What the Fundraising

Dana Snyder, CEO & Founder of Positive Equation, specializes in empowering nonprofits through innovative fundraising strategies. In this insightful discussion, she emphasizes the importance of flexible giving options and the power of storytelling to connect with donors. Dana advocates for the creation of supportive networks and the use of donor data to identify potential monthly supporters. She also shares practical advice on setting micro goals to build momentum while viewing donor relationships as opportunities for growth.

Andrea Bouch, a seasoned leader in social impact and tech, discusses her unique journey in navigating the complexities of corporate philanthropy. She highlights the balance between personal connections and strategic focus while engaging with frustrated fundraisers. Andrea emphasizes the importance of empathy, genuine curiosity, and authenticity in building effective partnerships. She explores the nuances of working with individual donors versus family foundations, advocating for alignment and open communication to foster meaningful relationships.

This episode of the What the Fundraising podcast features Amber Melanie Smith. She is a speaker, award-winning nonprofit founder, social entrepreneur, and social impact YouTuber. Moreover, Amber empowers individuals to craft a life and career dedicated to creating positive social change through her growing online community, speaking engagements, and educational content.Tune in to explore Amber's journey, learn from her experiences, and discover strategies for aligning personal passions with professional pursuits! In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the impact of leadership transition on organizational effectiveness. Identify and address burnout in leadership roles. Examine the importance of aligning personal work style with organizational needs. Explore how to manage the emotional challenges of leaving a long-term role. Learn ways to clarify and stay true to your personal mission.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here. This week's episode is sponsored by DonorPerfect. Remember, every powerful movement starts with a single spark.Your expertise is that spark! Head over to donorperfect.com/donorperfect-conference to register today!Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

Today's guest champions the art of transparent financial conversations and strategic relationship-building. She encourages starting discussions with financial priorities, framing money as a transformative tool, and embracing proactive action while fostering genuine dialogue and understanding to drive impactful social change.Meet Lisa Maynard-Atem, an entrepreneur, public speaker, and member of the General Assembly of the University of Manchester. As a founder member and former Managing Director of the award-winning Black United Representation Network (BURN CIC), she focuses on the economic and social empowerment of the Black community in Northern England. With a strong marketing and social media background, she led Harrods' social media growth from 30,000 to over 2.5M followers. She was also part of the leadership team at Acacia Training as Director of Marketing & Inclusion.In this episode, you will be able to:  Address money topics directly in social justice settings. Frame Funding Requests: Emphasize the impact and clarity of financial asks. Adapt Discussions: Tailor financial talks to individual board members' comfort levels. Engage Investors: Take investors on a journey rather than waiting for ideal timing. Act Timely: Prioritize proactive communication and manage rejection. Support Allyship: Use honest dialogue and reverse mentoring to better support diverse fundraisers. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Pledge. Our friends at pledge have just launched a super easy way to get your campaigns up and running using some pretty cool AI technology. Check out their newest tools pledge.toConnect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

Today's episode offers valuable insights into how to create more intentional, empowered, and balanced ways of working and living. Tune in to discover how to break the cycle of stress and start building a life and career that truly supports you!In this episode, Amanda Gulino delves into the complex world of stress management, emotional intelligence, and self-empowerment. Amanda is a dynamic facilitator and certified coach specializing in career design, team development, and leadership habits. She is passionate about reimagining how we work, lead, and connect, guiding individuals and teams to thrive through intentional practices and meaningful change.  In this episode, you will be able to:  Explore challenges in high-stress roles and nonprofit leadership. Recognize emotional responses as valuable information. Build habits for creating space and managing stress. Understand the "energy bank account" concept for better energy management. Value peer support and the sense of not being alone. Emphasize self-compassion and accountability in leadership. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Pledge. Our friends at pledge have just launched a super easy way to get your campaigns up and running using some pretty cool AI technology. Check out their newest tools pledge.toConnect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to inject more curiosity and creativity into their fundraising efforts!Today’s guest is John Lepp, a partner at Agents of Good with over 25 years in direct response, marketing, and design. He is also the author of Creative Deviations, which highlights innovative donor communications worldwide. As an international speaker, John shares his expertise in infusing emotion and vulnerability into fundraising. Passionate about fostering genuine connections, he helps fundraisers engage more authentically with donors, leading to increased giving and loyalty.In this episode, you will be able to: Explore innovative approaches to donor-centered communications. Understand how to infuse emotion and vulnerability into fundraising efforts. Learn the benefits of embracing creativity and authenticity in donor interactions. Discover techniques for making minor, impactful adjustments to fundraising strategies. Recognize the importance of adapting to real-time changes and feedback. Understand the value of staying present and focused on current donor needs. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Support for this show is brought to you by Pledge. Our friends at pledge have just launched a super easy way to get your campaigns up and running using some pretty cool AI technology. Check out their newest tools pledge.toConnect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

