Ayelet Fishbach, Ph.D., is the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, and the author of Get It Done (surprising lessons from the science of motivation). In this episode, Ayelet breaks down the intricate details behind donor motivation and how motivation differs based on the segment of donor. She gives us a number of helpful language suggestions for engagement, as well as other real-time strategies you can ...
Mar 16, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Lindsay Simonds is a senior, nonprofit, fundraising and management professional with notable experience partnering with organizations for transformational change. In this episode, Lindsay provides donor retention strategies and best practices you can implement inside your fundraising approaches and use to strengthen your team, right now. You can feel our excitement around these topics while we make revelation after revelation about retention tactics in this space. It’s an episode you can’t afford...
Mar 15, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Dethra Giles is the founder and CEO of ExecuPrep, an international performance optimization firm. She goes around the world, working with companies to make sure they are performing at their optimal level. In this episode, Dethra shares some of her views and experiences around recovering and building confidence, embracing ignorance, and feeling comfortable with rejection. She talks about getting our ‘ two-year-old confidence’ back and how to overcome imposter syndrome. Join in and listen to this ...
Mar 08, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Today’s episode (or 2-part series) is quite heavy - we are going to be talking about sexual harassment in fundraising. There is explicit content and potentially triggering storytelling so I want to make sure you listen to today’s show in the right place - mentally, physically, and emotionally. For this series, I have the incredible honor of interviewing Dr. Ann Olivarius who is recognized around the world for her pioneering work in representing victims of sexual violence, sexual harassment, and ...
Mar 01, 2022•42 min
Today’s episode (or 2-part series) is quite heavy - we are going to be talking about sexual harassment in fundraising. There is explicit content and potentially triggering storytelling so I want to make sure you listen to today’s show in the right place - mentally, physically, and emotionally. For this series, I have the incredible honor of interviewing Dr. Ann Olivarius who is recognized around the world for her pioneering work in representing victims of sexual violence, sexual harassment, and ...
Mar 01, 2022•41 min
Rhea Wong is a nonprofit leader with 20 years of experience that helps Executive Directors and development staff build out individual major gift programs to raise money like a pro. In this episode, we dismantle some of the most common biases inside the fundraiser’s mindset when it comes to money and the risk of rejection. Rhea has some interesting takeaways to help you challenge your pre-established money beliefs and become a successful fundraiser. You know this conversation is right up our alle...
Feb 22, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Cindy Wagman is the President and Founder of The Good Partnership, a consultancy that is working to unlock the potential of small nonprofits through fundraising. In this episode, me and Cindy talk about the system of beliefs and stigmas that are often associated with fundraising and how we can rewire the neural pathways in our brains that are keeping us stuck. We also explore the power of stories as vehicles for empathy and the importance of meeting your donors and really getting to know them. J...
Feb 15, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Becky Straw is the Co-Founder of The Adventure Project, and a true believer in the ability to build community through entrepreneurship and move people out of poverty for good. There are so many amazing elements of The Adventure Project but in this episode, we look into their monthly giving program because it uses some innovative strategies to create strong memory peaks with the members of The Collective (both when donors are first inspired to join and throughout their time in The Collective). We...
Feb 10, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In this episode, I’m interviewing Lys Hugessen from Canada Helps and Celeste Flores from GivingTuesday. More specifically, Lys is the Vice President of Partnerships & GivingTuesday Canada. In her role, Lys leads the growth and development of the national GivingTuesday movement across Canada. Celeste supports and mobilizes GivingTuesday’s network of 200+ communities across the United States. Both of these women are coming to this conversation to talk about the GivingTuesday ‘moment’ - what ha...
Feb 09, 2022•49 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Francesco Ambrogetti leads Supporter Engagement for UNICEF worldwide. He has over 20 years’ international experience and has worked for organizations like the WWF, MSF, and the Red Cross World Bank across four different continents. His most recent book, “Hooked on a Feeling”, inspired this episode as it dives deep into the neuroscience of fundraising and explores a number of different topics not typically explained (but highly relevant) when we’re taught fundraising best practices. In this episo...
