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 Works, a next-gen digital transformation services company that drives s...
Jul 08, 2025•27 min•Season 8Ep. 247
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 connection and build trust through honest conversations. This approach n...
Jul 01, 2025•29 min•Season 8Ep. 246
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-driven work. This conversation is a masterclass in alignment. Aligning ...
Jun 24, 2025•38 min•Season 8Ep. 245
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 working with limited resources, they must navigate the challenges of...
Jun 17, 2025•35 min•Season 8Ep. 244
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 is overextended, relationship-based fundraising stands out as both a...
Jun 10, 2025•40 min
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 necessity. Most of the founders carry the vision in their heads, which ...
Jun 03, 2025•37 min•Season 8Ep. 242
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 relationships with donors, or daring to imagine a future beyond the n...
May 27, 2025•37 min•Season 8Ep. 241
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 names and numbers. Join us if you are ready to turn your database i...
May 20, 2025•39 min•Season 8Ep. 240
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 your vision forward. Joining us today is Floyd Jones, speaker, coach ...
May 13, 2025•34 min•Season 8Ep. 239
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 integrating a new technology. It’s about developing a culture of curiosit...
May 06, 2025•36 min
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 burnout and turnover, Mallory, Michelle and Evan dive into how organiza...
Apr 29, 2025•37 min•Season 8Ep. 237
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 this episode, they discuss how to face hardships with courage, use ...
Apr 22, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 236
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 working in corporate America, where he saw a small priority on giving ...
Apr 15, 2025•28 min•Season 8Ep. 235
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, and find cures for people with CMN and other related disease...
Apr 08, 2025•31 min•Season 8Ep. 234
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 high-net-worth individuals manage their giving, and why relationsh...
Apr 01, 2025•27 min
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 (AADO) network, now a thriving community of nearly 4,000 members...
Mar 25, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 232
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 between crafting captivating narratives that inspire social change ...
Mar 18, 2025•27 min•Season 8Ep. 231
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 remains hopeful and optimistic about the future. Mallory and Christ...
Mar 11, 2025•40 min•Season 8Ep. 230
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 Brantley break down common misconceptions around planned giving,...
Mar 04, 2025•29 min•Season 8Ep. 229
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 ramifications of accounting, taxes, and reporting but also ensures...
Feb 25, 2025•27 min•Season 8Ep. 228
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 compl...
Feb 18, 2025•38 min•Season 8Ep. 277
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. Reb...
Feb 11, 2025•31 min•Season 8Ep. 226
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...
Feb 04, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 225
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...
Jan 28, 2025•33 min•Season 8Ep. 224
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 a...
Jan 21, 2025•40 min•Season 8Ep. 223
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 prev...
Jan 14, 2025•38 min•Season 8Ep. 222
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...
Jan 07, 2025•36 min•Season 8Ep. 221
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 withou...
Dec 31, 2024•28 min•Season 7Ep. 220
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 ow...
Dec 24, 2024•40 min•Season 7Ep. 219
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 enhancing donor-fundraiser relationships. Recognize the limitations of trad...
Dec 17, 2024•36 min•Season 7Ep. 218
