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 listeners to sit in the discomfort of recognizing that we are all complicit in upholding harmful nonprofit structures—and that awareness is a necessary first step toward meaningful change. They explore how fundraisers influence organizational culture, the intersection of individual agency and systemic responsibility, and why fundraisers must lean into values-aligned fundraising rather than perpetuating scarcity-driven mindsets.

If you’ve ever struggled with the tension between the change you want to create and the systems you feel stuck in, this episode will give you insight, inspiration, and practical steps forward.

Tips & Takeaways for Fundraisers:

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

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 breakthroughs, and lead authentically with impact and fulfillment.

Rebecca explains the concept of holistic leadership, which connects the mind, body, and spirit, and highlights its importance in effective leadership. She talks about the challenges of burnout, especially in the nonprofit sector, and the need for self-care and a positive mindset to prevent it. She offers advice for female leaders on prioritizing self-care without guilt, using practices like breath work and meditation.Rebecca then shares strategies for prioritization, focusing on the 20% of activities that lead to 80% of results, and emphasizes the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, highlighting the importance of self-regulation, stress management, and grounding techniques while encouraging listeners to align their actions with their personal values. 

Key takeaways from the episode: 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

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 environment, especially in nonprofit organizations where the demands on staff can be overwhelming. It is more than just compliance or administrative responsibilities; it is about building a long-lasting supportive environment in which people feel respected, encouraged, and enabled to perform to their full potential. HR becomes a crucial partner in achieving a nonprofit's objective and guaranteeing that its staff can flourish by tackling the underlying reasons for burnout, placing a high priority on employee well-being, and making sure leaders are prepared to assist their teams.

Key takeaways from the episode: 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

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 future expansion, organizations can accomplish impactful outcomes while creating confidence and transparency with donors and stakeholders, allowing them to overcome the set of obstacles associated with this transformation.

In this episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory is joined by Enzo Duit, a tech enthusiast with a background in consulting and software startups. He has a strong background in digital technology and entrepreneurship, and is particularly passionate about using his skills to impact positive change. His career began in the non-profit fundraising field and continued in a big four corporation in technology consulting, focused on business intelligence, data analytics, and automation projects. He joined us today to talk about the benefits and challenges of digitizing nonprofit operations.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

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 accidental fundraiser with a background in theater. Mallory and Kel talk about the importance of phone calls and community engagement in the non-profit sector. Kel shares her “Five-Minute Phone Call Framework,” and speaks on the importance of genuine curiosity and intention in the questions asked during a call, the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in fundraising, handling objections and building relationships,, and more.

In this episode, you will be able to: 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

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 establishing policies that respect their contributions while preventing exploitation or misuse. By fostering transparency, trust, and collaboration between staff and volunteers, nonprofits can create a sustainable volunteer program that supports long-term community impact without compromising the integrity of their mission.

In this episode, we are joined by Jessica Pang-Parks, a non-profit consultant for community and volunteer engagement. She helps organizations build trust, create impact, and inspire belonging. Throughout the conversation, she discusses the importance of ethical volunteer engagement in nonprofits, emphasizing that volunteers should be valued beyond just wage replacement and advocating for viewing volunteer engagement as a strategic initiative aligned with the organization's mission rather than a mere cost-saving measure.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

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 tries to strike a balance between garnering funding and protecting individuals who entrust us with their tales. Telling experiences in a way that benefits the community, preserves trust, and avoids re-traumatization is more important than merely what donors want to hear.

Meet Diana Farias Heinrich, ethical storytelling champion, nonprofit marketing strategist, and CEO of Habrá Marketing. She actively supports equality, respect, and decency in non-profit storytelling. Using the Equastory™ framework, she transforms how corporations share their impact while maintaining their beliefs. She is the creator of The Ethical Nonprofit Summit, which leads the industry conversation on ethical storytelling and fundraising techniques. Her work guarantees that nonprofit organizations may effectively communicate their mission while respecting the dignity of the communities they serve. She joined us today to talk about the importance of ethical storytelling in the non-profit sector and how you can achieve it.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

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 hands-on knowledge to organizations in need of assistance without incurring the overhead expenditures of a full-time employee. For NGOs, this is an opportunity to get leadership and guidance from experienced fundraisers who can help maximize efforts and resources. For consultants, fractional assignments provide the opportunity to establish a successful business that matches their personal objectives for abundance while also providing freedom and financial incentives.

Meet Cindy Wagman, a dynamic figure in the fundraising sector who teaches experienced fundraisers how to start consulting as fractional executives. Throughout the conversation, Cindy discusses her transition to fractional executives in nonprofits, who is fractional executives, their role, and their growing popularity, the challenges and benefits of fractional fundraising, the impact of fractional fundraisers on organizations, identifying the right organizations for fractional fundraising, consulting as a career path for experienced fundraisers, and more.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Fractional Fundraiser Academy waitlist: https://www.fractionalfundraising.co/waitlist

Find a Fractional Fundraiser: https://www.fractionalfundraising.co/inquiry

Fractional/Shift Summit: https://www.nonprofitfractionals.com/

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

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 her innovative approach to fundraising.

Mallory reflects on her own early struggles as a fundraiser, the isolation and self-doubt she experienced, and the powerful lessons she learned about the relationship between stress, self-worth, and fundraising success. In this episode, she reads the introduction to her book, allowing listeners to hear it in her own voice, filled with passion, reflection, and encouragement.

Key Themes in this Episode:

This episode is packed with storytelling, neuroscience, and strategies to inspire fundraisers and nonprofit leaders alike. It’s an unmissable opportunity to hear directly from Mallory about the deeper purpose of her work and her hopes for the sector's future.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

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:

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by GiveButter. GiveButter is the easiest-to-use fundraising platform. 

Your favorite fundraising tools, supercharged! Never miss a fundraising opportunity again. Givebutter Plus takes this award-winning platform to the next level with advanced automation, deeper donor insights, and eye-popping supporter engagement tools to help your nonprofit get ahead—and stay there.

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/

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.

If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point