Shows / What the Fundraising
What the Fundraising
What the Fundraising is the podcast for impact leaders and change-makers who are tired of doing things the old school way and are looking for best practices to raise money, run their organization, and think about the nonprofit sector in a whole new way. Every Tuesday for 40-60 min, your host, Mallory Erickson, will be having real and raw conversations with some of the best personal and professional development experts, many of whom are outside the nonprofit sector. These are bestselling…
Episodes
What the Fundraising333: Arc Before Ask: A Physician's Study of Sustainable Giving with Dr. Sanjay Bindra, MD
What would happen if a nonprofit stopped asking for an entire year? No GivingTuesday, no year-end push, no urgent emails. Dr. Sanjay Bindra, MD, a cardiac…
What the Fundraising332: The Art and Science of Prospect Research with Katherine Scott and Sarah Marcotte
Behind every transformational charitable gift lies a trail of data waiting to become a meaningful human connection. Also, in a world where numbers often…
What the Fundraising331: Ditch the KPI Hamster Wheel with Charlie Melichar
Fundraising is often mistaken for a mechanical game of hitting quotas, but sustainable growth requires balancing metrics with human connection. When…
What the Fundraising330: AI for Nonprofits: How to Start with the Problem, Not the Technology with Naomi Morenzoni
Technology is rapidly reshaping how organizations create social impact, and AI is emerging as a powerful force for change. Naomi Morenzoni is Senior Vice…
What the Fundraising329: How to Stop Making Assumptions About Your Donors and Asking Better Questions with Kyle Buchmann
Asking better questions and leaning into uncomfortable moments can help teams build real trust and connect deeply with donors! Kyle Buchmann, Senior Vice…
What the Fundraising328: How Nonprofits Can Use AI Without Amplifying Bad Culture with Tim Lockie
When modern technology fails to solve an organization's friction, the root cause is rarely the software; it is the human systems behind it. This episode…
What the Fundraising327: Thousand Day Planning: A Different Approach to Fundraising Leadership with Jay E. Davenport
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, What happens when we stop thinking about fundraising as simply asking for money and start thinking about it as…
What the Fundraising326: How to Build Win-Win Content Partnerships in the Social Impact Space with Cindy Wagman
Mallory Erickson and Cindy Wagman pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to build partnerships between coaches, consultants, and technology…
What the Fundraising325: From Free Webinars to $10K Keynotes: How I Built My Speaking Business with Mallory Erickson
Have you ever wondered how to turn speaking opportunities into a meaningful part of your business? In this solo episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory…
What the Fundraising324: Writing a Book: The Unfiltered Truth About My Book-Writing Process with Mallory Erickson
What does it actually take to write a book? In this solo episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory Erickson pulls back the curtain on her experience writing and…
What the Fundraising323: Starting a Podcast with Mallory Erickson
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, What does it really take to start a podcast and more importantly, keep doing it for years? In this…
What the Fundraising322: How to Build a Personal Brand with Mallory Erickson
What actually makes a personal brand memorable? According to Mallory Erickson, it's not a perfectly curated aesthetic, a complicated content strategy, or…
What the Fundraising321: A Practical Guide to Launching Planned Giving in Your Nonprofit with Tony Martignetti
Planned giving may sound complicated, but it does not have to be! This episode features Tony Martignetti, an expert in planned giving strategies & accelerated…
What the Fundraising320: Fundraising and Funder Behavior: The Tiny Habits That Will Change Your Life with BJ Fogg, PhD
We are releasing a special bonus episode of What The Fundraising! In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… I talked to behavior scientist and author BJ…
What the Fundraising319: 3 Fundraising Readiness Gaps Standing Between You and Your Next Yes with Mallory Erickson
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, What if the reason you're avoiding fundraising outreach isn't because you're bad at fundraising, but because…
What the Fundraising318: From Loss to Legacy: How Joey’s Song Scales Volunteer-Led Fundraising
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, What if music could do more than entertain people? For Mike, concerts have become a way to bring people…
What the Fundraising317: Lead with Trust, Not Control with Rebecca Blume
What if becoming a better leader starts with letting go of who you think you should be? Meet Rebecca Blume, the Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the…
What the Fundraising316: Campaign Success Starts Before You Fundraise with Amy Eisenstein & Sarah
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Capital campaigns don't succeed by luck; they succeed through preparation, education, and strong leadership…
What the Fundraising315: Conscious Fundraising: How to Move From Reaction to Intentional Action
