What the Fundraising

Do you see financial resources as a zero-sum game? If another fundraiser gets more, does it mean your nonprofit receives less? Check that mindset! My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is here to offer a completely different – far more generous – lens on wealth. Angela Matthews, the founder of the Happy Investor Method, shares an approach fueled by her vision of bounty in both business and in life.“Long gone are the days of martyrdom and choice poverty because I have something that someone else doesn’t. I’m over it,” says Angela. Having grown up poor and determined to change the narrative, she started looking for tools to unlock wealth and an abundance she could share. Based on her investing success, Angela has developed a step-by-step program to help clients banish shame in favor of agency, opening doors to opportunity in unexpected ways! To get there, however, we first must be willing to sit with messy, uncomfortable money issues embedded in our psyches and deal with scars that are often passed down trans-generationally. You’ll learn what brought Angela to this work and why claiming financial purpose is an essential first step toward shifting self-limiting beliefs. We discuss the binary approach to money that leave nonprofits unnecessarily constricted and unpack what it might look like for fundraisers to take an entirely different approach to how we talk about money. If you’re ready to make the connection between happiness and wealth, use this link to learn more about Angela’s program or, better yet, schedule a discovery call here.Many thanks to our incredible sponsors at DonorPerfect. DonorPerfect has a lot of free educational resources for fundraisers. Learn more and download some of their guides and tools today at donorperfect.com/mallory.Episode Highlights(02:20) A brief intro to Angela and her hands-on approach to bringing a realistic but also intentionally abundant lens to fundraising.(03:12) Angela shares her personal money story, from her early experience of poverty to the Google research she did to set her course towards sustainable, self-made wealth.(06:43) Angela explains her starting point when it comes to helping others unlock abundance. Often it starts with identifying (then releasing) trauma of some kind, either bad choices we’ve made in the past or transgenerational wounding around money.(07:48) What do I have to show for it? Reframing money with a more nuanced understanding of value. It isn’t always demonstrable or tangible. (11:40) Investing and what it means to sit in the discomfort of temporary loss, maintaining equanimity and a sense of safety in trusting the future.(14:50) Angela helps us to zoom out to look at investments and the market with proportion and a long-term perspective, whatever the season.(20:40) Everything changes when more of us get wealthy, opening up global pathways away from scarcity and towards abundance, generosity, and growth.(26:17) Ditch the binary! The story of money is that it comes and goes, ebbs and flows. One person’s gain does not equate with another person’s loss, so if you do something nice for yourself, it doesn’t follow that you are depriving someone else.(28:19) Angela urges us to take a holistic view of money, allowing space for generous investment in others as well as in ourselves. (30:47) Angela challenges nonprofits to flow more abundance into their donor engagement models, incorporating new and humanizing connections.  (32:51) Money is complicated and fraught, steeped in everything from transgenerational trauma to knotted emotions and attachments. (36:28) So much of the work Mallory believes that fundraisers must do around money requires grappling with discomfort.(37:25) You can have the perfect pitch deck and impact report for a major donor meeting, but if you’re still harboring uncomfortable, unexplored money issues then you are not ready to own the room!(40:02) Learn more about Angela 

Ever had that sensation of running, running, running, and not even really knowing where you’re running to? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is asking us to pause and consider: Might there be something we’re unconsciously running away from? Goli Kalkhoran, Coach and Host of Lessons From A Quitter, is all about stripping away the layers of identity and self-limiting beliefs that drive so much of our lives. It’s so common that we run from shame, guilt, disappointment, and ultimately from ourselves, but there is actually an entirely different way to show up.We are unpacking the roots of maladaptive behaviors (those things we do to ourselves that are not in fact good for our “selves”). Much of it comes from feeling (or having been given the message) that we can’t trust ourselves and that we need external validation. Herself a recovering Type-A lawyer, Goli believes women are often acculturated to be people-pleasing perfectionists when, of course, no one gets out of life without making mistakes. Lots of them. So why not surrender and even celebrate the fact that we are all in a position to assess, accept, pivot, and try again?Enjoy this life-affirming look at career, and why it’s so important to push back against the cues women especially receive about money, greed, and that most elemental of human conditions: wanting more. If you have a toxic relationship with money or self-judgment (as so many of us in the nonprofit world do!) then this is an episode you definitely won’t want to miss!Episode Highlights:(02:16) – Goli’s pursuit of a legal path that ultimately left her miserable and depleted (03:03) – How Goli’s coaching and Lessons From A Quitter platform came into being.