Building Relationships That Change the World with Nick Engbloom

Sometimes, the most powerful voices are the quiet ones. The people who don't speak to be heard—but to serve. Today's Rise to More guest, Nick Engbloom, is exactly that kind of quiet powerhouse.

Nick is Senior Director of Development at the University of Minnesota Foundation, and just this year - he was recognized as part of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ) 40 Under 40. He’s quietly raised hundreds of millions of dollars for life-changing causes like the Masonic Children's Hospital and created attention behind Special Olympics coming to Minnesota. But it isn't the money or the big numbers that set him apart—it's the heart behind it.

From a young age, Nick learned advocacy through necessity. Growing up with a brother who has Down syndrome, he saw firsthand how the world often overlooks or underestimates people who deserve to be seen. What began as love and protection for his brother grew into a lifelong mission: giving voice to the voiceless.

And he does this not through "fundraising," but what he calls "friendraising"—the simple, powerful act of creating genuine human connections. Nick doesn't start with the ask; he starts with understanding. Curiosity. Real relationship-building. He leads with his heart, trusting that generosity naturally follows connection.

Listening to him reminded me of something so profound: change isn’t transactional. It’s relational. The biggest impacts often come from quietly cultivating trust, empathy, and genuine partnership. Nick shared powerful stories of moments when major donors pulled away, yet deeper partnerships emerged—creating even greater impact than he first imagined.

Even his personal love story is woven through giving—he met his wife while giving her a tour of the children’s hospital. Because true generosity has a way of bringing the right people together.

What struck me most was Nick’s perspective on legacy. He doesn't want titles or acclaim. He simply hopes people remember him as someone who "did good," who served wholeheartedly and left every interaction a little kinder, stronger, better.

He asked us all one simple yet profound question:

"How can I be of service?"

Because rising to more isn’t about ambition alone—it's about generosity. It’s about lifting others as you climb, creating ripples of kindness and humanity that long outlive your name.

This conversation felt like a gentle, powerful invitation to examine how we show up every day. It left me wondering: How can each of us quietly, consistently, powerfully serve our communities and build connections that matter?

If you're seeking a reminder of what true leadership and heart-centered impact look like, this conversation with Nick is it.

Here's to “friendraising”, heart-leading, and quietly changing the world, one meaningful connection at a time.

And Nick and I talk about Special Olympics coming to MN and how we all need to show up and help to make it a success.

And lastly, Nick is a creative entrepreneur with many interests and one of those is auctioneering - so he did his best and put RISE TO MORE podcast appearance up for bids live on the show:)

Follow Nick on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-engbloom-52303b10/

Nick’s Auction Crasher website: https://www.auctioncrasher.com

Support Special Olympics: https://2026specialolympicsusagames.org

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jasnaburza.substack.com