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 authors, world-renowned researchers, and TEDx experts, most of whom have never spoken to a non-profit audience before. They have come ready to share expertise, lessons, and stories that will fundamentally change the way you show up as a leader and fundraiser. There are so many valuable lessons nonprofit leaders are missing because they are outside of their typical orbit, but no more. Mallory is bringing them in and helping to apply her guest's expertise to disrupt the nonprofit sector once and for all. So if you are ready to learn how to upgrade your fundraising strategy, leadership skills, energy, habits, and mindset to bring in more funding and actually have some fun doing it, then this is the right podcast for you. 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.

Episodes

256: Hiring for Impact: Aligning Talent, Well-Being, and Mission with Kishshana Palmer

September 4, 2025 • 30 mins
Have you ever wondered why your hiring process is not as effective as you want it to be? In this week’s episode, Mallory and Kishshana discuss the critical importance of the alignment of health, well-being, and transparency in hiring with organizational needs. In a field where people expect different results from doing the same thing over and over again, they highlight the need for leaders to break from the traditional, task-force ...
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255: Beyond the Balance Myth: Motherhood, Leadership, and Letting Go with Love with Stacy Huston

September 2, 2025 • 44 mins
In a world that often demands perfection in every role, it’s necessary to explore the courageous work of being transparent about limits. In this week’s conversation, from the emotional and physical weight of motherhood to the pressure of leadership, we dive into the challenges of managing personal and professional life with care. This episode is fully packed with honest reflections on navigating impossible choices, setting clear bo...
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254: The 1% Advantage: How Small Improvements Drive Big Impact with Adam Miller

August 26, 2025 • 32 mins
In fundraising, success relies less on perfection and more on continuous improvement. This conversation evaluates how nonprofits can balance vision with pragmatism, prioritizing embracing continuous growth instead of unattainable ideals. From identifying what not to do to relationship intelligence, we cover the importance of understanding households, leveraging employer connections, recognizing non-linear donor journeys, and spotti...
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253: Money, Mission, and the Myth of Donor Fatigue with Tamara Jackson

August 19, 2025 • 31 mins
What if doing good, and business isn’t in opposition? Ethical fundraising, value-driven sales, and authentic relationships can thrive in the powerful space created by the intersection of doing good and business. In this episode, we explain how viewing money as a tool rather than a corrupting force aligns with purpose-led work. From rethinking donor fatigue to the value of storytelling, this episode challenges the recurrent assumpti...
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252: She Gives, She Leads: The Generosity Myth and What We Get Wrong About Women Donors with Jacqueline Ackerman

August 12, 2025 • 27 mins
Challenging the outdated assumptions about who gives and how in fundraising, research has found that women are not only more generous than men, but they also give differently, diversely, and collaboratively. In this week’s episode, we break down the myths and misconceptions about women donors and examine the importance of relationship-building, storytelling, and recognition. Women seem to redefine philanthropy from giving across va...
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251: Microdosing Wellness: How Tiny Habits Can Transform Burnout Culture with Lindsey Fuller

August 5, 2025 • 26 mins
This week on What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Lindsey Fuller, a human-centered leadership coach, keynote speaker, and executive director of The Teaching Well, an education administration program based in Oakland, CA. Together they explore a crisis that too many of us are navigating: burnout. Together, we unpack the intersection of workplace wellness, self-awareness, accountability, and systemic barriers to healing. Linds...
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250: From Panic To Purpose: Leading With Intention In Uncertain Times With Maria Rio

July 29, 2025 • 27 mins
What does it mean to lead and fundraise with honesty, especially in uncertain times? In this week’s episode, we address how to build donor trust, resist action bias, and push back on the scarcity-driven leadership in times like this. Starting from ethical storytelling, we look at what fundraisers can do to stay grounded, strategic, and value-aligned, no matter what challenges arise.  Maria Rio is the CEO and founder of Further Tog...
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249: The Cost of Disconnection: Reclaiming Your Leadership Values with Kathy Archer

July 22, 2025 • 25 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… Mallory is joined by Kathy Archer, a leadership development coach who helps women confidently lead their nonprofit. What does it mean to lead with authenticity, integrity, and alignment? Women in mission-driven roles are always praised for handling it all while silently losing and disconnecting from their own values. Reclaiming the values you lost due to the external expectations ...
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248: You Deserve Rest: ADHD, Identity, And The Power Of Self-awareness With Jamie Tworkowski

July 15, 2025 • 41 mins
It’s often easy to blur the line between personal identity and work identity where heart and mission lead in a field like nonprofits. This conversation focuses on the tension between deep care and personal sustainability and how passion can both fuel and consume us. We unpack what it means to lead with empathy without surrendering ourselves in the process. From embracing structure to letting go of over-sacrifice, we invite leaders ...
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247: Soil First: Rethinking Digital Transformation with Matt Leta

