216: Emmie's Big Heart: Lessons of Love and Giving Tuesday with Emmie Erickson

Summary

Episode 216: Emmie's Big Heart: Lessons of Love and Giving Tuesday with Emmie Erickson

Podcast: What the Fundraising
Host: Mallory Erickson
Guest: Emmie Erickson
Release Date: December 3, 2024

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Introduction: A Special Guest for Giving Tuesday [00:00 - 02:04]

In this heartwarming episode, host Mallory Erickson invites a very special guest—her five-year-old daughter, Emmie Erickson. Emmie has participated in Giving Tuesday podcast episodes since she was three, bringing a fresh and genuine perspective to the conversation.

• Mallory: "Emmy, how old are you now?" [00:14]
• Emmie: "Five." [00:15]

The conversation begins with Emmie sharing her excitement about Giving Tuesday, highlighting it as "the best week of the year" [00:55]. Both Mallory and Emmie acknowledge the hard work fundraisers invest in engaging communities and striving to meet their goals, despite the inherent nervousness and challenges that come with the day.

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Understanding Giving Tuesday and Overcoming Nervousness [02:04 - 05:16]

Mallory delves deeper into the essence of Giving Tuesday, explaining its purpose: "to invite people to participate in their nonprofits" [01:03]. Emmie adds her innocence and honesty to the discussion, expressing her understanding of the efforts behind the day.

When addressing the anxiety fundraisers might feel, Emmie offers simple yet profound advice:

• Emmie: "I just build over again and I'm okay with it. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I don't." [02:04]
• Mallory: "What would you say to people who are working really hard towards today?" [02:19]
• Emmie: "I'll help you. And if they say they don't want you to, that's okay. You can go help another person." [02:30]

These responses emphasize resilience and the importance of community support, encouraging fundraisers to persist and seek assistance when needed.

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The Importance of Kindness and Being an Ally [05:16 - 08:37]

Emmie articulates the value of helping others, tying it to her experiences in her school's kindness challenge:

• Emmie: "Because sometimes my friends are not kind to other people, and I help them, like in our kindness Challenge. And I'm an ally." [03:07]
• Mallory: "You're an ally? What does that mean?" [03:19]
• Emmie: "It means somebody that's nice, somebody that's caring, or somebody that picks up something that somebody else cannot pick up." [03:22]

Being an ally is portrayed as a crucial component of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, both in everyday interactions and within the nonprofit sector.

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Introducing "Fail-A-Bration": Embracing Failure [05:27 - 11:09]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to reading and discussing the book "Fail-A-Bration" by Brad and Christy Montague. Mallory introduces the book's theme, emphasizing the positive aspects of failure:

• Mallory: "There are so many good lessons inside this book about what to do when things don't go as you wanted them to and how much you can learn from quote, unquote, failures." [05:39]

Emmie's enthusiastic participation brings the book's messages to life, highlighting that everyone makes mistakes and that it's essential to embrace and learn from them. Key excerpts include:

• Emmie: "Maybe you tried to impress your friends and it made everybody laugh." [07:03]
• Emmie: "I've got Great news for you. You are not alone." [08:29]
• Emmie: "Everybody makes mistakes." [08:39]

The narrative encourages fundraisers and listeners to celebrate their failures (“Fail-a-Bration”) as opportunities for growth and community bonding.

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Encouragement and Final Messages for Fundraisers [12:30 - End]

As the episode winds down, Mallory and Emmie offer heartfelt encouragement to fundraisers:

• Emmie: "Focus on your fundraising, not your results." [12:50]
• Mallory: "Emmy, you're a fundraising coach." [12:54]

Mallory reinforces the importance of managing emotions and recognizing the value of the work fundraisers do:

• Mallory: "Things might make you sad or worried at different times. Big emotions sometimes take some time to feel your way through, and that's okay." [12:59]

The episode concludes with affirmations of support and pride in the listeners' efforts, reminding them that their contributions are meaningful and cherished.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Emmie on Giving Tuesday's Importance: "That it is the best week of the year." [00:55]
• Emmie on Helping Others: "I'll help you. And if they say they don't want you to, that's okay. You can go help another person." [02:30]
• Emmie on Being an Ally: "It means somebody that's nice, somebody that's caring, or somebody that picks up something that somebody else cannot pick up." [03:22]
• Emmie on Not Being Alone in Failure: "You are not alone." [08:29]
• Emmie’s Advice to Fundraisers: "Focus on your fundraising, not your results." [12:50]

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Key Takeaways

1. Embrace Failure: Viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth fosters resilience and continuous improvement in fundraising efforts.
2. Community and Support: Building a network of allies and offering mutual support enhances the effectiveness of nonprofit initiatives.
3. Emotional Well-being: Acknowledging and managing emotions is crucial for sustained motivation and preventing burnout.
4. Celebration of Efforts: Recognizing and celebrating both successes and failures can create a more positive and inclusive fundraising environment.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of What the Fundraising uniquely blends professional insights with heartfelt, childlike wisdom, offering a refreshing take on the challenges and triumphs of fundraising. Emmie Erickson’s contributions highlight the universal themes of kindness, resilience, and community support, making it a must-listen for fundraisers seeking both inspiration and practical advice.