Uncover the hidden emotional barriers in fundraising, revealing how vulnerability can transform the process from an uncomfortable task to a meaningful connection!Learn more about aligning your values with your daily practices and building a more inclusive and supportive work environment!Today, we sit down with Rickesh Lakhani, the founder and lead consultant of Radiance Advisory, to explore the multifaceted nature of emotional expression and its impact on both personal and organizational levels. With nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and social impact sectors, Rickesh brings a wealth of knowledge on aligning values with day-to-day behaviors, particularly within fundraising and leadership. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the impact of suppressing emotions on human connection and professional environments. Learn strategies for creating safe spaces where vulnerability and emotional expression are encouraged. Explore the challenges of balancing personal and professional boundaries in the workplace. Gain insights into how personal experiences and upbringing influence responses to others' emotions. Recognize the need to unlearn outdated notions about emotional expression and leadership. Identify the importance of genuinely supporting employees beyond just having an open-door policy. Discover the value of being heard and understood rather than simply fixing issues. Acknowledge the necessity of processing emotions entirely rather than avoiding them. Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

This episode is a call to action for fundraisers, donors, and nonprofit leaders to rethink their strategies and work together to create a more sustainable and impactful future!Radha Friedman is an intersectional philanthropy and social impact strategist dedicated to directing resources to underserved communities, especially women and girls of color. With over 20 years of global experience, she has partnered with philanthropic and nonprofit leaders to drive movements and effect change. Radha's work spans 60 countries, guiding businesses, foundations, and philanthropists to maximize their impact through an equity lens. She's collaborated with Nobel laureates and justice leaders and has been featured in Forbes and The Guardian. Radha is also a bestselling author of Fundraising Without Burnout. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the roots and impacts of burnout in the nonprofit sector. Explore strategies to address and prevent burnout effectively. Recognize the gendered dynamics of burnout and compensation in nonprofit work. Learn how to advocate for systemic changes in fundraising practices. Discover ways to initiate courageous conversations with funders. Uncover the importance of wellness and realistic expectations in fundraising. Identify the benefits of unrestricted and multi-year funding. Emphasize the need for cross-sector collaboration to address complex issues. Practice self-compassion and balance in high-stress roles.  Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Many thanks to our sponsor, Keela for making this episode possible. Our friends at Keela offer nonprofits like yours comprehensive fundraising and donor management software, equipped with powerful tools to expand your reach, increase fundraising revenue, and foster a dedicated community of supporters. Want a user-friendly platform that provides actionable data? Look no further than Keela. Check out Keela at keela.co/mallory. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, it’s our utmost pleasure to bring you the conversation we’ve had with Kelley Hecht, the executive advisor of the global healthcare and nonprofit at Amazon Web Services, with a passion for helping customers use technology to drive mission impact and innovation. Kelley brings joy to our conversation by sharing her passion for working with non-profit organizations and helping them overcome the difficulties they face, which turned out to be the driving force behind why Kelley chose this industry. Join us as we explore many aspects of the nonprofit industry, including embracing authenticity and curiosity, passion-driven leadership and customer obsession, perseverance and collaboration, and finding reward in discomfort.In this episode, you will be able to:-    Understand the importance of embracing authenticity and curiosity-    Leveraging Unique Strengths and Passions in the Nonprofit Sector-    The beauty of working in a passion-driven industry-    The importance of finding comfort in discomfort-    How human relationships impact building a safe professional environment where everyone can give feedback without holding back-    Bringing Joy and Conviction into the WorkplaceGet all the resources from today’s episode here. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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

In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory sits down with Michael Thatcher, the President and CEO of Charity Navigator. With nearly nine years at the helm of the organization, Michael brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of nonprofit evaluation. Throughout the episode, Michael dives into the importance of impact assessments, the implementation of internal equity practices, the necessity of transparency and accountability in nonprofits, the adoption of comprehensive evaluation methodologies to provide a fuller picture of organizational effectiveness, and more.In this episode, you will be able to:- Understand the relationship between overhead and impact.- Explore effective strategies for evaluating impact.- Uncover how to showcase realistic impact.- Learn the importance of checks and balances placed to maintain the trust of the general public in the nonprofit sector.- Explore how you can tell your impact story better.Get all the resources from today’s episode here. Many thanks to our sponsor, Keela for making this episode possible. Our friends at Keela offer nonprofits like yours comprehensive fundraising and donor management software, equipped with powerful tools to expand your reach, increase fundraising revenue, and foster a dedicated community of supporters. Want a user-friendly platform that provides actionable data? Look no further than Keela. Check out Keela at keela.co/mallory. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/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