WHAT THE FUNDRAISING
135: Donor Engagement: Navigating Community Centric Fundraising with Mallory Mitchell
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“Gratitude and stewardship was less worship of the written word and more like lived actions, more showing up for people.”
– Mallory Mitchell
Episode #135
Overview
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast…
There are a lot of questions out there about community-centric fundraising. Will focusing on communities instead of donors hurt your fundraising efforts? What’s the risk of raising money at all costs? What’s the difference in donor engagement and communication when it comes to donor-centric vs. community-centric frameworks? Is it even ‘worth’ the hassle? Well, in this episode, Mallory Mitchell will answer these questions and help you take your fundraising to the next level at the same time.
Meet Mallory, a devoted fundraiser and co-founder of Aligned Strategy Group. Mallory’s love for fundraising began during her undergrad days when she worked in a call center, calling alumni for donations. Over the years, she has developed expertise in helping nonprofits adopt community-centric fundraising principles, focusing on individual giving. Her experiences at Minneapolis Urban League opened her eyes to the struggles faced by BIPOC-led organizations, inspiring her to seek out alternative fundraising methods. Today, she is a strong advocate for community-centric fundraising and its potential to create a more inclusive and equitable sector.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- Introducting Mallory Mitchell
- Evolution of Community-Centric Fundraising
- Donor-Centric Fundraising and White Supremacy
- Balancing Fundraising and Values
- Decoupling Donor-Centric and Community-Centric Fundraising
- Embracing Imperfection and Managing Missteps
- Moving towards Community-Centric Principles Without Organizational Support
- Fundraising as the Work and the Problem with Donor-Centered Fundraising
- Navigating Community-Centric Principles as a Fundraiser of Color
- Combating White Supremacy and Evaluating Job Performance
- Feeling Trapped in Fundraising
- Nuance of Gratitude
- Acknowledgment and Urgency
- Involving Others in Cultivation
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Mallory Mitchell
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Check out alignedstrategygroup.com for nonprofit consulting services focused on community centric fundraising and individual giving.
- For more information on community centric fundraising, visit communitycentricfundraising.org.
- I am so excited to be partnering with Neon One to be bringing you this mini-series all about how we improve our donor communications and create more engagement. There is so much wisdom in this series from how to create more engagement in your email campaigns to how to incorporate community centric fundraising practices into your communication. But another resource that I love is the 2023 Neon One Email Report which is designed to give you practical strategies for creating compelling emails to help you improve your email campaign performance. There are great benchmarks, analysis, and tips and tools all in one place so check it out TODAY!
- 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
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TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY
- Effective fundraising requires striking a balance between honoring organizational values and meeting monetary goals. It can be challenging for fundraisers to align their work with the principles they hold dear, especially if there is a disconnect between these values and the fundraising approach preferred by their organization.
- The paradigm of fundraising has witnessed significant changes over the years, with community-centric fundraising (CCF) emerging as a newer mindset that respects and values the entire community. This approach emphasizes the importance of accommodating the needs and desires of all stakeholders, not just donors, who contribute to the success of a nonprofit organization.
- By creating a culture of inclusivity and understanding, CCF inspires everyone involved to work collaboratively towards a common goal, bolstering collective impact and fostering sustained growth for the organization.
- Keep in mind that community centric fundraising is about expanding the circle to include more than just donors, so consider ways to involve volunteers, staff, legislators, and members in your fundraising events and initiatives.
- Embrace imperfection and accept that missteps are inevitable when trying something new. Focus on making progress towards a more equitable and just approach to fundraising.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- "We're not anti donor, we're just considering the needs and wants and desires of other groups along with donors." - Mallory Mitchell
- "These donor centered practices are going to raise more money but they also cause harm along the way." - Mallory Mitchell
- "Gratitude and stewardship was less worship of the written word and more like lived actions, more showing up for people." - Mallory Mitchell
- "I would say if you're in that position where it's like my organization is just not going to be with it and I need this job, maybe it's deepening your own understanding of CF." - Mallory Mitchell
- "I do think we should thank donors. I think the community centered part comes in with not putting an arbitrary timeline on it that's if I can't thank them in the next 48 hours, then what's the point?" - Mallory Mitchell
- "We know that letting this donor go because they're not values aligned is going to have a financial impact, but in this instance, pursuing and living into our values is the most important thing." - Mallory Mitchell
- "Donor centered fundraising is like a circle with just that one person in it that's just the donors, and there's not enough room in that circle for everyone else who powers the work. Community centric fundraising is just making that circle bigger, that we're just making it have enough room to hold more than just donors." - Mallory Mitchell
- "What was the definition of success? Because when it was just increased profit, I'm sure it was working. But now that our definition of success is actually being inclusive and being equitable, then the things that we do in order for it to work are going to be different." - Mallory Mitchell
- "But I think about it too in terms of in our personal relationships, right? If my friend does something kind for me or helps me out in some way, I don't send them an acknowledgment letter. I might send them a little thank you note. It might be a thank you text. It might be some sort of written kind of expression of gratitude. But it might also be that I in turn do something kind for them." - Mallory Mitchell
RELATED CONTENT
Mallory Mitchell (she/her) is the Co-Founder of Aligned Strategy Group, a nonprofit fundraising consultancy specializing in community-centric fundraising. She takes great pride in providing the best fundraising education possible and supporting nonprofits in their efforts to align their fundraising practice with their values. Mallory has created fundraising curricula used by nonprofits across the United States, and was a 2021 National Philanthropy Day Award recipient for her extraordinary commitment to advancing racial equity in philanthropy.
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I teach nonprofit fundraisers to bring in more gifts from the RIGHT donors… so they can stop hounding people for money. Fundraising doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.
- CEO & Creator of the Power Partners Formula™
- Disruptor in the funding sector, changing lives everyday
- Relentlessly committed to the movement of money into the nonprofit sector
- Focused on win-win partnerships that allow fundraisers to be authentic and empowered in their work
- Over 15 years working in nonprofits (managing director and ED of multiple fast-growth organizations)
MALLORY ERICKSON