(04:11) – About people-pleasing, perfectionism, and other core assumptions.(05:39) – Lies that Goli believes are at the root of maladaptive behaviors(08:51) – Understanding how increased confidence correlates to embracing imperfection. (10:26) – Fundraising is scary. We don’t need to deny that. (11:25) – Why all-or-nothing thinking robs us of the ability to grow incrementally. (15:00) – How Goli teaches clients to process the discomfort that goes with being outside of their comfort zones. (16:27) – There is a mixture of art and science in distinguishing the source of emotions.(19:05) – Goli offers thoughts on redefining success outside of external validation.(21:30) – There’s power in allowing a change of mind. (23:05) – Slowing down and acknowledging seasons of life mitigates stress and anxiety. (25:00) – Ideal visions don’t necessarily have to be achieved and here’s why.(28:53) – Creating space to take a pause, reflect and process is critical.(30:13) – If you’re one of the people scrambling the most.(30:55) – Examples of anchoring behaviors.(33:43) – Why harsh inner voices keep us busy and disembodied. (36:32) – The perfect time for being in the moment will never come.  (40:21) – Strategies for individuals and organizations trying to untangle assumptions and judgments around money.(42:03) Our complex relationship with greed. (47:12) Find out more about Goli and her work. This episode of What the Fundraising was sponsored by Neon One, the comprehensive platform for coordinating donor and member management, fundraising, volunteers, and grants as well as all kinds of information about the when, where, why, and how of giving. Head over to this link to learn more!

Why is it so hard for women to bring all of ourselves, imperfections included, to the table? For starters, we’ve inherited deeply ingrained narratives — stories that shame us and drive our truest natures into hiding. That’s why we all need the support of someone like Ruthie Lindsey, my remarkable guest on this episode of What the Fundraising. She is an author, coach, speaker, and extraordinary healer whose rare wisdom provides a beautiful mirroring of all that we are, including the difficult pieces so many of us are reluctant to expose. In this episode, Ruthie invites us to embrace our truest selves through practices such as intentional expression (Dance! Journal! Scream!) and the RAIN framework that author and psychologist Tara Brach recommends for processing jealousy and other challenging emotions. Enjoy this powerful conversation with a woman who has worked tremendously hard to fully embrace every facet of herself and is now serving as a beacon for others finding their way towards self-love and acceptance. If you work in the service or nonprofit world, this episode is likely especially relevant. Here’s a chance to pause and reflect on what it means to feel nourished and deeply worthy, which in turn will fuel your life goals and mission!If you need a reminder of your fundraising magic specifically, you might be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz. Episode Highlights: (03:12)  A brief intro to Ruthie Lindsey (05:03)  Ruthie’s “Love Reflection Sessions” (06:20) Mallory and Ruthie’s first meeting, where Mallory lied to her.(08:40) The inherited stories we tell ourselves about not being worthy or deserving of time, love, and tenderness. (12:22) The way we “fold ourselves up” in an effort to be accepted and loved. (15:14) All about jealousy and comparison.(17:39) Ruthie shares Tara Brach’s RAIN framework. (22:19) Showing up with self-love rather than a place of needing to be needed.(23:50) “Doing good’ vs. showing up with an honest, sustainable, positive energy. (27:23) Embracing tears and the power of crying. (31:34) Greeting hard narratives with compassion in order to create a liberating shift in the story.(34:01) The discomfort and necessity of setting boundaries. (35:42) The daily practice of belonging.(42:25) Small rituals that Ruthie recommends to shift towards self-love and healing.(47:03) Creating a container where our truest feelings are safe to emerge.(49:54) Where to connect with Ruthie LindseyThis episode of What the Fundraising was sponsored by Neon One, the comprehensive platform for coordinating donor and member management, fundraising, volunteers, and grants as well as all kinds of information about the when, where, why, and how of giving. Head over to this link to learn more!

