59. What the Fundraising Season 2 Recap with Dana Snyder

07/12/22 • 50 min

It’s dizzying to look back on this past season of What the Fundraising and try to encapsulate all the brilliant advice, life lessons, and wisdom that my guests have shared – which is why I was fortunate to have my good friend Dana Snyder, CEO of Positive Equation, on deck to help out! Together we’re deconstructing some of the big themes impacting nonprofits today as well as the many innovative new ways organizations are approaching donor partnerships.

A lot of our conversations in this space seem to be trending towards pausing – whether for self-reflection, celebration, or recalibration in the face of fast-paced, relentless technological and social change. This episode provides highlights (and links) for some of our most compelling What the Fundraising conversations and favorite topics from perfectionism to donor retention and everything in between. Listen now to hear a thought-provoking, lively, and information-packed episode.

Episode Highlights:

(02:35) – About the brainstorming and support that Mallory and Dana offer each other.

(04:47) – Ep. 37 Highlight: Vanessa Bohns and the Science of Influence. Click here to hear the podcast in its entirety.

(10:40) – When you are afraid of being too “sales-y.”

(13:20) – Defining the word “influencer”

(14:39) – Episode 29 Highlight: Dominique James has thoughts to share on the power of everyday experts. Click here to listen.

(16:00) – Episode 28 Highlight: Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan shares thoughts on the important expertise and stories that nonprofits need to own! Click here to listen.

(17:02) – Dealing with impostor syndrome

(21:25) – Episode 36 Highlight: Dethra Giles talks about dropping perfectionism in order to get to a place of ownership. Click here to listen.

(22:58) – What happens when we avoid discomfort

(24:25) – Why are we so fearful of looking at things like donor or ad data?

(30:45) – Episode 05 Highlight: Habits expert BJ Fogg explains the concept of “shine”. Click here to hear more.

(31:46) – Dana believes the metrics for “success” in fundraising must change.

(32:01) – Episode 38 Highlight. About the psychology of motivation and how it relates to donor behavior. Listen to the episode here.

(33:05) – Donor stewardship/cultivation can present a “middle problem”.

(37:27) – Finding the space for integration.

(40:54) – Episode 47 Highlight: Fascinating conversation with Donor Relations Guru Lynne Wester about why we see people turn away from nonprofits. Click here for the episode.

(42:40) – Dana touts the innovative partnering opportunities generated by new giving forums.

(45:10) – Two great podcasts to check out on the topic of creative partnering:

Episode 41:

Episode Highlights:

(02:35) – About the brainstorming and support that Mallory and Dana offer each other.

(04:47) – Ep. 37 Highlight: Vanessa Bohns and the Science of Influence. Click here to hear the podcast in its entirety.

(10:40) – When you are afraid of being too “sales-y.”

(13:20) – Defining the word “influencer”

(14:39) – Episode 29 Highlight: Dominique James has thoughts to share on the power of everyday experts. Click here to listen.

(16:00) – Episode 28 Highlight: Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan shares thoughts on the important expertise and stories that nonprofits need to own! Click here to listen.

(17:02) – Dealing with impostor syndrome

(21:25) – Episode 36 Highlight: Dethra Giles talks about dropping perfectionism in order to get to a place of ownership. Click here to listen.

(22:58) – What happens when we avoid discomfort

(24:25) – Why are we so fearful of looking at things like donor or ad data?

(30:45) – Episode 05 Highlight: Habits expert BJ Fogg explains the concept of “shine”. Click here to hear more.

(31:46) – Dana believes the metrics for “success” in fundraising must change.

(32:01) – Episode 38 Highlight. About the psychology of motivation and how it relates to donor behavior. Listen to the episode here.

(33:05) – Donor stewardship/cultivation can present a “middle problem”.

(37:27) – Finding the space for integration.

(40:54) – Episode 47 Highlight: Fascinating conversation with Donor Relations Guru Lynne Wester about why we see people turn away from nonprofits. Click here for the episode.

(42:40) – Dana touts the innovative partnering opportunities generated by new giving forums.

(45:10) – Two great podcasts to check out on the topic of creative partnering:

Episode 41:

Previous Episode

58. What Nonprofit Leaders Can Learn From Startup Success and Failure with Ande Lyons

Want to remember exactly who you are – and be unafraid to claim it? Then you’ll want to tap into the infectious positivity and purpose my guest shares on this episode of What the Fundraising. Ande Lyons is a Startup Champion coach who, as the founder of four successful entrepreneurial ventures, knows intimately the ups downs, joys, and losses associated with taking big risks in pursuit of a passionate vision.

