ways AI is combating the challenges faced by nonprofit organizations. 2. Uncover the secrets behind personalization and precision in charitable giving through AI technology. 3. Recognize the vital aspects of responsible AI, including privacy, security, ethics, and equity. 4. Embrace the discomfort associated with AI implementation for improved fundraising results. 5. Grasp the importance of accountability and transparency in AI-driven models for nonprofits.Get all the resources from today’s episode hereConnect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652Please note: 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. There is no sponsorship or industry money behind the production of this series and the editorial content was at the sole discretion of the What the Fundraising team. If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

As a fundraiser, your ability to handle stress is constantly tested. Fundraising requires lot of hard work, sacrifice, rejection, and honestly, sometimes trauma. If you have a sensitive nervous system, like many fundraisers do, you’re more prone to burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress. So, how can we prevent that? Today’s guest is here to help! Dr. Linnea Passaler is the Founder and CEO of Heal Your Nervous System, a digital health startup that uses a combination of neuroscience and somatic work to help those struggling with overwhelm, trauma, burnout, and anxiety to heal their dysregulated nervous systems and thrive.This episode is particularly important to me because the more I have learned about the nervous system over the years, the more I have realized that one of the main barries that fundraisers face is that the work of fundraising can be very disregulating. And without the right understanding, tools and framework we don’t understand why we’re constantly experiencing low energy, dread, and burnout. We keep trying to manage our time, but I really think it’s all about how we manage our nervous system. During this conversation, Linnea teaches you how to regulate your nervous system so that you can handle stress and accomplish more without it leading you to dysregulation and burnout. She details the connection between trauma and burnout and shares her 5-step framework for healing your nervous system.Because of your brain’s neuroplasticity, we can reverse the damage that’s done when we feel overwhelmed or powerless. If you’ve been feeling powerless, constantly overwhelmed, or a lack of purpose in your role as a fundraiser, don’t worry. You’re not alone and there is a light at the end of the tunnel! These tips are just what you need.Get all the resources from today’s episode here. A big shout out to our sponsor Instil, the holistic tool that reimagines nonprofit technology in ways that deepen community relationships and nonprofit processes to magnify impact. The platform’s advanced UX design and real-time analytics supercharge donors, increase volunteer engagement, and smooth donor management and operations across your entire organization.Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

When it comes to non-profit work, your ability to fundraise is not possible if you do not prioritize your mental health and wellness. The clarity, energy, and ability you’re looking for does not reside in how much you push yourself, but how you take care of yourself.Here to unpack that is further is Rosa Julia Rivera, a clinical therapist and Co-Owner of Chicago Growth Mindset, a Latina-led private practice specializing in integrating workplace mental wellness programs and providing evidence-based behavioral healthcare for high stress professionals, community healers, leaders, and first responders.In this episode, Rosa offers you her expertise on creating a culture and mindset inside your organization that supports the health, wellness, and recovery of people in high stress, mission-driven positions. She also gives tangible advice on how to thrive and feel empowered as a development director in a non-profit, even if your boss doesn’t prioritize employee well-being. As we’re experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis, and particularly high burnout across our sector, this episode is more critical than ever. And if you gain something from it, don’t hesitate to share it with a friend, coworker, or loved one you think would enjoy it.Get all the resources from today’s episode here. A big shout out to our sponsor Instil, the holistic tool that reimagines nonprofit technology in ways that deepen community relationships and nonprofit processes to magnify impact. The platform’s advanced UX design and real-time analytics supercharge donors, increase volunteer engagement, and smooth donor management and operations across your entire organization. learn more at instil.io/mallory. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