For additional resources, including top tips and tools, visit MalloryErickson.com/Podcast.

Transcript

[Mallory Erickson]

Welcome, everyone. To what? The fundraising. This is Mallory Erickson and I am here for this very special episode with the one, the only Emmy. Emmy Erickson. Emmy, how old are you now?

[Emmy Erickson]

Five.

[Mallory Erickson]

Five. And you have been doing Giving Tuesday podcast episodes with me since I have been a baby? Pretty much. I mean, since I think when you were three years old, you did your first one. You did one last year when you were four. And now you are five years old, you started Kindergart this year. It's been a really big year for you. How are you feeling?

[Emmy Erickson]

Good.

[Mallory Erickson]

Yeah. What have been some of the most exciting.

[Emmy Erickson]

I love filabration.

[Mallory Erickson]

Oh, fail a bration. We're going to read that book together. But I want you to tell me a little bit about you because today is. What's today when this is going to come out?

[Emmy Erickson]

Giving Tuesday.

[Mallory Erickson]

And what do we know about Giving Tuesday?

[Emmy Erickson]

That it is the best week of the year.

[Mallory Erickson]

It's the best week of the year. And who works really hard on Giving Tuesday?

[Emmy Erickson]

You.

[Mallory Erickson]

Okay. Also me. But who else?

[Emmy Erickson]

Fundraisers.

[Mallory Erickson]

Fundraisers, yes. And they work really hard on Giving Tuesday because they are trying to engage people and invite people to participate in their nonprofits. But Giving Tuesday is also a really hard day when people are really nervous.

[Emmy Erickson]

And what is Giving Tuesday for?

[Mallory Erickson]

Well, it's to invite people to participate in their nonprofits. But sometimes people are really nervous because they aren't sure if they're gonna hit their goals and they're worried. Are you nervous? I'm not nervous personally, but they're worried that they might fail. And so I'm curious, what do you do when you're working really hard on something but you're nervous about whether or.

[Emmy Erickson]

Not you're gonna achieve your goal or if Aila distracts.

[Mallory Erickson]

Oh. Or if Aila's gonna knock it over? Yeah. I don't think anybody else is gonna have to worry about their one year old sister knocking over there Giving Tuesday plans. But it's a good, valid point.

[Emmy Erickson]

So I just build over again and I'm okay with it. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I don't.

[Mallory Erickson]

Yeah. What would you say to people who are working really hard towards today?

[Emmy Erickson]

I'm sorry that that happened.

[Unnamed Participant]

Yeah.

[Mallory Erickson]

You would acknowledge and validate how they're feeling if they're feeling sad. What do you tell people to encourage them when they are working towards something?

[Emmy Erickson]

I'll help you.

[Mallory Erickson]

Oh, that you want to help them.

[Emmy Erickson]

And if they say they don't want you to, that's okay. You can go help another person.

[Mallory Erickson]

That is true. What do you think is so important about helping other people that they feel.

[Emmy Erickson]

Like they are helpful, too, that everybody.

[Mallory Erickson]

Gets the opportunity to help.

[Emmy Erickson]

Yeah.

[Mallory Erickson]

That is a really good. That's a really good lesson.

[Emmy Erickson]

Yeah. Did you ever know that?

[Mallory Erickson]

I didn't really think about it that way before. What are. Why do you like being helpful?

[Emmy Erickson]

Because sometimes my friends are not kind to other people, and I help them, like in our kindness Challenge. And I'm an ally.

[Mallory Erickson]

You're an ally? What does that mean? Tell me what that means.

[Emmy Erickson]

It means somebody that's nice, somebody that's caring, or somebody that picks up something that somebody else cannot pick up. Mm.

[Mallory Erickson]

And why do you want to be an ally?

[Emmy Erickson]

Because an ally is a part of your kindness challenge.

[Mallory Erickson]

Where you go to school, you have a kindness challenge, and being an ally is one part of that.

[Emmy Erickson]

Justin.

[Mallory Erickson]

Okay, so today is a day where a lot of people are being helpful. A lot of people are learning how.

[Emmy Erickson]

To help in Giving Tuesday.

[Unnamed Participant]

Yep.

[Mallory Erickson]

And a lot of people are being. Do you like being asked to help?

[Emmy Erickson]

Yeah.

