I know what it’s like...
to hate fundraising.
To know deep down that there is no way it’s supposed to be this hard.
Feeling completely overwhelmed with what to prioritize, constantly thinking about the people you need to email and call but not wanting to do any of it, dreading talking to the board about fundraising AGAIN…. oh, how I have been there!
Go back 7 years when I was the ED of a 3 million dollar organization (that I grew from 300k) – working 70 hours a week to keep everything afloat. People would compare us to a start – up, and I’d be like – ya RIGHT – I could do ANYTHING with a few million in seed funding.
No one outside of the nonprofit world understands the nonprofit hustle.
Am I right?
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I did not know how to get off the hamster wheel.
All I wanted was to make a big impact in this world.
And here I was at the top of the game – a successful Executive Director – and I hated almost everything about the day-to-day.
ESPECIALLY fundraising! Because it always made me feel like a fraud – that I was performing or couldn’t be my authentic self. Honestly, it just felt bad.
I was exhausted, overwhelmed, overworked, and completely ready to leave the nonprofit sector altogether.
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I decided to go through an Executive Coach Certification program. I had managed people and teams for 13 years – and I’ve always been the person that everyone goes to for advice.
So, like 23482478 other people, I thought – maybe I can be a life coach!
Ha!
what actually happened
was . better
As I was becoming a certified coach, I recognized my own limitations around fundraising and started putting coaching tools and strategies into practice in my own work (the same tools that I teach others in my exclusive coaching programs). The results were tremendous. In 6 months, I raised 100% more than I had in the previous 12 months! And no, I had no additional staff, time, or tools – just a whole new ME.
This experience launched my business – and my unique programs that combine my technical fundraising expertise with the rock – star coaching skills necessary to address the fears and discomforts around asking for money.
It was a watershed moment.
Since takeoff, I have been helping leaders move past deep fears in order to confidently embody their fundraising and leadership superpowers.
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Since 2018, I have successfully coached hundreds of fundraisers and organizations to increase their fundraising capacity by powerfully combining my tactical fundraising expertise with the best executive coaching tools out there.
and they see results.
FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS
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I believe to my core that the nonprofit sector can solve the problems of the world, but to do this we must change the way we fundraising and operate so that money moves through this sector differently. Times have changed, but the best practices for the sector have stayed the same – and they just aren’t ‘working’ anymore.
What changed everything for me, was learning outside of the nonprofit sector. The codes I was able to crack revolutionized the way I fundraised and, now, the way I teach fundraising inside the Power Partners Formula™.
This new way of operating doesn’t JUST change how much we can fundraise, but the way we feel about fundraising too (which is vitally important to our success).
Blazing a new path has plenty of challenges (as you know too well as a nonprofit leader). To keep my focus, I hold tight to my core values:
Courage:
Change-making is scary work. Being the first to say something, being the first to do something, brings up a lot. Nonprofit leaders understand this better than anyone. I don’t pretend to be fearless, but I value courage and activating acts of fearlessness by being courageous – one step at a time.
Curiosity:
Vulnerability:
My work is adaptive, human, nuanced, and relationship-based. I could not do the work that I do without feeling things deeply and having my heart and eyes open. Being vulnerable is scary at times but it is the way to real human connection and transformative change.
Imperfection:
Imperfection and vulnerability go hand-in-hand. Perfection is an illusion and one that does not serve us or the people we serve. By allowing myself to be human and giving myself the grace of forgiveness, I show up as a more powerful leader and change-maker. It allows me to truly serve my community and clients, and relieves them of the impossible expectations that surround perfectionism. I believe this is the path to reducing burnout in the sector.
Alignment:
I used to talk about authenticity as the key to sustainable fundraising success. But, what I’ve learned is that authenticity is a privilege that isn’t accessible to those actively discriminated against when they do show up as their full selves. . So, I’ve decided to switch out that word for alignment. The value of alignment is that we get to show up and be visible in alignment with our core values. We also get to be honest and reflective when things feel out of alignment. Being true to ourselves is key to sustainable fundraising success.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
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Mindset Mastery
1. You will learn how to show up confidently, clearly, and consistently in your work
2 You will learn how to overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome as you shift into your new-found identity as a powerful fundraiser
3. You will learn how to hack your brain’s naturally – conditioned tendencies for negativity and fear, to take action and make success inevitable
4. You will learn how to deal with challenges without going into panic or paralysis
Fundraising Mastery
1. You will have a simple plan to execute that creates focus and scales easily
2. You will learn how to identify and focus on the most revenue-generating fundraising strategies for your specific non-profit
3. You will learn how to create messaging and communications that make your donors reach out to YOU
4. You will learn to talk about your nonprofit and fundraising in a way that feels authentic and even enables you to look forward to making the ask!
Leadership Mastery
1. You will learn how to be an authentic, confident, and inspiring leader – increasing staff retention, board engagement, and joy in your work
2. You will learn how to build an organizational culture that embraces fundraising
3. You will create an organizational brand that is deeply aligned to your core programs, values, and goals
4. You will learn how to identify, at any given time, exactly WHY you aren’t achieving your revenue goals and what exactly you need to do to fix it
what people are saying
Working with Mallory while going through the fundraising process felt like a dose of sanity every week. She helped me stay on track, on point, and on purpose. Not only did she provide support on the practical level – keeping me prioritized, goal-oriented and taking the necessary steps but her support was crucial for the psychological and emotional impacts of the fundraising process. She called me out on the places I was playing small, helped me consciously bring to the light areas where my own fear was getting in the way, and gave me tools to increase my effectiveness during conversations with potential investors. Mallory showed up each week with focus, encouragement, and fantastic tools. I grew leaps and bounds by working with her and am so grateful for her coaching.
Shaina Kandel
Founder + CEO, Moon + Leaf
during covid i have helped my clients
- Design strategic fundraising strategies that use proven methods to maintain fundraising budgets through December 2021
- Design communication plans the engage and inspire donors so that donors are reaching out to my client's to give!
- Increase major donor giving by 67%
- Increase corporate sponsorship fundraising by 40% moving from in-person to virtual (virtual offers so many more benefits to sponsors!)
- Launch peer-to-peer campaigns that have 4x the organization's donor base
get to know the Mallory Erickson Coaching Team
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I’ll be your coach, consultant and cheerleader.
I am a certified executive coach and fundraising consultant that specializes in helping social impact fundraisers apply life-changing scientific research and personal development frameworks to their fundraising work.
My brave, bold, and innovation framework teaches nonprofit fundraisers to raise more from the right funders so they can stop hounding people for money. Fundraising doesn’t have to be uncomfortable when it is built around a win-win framework and authentic partnerships.
A little about me:
- CEO & Creator of the Power Partners Formula™️
- Mom to two year old daughter Emmie
- Relentlessly committed to the movement of money into the nonprofit sector
- Lives in San Francisco Bay area
- Over 15 years working in nonprofits (managing director and ED of multiple fast-growth organizations)
- My favorite way to unwind is to go on a walk with a friend
- Recognized in readwrite and Forbes as a disruptor and innovator