Feb 08, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 30
It might be Thursday, but we couldn’t wait another week to introduce you to this amazing guest. So, in honor of Black History Month, we released two episodes this week with two inspiring Black women. Our second guest, Domonique James is the CEO & Founder of Politics With Purpose, a political communications agency helping leaders raise their influence to serve and empower others in media, politics, and philanthropy. In the episode, Domonique explains why media is a fundamental part of what ke...
Feb 03, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan, Executive Director of Reading Partners DC, joins the show and we cover a lot of topics, like why every organization should have a level of flexibility when it comes to their work, how to balance short-term metrics with long-terms goals, and funders’ actual role in community-centered fundraising. Shukurat is an inspiring leader that is asking her staff to think completely differently about how they address the work - it’s not about just continuing to provide services for ...
Feb 01, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Stephynie Malik is known as an expert negotiator and skilled crisis management consultant. While leading alliances, she has created countless partnerships with huge brands like American Express, Monster.com, Deloitte, and Nike (to name just a few). In this episode of What The Fundraising we talk about why listening to people means building an authentic and genuine connection, and why it’s so important to do your research before you walk in the room. We share some of our views around donor retent...
Jan 25, 2022•46 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Vanessa Bohns is a psychologist, award-winning researcher, and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University. Plus she is the author of an amazing book that I encourage everyone to read, You Have More Influence Than You Think. Today, Vanessa joins the show to talk about influence and the ways that we as fundraisers might underestimate our own, especially when it comes to making the big ask! Vanessa shares how important it is to talk transparently without making assumptions that can ...
Jan 18, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 26
This is part two of our conversation with psychologist, award-winning researcher, and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University, Vanessa Bohns. Here we discuss the psychological aspects and consequences of power dynamics. Plus the ways donors can sometimes underestimate their influence. It’s time to put our funder lenses on to really understand our organization’s potential from different points of view, especially those who share our mission and are interested in investing. Don’...
Jan 18, 2022•31 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Kishshana Palmer is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with a 20+ year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management who helps leaders create high-performing teams. Kishshana is known for calling out toxic mindsets and behaviors so that organizations can actually make their missions come true. This conversation is both a wake-up call and a joyful release as we get into all the nitty gritty around what holds organizations and leaders back, and what allows them to thrive. W...
Jan 11, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Are you ready for the second season of What the Fundraising? Before we properly start a new season, we take a look back to highlight some of the most interesting lessons from last season's episodes with my friend and nonprofit game-changer, Vik Harrison. Vik links each one of these favorite moments to her experience being the creative leader of charity: water, a successful nonprofit she co-founded with her (now) husband, Scott Harrison! We examine the value of celebrating small victories, discus...
Jan 04, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Ryan Erickson is my amazing husband, life partner, friend, counselor, and co-parent. In this episode, Ryan and I discuss his experience being the partner of a busy nonprofit leader, me. While we make a terrific team, it hasn’t always been an easy ride; especially when I became an Executive Director or when I launched this business! Tune in and learn what it is like to be the supporting partner in times of crisis, the hardest parts of our relationship, and how we’ve made it work through the years...
Dec 14, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Nicole Parker is a social innovator that knows how to create strategies that lead to transformation. With her sisters, she founded the project Sisters in Business, which has the mission to create a space for women of color to connect, collaborate, and build community to sustain, grow and maximize their vision. In this episode, Nicole talks about her journey through community development, from her lived experience and years as a student in social enterprise to becoming the social innovator and di...
Dec 07, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Heather Segar is a coach, speaker, trainer, and host of The Heather Sager Show. Through her years in the business, she’s learned something: success is limited by your ability to articulate a vision and inspire others to take action. In this episode, Heather shares her wisdom around how we need to be showing up to one-on-one conversations, fundraising events, and any other presentation to have a real impact. Hop into this conversation now! This one is more than tips and tricks, it’s about who you...
