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

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...
Mark as Played

236: Leading With Bravery and Courage with Candice Mama

April 22, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by  Candice Mama, a global thought leader in forgiveness, healing, and post-conflict transformation. They dive deep into the heart of personal growth, resilience, and navigating challenges in life. Life isn’t always about figuring everything out. It’s about embracing vulnerability, learning from both success and failures, and stepping into the known with determination. In t...
Mark as Played

235: Building Long-Term Value Through Corporate Social Impact With Jeremy Brown

April 15, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast. Mallory is joined by Jeremy Brown, the visionary behind Social Impact World, a vibrant global community of over 2,000 corporate social impact professionals. Together, they explore what it takes to sustain social impact initiatives inside corporations, especially as the economic landscape shifts and companies reassess their values.  Jeremy’s journey into social impact began after wor...
Mark as Played

234: The Power of Growth Through Challenges in Nonprofit Leadership with Lauren Isbell

April 8, 2025 • 30 mins
This week on the What the Fundraising podcast, we’re joined by Lauren Isbell, an executive director at Nevus Outreach Inc., a non-profit patient advocacy based out of Jonesboro, AR, United States. With nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Lauren has been building community, connecting people & ideas, and advocating for healthcare access, reform, and inclusion. Her passion is to raise awareness, provide support,...
Mark as Played

233: Fundraising from Family Offices with Trust & Strategy with Kerrie Mitchell

April 1, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory is diving deep into a topic that is often misunderstood yet holds immense potential for nonprofit fundraisers: Family Offices and Philanthropy. Her guest, Kerrie Mitchell, is the Managing Partner at FSO Partners, where she and her identical twin sister advise philanthropists, family offices, and nonprofits on how to maximize impact. Kerrie unpacks what a family office is, how these ...
Mark as Played

232: Empowering Voices: Addressing Systemic Inequities In Fundraising with Birgit Burton

March 25, 2025 • 30 mins
In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory dives deep into a conversation with the trailblazing Birgit Smith Burton. With nearly four decades of experience in fundraising, Birgit has broken barriers, created spaces for belonging, and pushed for systemic change in the nonprofit sector. She shares her journey—from being the first frontline fundraiser of color at Georgia Tech to founding the African American Development Officers...
Mark as Played

231: The Power of Trauma-Informed Storytelling: A Guide to Ethical Storytelling with Maria Bryan

March 18, 2025 • 27 mins
Empathy, respect, and ethical responsibility are rooted in the practice of Trauma-Informed Storytelling. It recognizes that individuals who have experienced trauma often face challenges in regaining control, safety, and agency in their lives. This approach emphasizes giving people the power to decide how and when their stories are shared, ensuring that their dignity is upheld throughout the process. It's about striking a balance be...
Mark as Played

230: From Burnout to Balance: Creating a Supportive Environment for Nonprofit Staff with Christina Martin Kenny

March 11, 2025 • 39 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Christina Martin Kenny, a career fundraiser, consultant, and nonprofit changemaker, who is tackling some of the most persistent challenges in the sector. From unsustainable fundraising models to the high turnover of development staff, Christina is unafraid to speak candidly about the deeply ingrained systemic issues that make fundraising feel so hard—and why she still re...
Mark as Played

229: Unlocking the Potential of Planned Giving for Your Nonprofit with Brantley Boyett

March 4, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Brantley Boyett, co-founder and president of GivingDocs, to unpack the world of planned giving, behavioral science, and the role of AI in fundraising. With a background as a reformed attorney and years of research alongside Duke University, Brantley brings a wealth of insights into how nonprofits can unlock the potential of legacy giving—no matter their size. Mallory and...
Mark as Played

228: Nonprofit Finance: Balancing Passion, Compliance, and Impact with Shane Rowley

February 25, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising, we’re diving into a topic that many nonprofit leaders shy away from—finances. Whether it’s bookkeeping, audits, tax compliance, or financial storytelling, these elements are critical to your organization's success. And yet, so many of us feel overwhelmed, lost, or even avoidant when it comes to our financial health. A trusted financial partner is not someone who just helps you navigate the r...
Mark as Played

227: Fundraising with Integrity: Why Success is More Than Just Dollars Raised with Esther Saehyun Lee

February 18, 2025 • 38 mins
In this powerful episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Esther Saehyun Lee, a community-centric fundraiser, principal, and founder of Elevate Philanthropy Consulting. Esther brings a critical and necessary perspective to the conversation around fundraising culture, power dynamics in the nonprofit sector, and how we can challenge the harmful aspects of the nonprofit industrial complex. Mallory and Esther invite listen...
Mark as Played

