What the Fundraising

What the Fundraising

What the Fundraising is the podcast for impact leaders and change-makers who are tired of doing things the old school way and are looking for best practices to raise money, run their organization, and think about the nonprofit sector in a whole new way. Every Tuesday for 40-60 min, your host, Mallory Erickson, will be having real and raw conversations with some of the best personal and professional development experts, many of whom are outside the nonprofit sector. These are bestselling authors, world-renowned researchers, and TEDx experts, most of whom have never spoken to a non-profit audience before. They have come ready to share expertise, lessons, and stories that will fundamentally change the way you show up as a leader and fundraiser. There are so many valuable lessons nonprofit leaders are missing because they are outside of their typical orbit, but no more. Mallory is bringing them in and helping to apply her guest's expertise to disrupt the nonprofit sector once and for all. So if you are ready to learn how to upgrade your fundraising strategy, leadership skills, energy, habits, and mindset to bring in more funding and actually have some fun doing it, then this is the right podcast for you. If you’re wanting to implement ideas you heard, visit MalloryErickson.com/Podcast for the top tips and tools, full transcripts, quotes, videos, and additional resources from each episode.

Episodes

March 31, 2026 52 mins
What if the very technology that feels overwhelming today could become the strongest ally for nonprofits tomorrow? Meet Darian Rodriguez Heyman, an experienced fundraiser, social entrepreneur, and best-selling author. His work has always focused on "helping people help." He began this journey during his five years as Executive Director of the Craigslist Foundation, where he created the Nonprofit Boot Camp and expanded it into the ...
Listen
Mark as Played
Sometimes the most meaningful innovations begin with frustration. In this conversation, Natalie Poindexter shares how questioning broken systems, both in nonprofit funding and in technology, led her to build new solutions designed with empathy, accessibility, and human support at their core. Natalie, a former grant writer turned funding systems architect and consultant, explains how her career evolved into helping nonprofits desig...
Listen
Mark as Played
Technology may be a powerful tool of fundraising, but human connection seems far superior to anything else.  Fundraising is a sector shaped by digital tools, automation, and constant urgency, but the real work of fundraising always comes to its roots: relationships. Organizations that are smart enough to slow down and focus on people create stronger, more sustainable support from their donors. At its heart, fundraising isn’t just ...
Listen
Mark as Played
Challenges, uncertainty, and high expectations are natural components of nonprofit. Its leadership is shaped by mindset, resilience, and action by focusing on what they can control, staying present, and fostering momentum over perfection. Join with us and explore how purpose-driven focus and practical strategies transform challenges into opportunities for growth, impact, and meaningful connections. Trish Davis has been working as ...
Listen
Mark as Played
Generosity is a muscle that must be trained, but in the nonprofit sector, we often wait for donors to find us rather than building the bridges they need to cross. Real progress requires shaking up the status quo and recognizing that philanthropy does not exist in a vacuum; it is complemented by finance, psychology, technology, and tax law. In this conversation, Mallory is joined by Meg George to explore how to move away from "rins...
Listen
Mark as Played
What does it really take to raise money for a cause that many people misunderstand?  In this conversation, Natalie Reilly-Finch, the Vice President of Growth at the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF), shares the real challenges behind fundraising for lung cancer research and the responsibility that comes with it. She has been working in fundraising since she was 18 and now leads LCRF's growth efforts. She explains that LCRF is...
Listen
Mark as Played
When the relationships stop evolving, so does the donor interest. Overlooked due to time constraints, fear of personal outreach, and assumptions, the mid-level donors are sitting in plain sight with loyalty, consistency, and readiness for more. Now is the time to explore the importance of personalized communication rather than polished campaigns, identifying donors with unrealized potential. From phone calls and stewardship touchpo...
Listen
Mark as Played
Surrounded by myths that prevent real solutions, homelessness and housing insecurity are often misunderstood in the public eye. Requiring more than short-term fixes, it demands empathy, trust, and systemic thinking. In this conversation, Mallory is joined by Joseph Bradford lll to explore how nonprofit leaders balance urgent needs with long-term solutions, build trust within communities, and guide teams to act effectively while kee...
Listen
Mark as Played