July 8, 2025 • 26 mins
Digital transformation isn’t just about adopting new tools; it’s about establishing the right environment for change to take root. The human-first approach of digital transformation values curiosity over control and sees innovation as something grown, not forced. This episode is a great opportunity to witness what’s possible when people, not platforms, are at the center of progress.  Matt Leta is the CEO and partner at Future Wo...
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246: Restorative Philanthropy In Fundraising with Tanya Hannah Rumble

July 1, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… In today’s landscape of fundraising, where pressure and performance often obscure purpose, value alignment is more crucial than ever. Restorative philanthropy, embedded in authenticity, mutual respect, and shared purposes, can transform donor relationships and support healthier, more sustainable practices. Rather than centering persuasion, fundraisers can focus on clarity and connec...
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245: Simple Steps for Lasting Impact: The Path to Health Optimization with Boomer Anderson

June 24, 2025 • 37 mins
This week on the What the Fundraising podcast, Mallory is  joined by Boomer Anderson, a health optimization practitioner, investor, husband, podcast host, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Smarter Not Harder, Inc.  Mallory and Boomer explored how nonprofit leaders, often stretched thin and managing chronic stress, can rethink their approach to personal well-being, not just for themselves, but for the sustainability of their mission-driv...
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244: Banking On Purpose: Nonprofits, Money & Meaning In Uncertain Times with Kelly Skalicky

June 17, 2025 • 34 mins
Joining Mallory today is the CEO of Stearns Bank National Association, Kelly Skalicky, a majority women-owned and governed financial services institution. Stearns Bank’s dedication lies in enabling individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local communities to reach their maximum financial potential. Nonprofit organizations across the United States face unique financial challenges in times of economic uncertainty. Often wo...
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243: When You Care, They Know: The Quiet Strength of Consistent Outreach with Jill Vorndran

June 10, 2025 • 39 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… Joining Mallory today is Jill Vorndran, a fundraiser at Covenant House. She held a variety of leadership roles within the organization for 26 years and contributed to the movement’s effort to grow support, financial stability, and brand awareness. She joined us today to talk about the importance of relationship-based fundraising.  In an era where inboxes are full but the attention ...
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242: How Nonprofits Can Harness Brand Strategy to Drive Alignment and Action with Bill Cummings & Todd Hiestand

June 3, 2025 • 37 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… Joining Mallory today are Bill Cummings and Todd Hiestand, the co-founder and director of branding and the co-founder and director of web strategy at Liminal, a branding and messaging agency with 50 years of combined nonprofit experience. They specialize in branding, strategy, and engagement.  In the nonprofit landscape, a clear and consistent core message is not a luxury but a n...
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241: Reimagining Donor Relationships with Tammy Zonker

May 27, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of nonprofits, it’s a necessity that leaders lead with more bravery and boldness than ever before. Such courage means moving beyond their safe zones and well-worn paths and embracing risks that reflect the urgency of missions. Brave leadership is no longer an option but a necessity, whether it’s challenging misconceptions, building authentic rel...
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240: Look Closer: Generosity Hidden In Plain Sight With T. Clay Buck

May 20, 2025 • 39 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory is joined by T. Clay Buck. The existing donor data is one of the most underutilized assets in your fundraising toolkit. While most people are chasing ‘new’ donors, we are diving deep into exploring the importance of the relationships that you’ve already started. We are on the path to make you understand it’s about identifying the generous, kind hearts behind each gift, rather than na...
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239: The Power Of Connection: Creating Space For Belonging In Fundraising With Floyd Jones

May 13, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… Fundraising and community-building are more about transformation than transactions. Real, lasting impact begins with authenticity and connection. When we invite people to our work, we are not just asking them for donations; we are inviting them to believe, belong, and build. Belief is earned through trust and care. People stay when they feel valued and seen. They will help carry you...
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238: Harnessing AI To Amplify Nonprofit Impact With Nathan Chappell & Scott Rosenkrans

May 6, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by fellow AI enthusiasts, Nathan Chappell and Scott Rosenkrans. They discuss leveraging AI, which offers nonprofit organizations an extraordinary opportunity to boost their impact and drive fundraising efforts to a new level. AI transforms the way nonprofits operate from streamlining donor engagement to personalizing outreach. However, adopting AI is not just about integrat...
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237: People First: Rethinking Growth And Retention In Nonprofits With Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan Wildstein

April 29, 2025 • 36 mins
On this episode on What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by  Michelle Flores Vryn and Evan Wildstein, the two leaders of the Social Impact Staff Retention Project. Together they explore how nonprofits can build a culture where the prioritization of both mission and people is rooted in its core. They discuss why taking care of your people is not just the right thing to do, but also a clever business decision. With increasing burno...
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