While for-profit and nonprofit mandates may differ, many of the organizational challenges overlap. In fact, the pressures to deviate from the foundational mission, scale too quickly or ravage work-life balance are very often exactly the same. But Ande, who hosts Startup Life, is offering a different path forward. In this episode, We are diving into bedrock truths about founder identity and also busting some of the intimidating startup myths. A big one? Everyone is on their way to massive expansion. Wrong! Ande reminds us that the vast majority of businesses fail – and there is absolutely no shame in it. As nonprofit leaders, we must step into our authority and own the truth of where we are – even hard truths, like an organization’s unsustainable model or poorly matched donor partnership.

It’s all fodder for growth and that learning goes with us to the next venture, says Ande. You’ll come away with food for thought about the power of saying “yes” to cold calls that are relentlessly saying “no” as well as strategies for defining – and then adhering to – a core value set that is authentic, sustainable, and abundant.

For more support around your nonprofit fundraising and leadership journey check out my Power Partners Formula and register for a masterclass here.

Episode Highlights:

(02:28) – Ande shares the (varied and amazing) journey that brought her to today.

(05:38) – Founder identity begins in murky waters.

(07:30) – Impostor Syndrome: About the Groundhog Day nature of fundraising

(09:37) – Problem-solving is an essential part of being a founder

(11:53) – Nonprofits & failure

(14:53) – The difference between ego confidence and true self-confidence

(15:43) – What it means to walk with our shadow selves

(16:43) – It’s definitely win-win

(17:26) – Founders must not lose sight of their unique qualifications based on lived experience

(18:10) – When should you close a nonprofit?

(23:10) – How societal beliefs set up a false template for success.

(27:29) – Defining what success looks like clearly from the inside

(29:24) – Celebrate every effort, event, conversation

(31:14) – The world is not a zero-sum game.

(33:48) – About scalability

(37:03) – Understand yourself enough to know what you can and can’t handle

(39:10) – Mallory shares some hard lessons she learned about leadership and scaling

(40:35) – Why Ande advocates for parent-preneurs

(44:37) – Discernment is real and boundaries are so important

(46:48) - Learn more about Ande

Support for this show is brought to you by Bloomerang. Our friends at Bloomerang really understand fundraisers, which is how they make donor management software that nonprofits like to use. To learn more about them, head on over to bloomerang.com/mallory.

Next Episode

60. The Truth About Self-Love, Healing, and the Path to Remembering Our Deepest Selves with Ruthie Lindsey

Why is it so hard for women to bring all of ourselves, imperfections included, to the table? For starters, we’ve inherited deeply ingrained narratives — stories that shame us and drive our truest natures into hiding. That’s why we all need the support of someone like Ruthie Lindsey, my remarkable guest on this episode of What the Fundraising. She is an author, coach, speaker, and extraordinary healer whose rare wisdom provides a beautiful mirroring of all that we are, including the difficult pieces so many of us are reluctant to expose.

In this episode, Ruthie invites us to embrace our truest selves through practices such as intentional expression (Dance! Journal! Scream!) and the RAIN framework that author and psychologist Tara Brach recommends for processing jealousy and other challenging emotions.

Enjoy this powerful conversation with a woman who has worked tremendously hard to fully embrace every facet of herself and is now serving as a beacon for others finding their way towards self-love and acceptance. If you work in the service or nonprofit world, this episode is likely especially relevant. Here’s a chance to pause and reflect on what it means to feel nourished and deeply worthy, which in turn will fuel your life goals and mission!

If you need a reminder of your fundraising magic specifically, you might be interested in taking my Fundraising Superpower Quiz.

Episode Highlights:

(03:12) A brief intro to Ruthie Lindsey

(05:03) Ruthie’s “Love Reflection Sessions”

(06:20) Mallory and Ruthie’s first meeting, where Mallory lied to her.

(08:40) The inherited stories we tell ourselves about not being worthy or deserving of time, love, and tenderness.

(12:22) The way we “fold ourselves up” in an effort to be accepted and loved.

(15:14) All about jealousy and comparison.

(17:39) Ruthie shares Tara Brach’s RAIN framework.

(22:19) Showing up with self-love rather than a place of needing to be needed.

(23:50) “Doing good’ vs. showing up with an honest, sustainable, positive energy.

(27:23) Embracing tears and the power of crying.

(31:34) Greeting hard narratives with compassion in order to create a liberating shift in the story.

(34:01) The discomfort and necessity of setting boundaries.

(35:42) The daily practice of belonging.

(42:25) Small rituals that Ruthie recommends to shift towards self-love and healing.

(47:03) Creating a container where our truest feelings are safe to emerge.

(49:54) Where to connect with Ruthie Lindsey

This episode of What the Fundraising was sponsored by Neon One, the comprehensive platform for coordinating donor and member management, fundraising, volunteers, and grants as well as all kinds of information about the when, where, why, and how of giving. Head over to this link to learn more!