This episode features a fascinating conversation with Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University and the author of Mailed It. She has spent over a decade leading digital innovation in advancement, helping organizations connect authentically with audiences and raise funds for meaningful causes.  Ashley shares her career journey from enrollment services to fundraising and explains how her work in digital marketing,...
Listen
Mark as Played
Growth isn’t about doing more or filling checklists; it’s about doing what matters within your capacity and rhythm. In fundraising, true impact comes with honoring long-term engagement over quick monetary wins, creating space for transformation, and holding firmly to mission and values while adapting methods. When distraction, uncertainty, and external pressure are inevitable, leaders have to ground themselves, set boundaries, and ...
Listen
Mark as Played
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast, Today’s conversation focuses on Dana James’ thoughtful and human-centered approach to engagement, fundraising, and community building. Dana describes herself as an artist at heart who works as an engagement strategist within a capitalist system. She shares how her work is rooted in creating belonging and bringing people together through collective effort. Dana talks about her journe...
Listen
Mark as Played
As one of the most popular ways of contributing to philanthropy, Donor-advised funds are quietly changing the landscape, offering both unprecedented opportunity and unique challenges for nonprofits. By understanding the psychology behind DAFs, fundraisers can understand why donors act faster, give more generously, and engage differently than through traditional channels. Join with us and explore practical strategies for organizatio...
Listen
Mark as Played
What if in the future it is a possibility to build deeper connections with everyone who gives instead of raising more money from fewer people? In this episode Mallory is joined by Kalyan Varma, founder & CEO of Almabase, to discuss how AI and modern tools can help nonprofits better serve everyday givers. Originally from India, Kalyan Varma was introduced to fundraising in college after helping launch a student-led nonprofit to r...
Listen
Mark as Played
Generosity doesn’t begin with the ask; it begins with understanding. Joining with Mallory today is Kevin Schulman to discuss the role of behavioral science in reshaping how generosity is inspired, unmasking why people give far beyond the moment they’re prompted.  Kevin Schulman is the founder of DonorVoice, a behavioral science fundraising agency established in 2012 after a career in the commercial sector. Noticing a striking gap ...
Listen
Mark as Played
Fundraising is commonly portrayed as challenging, but for mission-driven leaders, it’s also a privilege because they’ve got to be one of the helpers in this time period. In this episode, Dana Smiley joins Mallory to discuss donor stewardship through the lens of authenticity, purpose, and human connection. Join us as our guest dives into the exhaustion that comes with the role, the mindset shift that keeps teams grounded, and the po...
Listen
Mark as Played
Change is built through purpose, innovation, and the people who keep showing up. Join with us and explore how social impact and fundraising are evolving beyond traditional boundaries, blending the strategy of business with the heart of philanthropy. Zachary Hynek is the founder of Morton Labs, a startup venture out of the University of Chicago, developing a multi-physics simulation platform specifically for the nuclear industry, a...
Listen
Mark as Played
Donors make decisions regarding generosity faster than you may think. It’s crucial that fundraisers understand how much those split-second decisions matter. This episode delves into the hidden psychology behind giving, the impact of choosing the right words, the signs that shut conversations down, and subtle mistakes even the skilled professionals make.  Grab a copy of Cherian's book: http://amazon.com/Neurogiving-Science-Decisi...
Listen
Mark as Played
GivingTuesday is more than just a calendar date; it’s a reminder of what generosity can do when people decide to show up for one another. Generosity isn’t always about money; it can be about time, support, sharing skills, or simply choosing kindness. It is a day to remember that small acts, multiplied by millions, can create lasting impact.  In this special episode, Mallory is joined by her daughter Emmie to read the book “How to ...
Listen
Mark as Played
What does it mean when we say a fundraising approach is really ‘working’? In this episode, Mallory and Tammy talk about moving past the fixed camps of donor-centric versus community-centric models and call for a shift toward human-centered fundraising. From redefining heroism to making conscious choices about what we measure and what we prioritize, they invite listeners to rethink success through shared values, equity, and intentio...
Listen
Mark as Played
In this episode of What the Fundraising… Change is the hardest thing to sustain but the most important thing in the nonprofit sector. Most of the time, leaders in nonprofit find themselves stuck between knowing what needs to evolve and struggling to make it happen. From outdated systems and burnout to scarcity mindset and fear of failure, the barriers to change are deeply human and structural. This conversation examines why good i...
Listen
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices