What the Fundraising

145: Breaking the Fundraising Mold: Empathy and Design Thinking in Action with Sheryl Cababa


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Do you want to enhance your design practices and create more equitable outcomes for marginalized communities? Are you seeking a solution to incorporate human-centered design into your nonprofit organization? Look no further! Our guest, Sheryl Cababa, will be sharing the key to achieving improved design practices and fostering greater equity in the nonprofit sector. Join us as we explore how to create meaningful impact and drive positive change within your organization, resulting in more inclusive and equitable outcomes for all.


Sheryl Cababa is a staunch believer in human-centered and equity-centered design. Pioneering her way through the design landscape, Sheryl currently leads as the Chief Strategy Officer at Substantial, a transformative design studio ensuring that design solutions are informed by the real lived experiences and contexts of the end users. With a design background shaped by industry giants like Microsoft and Philips, she has a unique ability to understand and weave the intricacies of design thinking with profound empathy for human experiences. Sheryl is particularly focused on uplifting historically marginalized voices in the education sector, crafting tools and solutions that approach the user experience innovatively and equitably.


In this episode, you will be able to:

  • Unearth the role of human-based design in empowering nonprofits to deliver real change.
  • Recognize the significance of equity in design practices, catalyzing inclusive and effective solutions.
  • Grasp the unique struggles that come with implementing human-centered design in the nonprofit landscape.
  • Expose potential imbalances in power dynamics during design processes and their consequences.
  • Reimagine fundraising through a fresh perspective rooted in empathy and long-term sustainability.


  • Get all the resources from today’s episode here


    Many thanks to our sponsor, Constant Contact for making this episode possible. Our friends at Constant Contact provide nonprofit leaders like you with cutting-edge email and social media management tools. Want to craft emails that shine on every device or manage your social media effortlessly? And for those moments you're at a loss for words, their AI Content Generator, powered by ChatGPT, delivers engaging messages in mere seconds. For a platform that amplifies your marketing, saves time, and drives growth, look no further than Constant Contact. Get started with your risk-free trial using the promo code 'MALLORY' for 30% off your first three months. Discover more at www.constantcontact.com/mallory.


    Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthefundraising_

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/

    Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast


    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652


    If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.

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    What the FundraisingBy Mallory Erickson

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