Nov 30, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Philippa White is the founder, and CEO of The International Exchange, and a true believer in the power of business and leadership to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. In this episode, Philippa shares some of her experiences with building partnerships through TIE and how for 15 years they’ve made successful collaboration between sectors possible. Join in and listen to this expert’s experience changing things up and challenging both sectors to be better and bolder! Episode highlights : 0...
Nov 23, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… I talk to my long-time friend, and talent and human potential aficionado with over a decade of experience within Career Coaching and Human Resources, A.J. Mizes. He is my go-to resource when it comes to how to build a strong, healthy, and balanced culture for organizations. AJ and I get to nerd out and go deep on the nuances and strategies behind building a great team while aligning to your mission and hitting your goals. In strong cultures, there...
Nov 16, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Josie Raymond is the State Representative for Kentucky's 31st District, the Director of Elected Leadership Fellowships at Leadership for Educational Equity, and a mom of three. In this episode, Josie shares her experience running for office with no political background. She talks about what it was like to run in her hometown of Louisville, the process of fundraising for her campaign (it’s not what you think!), and why we need more women in their twenties and thirties serving in elected positions...
Nov 09, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Tanya St. Julien is a community leader, advocate for educational equity, and Chief of Staff at Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). In this episode, Tanya talks about her experience in the political space and how her organization promotes and supports civic leaders in their run for office. There is a lot that the nonprofit sector can learn from the faithful long game this organization plays for each of its candidates. Tanya teaches us so much about how to be buoyed by wins and think of every...
Nov 09, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Taylor Stewart is the Vice President of Organizing Leadership at Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). Her work centers on developing the leadership of LEE members to build powerful ecosystems in their communities filled with elected officials, policymakers, advocacy leaders, and organized constituencies. In this conversation Taylor talks about what organizing really means, finding that sweet spot between self-interest and community advocacy, and the ways we as a society can become more anti-...
Nov 09, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Tania Anaissie is the Founder and CEO at Beytna Design, an equity design studio supporting social sector leaders to translate their equity values into action. She is a Founding Creator of Liberatory Design, a new practice of human-centered design that drives innovation towards liberation. In this episode, Tania shares why the way to break the status quo is by slowing down and being intentional. Plus the ways we can allow ourselves time and a safe space to do it. Urgency is not our ally here! Epi...
Nov 02, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Today’s world is demanding companies to change their behavior and engage in a truly responsible way with society and the environment. Being a good global citizen is not a matter of choice for companies anymore, it’s the only way. In this episode, Professor Maurizio Zollo, the Scientific Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School and a Professor of Strategy and Sustainability and Head of the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship at the Bu...
Oct 26, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Episode highlights: (01:52) - Who is Hilary Doe? A fun reconnection from the past + Hilary’s journey from college to the present in the nonprofit world. (11:14) - What is long-run motivation?: How to find new donors and turn them into long-term givers and supporters of your organization. (18:07) - The strength behind having a solid network: What Lisa hoped she knew as a young fundraiser. (23:54) - Connecting on a human level before anything else: How to make your mission alive and resonant throu...
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 15
The infinitely wise Sheri Riley is an Empowerment Speaker, High-Performance Life Coach, and Award-Winning Author of the book Exponential Living: Stop Spending 100% of Your Time on 10% of Who You Are. In this episode, she shares what is Exponential Living and some of the 9 principles included in her book to pursue peace, choose clarity and live courageously. Sheri’s work as a life strategist can help anyone achieve their better self, but I find it especially helpful for fundraisers that might fee...
Oct 12, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Lisa Fabrega is the founder, CEO, and coach at Capacity Shift where she teaches the Capacity Framework, a model to understand and grow your ability to hold, handle and receive every next level of your impact. In this episode, Lisa walks us through the six areas of capacity work, plus she tells us how scarcity mindset and transactional relationships are keeping us from expanding. You really don’t want to miss this conversation on how to continually grow and level up your leadership and fundraisin...
Oct 05, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 13
