What the Fundraising

Behind every successful fundraiser is someone who has learned to face fear, embrace discomfort, and build the confidence to keep moving forward. In this conversation, we explore why mindset, not just strategy, is often the biggest factor in fundraising success.

Michael Mitchell, Co-Founder and CEO of The Fundraising Academy, shares insights drawn from years of coaching fundraisers and nonprofit leaders. Rather than focusing solely on scripts, templates, or techniques, he explains why lasting success begins with understanding the beliefs, emotions, and internal barriers that influence how people approach fundraising. His coaching philosophy emphasizes self-awareness, courage, and personal growth as essential ingredients for becoming a more effective fundraiser.

Throughout the conversation, Michael discusses the emotional realities of fundraising, including fear, rejection, and overwhelm, and why these feelings should be normalized instead of ignored. He explores the powerful coaching principle of "naming it to tame it," showing how identifying underlying emotions can reduce their influence. The discussion also highlights the value of safe yet challenging coaching relationships, constructive feedback, emotional regulation, and the importance of leaning into discomfort rather than avoiding it.

In a nutshell, fundraising isn't just about making the ask. It's about mastering the emotions that come with it!

In this episode, you will be able to:

- Understand the emotional side of fundraising.

- Recognize fear and discomfort as normal.

- Shift from tactics to mindset.

- Identify limiting beliefs around fundraising.

- Apply the "name it to tame it" approach.

- Build emotional regulation skills.

- Develop courage to make the ask.

- Build a resilient fundraising mindset.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here.

Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels.

Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team.

Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone.

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.

AI is no longer a future trend. It is reshaping how organizations lead, innovate, and create impact today, and nonprofits are no exception.

DeAnna Hoskins is the President and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA, an organization led by formerly incarcerated people. She also served as a senior policy advisor during the Obama administration. Her experience in government and nonprofit leadership gives her a unique view on how technology, policy, and community work can come together to create positive change.

During the conversation, DeAnna explains why nonprofits should invest in AI training before adopting new tools. She mentions that AI should support people, not replace them, and that human oversight is always important. She also talks about the need to reduce bias in AI, to create clear guidelines for its use, and to continue learning as the technology evolves. Furthermore, DeAnna discusses the role of philanthropy in funding AI education and helping organizations build the skills they need.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Recognize the value of AI training.

Use AI with human oversight.

Build responsible AI guidelines.

Identify AI bias and risks.

Create long-term AI strategies.

Use AI to support teams.

Understand AI funding needs.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here.

Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels.

Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team.

Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone.

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 the best way to raise more money is not just to find new donors, but to help existing donors give more meaningfully?

Today, let's explore how matching campaigns can turn fundraising into a shared experience that builds trust, excitement, and community.

Pooya Pourak is an industrial and systems engineer, human-centered designer, host of The Nonprofit Lab podcast, and the founder of MatchNice. His career began in consulting, where he created human-centered solutions for health and human services programs that support families through Medicaid, foster care, food assistance, and childcare. Passionate about creating social impact, he built MatchNice to help nonprofits, businesses, communities, and donors work together to make a bigger difference.

In this conversation, Pooya shares how the COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of MatchNice and why donation matching is a powerful but often overlooked fundraising approach. He explains how matching works, why transparency and urgency motivate donors, and how nonprofits can engage everyday supporters and mid-level donors as matching partners. Through real examples, Pooya shows how matching campaigns can increase donations, bring in new supporters, strengthen donor relationships, and help nonprofits create greater impact.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Explain how donation matching boosts fundraising.

Understand the psychology of matching gifts.

Identify different types of matching donors.

Engage existing donors as match sponsors.

Create milestone-based matching campaigns.

Use progress tracking to motivate giving.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here.

Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels.

Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team.

Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone.

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.

Raising young people out of poverty takes far more than good intentions. It requires trust, healing, opportunity, and unwavering community support. Also, meaningful mentorship can become a powerful force for breaking generational barriers.

Meet Renee Daniel Flagler, President of the National CARES Mentoring Movement. Today, she reflects on her personal journey into nonprofit leadership, inspired by a transformative volunteer experience that revealed the life-changing impact of supporting vulnerable youth. She discusses her organization's mission to empower young people through mentoring, trauma-informed healing, wellness, and workforce development.

Moreover, the conversation explores the organization's holistic mentoring model, which combines mentor recruitment, emotional wellness, workforce readiness, and economic mobility to address the complex realities facing underserved communities. Renee explains why trauma-informed care is essential for long-term success, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19, and discusses the challenges of securing funding for comprehensive programs. She also highlights the importance of mission-aligned philanthropic partnerships, organizational adaptability, and reimagining philanthropy by removing unnecessary barriers so nonprofits can focus on creating lasting, life-changing impact.

In this episode, you will be able to: 


Understand how mentoring can help break the cycle of generational poverty.


Recognize the importance of trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches in youth development.


Explain why mental health and emotional well-being are essential for long-term success.


Identify the value of combining mentoring, workforce development, and wellness into one holistic model.


Understand why addressing root causes leads to more meaningful and lasting impact.


Learn how strong, mission-aligned partnerships can strengthen nonprofit outcomes.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels.

Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team.

Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone.

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.

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs begin with the hardest struggles!

Today, Mallory and Dawn Wensel, the Director of Development at Hope Street Group, talk about healing, resilience, and the powerful connection between the mind and body. Their honest stories remind us that growth often starts with understanding ourselves.

During the conversation, Dawn shares her journey from being a teacher to building a successful career in fundraising. Alongside her career, Dawn opens up about her long battle with chronic pain and how it affected both her work and personal life. She explains how reading John Sarno's book helped her see the link between stress and physical pain. Through journaling, reflection, and self-awareness, she found healthier ways to manage her symptoms and regain confidence.

The conversation explores how stress can show up in the body and why it is important to address the root causes instead of only treating symptoms. Dawn introduces Positive Intelligence and explains how it can improve both personal well-being and fundraising success. Dawn also discusses the value of supportive leaders, self-compassion, curiosity, and community. 

In this episode, you will be able to: 


Recognize the connection between mind and body in health and performance.


Explore how stress can show up physically in everyday life.


Learn how journaling supports emotional balance and stress relief.


Build self-awareness to notice and shift thought patterns.


Use curiosity to better understand emotions and reactions.


Shift from perfectionism toward self-compassion and acceptance.


Value community support in building resilience and reducing isolation.


See how openness about struggles builds connection with others.

Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels.

Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team.

Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone.

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.