[Mallory Erickson]

Tell me about that. Why is that?

[Emmy Erickson]

Because kindness is just about helping.

[Mallory Erickson]

But why do you like. What. Does it feel good in your body? Yeah, it does. Tell me about that.

[Emmy Erickson]

And then we're going to read this Giving Tuesday book.

[Mallory Erickson]

We're going to read Fail a bration.

[Emmy Erickson]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Participant]

Okay.

[Mallory Erickson]

Can you give. Before we read this book, can you give some encouraging words to all the fundraisers who are listening to this on this very special day? How would you encourage people if they're feeling nervous for today, you want to tell them you can do it.

[Unnamed Participant]

You're doing such a great job.

[Mallory Erickson]

What would you tell them?

[Emmy Erickson]

Go Michigan.

[Mallory Erickson]

Yeah, I've trained her very well. Go Blue. But also, what would you tell them?

[Emmy Erickson]

Great job. You are the greatest Michigan helper in need.

[Mallory Erickson]

And even if you're feeling worried, you can do it. You can do it. And if you need help, we'll help you.

[Emmy Erickson]

And for the rest of our Giving Tuesday videos, you can watch them.

[Mallory Erickson]

Oh, yes. You can watch our old Giving Tuesday episodes.

[Emmy Erickson]

Any of them.

[Mallory Erickson]

Any of them. Where you'll hear a lot of encouraging words from Emmy. And what else do you want fundraisers to know today? What do you want them to keep in their hearts?

[Emmy Erickson]

Love.

[Unnamed Participant]

Love.

[Mallory Erickson]

What do you want them to think.

[Emmy Erickson]

About our Giving Tuesday book that we're going to read to you?

[Mallory Erickson]

Okay. You're ready to read the book. So this book, before we get into it, just to tell everybody about it.

[Unnamed Participant]

This book, this book is called Fair.

[Mallory Erickson]

Libration, and it says, you tried, you missed, you're invited. Now, we don't think most people are gonna fail on giving Tuesday. We're so proud of you for doing the best you can.

[Emmy Erickson]

You, you, you.

[Mallory Erickson]

But there are so many good lessons inside this book about what to do when things don't go as you wanted them to and how much you can learn from quote, unquote, failures. And if you've heard me speak before about failure, I used to do a Failure Friday activity with my team members. So I think talking about failure and being more. Being more open to it is a really great way to start to look at how we iterate and improve as nonprofit leaders.

[Unnamed Participant]

So this book is by Brad and Christy Montaug. And we are so excited to read it together.

[Emmy Erickson]

This is the best book ever. So it's called Celebration. If you already know that, I'm gonna say it again.

[Unnamed Participant]

Okay. It does say, for those who try and help others try. That's the dedication, with special thanks to Harrison Kate.

[Emmy Erickson]

So wait. These are great drawings.

[Mallory Erickson]

I know.

[Unnamed Participant]

Okay.

[Emmy Erickson]

How could they do that?

[Unnamed Participant]

I do not know. We're gonna fast them. Important things they do.

[Emmy Erickson]

Straight lines.

[Unnamed Participant]

Such good straight lines. Okay. Important things to know.

[Emmy Erickson]

And they write teeny tiny books.

[Mallory Erickson]

Okay, baby. Ready?

[Emmy Erickson]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Participant]

Important things to know. This book is a party. Everyone is invited, so you're invited. Have you ever messed up?

[Emmy Erickson]

Have you ever messed up?

[Unnamed Participant]

Have you ever made a mistake?

[Emmy Erickson]

Have you ever made a mistake?

[Unnamed Participant]

Have you ever tried to create something beautiful?

[Emmy Erickson]

Have you ever tried to create something.

[Mallory Erickson]

Beautiful, but it looked like this cake?

[Emmy Erickson]

But it looked like this cake?

[Unnamed Participant]

Maybe you tried to do something kind like putting a hat on a giraffe.

[Emmy Erickson]

Maybe you have tried to do something kind like putting a hat on a giraffe.

[Unnamed Participant]

Maybe you tried to impress your friends. Instead it made everyone laugh.

[Emmy Erickson]

Maybe you tried to impress your friends and it made everybody laugh.

[Unnamed Participant]

Maybe your first rodeo didn't go as planned.

[Emmy Erickson]

Maybe your first rodeo did not go as planned.

[Unnamed Participant]

Maybe your pancakes didn't turn out quite right.

[Emmy Erickson]

Maybe your pancakes did not turn out quite right.

[Unnamed Participant]

Maybe you tried to tell the world how much you adore it, but everyone ran and screamed in fright.

[Emmy Erickson]

Maybe you tried to tell the world how much you adore it. And everybody screamed and frightened.

[Unnamed Participant]

If you've ever tried to do anything.

