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.
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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.
271: Calling All Heroes: Stronger Together with Tammy Zonker
What the Fundraising
29 minutes
2 days ago
271: Calling All Heroes: Stronger Together with Tammy Zonker
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 intention.
Tammy Zonker is the founder & president of Fundraising Transformed, a passionate leader, strategic thinker, author, and recognized expert in major gift fundraising with nearly three decades of impactful experience. With the passion of empowering nonprofit organizations to achieve extraordinary results, she has guided and trained thousands of nonprofits, including social service organizations, private schools, universities, and healthcare institutions, which collectively raised more than a billion dollars. She won the Dr. John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year from the AFP Greater Detroit Chapter in 2024.’ Her book, “Calling All Heroes,” was born from the growing realization that both donor-centered and community-centered models carry light and shadow.
In this episode, you will be able to:
Learn what it truly means for a fundraising approach to “work”.
Understand the shift from donor-centric or community-centric models to a more human-centered framework.
Learn about the power of dialogue, partnership, and conscious decision-making in creating lasting change.
How to reimagine heroism in fundraising as collective courage rather than individual acclaim.
Grab Tammy's Book here.
Get all the resources from today’s episode here.
Support for this show is brought to you by Practivated. Practivated delivers AI-powered donor conversation simulations that let fundraisers practice in a private, judgment‑free space—building confidence, refining messaging, and improving outcomes before the real conversation even begins. Developed by fundraising experts with real‑time coaching at its core, it’s the smart way to walk into every donor interaction calm, prepared, and ready to connect. Learn more at practivated.com
Connect with me:
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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 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.