After a week of executive coaching tools, reflections, and strategies, Mallory closes out this series with one of the most important foundations of sustainable…
What the Fundraising314: You Are Enough: A Reminder for Every Fundraiser Doing The Hard, Important Work
Fundraising is deeply human work. It requires vulnerability, connection, courage, and the ability to hold the hopes and dreams of an entire community. But in a…
What the Fundraising313: How Fleeing Discomfort Is Holding Back Your Fundraising
Fundraising is filled with uncertainty, vulnerability, and moments of discomfort—but what happens when those feelings start driving our decisions? In this…
What the Fundraising312: Conscious Values vs. Fear-Based Values: Making Decisions That Truly Align
Have you ever felt torn between competing priorities—wanting to excel at work while also being present for your family, or saying "yes" to helping everyone…
What the Fundraising311: Why Discomfort Isn't the Problem: A Better Way to Handle Stress in Fundraising
Fundraising can be uncomfortable—but what if discomfort isn't actually the problem? In this solo coaching episode, Mallory Erickson introduces one of the…
What the Fundraising310: Fear, Mindset, and Money: How Fundraisers Build Courage for Major Donor Asks
Behind every successful fundraiser is someone who has learned to face fear, embrace discomfort, and build the confidence to keep moving forward. In this…
What the Fundraising309: Responsible AI Adoption for Grassroots and Justice-Focused Nonprofits with DeAnna Hoskins
AI is no longer a future trend. It is reshaping how organizations lead, innovate, and create impact today, and nonprofits are no exception. DeAnna Hoskins is…
What the Fundraising308: Using Donor Matching to Grow Impact and Community with Pooya Pourak
What if the best way to raise more money is not just to find new donors, but to help existing donors give more meaningfully? Today, let's explore how matching…
What the Fundraising307 - The Partnerships That Change More Than Metrics with Renee Daniel Flagler
Raising young people out of poverty takes far more than good intentions. It requires trust, healing, opportunity, and unwavering community support. Also…
What the Fundraising306: Healing Starts Within with Dawn Wensel
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs begin with the hardest struggles! Today, Mallory and Dawn Wensel, the Director of Development at Hope Street Group, talk…
What the Fundraising305: Turning Online Communities into Powerful Fundraisers with Michael Wasserman
Fundraising is changing, and organizations need new ways to connect with younger people! In this conversation, Michael Wasserman explains how digital…
What the Fundraising304: The Hidden Challenges of Skill-Based Hiring with A.P Porch
Fundraising and alumni relations are evolving faster than many institutions are prepared for. But the concept of hiring people who make us feel comfortable…
What the Fundraising303: The Culture Behind Successful Fundraising Teams with Jill Anderson
The secret to a successful campaign is a culture shaped by trust, collaboration, emotional resilience, and a shared sense of purpose. A successful…
What the Fundraising302: Philanthropy's Role in Preserving Black History with Kristi Williams & Emma Willis
History doesn't only live in books. It lives in who gets remembered, who gets silenced, and who chooses to speak anyway! Meet Kristi Williams, a descendant of…
What the Fundraising301: Building Values-Based Alumni Relationships in Higher Education with Howard Heevner
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Alumni relationships are shifting from tradition-bound loyalty to something more dynamic, personal, and…
What the Fundraising300: Rethinking Nonprofits as Businesses: Earned Revenue, Sustainability & Innovation with Pradnya Haldipur
The nonprofit world is changing faster than ever, and organizations are being forced to rethink how they survive and grow in uncertain times! This episode…
What the Fundraising299: What Most Fundraisers Are Doing Wrong Today with Meredith Johnston
This conversation explores why modern fundraising still struggles with outdated systems despite living in a technology-driven world. It raises important…
What the Fundraising298: What if Fundraising Were Really About Connection, Not Money? with Matt Roben
Fundraising is often seen as simply asking for money, but it is much deeper than that. What makes people truly connect with a cause? How can fundraisers create…
What the Fundraising297: Why Big Giving Falls Short and How Fundraisers Can Push Back with Glen Galaich
What happens when philanthropy becomes more about control than community? Can generosity still be called generosity when tax benefits and personal recognition…
What the Fundraising296: Real Talk on Confident Fundraising: Answering Your Questions with Mallory Erickson
This episode takes a slightly different approach. Instead of the usual format, Mallory responds directly to a range of thoughtful questions from her community!…
What the Fundraising295: Breaking the Cycle: Empowerment, Stress Management, and Sustainable Leadership with Amanda Gulino
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…
What the Fundraising294: Navigating Fear: Insights from Neuroscience, Trauma Research, and Fundraising Challenges with Arash Javanbakht
