Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mallory Erickson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mallory, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

I believe that the key to securing funding for the nonprofit sector hinges largely on fundraisers. While the majority in our industry focus their attention on igniting donor generosity and are deeply concerned with donor behaviors and actions, my interest lies more significantly in the behaviors and actions of fundraisers. It is their actions, after all, that ultimately influence donor behavior. I firmly believe that by focusing on empowering fundraisers in a more effective manner, we can stimulate an increase in donations and generosity within the nonprofit sector.

Mallory, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My entire career has unfolded within the nonprofit sector. Like many in this sector, I became an accidental fundraiser as I climbed the ranks within nonprofits. Initially, my significant fundraising responsibilities surfaced in a Managing Director role, and later as an Executive Director. I found fundraising so uncomfortable to the point where I considered leaving the sector altogether, unable to figure out how to make fundraising work for me.

A series of life experiences completely changed my relationship to fundraising. I became a certified executive coach, trained in habit and behavior design with Dr. BJ Fogg, and honed my design thinking skills through work with IDEO. These experiences fundamentally changed my approach to fundraising. These various frameworks helped me rethink my strategy, fostering a fundraising perspective rooted in alignment. This approach allowed me to confront my discomfort around discussing money, value, and worth, challenging my limiting beliefs while seeking mutually beneficial partnerships.

These frameworks also assisted me in designing behaviors for both myself and my donors, aiding in overcoming the natural resistance to fundraising. The impact on my work was significant – not only did I manage to scale an organization rapidly, but my view of fundraising transformed. Realizing I could alter my relationship with fundraising, I understood that any fundraiser could do the same.

In 2020, when I witnessed widespread paralysis in the nonprofit sector due to the pandemic, I recognized the potential impact of sharing executive coaching and behavior tools with fundraisers. This insight led to me sharing my concepts in a free webinar, which triggered an explosion of interest in my work. Subsequently, I developed my signature program – the Power Partners Formula™ – launched in January 2021. Since then, I have trained over 60,000 fundraisers in the elements of this formula, witnessing firsthand the transformative value of blending modern fundraising strategy with executive coaching and behavior design tools.

Power Partners Formula™ stands unique as the only fundraising program integrating these distinct frameworks to not only assist fundraisers in devising effective organizational fundraising strategies, but also provide personal and professional development tools to execute them. The results speak for themselves, with over 200 organizations experiencing an average annual fundraising growth of 25% after completing the program.

The principal problems I resolve for fundraisers are teaching them to raise more from the right funders without hounding people for money, and doing so in a way that feels good to both parties. I emphasize sustainability and reliability in fundraising revenue, shunning quick-win strategies that risk long-term relationships due to cringey tactics. This approach also increases fundraisers’ job satisfaction, helps them manage burnout, and infuses them with a sense of purpose and alignment in their day-to-day activities.

Reflecting on the past few years, I’m proud of many achievements, but one instance stands out. A fundraiser from the Power Partners Formula rejected a $1 million grant that did not align with her organization’s mission. This decision demonstrated her confidence in raising funds from the right sources, breaking free from the scarcity mindset, and focusing on moving money into her organization in a way that felt good and aligned. This is the essence of what I aim to achieve.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe what has helped me build my reputation within my market so swiftly is my unique position and approach towards addressing the problems we aim to solve. Additionally, I have a clear North Star for the nonprofit sector. I know where I want to steer us and understand how fundraisers should be supported to get there. People frequently comment on the strength of my brand. Truthfully, I didn’t fully understand what that meant initially. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s due to the consistency of my messaging, which is an authentic representation of my beliefs. Being transparent, vulnerable, and aligned in my own work has allowed me to maintain this consistency in my messaging. This, in turn, has greatly contributed to my business growth and integration into this market.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

For me, the best source of new clients has come through partnership building with aligned audiences. I do a lot of guest speaking, webinars, and guest writing, etc., which has helped me connect with the right people. I don’t hard-sell to these audiences, but I invite them into my orbit and nurture my relationships with them over time.

Contact Info:

• Website: malloryerickson.com
• Instagram: _malloryerickson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malloryericksoncoach
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-erickson-bressler/
• Youtube: @malloryerickson7946

Image Credits
Some of the images attached were taken by Katie Monroe Photography and others were taken by Jin Han.