Executing a successful fundraising event can be daunting, but there are simple strategies you can use to plan a highly engaging, creative, and enjoyable fundraiser with less stress and more ease.Meet A.J. Steinberg, CFRE, a non-profit event producer and engagement strategist who’s raised millions of dollars for organizations through her LA-based company, Queen Bee Fundraising. A.J. is an expert on non-profit event planning, event sponsorships, committee and volunteer leadership, generational giving, and guest engagement.  In this episode, you’ll learn A.J.’s best tips and strategies for planning and executing successful, engaging fundraising events – from free family events to exquisite galas. She touches on everything from creative sponsorship ideas to mobile bidding to preventing post-event burnout. Ready to start planning your next fundraising event? This episode is for you!Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Many thanks to our sponsor, Givebutter for making this episode possible. Our friends at Givebutter really understand what it takes to be a magnetic fundraiser. Their fundraising platform empowers millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better every single day. To learn more about them, head on over to givebutter.com/mallory.Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

What does it mean to be a magnetic fundraiser? It means you attract abundance and connection instead of chasing it. Magnetic fundraisers are authentic, good listeners who prioritize meaningful connection with donors over outcomes. So, it’s possible to be fully authentic when asking people for money? Of course it is! Sara Lomelin, CEO of Philanthropy Together, is working to diversify and democratize philanthropy by creating the infrastructure needed for the giving circle model to flourish in all communities. Philanthropy Together is a global initiative, co-created by hundreds of giving circles and collective giving network leaders, to diversify and democratize philanthropy, help start new giving circles, and help existing giving circles thrive.In this episode, Sara describes her approach to being an authentic, magnetic fundraiser with an abundance mindset, instead of a transactional fundraiser in a scarcity mindset. She also talks about why giving circles are so successful at fundraising and building strong, authentic donor relationships. Tune in to learn Sara’s best tips and strategies for talking to donors, creating safe spaces for connection and transparency, and increasing both the effectiveness and the efficiency of your fundraising efforts.Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Many thanks to our sponsor, Givebutter for making this episode possible. Our friends at Givebutter really understand what it takes to be a magnetic fundraiser. Their fundraising platform empowers millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better every single day. To learn more about them, head on over to givebutter.com/mallory.Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

What inspires donors to be deeply connected to causes and organizations? How can fundraisers shift from transactional donor relationships to more connected donor relationships? These are key questions whose answers shine light on our beliefs about generosity, problem solving, and non-profit success. Want to know more? Tune in to this episode with Paul Nazareth!Paul Nazareth is a Charity Sector Community Builder and VP of Education & Development at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. Having been a philanthropic advisor for 15 years, working with a variety charities from universities to churches, Paul has a wealth of knowledge in non-profit leadership and creating a personal legacy through smart, generous giving. His insights can help us fundraisers approach fundraising with a new, more humanistic perspective.In this episode, Paul and I discuss what inspires donors to deeply connect with causes and organizations and how we can use this knowledge to optimize the impact of their donations. We talk about how fundraisers can reframe uncomfortable and vulnerable conversations with donors, particularly around death, legacy gifts, and gift planning. You’ll learn about the systems and structures that are needed to create the conditions for magnetic fundraising and how (when they are not there) it’s easy for fundraisers to stay in a transactional mindset. If we want fundraisers to be able to nurture human connection-based relationships we need to create the conditions for that success and there is a role we all can play in that. We also highlight a unique way to prevent burnout in fundraisers, so stay tuned!Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Many thanks to our sponsor, Givebutter for making this episode possible. Our friends at Givebutter really understand what it takes to be a magnetic fundraiser. Their fundraising platform empowers millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better every single day. To learn more about them, head on over to givebutter.com/mallory.Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