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Join Arash Javanbakht, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research…
What the Fundraising293: Fundraiser Wellness & Healing Your Nervous System with Dr. Linnea Passaler
As a fundraiser, your ability to handle stress is constantly tested. Fundraising requires lot of hard work, sacrifice, rejection, and honestly, sometimes…
What the Fundraising292: The Science of Stuck & How to Move Forward in Your Fundraising with Britt Frank
We’ve all been there: Ghosted by a donor and wondering why, why, why? My guest on this episode of What the Fundraising is showing us how to redirect our minds…
What the Fundraising291: Harnessing Your Inner Voice for Fundraising Success with Dr. Ethan Kross
Do you hear negative, nagging, bullying voices in your head? Are they telling you you’re a bad leader or fundraiser? That you’ll never raise what you need to…
What the Fundraising290: A Fresh Look at Planned Giving with Tess Conrad
Planned giving is often seen as complex and intimidating, but is it really that complicated? Today's conversation takes a closer look at what planned giving…
What the Fundraising289: Smarter Missions, Stronger Impact with Darian Rodriguez Heyman
What if the very technology that feels overwhelming today could become the strongest ally for nonprofits tomorrow? Meet Darian Rodriguez Heyman, an experienced…
What the Fundraising288: Delusion, Disruption, and the Future of Fundraising Systems with Natalie Poindexter
Sometimes the most meaningful innovations begin with frustration. In this conversation, Natalie Poindexter shares how questioning broken systems, both in…
What the Fundraising287: The Fundraising Reset: Patience, Gratitude, and Real Connection with Trevor Nelson
Technology may be a powerful tool of fundraising, but human connection seems far superior to anything else. Fundraising is a sector shaped by digital tools…
What the Fundraising286: From Service to Fundraising: Lessons in Fear, Focus, and Action with Trish Davis
Challenges, uncertainty, and high expectations are natural components of nonprofit. Its leadership is shaped by mindset, resilience, and action by focusing on…
What the Fundraising285: Shaking Up Major Gift Strategies Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration with Meg George
Generosity is a muscle that must be trained, but in the nonprofit sector, we often wait for donors to find us rather than building the bridges they need to…
What the Fundraising284: Breaking the Stigma: Fundraising and Hope in Lung Cancer Research with Natalie Reilly-Finch
What does it really take to raise money for a cause that many people misunderstand? In this conversation, Natalie Reilly-Finch, the Vice President of Growth at…
What the Fundraising283: Unlocking the Power of Mid-Level Donors with Ashley Hardt & Jeff Grandy
When the relationships stop evolving, so does the donor interest. Overlooked due to time constraints, fear of personal outreach, and assumptions, the mid-level…
What the Fundraising282: Building Trust & Breaking Myths: Humanizing Housing Insecurity with Joseph Bradford III
Surrounded by myths that prevent real solutions, homelessness and housing insecurity are often misunderstood in the public eye. Requiring more than short-term…
What the Fundraising281: Smarter Email Strategies for Fundraising with Ashley Budd
This episode features a fascinating conversation with Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University and the author of Mailed It. She has spent…
What the Fundraising280: Intentional Leadership in Fundraising with Floyd Jones
Growth isn’t about doing more or filling checklists; it’s about doing what matters within your capacity and rhythm. In fundraising, true impact comes with…
What the Fundraising279 - The Human Side of Fundraising and Community Building with Dāna James
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Today’s conversation focuses on Dana James’ thoughtful and human-centered approach to engagement, fundraising…
What the Fundraising278: How Donor-Advised Funds Can Supercharge Your Fundraising with Mitch Stein
As one of the most popular ways of contributing to philanthropy, Donor-advised funds are quietly changing the landscape, offering both unprecedented…
What the Fundraising277: Engaging Everyday Donors with Technology with Kalyan Varma
What if in the future it is a possibility to build deeper connections with everyone who gives instead of raising more money from fewer people? In this episode…
What the Fundraising276: Unlocking Donor Motivation Through Behavioral Science with Kevin Schulman
Generosity doesn’t begin with the ask; it begins with understanding. Joining with Mallory today is Kevin Schulman to discuss the role of behavioral science in…
What the Fundraising275: The Heart Behind the Ask: Authentic Donor Stewardship with Hilary Dana Smiley
Fundraising is commonly portrayed as challenging, but for mission-driven leaders, it’s also a privilege because they’ve got to be one of the helpers in this…
What the Fundraising274: A New Era of Fundraising: Blending Purpose and Profit with Zach Hynek
Change is built through purpose, innovation, and the people who keep showing up. Join with us and explore how social impact and fundraising are evolving beyond…