Making the Ask: Fundraising

Meet your Instructors

Aligned Strategy Group Trainers

Mallory Mitchell (she/her) Co-Founder and our seasoned Fundraising Coach and Trainer. Mallory brings a wealth of experience in community-centric fundraising and individual giving. Her expertise shines through as she creates comprehensive fundraising curricula embraced by numerous nonprofits across the country. Mallory received the 2021 National Philanthropy Day Award from the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for her extraordinary commitment to advancing racial equity in philanthropy. Her mission is to equip fundraisers like you with the knowledge and resources needed to build values-aligned fundraising strategies. With her relatable approach, Mallory guides you to lean into your natural talents and claim your confidence as a fundraiser.

James Miller (he/him) our Fundraising Coach is a dedicated fundraiser who believes in the power of authentic connections and meaningful conversations around money. His journey in fundraising and philanthropy began early on when he engaged in YouthBank, a youth-led grant making initiative at Youthprise. Inspired by this experience, he later joined The Giving Project, a donor organizing and grant making project with the Headwaters Foundation for Justice. James never envisioned himself as a fundraiser in his younger years, but he is grateful for the individuals and communities that continuously drew him into this impactful work. Today, he brings his excitement, expertise, and commitment to building relationships to create positive change through fundraising.

Session Description and Agenda:

Mallory Mitchell and James Miller of Aligned Strategy Group will help you understand the importance of relationships in fundraising. By using your existing donor relationships as examples, you'll understand your organization's unique fundraising potential. Mallory and James believe in the power of individual donors over institutions and will walk you through common pitfalls of relying heavily on institutional funding. You will learn the elements of a successful fundraising ask and will leave the 90-minute session with practical knowledge that you can put to work immediately. 

You can learn more about Aligned Strategy Group at www.alignedstrategy.com. 

Training Agenda

  • Getting Grounded (trainer intros, housekeeping)

  • Sources of Charitable Dollars

  • The Power of People

  • Proximity to Yes

  • -5 min Break-

  • Structure of an Ask

  • Wrap Up