What the Fundraising

Taylor Stewart is the Vice President of Organizing Leadership at Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). Her work centers on developing the leadership of LEE members to build powerful ecosystems in their communities filled with elected officials, policymakers, advocacy leaders, and organized constituencies. In this conversation Taylor talks about what organizing really means, finding that sweet spot between self-interest and community advocacy, and the ways we as a society can become more anti-racist from our office to our policies.Join this conversation on the intricacies of how to utilize people power to support diverse candidates in the political arena and the strategies to find support and funding for their campaigns.Episode highlights: (01:48) - Who is Taylor Stewart? Her background as an educator, a fundraiser, and what brought her to work in Educational Equity.(06:01) - What does “organizing” really mean?: Giving and shifting the power in communities with intentionality.(10:08) - Representing diversity in mutual benefit: Finding that sweet spot between self-interest and advocating for a community.(18:07) - An anti-racist framework: Understanding bias from an internalized personal level to systemic racism. (23:26) - Is a white savior complex at play?: How to stop perpetuating harmful systems and actually give power to leaders inside communities.  (32:39) - Resources, support, and alignment: The biggest barriers and systemic issues keeping diversity from positions of power. (38:37) - Vulnerability and the importance of community: Why we need a shift in our mindset and an emotional support system for fundraising.(44:54) - How to get in touch with Taylor + A shoutout to her favorite nonprofit, Strong Schools Maryland.

Tanya St. Julien is a community leader, advocate for educational equity, and Chief of Staff at Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). In this episode, Tanya talks about her experience in the political space and how her organization promotes and supports civic leaders in their run for office. There is a lot that the nonprofit sector can learn from the faithful long game this organization plays for each of its candidates. Tanya teaches us so much about how to be buoyed by wins and think of everyone as ‘future winners’.Episode highlights: 02:12 - Who is Tanya St. Julien? A black woman trained in policy constructing hope for people and the inspiration behind her work.08:10 - Deep faith & religiosity: How to begin on a journey of hope and cultivate a belief in humans. 13:39 - School boards as a gateway to civic leadership: Resilience in the political space and the impact of members in school districts. 20:53 - A change in perspective: What political fundraising can teach organizations about the value in the process and iteration.27:32 - Tanya’s experience fundraising: The networks of influential people and how their funding shapes American politics. 34:18 - Playing the long game: How the political machine thinks about investing in the long run.40:34 - Self-worth and fundraising: Why class, race, and gender intersect with access to support and how Spark levels the ground for underrepresented groups. 

Josie Raymond is the State Representative for Kentucky's 31st District, the Director of Elected Leadership Fellowships at Leadership for Educational Equity, and a mom of three. In this episode, Josie shares her experience running for office with no political background. She talks about what it was like to run in her hometown of Louisville, the process of fundraising for her campaign (it’s not what you think!), and why we need more women in their twenties and thirties serving in elected positions. Josie sets an example in so many ways and there is so much nonprofits can learn about fundraising from this episode, you really don’t want to miss it!Episode highlights: (02:41) - Who is Josie Raymond?: Her background as a journalist and her entry into the political scene to tackle poverty from elected office.(09:19) - Fundraising for a political campaign: Josie’s experience raising money and her 18-month run for the Kentucky office.(17:43) - “Yard signs cost $6.30”: The importance of building a transparent relationship with donors and speaking bluntly about money and policy-making.(21:53) - Opening the space for diverse people to run for office: Should candidates receive a living wage?(25:07) - Being a mother of 3 while in office: Why we need more women in their twenties and thirties as representatives and how we can make it happen. (31:16) - Playing the long game vs living in urgency: How political fundraising breaks all the nonprofit rules. (40:13) - Mechanisms and strategies: How campaigns are always evolving and why people are hungrier than ever for connection!  (45:54) - Where you can find Josie + An invitation and some useful resources to get to know your state representatives.