It’s dizzying to look back on this past season of What the Fundraising and try to encapsulate all the brilliant advice, life lessons, and wisdom that my guests have shared – which is why I was fortunate to have my good friend Dana Snyder, CEO of Positive Equation, on deck to help out! Together we’re deconstructing some of the big themes impacting nonprofits today as well as the many innovative new ways organizations are approaching donor partnerships. A lot of our conversations in this space seem to be trending towards pausing – whether for self-reflection, celebration, or recalibration in the face of fast-paced, relentless technological and social change. This episode provides highlights (and links) for some of our most compelling What the Fundraising conversations and favorite topics from perfectionism to donor retention and everything in between. Listen now to hear a thought-provoking, lively, and information-packed episode. Episode Highlights: (02:35) – About the brainstorming and support that Mallory and Dana offer each other.(04:47) – Ep. 37 Highlight: Vanessa Bohns and the Science of Influence. Click here to hear the podcast in its entirety. (10:40) – When you are afraid of being too “sales-y.” (13:20) – Defining the word “influencer”(14:39) – Episode 29 Highlight: Dominique James has thoughts to share on the power of everyday experts. Click here to listen.(16:00) – Episode 28 Highlight: Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan shares thoughts on the important expertise and stories that nonprofits need to own! Click here to listen.(17:02) – Dealing with impostor syndrome (21:25) – Episode 36 Highlight: Dethra Giles talks about dropping perfectionism in order to get to a place of ownership. Click here to listen.(22:58) – What happens when we avoid discomfort (24:25) – Why are we so fearful of looking at things like donor or ad data? (30:45) – Episode 05 Highlight: Habits expert BJ Fogg explains the concept of “shine”. Click here to hear more.(31:46) – Dana believes the metrics for “success” in fundraising must change. (32:01) – Episode 38 Highlight. About the psychology of motivation and how it relates to donor behavior. Listen to the episode here.(33:05) – Donor stewardship/cultivation can present a “middle problem”.(37:27) – Finding the space for integration.(40:54) – Episode 47 Highlight: Fascinating conversation with Donor Relations Guru Lynne Wester about why we see people turn away from nonprofits. Click here for the episode.(42:40) – Dana touts the innovative partnering opportunities generated by new giving forums. (45:10) – Two great podcasts to check out on the topic of creative partnering:Episode 41: How to Align Goals, Language and Perspectives to Create Win-Win-Win Cross-Sector Relationships, with Kate Williams.Episode 54: Confidently Claiming Next-Level Success Through Self-Awareness, Visibility and Brand Partnerships, with Julie Solomon.If you’d like to hear lots more of Dana’s thoughts, click here to access episodes of her Missions to Movements podcast!And please check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a masterclass here. For some quick self-discovery, you might like to take my Fundraising Superpower Quiz. Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.

Want to remember exactly who you are – and be unafraid to claim it? Then you’ll want to tap into the infectious positivity and purpose my guest shares on this episode of What the Fundraising. Ande Lyons is a Startup Champion coach who, as the founder of four successful entrepreneurial ventures, knows intimately the ups downs, joys, and losses associated with taking big risks in pursuit of a passionate vision. While for-profit and nonprofit mandates may differ, many of the organizational challenges overlap. In fact, the pressures to deviate from the foundational mission, scale too quickly or ravage work-life balance are very often exactly the same. But Ande, who hosts Startup Life, is offering a different path forward. In this episode, We are diving into bedrock truths about founder identity and also busting some of the intimidating startup myths. A big one? Everyone is on their way to massive expansion. Wrong! Ande reminds us that the vast majority of businesses fail – and there is absolutely no shame in it. As nonprofit leaders, we must step into our authority and own the truth of where we are – even hard truths, like an organization’s unsustainable model or poorly matched donor partnership. It’s all fodder for growth and that learning goes with us to the next venture, says Ande. You’ll come away with food for thought about the power of saying “yes” to cold calls that are relentlessly saying “no” as well as strategies for defining – and then adhering to – a core value set that is authentic, sustainable, and abundant.For more support around your nonprofit fundraising and leadership journey check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a masterclass here. Episode Highlights:(02:28) – Ande shares the (varied and amazing) journey that brought her to today.(05:38) – Founder identity begins in murky waters.(07:30) – Impostor Syndrome: About the Groundhog Day nature of fundraising (09:37) – Problem-solving is an essential part of being a founder(11:53) – Nonprofits & failure (14:53) – The difference between ego confidence and true self-confidence (15:43) – What it means to walk with our shadow selves (16:43) – It’s definitely win-win(17:26) – Founders must not lose sight of their unique qualifications based on lived experience(18:10) – When should you close a nonprofit? (23:10) – How societal beliefs set up a false template for success.  (27:29) – Defining what success looks like clearly from the inside (29:24) – Celebrate every effort, event, conversation(31:14) – The world is not a zero-sum game. (33:48) – About scalability(37:03) – Understand yourself enough to know what you can and can’t handle(39:10) – Mallory shares some hard lessons she learned about leadership and scaling (40:35) – Why Ande advocates for parent-preneurs (44:37) – Discernment is real and boundaries are so important (46:48) - Learn more about Ande Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.

