The Data Isn’t Broken—Your System Is: When Good Plans Meet Bad Data
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
Fundraising data problems aren’t just annoying – they're strategic barriers to your fundraising success. In this episode, we’re joined by Erin Boyce, Fundraising Lab’s Data and Digital Director aka in-house database expert, who shares deep insights into why even the best fundraising plans can unravel without the right systems and processes in place. Together, we get real about the messy reality of managing fundraising data – from mismatched reports and inherited spreadsheets to donor management systems (CRMs) that don’t integrate with your finance...
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Corporate Courtship: Attracting Sponsors to Your Program with Logan Stengel
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
Landing corporate sponsorships isn’t just about having the perfect sponsorship deck – it's about building relationships and understanding what businesses actually need from their investment. In this episode, we’re joined by Logan Stengel as we discuss branching out from small-town sponsors to bigger corporate partnerships. If you’ve ever sent sponsorship packages into the void or struggled to get past online portals, this conversation explores how to shift from transactional asks to strategic business-to-business relationships that deliver real value for both...
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Fundraising Culture from the Inside Out an Interview with ED Ainsley Chapman
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
Fundraising isn't just about telling your story and making the ask – it's a deeply collaborative process that starts inside your organization. In this episode, we’re joined by Ainsley Chapman, Executive Director of Evangel Hall Mission, a downtown Toronto mission providing services for people experiencing homelessness. With over 20 years in the sector, Ainsley shares how she went from avoiding fundraising entirely to confidently leading an organization that raises $1.3-$1.5M in philanthropy each year. We cover: How to bridge the gap between fundraising, finance and...
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The Shift Hits the Fan - Dealing with Systems Change
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
We’ve all heard the phrase “culture of philanthropy.” But what does it really mean? And how do you build one when you’re already knee-deep in grant deadlines, donor meetings, and database cleanup? In this episode, we unpack the elusive culture of philanthropy through a systems change lens – and explain why strong fundraising success isn’t just about strategy. It’s about shifting the way your entire organization thinks, acts, and works together. We'll talk about: Why fundraising cuts across every part of your organization How to recognize if your organization’s culture is...
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Stewardship: How to Maximize Donor Reporting with Brooke Erickson
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
Your annual report shouldn’t just check a box – it’s a powerful donor stewardship opportunity to celebrate impact, engage supporters, and make them feel proud to be part of your mission. In this episode from the Fundraising Lab archives, we’re joined by Brooke Erickson as we provide expert guidance on creating a donor impact report. Whether you’re launching your first report back to donors or rethinking your annual report strategy, this conversation explores how to create donor-centered communications that maximize donor engagement and strengthen donor retention. We...
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It Doesn't Hurt to Ask - The Reboot Teaser
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask is the podcast for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers who want to raise more money with less chaos and build systems that last. Hosted by Cathy Mann, award-winning fundraiser, educator, and founder of The Fundraising Lab, each episode blends decades of sector experience with practical insights you can apply right away. Whether you're leading a team, writing your first grant, or steering a $2M campaign, you'll find real talk, relatable stories, and strategies rooted in social-change philanthropy. Every other week, Cathy and her guests break down how strategy, systems,...
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No Growth Without a Game Plan: Growing Your Fundraising Strategy
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
So, you’ve got a vision to grow your fundraising program, but you’re not sure how to get there. Whether you’re volunteer-led, an executive director flying solo, or building your first fundraising team, the path to sustainable fundraising growth isn’t always clear. In this episode, we break down the real stages of fundraising growth and what is required at each stage – not just in terms of fundraising strategy, but in terms of systems, organizational culture and capacity building. We’re talking about: The 4 key stages of fundraising growth (and what to focus on...
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The Mysteries of Major Gifts Revealed with Deb Thompson
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
That first major donor meeting can feel intimidating – but with the right preparation and strategy in place, it’s an opportunity to build a meaningful philanthropic relationship that could transform your organization’s impact. In this episode from the Fundraising Lab archives, we’re joined by Deb Thompson as we provide expert fundraising coaching on how to prepare for an upcoming major gifts meeting with a prospective foundation funder. Whether you’re reconnecting with a past supporter or meeting with high-capacity donors for the first time, this conversation covers essential major...
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Episode 22 - The Work Doesn't End with Signing a Cheque
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
Tune in as Cathy interviews Paul Taylor, Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto. Paul is a lifelong anti-poverty activist who has used his experience to fuel a career focused on helping others and dismantling the beliefs and systems that lead to poverty and insecurity.
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Episode 21 - Voluntary Ranting for the Common Good (Replay)
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!
This is a replay of one of our favourite episodes from last season. In this episode, Simone Joyaux, ACFRE (proclaimed by Cathy as the Grand Dame of Social Change Philanthropy) reviews the do's, don'ts and dilemmas of fundraising for social change. From the professionalism of fundraising to board governance, this wide-ranging conversation will surely leave you thinking about the ethical challenges of philanthropy in new ways.
info_outlineGreat news! It Doesn't Hurt to Ask! is in the top 25 fundraising podcasts to listen to on Feedspot.