Tania Anaissie is the Founder and CEO at Beytna Design, an equity design studio supporting social sector leaders to translate their equity values into action. She is a Founding Creator of Liberatory Design, a new practice of human-centered design that drives innovation towards liberation. In this episode, Tania shares why the way to break the status quo is by slowing down and being intentional. Plus the ways we can allow ourselves time and a safe space to do it. Urgency is not our ally here!Episode highlights:(02:01) -  Who is Tania Anaissie? Her background in design thinking and how Beytna’s liberatory thinking works in the nonprofit space.(07:01) - Creating a safe space to fail: How to test for a growing and constantly evolving environment.  (10:31) - Slow down and be intentional: Some tools to reflect on our intentions and observe potential biases outside the status quo. (18:17) - The core of true co-design and co-ownership: How nonprofit space needs a shift in their mindset to create beneficial programs and partnerships. (25:14) - Making space to challenge the status quo: Where to get the time and energy to change our programming. (30:57) - The healthy boundaries in helping: How to work on the nonprofit space and not making it a self-righteous and painful journey.(38:04) - We can work on this together!: How we can face the unknown in our way to breaking the status quo.

Today’s world is demanding companies to change their behavior and engage in a truly responsible way with society and the environment. Being a good global citizen is not a matter of choice for companies anymore, it’s the only way.In this episode, Professor Maurizio Zollo, the Scientific Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School and a Professor of Strategy and Sustainability and Head of the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship at the Business School, talks about why nonprofits are exactly what today’s companies need. The ‘third sector’ has a lot to teach enterprises about being real contributors to change. How can we make the best out of a for-profit/nonprofit collaboration? Join this conversation and learn some tips on how to achieve fruitful win-win partnerships by changing our organization’s mindset!Episode highlights: (02:46) - Who is Maurizio Zollo? His work on the Leonardo Center on Business for Society and the source of his passion for engaged scholarship.(07:28) - A shift in companies’ social participation: How today’s markets are demanding companies to change their behavior.(13:48) - How is the nonprofit sector the solution for companies? Creating value for society and sharing their expertise and mindset. (20:07) - Why we need a radical mindset shift: How to create a fruitful partnership between companies and nonprofits. (26:10) - The value in organizations and deciding how to better serve society: What both parties can learn from each other’s strategies. (33:53) - Embracing the need for radical change: How to get over communication barriers with corporations.(37:29) - Contribution to a renaissance in business: How to get in touch with The Imperial College projects + A shoutout to Maurizio’s favorite nonprofit GOLDEN.

Episode highlights: (01:52) - Who is Hilary Doe? A fun reconnection from the past + Hilary’s journey from college to the present in the nonprofit world.(11:14) - What is long-run motivation?: How to find new donors and turn them into long-term givers and supporters of your organization. (18:07) - The strength behind having a solid network: What Lisa hoped she knew as a young fundraiser.(23:54) - Connecting on a human level before anything else: How to make your mission alive and resonant through real human bonds. (29:56) - On perfectionism and fear: The problem with over-controlling and the beauty of having balance and space for everyone to pitch in.  (34:30) - Create a living organism with the Snowflake Model: Hilary’s tips on creating a growing network.(39:19) - Is shapeshifting a fight or flight response?: How to not lose yourself and have a deep-rooted sense of self as an organization.(48:18) - Things to be aware of before dampening the magic in your nonprofit: Learning as you go and getting rid of ego.(52:42) - Finding strength in standing in unison + A shoutout to Hilary’s favorite nonprofit, The Institute for Women’s Policy Research!

The infinitely wise Sheri Riley is an Empowerment Speaker, High-Performance Life Coach, and Award-Winning Author of the book Exponential Living: Stop Spending 100% of Your Time on 10% of Who You Are. In this episode, she shares what is Exponential Living and some of the 9 principles included in her book to pursue peace, choose clarity and live courageously. Sheri’s work as a life strategist can help anyone achieve their better self, but I find it especially helpful for fundraisers that might feel stuck, filled with self-doubt, or worried about hitting their goals. You do not want to miss this conversation with this super-inspirational coach!Episode highlights: (01:40) - Who is Sheri Riley? Her small-town background, plus her super successful present as a life coach, entrepreneur, and awarded author.(06:29) - What is Exponential Living? Pursuing peace, choosing clarity, and living courageously.(09:30) - Go get it!: Own your inner calm, and allow confidence and drive to work together.(13:56) - How worthy and confident do you feel? Why your service work is not about martyrdom and guilt.(21:09) - Validation and hustling: Money mindset and how our own limiting beliefs leak into our work.(26:14) - Are you courageous enough to be faithful to yourself? How to become ready, willing, and committed, and move past crippling fear.(37:29) - The difference between fear and intuition: The prism of possibility vs. the condemnation of judgment. (45:56) - Own your story and become a magnet!: Sheri’s own story doing the work and becoming her better self. (49:37) - Where to find Sheri + A shoutout to the Huguely Scholarship Fund!