It was a thrill to spend time recently with Cimeran Kapur, the Founder, and CEO of Potion, cancer survivor, advocate for healing, and – most of all – seeker of truth. In this episode of What the Fundraising, we’re discussing the effects of coming into alignment with ourselves. It starts with sifting through and looking at who we are to uncover who we’re meant to become.Cimeran was living at breakneck speed, becoming a physician and doing her best to save the world, when she was hit out of left field with a cancer diagnosis. Her world, of course, was turned upside down. Rather than buckle under, Cimeran got busy researching, reflecting, and shedding layers of conditioning that had not served her well. Ultimately she was drawn back to her roots in Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient mind-body-spirit practice from India. Today she is launching Potion, a brand whose mission is to educate and bring integrative health and well-being to everyone.You’ll learn not only about Cimeran’s journey to full remission but also about the toolkit she deployed in getting there. She’s also offering compelling insights into the nature of true self-confidence (and how to cultivate it) as well as how to set boundaries that are integral, authentic, and in community with others. Cimeran’s combination of personal life examples and Ayurvedic wisdom are inspiring and educational both professionally and personally.To increase your fundraising confidence specifically, you might benefit from understanding your fundraising superpower by taking this Quiz. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make a donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.Episode Highlights:(02:17) – Cimeran shares a bit about her background, history, and how she came to her mission.(03:23) – About Cimeran’s (Western) medical training and early childhood experiences in India informed her life choices. (05:51) –A cancer diagnosis as a 28-year-old med student.(06:20) – Cimeran’s journey to personal healing and self-confidence. (10:32) – “Savior complex” and how it plays out.(13:48) – Are we trying to turn ourselves into robots? (16:35) –Systemic contradictions (18:12) – Confidence vs external validation (21:43) – The steps Cimeran took to clean up her act and claim true self-confidence:(22:42) – What it is that draws Cimeran to Ayurvedic medicine and its components.(23:49) – Cimeran’s framework for cultivating health and wellness.(27:31) – About what it is to experience alignment and discomfort simultaneously.(30:30) – Mallory and Cimeran examine integrity and the lies we tell that pull us out of integrity.(33:26) – Can self-love wind up being selfish, toxic, or unkind? (35:12) – Mallory and Cimeran double-click on two aspects of boundaries.(36:50) – Strategies for creating boundaries.(39:09) – All about Potion

Megan Seamans is a Certified Life & Energy Coach and Human Design Guide. Megan supports women to tap into their magic and confidently lead their life; without people-pleasing or having fear or doubt stand in the way. After navigating the loss of her brother in 2018 and facing burnout on the thing she was the most passionate about, she changed the way she looked at purpose. Now she supports people everywhere to express their soul gifts and live by design.This episode of What the Fundraising illuminates her journey as well as the tools we all have within us to identify our deepest purpose.As an energy leadership coach, I was fascinated to learn about Megan’s intuitive approach and she explains the overlapping modalities that make up Human Design, a holistic self-knowledge system that teases out our unique personality imprints and helps guide our intuition. We also share thoughts about the consciousness that sometimes comes out of moving through profound discomfort. Coaching work can be scary, but it’s so important to bring awareness to where we are in the present moment because like energy attracts like energy. The energy we project can’t be concealed, says Megan: “If something doesn’t feel good when you’re doing it, other people can see that and feel that. When we’re doing something we like, we become magnetic.” Getting to a place of energetic awareness isn’t easy to do on our own, which is why having a gifted coach or a supportive community of peers can be so invaluable. But Megan gives us a great starting place in this episode with a list of simple things to try that bring the focus and intentionality we need to realize our best, most authentic, and aligned flow in life.Interested in learning more about Human Design? Megan offers a free starting point here.Or click here to access Megan’s free journal, a tool for finding your clarity and purpose. Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.If you want to learn more about the intersection of coaching and fundraising, that’s what my Power Partners Formula is all about and you can register for a FREE masterclass that takes you through the entire blueprint here.Episode Highlights: (02:18) – Introducing Megan and her life journey to becoming a life and Human Design coach.(04:38) – Mallory’s similar journey towards becoming a coach (07:17) – The power of silence (08:29) – About Energy Coaching(10:48) – The distinction between super-charging and focusing on staying intentional and present. (11:46) – Megan defines Human Design(13:13) – Self-care and how that relates to our individual personal flow(15:47) – How Human Design is charted (18:12) – The role of “play” in exploring modalities and approaches to energy work(19:35) – Why words don’t matter as much as the energy we bring to them(22:06) – About sensors our bodies have and wisdom beyond conscious thought(23:08) – Megan provides tips to help us cultivate somatic knowing(24:52) – Why resistance and discomfort are inevitable and how to deal with it (26:48) – Humans and stress (28:48) – Mallory and Megan share transition rituals that help them move between moments and pull themselves back into the present(33:12) – Tools that will help you build a deeper relationship with yourself(35:38) – Helping clients walk through uncomfortable transitions (38:25) – The power of coaching and community (39:15) - Connect with Megan Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.