226: Breaking the Hustle Culture: Mindset Shifts for Sustainable Leadership with Rebecca Fitzsimmons

February 11, 2025 • 31 mins
Align your purpose with your actions to inspire growth and nurture well-being! This week on What the Fundraising, Mallroy is joined by Rebecca Fitzsimmons, the founder of Tactical Harmony, a platform dedicated to holistic leadership and mindset development. With nearly 20 years of global experience, from serving as an NCIS Special Agent to leading in tech, Rebecca empowers professionals to align purpose with ambition, achieve break...
Mark as Played

225: The Critical Role of HR in Nonprofits with Arum Lee Lansel

February 4, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Arum Lee Lansel, an HR consultant specializing in small nonprofits. Arum’s diverse career spans fashion, philanthropy, venture capital, and organizational effectiveness. She now uses this unique lens to help nonprofits build sustainable, thriving work environments through strategic HR practices. Human Resources (HR) plays a critical role in shaping a thriving work enviro...
Mark as Played

224: Tech, Trust, and Transparency: Rethinking Nonprofit Growth in a Digital Era with Enzo Duit

January 28, 2025 • 32 mins
Digitizing nonprofit operations is an important step toward increasing efficiency, scalability, and transparency. As organizations adopt new technologies, the transition from conventional manual processes to digital platforms provides a substantial opportunity to streamline operations, improve data management, and increase fundraising results. However, by carefully embracing technology with an eye toward both immediate results and ...
Mark as Played

223: Connecting Beyond Email: The Art of Effective Phone Calls in Fundraising with Kel Haney

January 21, 2025 • 39 mins
In the nonprofit sector, phone calls can be a powerful tool for building authentic relationships with donors and community members. Unlike online communication, which is one-sided, phone calls provide an opportunity for actual connection and dialogue. When tackled with vulnerability and clarity, fundraisers can break down isolation walls and engage supporters in genuine, non-transactional conversations. Meet Kel Haney, an accidenta...
Mark as Played

222: Ethical Volunteer Engagement for Nonprofit Success with Jessica Pang-Parks

January 14, 2025 • 38 mins
Ethical volunteer engagement is a cornerstone of nonprofit success, ensuring volunteers are valued as essential contributors. In small organizations, where resources may be limited, volunteers often provide critical support, but their roles must be thoughtfully designed to align with the mission and organizational capacity. Engaging volunteers ethically means recognizing their inherent value, providing clear role descriptions, and ...
Mark as Played

221: Ethical Storytelling in Nonprofits: Balancing Impact and Dignity with Diana Farias Heinrich

January 7, 2025 • 36 mins
Ethical storytelling in the nonprofit sector entails more than just sharing fascinating narratives; it also includes protecting the dignity and privacy of the individuals whose stories are being told. In an age where personal information is becoming more available and searchable, nonprofit organizations must examine the long-term implications of sharing individual stories. At its root, ethical storytelling in the nonprofit sector t...
Mark as Played

220: Redefining Nonprofit Success: Insights on Fractional Fundraising with Cindy Wagman

December 31, 2024 • 28 mins
Many fundraisers are motivated by a desire to help organizations make a difference, as well as a goal for personal development and financial stability. However, the path to attaining both can appear difficult, particularly when working in an environment that does not necessarily correspond with those objectives. This is where fractional executives step in. As experienced experts, fractional fundraisers provide strategic counsel and...
Mark as Played

219: What the Fundraising: Embracing and Enabling the People Behind the Purpose - Mallory Erickson

December 24, 2024 • 40 mins
In this special solo episode of What the Fundraising, Mallory Erickson takes us on a heartfelt and vulnerable journey through the introduction of her new book, "What the Fundraising: Embracing and Enabling the People Behind the Purpose." This is not your typical episode with a guest interview — instead, it's an intimate invitation into Mallory’s personal story, the journey that led to this book, and the core principles that shape h...
Mark as Played

218: Empathy in Fundraising with Maarten Bout

December 17, 2024 • 35 mins
Meet Maarten Bout, Vice President for Major and Transformational Giving at United Way of Central Indiana, overseeing a team of 10 fundraisers. With over 12 years of experience, including major gift roles at Indiana University, he brings extensive expertise in donor engagement, team leadership, and advancing impactful philanthropic strategies.  In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the significance of empathy in enhancin...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    The Bobby Bones Show

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.