Lisa Fabrega is the founder, CEO, and coach at Capacity Shift where she teaches the Capacity Framework, a model to understand and grow your ability to hold, handle and receive every next level of your impact. In this episode, Lisa walks us through the six areas of capacity work, plus she tells us how scarcity mindset and transactional relationships are keeping us from expanding. You really don’t want to miss this conversation on how to continually grow and level up your leadership and fundraising. Because how can you face gallon-sized challenges with a pint-sized capacity, right?Episode highlights: (01:35) - Who is Lisa Fabrega? And her amazing work developing and teaching her Capacity Framework.(06:10) - What is capacity? Boundary capacity and how to make clear what you are and aren’t available for. (18:32) - Self-worth and the deep-rooted beliefs about ourselves: Why being afraid of losing an opportunity is scarcity thinking.(26:10) - Embodiment capacity and showing up to ask for money: How to navigate challenges with ease and confidence.(33:06) - Rejection is information! Why you should never feel bad for asking for money and communicating your needs.(41:47) - The history behind transactional relationships and how to turn them into healthy and authentic win-win negotiations.  (48:55) - How to get in touch with Lisa + a shoutout to Lisa’s favorite organization, One Light Global!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.

Breauna Dolerus is Founder and Chief Cause Consultant at Connecting the Cause. Her work is centered on uprooting harmful volunteerism practices especially in black and brown communities based on the principle that transformational service must help instead of harm.Join this very real conversation with Breauna white supremacy and its relationship with voluntarism, how to truly partner with a community, and the deep-rooted biases that need to be cut short in the nonprofit world.Episode highlights: (01:48) - Who is Breauna Dorelus? Community-centered volunteerism.(05:18) - Are you really of service? Some of the most hurtful common practices in volunteerism.(09:38) - How to build truly community-centered strategies: The first step to admitting to deep-rooted biases.(19:27) - Can we fundamentally break the system for co-liberation? The true empowerment of black and brown voices in the nonprofit sector. (24:42) - White supremacy and its relation to volunteerism: Why we need to work as a resource center for the communities’ dreams, not for corporation’s interests. (29:19) - Finding true mutually beneficial alignment in volunteer opportunities: Assessing a dignified way to partner with others. (38:44) - Relationship dynamics: Building strong community relationships and truly working together.(43:57) - Scarcity mindset and hurtful money: How to break the cycle and search for real solutions. (47:36) - Where to find Breauna + A last piece of advice: Find a black or brown organization doing the work. 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.

Do you feel psychological safety in your work environment? Avary Kent is a serial social entrepreneur and consultant who since the pandemic has focused on a crucial topic: mental and emotional wellbeing for business leaders and their teams. In this episode, Avary and I talk about why and how we as a society have dehumanized professional roles, how to build a healthy organizational culture and what paradigms we need to change to improve every leader’s and employee’s wellbeing.Episode highlights: (01:37) - Who is Avary Kent? A serial entrepreneur who is now open to talking about mental health and wellbeing.(04:59) - Effective philanthropy and burnout: The paradigms that need to change for healthy fundraisers and healthy work environments.(12:07) - Can I do everything at the same time? The fundamental pillars of a thriving culture and what executive directors need to be healthier leaders.(20:17) - What is holding us back from changing? Old management, entrenched culture, untrained leaders, and talking about discomfort and fears. (25:07) - The problem with untrained leaders + some techniques to disrupt power imbalance.(32:17) - How we fundamentally changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the positive shifts this brought to work culture.(40:13) - Why we have dehumanized professional roles: Ideas, beliefs, and ways of collaborating.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.