Feeling overwhelmed, lost, or perfectionistic when it comes to managing your social media? Not sure if your Instagram or Facebook posts are giving you a good ROI? This episode is for you! Today’s guest will certainly ease your mind with her tips and strategies for creating an amazing social media management strategy.Julia Campbell, Founder of J Campbell Social Marketing, has helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking. What does that mean? Julia enables nonprofits to build communities and fundraise online, all while creating engaging social media platforms for their donors to connect through. Her consulting team provides social media audits, customized recommendations and reports, helps you build your own social media team, and learn how to use storytelling to grow an audience and spread your message online.In this episode, Julia teaches you how to manage your nonprofit’s social media like a master. You’ll learn strategies for onboarding a social media manager, creating magnetic content to attract and engage donors, dealing with negative comments, telling client stories ethically, and much more.Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Many thanks to our sponsor, Givebutter for making this episode possible. Our friends at Givebutter really understand what it takes to be a magnetic fundraiser. Their fundraising platform empowers millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better every single day. To learn more about them, head on over to givebutter.com/mallory.Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Impact practitioners have a special role in not only their organization’s well-being, but their community’s well-being. How? They are catalysts who can use their organization’s resources to create meaningful change. That’s exactly what Kavell Brown has been doing for years. Kavell is the Social Impact Partnerships Manager at LinkedIn, where he manages non-profit and philanthropic partnerships across North America. Kavell seeks to deploy and leverage the company's assets to help non-profits scale their impact and make economic opportunity, healing and wholeness available to all. In this episode, Kavell shines light on the role of CSR/Social Impact practitioners in the non-profit sector as well as his approach to philanthropy and life. He shares his candid thoughts on what non-profits, corporations, and CSR departments can do to create impactful volunteer engagement and implement change in our communities. We do not hold back as we authentically explore the role for each of us in building the world we want to see. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. A big shout out to our sponsor Instil, the holistic tool that reimagines nonprofit technology in ways that deepen community relationships and nonprofit processes to magnify impact. The platform’s advanced UX design and real-time analytics supercharge donors, increase volunteer engagement, and smooth donor management and operations across your entire organization.Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If 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

Leah Neaderthal, the founder of Smart Gets Paid and a sales coach for women consultants, joins us on this episode of What the Fundraising to share her expertise on getting more of the right consulting clients and increasing revenue for consulting contracts. But don't let the focus on consultants fool you; Leah's insights and advice are applicable to fundraisers too who are trying to shift their mindset around how they approach money and value. In this episode, Leah provides valuable insights into selling, a topic that many people struggle with in their businesses. She encourages listeners to shift their mindset when transitioning from nonprofit to running their own business, shares tips on creating value-based pricing to charge more for services, and explains how to use curiosity to explore one's own beliefs and stories around money.If you're a consultant looking to show up differently in your business or a fundraiser wanting to challenge your thinking about money, offers, asking, and showing up in your fullness, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn from Leah's expertise and take your sales and money mindset to the next level.Get all the resources from today’s episode here.Many thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. When it comes to building strong and stable organizations, it’s all about a connected generosity experience. Our partners at Neon One have built software that makes it easier for you to connect with people and grow a community of generosity. Check them out at neonone.com/mallory today!Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If 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

Looking to increase donor trust and recruit more aligned donors to your non-profit? The key lies in your marketing. That might sound obvious, but non-profit marketing goes deep. So, let’s dive in. Priscilla McKinney, CEO of Little Bird Marketing, is a sought-after keynote speaker, prolific blogger, podcast host, industry innovator, and diversity champion. She personifies creativity, entrepreneurship, and authentic leadership – inspiring others to carve out their own path to success. With a fiery passion for marketing and sustainable lead generation, Priscilla has quite a few gems of wisdom to share with you about fundraising for non-profit organizations.In this episode, Priscilla shares powerful insights on defining your donor persona, finding balance between operational transparency and storytelling, and getting out of the harmful scarcity mindset that runs rampant in the non-profit sector.You’ll learn how to connect to your ideal donors en masse, the reality of how the scarcity mindset is impacting your non-profit, and why you don’t need to be as transparent with donors about certain things but you definitely need to be open about others.In this episode, you will learn the following:1. How can businesses create meaningful messages that resonate with an audience?2. What is the importance of understanding the motivations behind why donors give?3. How can we make sure that nonprofits are providing meaningful stories and not just relying on demographics?Get all the resources from today’s episode hereMany thanks to our sponsor, Neon One for making this episode possible. When it comes to building strong and stable organizations, it’s all about a connected generosity experience. Our partners at Neon One have built software that makes it easier for you to connect with people and grow a community of generosity. Check them out at neonone.com/mallory today!Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraisingYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/Website: malloryerickson.com/podcastLoved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652If 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