305: Turning Online Communities into Powerful Fundraisers with Michael Wasserman

Fundraising is changing, and organizations need new ways to connect with younger people! In this conversation, Michael Wasserman explains how digital communities and online creators are shaping the future of fundraising. He shares why traditional methods are no longer enough and how organizations can build stronger relationships with younger supporters. Michael Wasserman, CEO and co-founder of Tiltify, talks about his journey and the inspiration behind creating the platform. While working as a consultant for charities, he repeatedly heard the same problem: organizations struggled to attract younger donors. He realized that younger generations were already active on platforms such as Twitch and TikTok, but charities were not reaching them. This led him to create Tiltify in 2014, a platform designed around the needs of fundraisers rather than charities. The conversation also explores the shift from one-time donations to community-based fundraising. Michael explains that people want to participate, interact, and feel connected, rather than simply make a donation and leave. He discusses the challenges organizations face in adopting new technology and shares practical ideas, such as simplifying fundraising processes, improving communication, and creating engaging digital spaces that encourage long-term donor support. In this episode, you will be able to:  Understand the shift from traditional to digital fundraising. Recognize the importance of meeting donors on modern platforms. Learn why email is less effective for younger audiences. See the value of community-driven fundraising models. Understand the move from transactional to participatory giving. Learn how digital communities increase engagement. Recognize resistance to adopting new technology. See the benefit of simpler, easier donation processes. Understand the impact of influencers on donor behavior. Learn the need to adapt to changing donor expectations. Get all the resources from today’s episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising 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.