44. What Foundation Funders Want with Sybil Ackerman-Munson

This episode dives right into the importance of strong relationships between donors and nonprofits. As someone who has been on both sides, but now works primarily with funders, our guest is keenly aware of what foundations are looking for in their partnerships.  In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast… Sybil Ackerman-Munson and I discuss what nonprofits can do to level up their pitch when asking foundation funders for money. In addition, Sybil gives us an insider's perspective on how funders can make sure they are being effective and impactful when donating to reduce the risk of burnout and to ensure they feel fulfilled in the end. Listen now to get all the great takeaways from this episode. Episode Highlights: (00:46)- Introducing Sybil Ackerman-Munson  (05:53)- How donors can perform a self-check to ensure they are being effective with their funding. (11:55)- Discussing the different categories of donors including, Sustainer Donors, Campaign Donors, and Launcher Donors. (14:11)- How nonprofits can approach the different donor types to maximize the effectiveness of their pitch. (23:15)- The importance of including donors in nonprofit organization decision-making as a means of helping them feel connected and involved. (32:12)- Sybil tells real-life stories highlighting the benefits of keeping donors included and in the loop and the possible consequences of leaving them out. (36:00)- Honest and transparent conversations with donors are essential to helping nonprofits decide if their initiatives align with donor expectations. (43:05)- The dangers of donors overstepping and leading conversations rather than sitting back to hear the nonprofit's pitch and suggestions.  (46:28)- Closing statements as well as information about contacting Sybil at DoYourGood.com and @DoYourGood on Instagram. This episode is a part of a mini-series on What Funders Want thanks to our incredible sponsors at Givebutter. To learn more about how you can get started on Givebutter, head on over to givebutter.com/mallory.