This week, we have the honor of conversing with the board chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Cicley Gay. The foundation is now expanding its vision to center joy, love, and play as revolutionary practices and redefines what it means to build lasting social change. This conversation explores how transparency, truth-telling, and risk-taking are reshaping the landscape of philanthropy and fighting misinformation regarding marginalized communities. 

Cicley Gay is the Board Chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and a social entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience serving under-resourced communities. Her expertise in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership allows her to empower Black-led organizations and advance systemic change. She is a proud mother of three and joined us today to give us a picture of the work of Black Lives Matter and how they are moving communities forward. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Learn about the role of transparency, truth-telling, and risk-taking in fighting against misinformation regarding marginalized communities. 

- Discover how love can be a superpower in leadership and philanthropy. 

- Learn how funding play, arts, and wellness programs can transform communities and empower youth.

- Discover why joy is foundational, not optional in building lasting impact. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com

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

The promise of technology is efficiency, but the core of community building still lies in authentic human connection. The current nonprofit sector finds it hard to balance automation with meaningful touchpoints that foster trust, vulnerability, and genuine relationships. This conversation explores the intersection of community and technology, emphasizing how nonprofit organizations can avoid over-engineering relationships, understand the ebb and flow of engagement, and harness the power of simple but personal gestures. 

Tasha Van Vlack is the CEO of Community Hives, a global peer-connection platform that helps organizations to strengthen their communities, whether through technology, strategy, or hands-on consulting. With a passion for bringing people together and with the belief that right connections can change everything, Tasha’s diving headfirst into scaling relational tech and dreaming up what’s next for human-first connection tools. She sits down with Mallory to talk about how nonprofits can leverage modern technologies not to replace but to support authentic communities by blending automation with personal touchpoints. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Learn how to balance automation with authentic human touchpoints.

- Learn the importance of embracing the natural ebb and flow of engagement.

- Discover how simple but personal gestures can have an enormous impact on relationships.

- Learn why vulnerability, flexibility, and active participation is essential in building trust. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com

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 week’s episode, we welcome Woodrow Rosenbaum, founder and CEO of With Intent. This conversation focuses on the balance between productivity and efficiency with the help of AI in a world where speed often overshadows substance. Together, they shed light on how innovation can empower nonprofits to reimagine generosity for the future.  

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Learn how nonprofits can balance productivity and efficiency.

- Discover practical approaches for ethical AI governance and responsible technology adoption.

- Learn how to reduce AI overwhelm and fear.

- Learn how AI can reach out to the donors who are often left out by the system. 

- Get insights on the leadership roles in the age of AI. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com

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.

Did you know a scarcity mindset can drain energy and limit your impact, but a strategy mindset builds stability, confidence, and growth? 

In this episode, Mallory and Karen from Infinity Giving explore how nonprofits can break free from a scarcity mindset and embrace a strategy mindset that prioritizes financial stability. They focus not only on the importance of challenging assumptions, normalizing money conversations, and meeting donors where their wealth truly lies, but also on the importance of building reserves, creating infrastructure for non-cash gifts, and hinting at the readiness of the right partnerships to donors, which are essential steps to a long-term sustainability. 

Karen Houghton is the CEO of Infinite Giving, a leading nonprofit technology and investment advisory firm that helps nonprofits raise, invest, and steward their money. Through her firm, she provides nonprofits across the nation with tools, strategies, and the confidence needed to build financial sustainability. Karen and her team believe that the more sustainable nonprofits there are, the better our communities and the world will be. With a lifelong connection to nonprofits and a career crossover into technology and venture capital, she brings a unique perspective on bridging the gap between nonprofit needs and financial tools. 

In this episode, you will be able to: 

Learn how to shift from a scarcity mindset to a strategy mindset in nonprofit finance.

Discover why building and protecting reserves is essential for long-term stability.

Discover practical ways to prepare for and accept non-cash gifts like stock, crypto, and donor-advised funds.

Learn strategies to signal readiness and build donor confidence. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com

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.

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 approaches and create roles that empower professionals to thrive, innovate, and sustain mission impact. Mallory and Kishshana challenge the limiting beliefs in the system while encouraging providing structural support and designing an onboarding and coaching system that promotes engagement and longevity.

Meet Kishshana Palmer, CFRE, a proven executive leader, transformational coach, and keynote speaker with 15+ years of experience in driving organizational excellence in nonprofit, social impact, and mission-driven sectors. Kishshana is the CEO of ManageMint, Inc., an organizational development firm focused on helping everyday leaders live and lead well. She helps leaders scale operations, navigate change, and achieve breakthrough performance. Not limited to organizations, Kishshana coaches high-performing leaders also. She is mother to a teenage girl and currently resides in Atlanta. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Learn why health and well-being matter as much as skills in hiring.

- Discover how to build roles that let talent shine naturally. 

- Learn how to build trust through relationships centered recruitment. 

- Get information on breaking limited beliefs about money, location, or size. 

- Learn the importance of structured support and intentional coaching

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 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 boundaries, and maintaining relationships through the chaos of life. 

Meet Stacy Huston, the Executive Director of SixDegrees.Org, a nonprofit founded by the actor, musician, and philanthropist Kevin Bacon. Their work gravitates toward youth empowerment, justice and equality, and enhancing sustainable living environments. With over 8 years of experience in this role, Stacy leads a creative team that supports grassroot U.S. organizations to reach wider audiences and drive impact. Her work sits at the intersection between philanthropy, content creation, and community change. Stacy is also the CEO of Entertain Change, a social impact agency dedicated to creating transformational solutions by collaborating with entertainers and organizations. Honored with the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award, she is a driven leader, committed to making a difference daily through strategic philanthropic efforts. Outside Stacy’s career, she is a wife and a proud mom of two beautiful girls. She joined us today to talk about the importance of transparency and clear communications in maintaining relationships, especially in a demanding lifestyle. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

Learn the importance of vulnerability and open communication.

Understand how to clear expectations and do honest check-ins. 

Learn the importance of building empathy and understanding.

Discover the value of being a role model.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.com

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 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 spotting early signs of donor disengagement. Together, these insights offer a blueprint for building stronger relationships and achieving lasting impact in the fundraising sector. 

Our guest today is Adam Miller, social entrepreneur, tech founder, and philanthropist dedicated to leveraging technology and innovation for social good. Adam is the founder and CEO of Instill, a technology platform designed to help nonprofits maximize impact. Before launching Instill, he founded Cornerstone OnDemand, growing it from his apartment into the world’s largest educational technology company, empowering over 75 million people in the process. Apart from his tech career, Adam spent two decades involved in the nonprofit sector and helped grow Team Rubicon into a leading global humanitarian aid and veteran service organization. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children and joined us today to talk about the importance of focusing on the right things rather than perfection.

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Learn how the nonprofits can balance vision with pragmatism.

- Get an idea about the illusion of perfectionism. 

- Discover the power of relationship intelligence.

- Learn about the importance of understanding household dynamics.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.com

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.

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 assumptions about what it really means to ask, give, and grow. Whether you are a nonprofit leader or a goal-oriented entrepreneur, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on how to lead with value while still achieving growth. 

Tamara Jackson is a consultant, advisor, investor, and the founder of Beaconship and LeadReviver™, an advisory and consultancy service. As a former banking executive turned purpose-driven entrepreneur, Tamara brings over 25 years of corporate experience and a lifelong passion for giving back. Through volunteering, philanthropy, and value-aligned business, she used her skills to advance causes she cares about. Her love to operate at the intersection between doing good and doing business is to show that both can be done at the same time. She joined us today to talk about how aligning purpose with profit allows fundraising and sales to become an act of service instead of a transaction. 

In this episode, you will be able to: 

- Learn how to attract donations by creating values.

- Learn about donor motivations and relationship building.

- Discover the difference between persuasion sales vs. service-oriented sales.

- Learn how to honor silence as a part of the decision-making process. 

- Discover how to write with intentionality and clarity. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.com

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.

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 various causes to wanting deeper engagement beyond just writing a check. 

Jacqueline Ackerman is the interim director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The institute believes that gender matters in philanthropy and that perspective, leadership, and generosity are required from women and men in solving the world's complex problems. After joining the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in 2012, she has grown her career supporting and leading research on various aspects of charitable giving. Jackie enjoys developing relationships and using her knowledge and experience to deliver research with real-world applications. She brings a deep expertise in women donors, gendered giving trends, and the evolving role of women in nonprofit leadership. She joined us today to talk about how to shift your strategies, build authentic relationships, and tap into the real power of women's generosity. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Discover the myths and misconceptions about working with women donors.

- Learn about the importance of relationship-based philanthropy.

- Learn about the seven Ts of philanthropy.

- Discover why it’s important to keep a continuous communication with the donors. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.com

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.

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.

Lindsey doesn’t just name the problem, she offers a path forward. From reimagining self-care to fostering collective accountability in organizational culture, Lindsey shares micro-wellness practices that can help leaders and teams sustain themselves through turbulent times.

. Lindsey taught in both South Central LA and North Oakland, and then served as a site administrator at a school in deep East Oakland. Lindsey has been a trainer in restorative practices for over a decade and is state certified in mediation, working to build adult working cultures we don’t need to heal from. Under Lindsey’s visionary leadership, the organization has experienced extraordinary growth in just 4 years—more than doubling its staff, increasing its budget from $800K to $2.6M, and expanding its transformative support for educators from 4 states to 24 nationwide She is a true believer that in order to reach collective liberation, it’s a must to find ways to sustain adults in schools to ensure trauma-sensitive continuity of care. She joined us today to talk about the ongoing staffing and burnout crisis in the social sector and philanthropy. 

In this episode, you will be able to;

- Learn about the importance of mindset shift in the workplace.

- Discover practical steps for microdosing wellness. 

- Learn about the importance of recognizing and reclaiming individual agency.

- Learn about the role of accountability in self-care. 

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by iDonate!  Their donor-first giving suite, including mobile pop-ups, A/B testing, recurring prompts, makes it easy to convert more donors, faster. Easy to set up & publish with no tech team required! Launch custom giving forms that sync seamlessly with your CRM. Smarter data, better donor journeys. Check them out at iDonate.com

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.