The brittleness, burnout, and even breakdown that so many of us in the nonprofit world experience isn’t just an occupational hazard. It’s symptomatic of a much more far-reaching cultural framework, which is why my guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is all about disruption. Rebekah Giacomantonio, a facilitator and community healer, took a necessary pause from her career in restorative justice to restore herself. And she’s sharing with us how living into the fabric of Guatemala’s culture and ethos reshaped her entire life orientation.By taking a hard break from working and living the American nonprofit gauntlet, Rebekah was able to step into a model of healing that works on collective, interpersonal, and systemic levels. A small community of liberation theology-oriented missionaries helped her understand at the deepest level that there is no right and wrong; only the messy. She learned to pause, breathe, and notice what was in her body. Most of all, she came to understand just how deeply entrenched and reflexive privilege can be. In today’s episode, we dive into Rebekah’s journey and her work today, focused on her Interdependence Incubator - a program that supports white women and nonbinary people who want to free themselves of toxic conditioning and harmful behavior patterns. We talk about how to work with shame, disarm defensiveness and sit with ourselves in fearful or reactive moments. The work involves a lot of curiosity and questions but results in expanding tolerance by rewiring our brains, settling our nervous systems, and practicing radical self-acceptance. Rebekah’s passion for this work is palpable and the tools she offers are an invitation to look at what’s uncomfortable. There is a lot inside the episode that might be a completely different paradigm shift for you, but we invite you to go there and see what comes up in your body and mind.Episode Highlights: (02:54) – Rebekah shares a bit about her background (05:00) – An indigenous missionary community based on liberation theology(06:20) – The essence of what Rebekah found in her Guatemalan journey. (07:43) – Healing and restoration cannot occur in this environment(08:08) – About Rebekah’s restorative justice training and the “aha” moment that lead her here(08:53) – The personal and collective are inextricably intertwined(12:57) – Defining and understanding disembodiment (15:45) – How to become a more embodied leader (18:29) – Simplifying it way down (20:14) – The nonprofit world and taking itself less seriously and learning to play (22:18) – The process Rebekah’s clients typically go through(25:40) – About grappling with the grey areas(26:15) – Liberation lies in the navigation of spaces that hold multiple truths(28:40) – Stories about people in the nonprofit world suffering mental and physical breakdowns (32:05) – White people can opt-out of discomfort because of their privilege(33:00) – How to name what’s happening in our bodies and settle our nervous systems(33:36) – How to break cycles of defensiveness and gaslighting(37:51) - Connect with Rebekah

It was such a pleasure to welcome Julie Solomon, an amazing brand and pitch expert, on the day of her first book’s publication. In this episode of What the Fundraising she is walking us through the very internal process undergone by the successful entrepreneurs, entertainers, and other public figures with whom she has worked over the years. But the real work? It started with Julie herself. She gets vulnerable in sharing her own origin story, which is also detailed in "Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable." In this episode, we are looking at what it takes to break through the scrappy startup phase into the next stage of growth and development. In most cases, it looks like moving from scarcity to abundance – which is a lot harder than it might sound. Julie explains the kind of self-examination required to discard toxic beliefs that no longer serve, embrace clarity and claim true confidence. She explains a three-step framework built around Awareness, Acceptance, and Action that you’ll find simple to understand and available to anyone willing to take that all-important pause. Click here to order Julie’s new book, "Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable."If you feel like you need more support around the topic outlined in this episode, check out my Power Partners Formula. The course is designed to equip you with the tools you need to identify your Power Partners, avoid mistakes, and stop wasting time on the endless fundraising hamster wheel. To learn more about my unique methodology, you can also register for my free 60-minute masterclass here.Episode Highlights:(02:41) – Julie introduces herself and her work as an online business and mindset coach who is also a seeker, brand consultant, publicity expert, and recent first-time author!  (03:43) – If you’re making a profit, you’re a business and need a brand. The challenge is to find that inner star and shine a light on it, which Julie did first in the entertainment world and then in the social media space.(06:22) – Julie has found that even the most successful high-earning entrepreneurs and personalities hit an “upper limit issue,” some sort of mental block that prevents next-level clarity and confidence. (07:00) – There are three levels of revenue capacity that people find most challenging(09:40) – The first step to fully realizing success is removing mental blocks that do not serve. (12:30) – Julie shares three tools to achieve freedom(14:14) – Are you hustling from Awareness to Action, skipping that Acceptance piece? Here are some signs to look for(17:06) – How to manage black-and-white thinking that is self-limiting(18:11) – Coming into full power starts with identifying and implementing a strong boundary system that defines what inputs we allow into our hearts and minds. (21:26) – About money and the origin stories that infuse our thinking(23:00) – Shame and self-limiting beliefs around money - Julie shares her story(26:20) – How it feels to go public with a vulnerable personal story(28:27) – A scarcity mindset may work in the early stages of business or organizational development, but it won't take you to the next level.(32:08) – Clarity about goals and vision is foundational to everything else(34:27) – Nonprofits offer corporate partners a very attractive branding vehicle(35:50) – Being realistic and dreaming big (37:23) – Julie offers a free five-step audio guide and worksheet for gaining clarity, building confidence, and accomplishing your goals, which can be downloaded here.(37:40) – How to start with building brand partnerships(39:35) - Where to find Julie and learn more about her work

Do you ever feel that you’re spinning your wheels or being penny-wise and pound-foolish? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is here with some straight talk about managing operations efficiently and effectively. A consultant who helps small businesses scale, Jhana Li is a systems thinker with a gift for optimizing organizations from both the 30,000-foot and three-foot levels. This conversation offers a framework to audit your organizational health. Plus practical tips for making change!Jhana walks us through core resources for early start-up development as well as key systems to support transformation through scaling stages. You’ll recognize some insights that are especially relevant to the nonprofit world. For instance: Are you a serial “helper” or “fix-it” addict who feels constantly compelled to do, facilitate, cure, and manage? Consider whether that behavior is actually serving you or the co-workers who – deprived of the opportunity to take on new tasks – forfeit an opportunity for growth. Or perhaps you default to a scarcity mindset that renders you too fearful to invest in important systems critical to sustaining your work? Jhana not only urges a shift of focus to the big-picture and all the resources you’re expending and can never get back, but she also gives tactical and practical ways to do so. This is the episode I wish I had as a Managing Director and Executive Director - it would have completely changed the way I looked at my organization's resources and planned for growth. Listen now to learn how to audit your organizational health & optimize your resources for growth. You might also be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz to learn more about you can optimize your natural fundraising talents.Episode Highlights:(02:20) – A brief intro to Jhana and her consulting(03:45) – Why it’s important for organizational plans to incorporate bespoke elements based on size and stage of business development(05:24) – Center early operations around these four core resources(08:50) Defining energy as a core resource (10:05) Have you measured your effective hourly value? (11:29) Time is the only core resource that appreciates(13:37) Personal task audits(15:13) How to let go and delegate(17:14) Mallory shares the realization that once prompted her to demote herself. (18:35) Organizations at their best serve as a vehicle for growth among all stakeholders. (22:10) About setting boundaries, especially in the helper-oriented nonprofit space. (24:04) Saying no at the moment may be challenging, but the ROI is compelling. (27:34) Mallory double-clicks on another facet of “helper energy” (which is so prominent in the nonprofit sector). (28:48) Do you have a “fix-it” style of leadership?(29:58) Case Study: What would Jhana do to corral employees who have to be constantly reminded to fill out timecards? (32:05) Want to maximize your team members’ performance? (35:30) Getting decisive about investments in your nonprofit (37:15) Try a time audit (38:37) Learn more about Jhana and book a discovery session with her.