[Emmy Erickson]

If you've ever tried to do it.

[Unnamed Participant]

You'Ve likely messed up a time or two.

[Emmy Erickson]

You've likely messed up a time or two.

[Unnamed Participant]

If you've ever been disappointed or discouraged.

[Emmy Erickson]

If you've ever been disappointed or scourged.

[Unnamed Participant]

I have great news for you.

[Emmy Erickson]

I've got Great news for you.

[Mallory Erickson]

You are not alone.

[Emmy Erickson]

You are not alone.

[Unnamed Participant]

Everyone makes mistakes.

[Emmy Erickson]

Everybody makes mistakes.

[Unnamed Participant]

All the people you've ever known all.

[Emmy Erickson]

The people you've ever known had messes, misses and breaks.

[Unnamed Participant]

Maybe you've tangled the kite string.

[Emmy Erickson]

Maybe you've tangled the kite string, Hit the wrong note. Hit the wrong note.

[Unnamed Participant]

Fumbled the ball, Fumbled the ball, Sunk the boat. Sunk the boat, Fell in front of everybody.

[Emmy Erickson]

Fell in front of everybody.

[Unnamed Participant]

Said something mean.

[Emmy Erickson]

Said something mean.

[Unnamed Participant]

Hugged the wrong grandpa.

[Emmy Erickson]

Hugged the wrong grandpa.

[Unnamed Participant]

Been cut from the team.

[Emmy Erickson]

Been cut from the team.

[Unnamed Participant]

When you mess up, you might want to give up.

[Emmy Erickson]

When you mess up, you might want to give up.

[Unnamed Participant]

You might feel sad or mad or cry.

[Emmy Erickson]

You might feel sad or mad or cry.

[Unnamed Participant]

It's perfectly fine to feel these things.

[Emmy Erickson]

It's perfectly fine to feel these things.

[Unnamed Participant]

But here is something else you can try.

[Emmy Erickson]

But here is something else you can try.

[Unnamed Participant]

The next time things don't go as.

[Emmy Erickson]

Planned, the next time things don't go as planned, smile. Smile.

[Unnamed Participant]

Mark the occasion.

[Emmy Erickson]

Mark the occasion.

[Unnamed Participant]

Put on a party hat and throw.

[Emmy Erickson]

Put on a party hat and throw a giant sale.

[Unnamed Participant]

A bration.

[Emmy Erickson]

A giant celebration.

[Unnamed Participant]

We can all have cake and celebrate.

[Emmy Erickson]

We can all have cake and celebrate and bad things.

[Unnamed Participant]

Everybody tried the brave things everyone has.

[Emmy Erickson]

Tried the brave things everyone has tried. Wait.

[Unnamed Participant]

You can hear how others have struggled.

[Emmy Erickson]

You can hear how others have struggled.

[Unnamed Participant]

Everyone here has attempted, failed and cried.

[Emmy Erickson]

Everybody here has attempted, failed and tried.

[Unnamed Participant]

You might be asking, why throw a party?

[Emmy Erickson]

You might be asking, why throw a party?

[Unnamed Participant]

When you mess up, it isn't fun.

[Emmy Erickson]

When you mess up isn't fun.

[Unnamed Participant]

While failing is a part of a process, it helps to remember you're not done.

[Emmy Erickson]

I mean, sad words that people might be sad about. So I don't want to say that.

[Unnamed Participant]

You know what, baby? It's okay to feel sad. It's okay to feel sad. That's what this book is saying. It's okay to be sad. But then you should recognize that doing these things and it's okay to feel good.

[Emmy Erickson]

I do not want to read that one.

[Unnamed Participant]

Okay. Okay. Well, I'll read it and I'll read it. Very proud. Okay. You might be asking, why throw a party? When you mess up, it isn't fun. Well, failing is part of a process. It helps to remember you're not done. I'll read the rest. Okay. At a fail, a bration, we listen, we learn. We raise our hands and cheer. We help each other find new ways to see we are all better because you are here. You are not a failure. Things might be broken or bent or burned, but you are not a failure. You are someone who has learned. We help each other. When we share our disappointments, we can see the many ways we've grown. Maybe if there were more fail abrations, the world would feel a lot less alone. Maybe we'd make brighter messes. Maybe we'd take more chances. Maybe we'd all be a lot less afraid. Maybe we'd dance more dances. So next time things don't quite work out, write a short encouraging letter. I failed at something today. Tomorrow I'll fail better. Then continue with your note. Friends, please join me. Get excited. I'm throwing us a fail a bration. Of course you are invited. Yay.

[Emmy Erickson]

Yay. Yay.

[Mallory Erickson]

Yay.

[Emmy Erickson]

Yay.

[Mallory Erickson]

Yay.

[Emmy Erickson]

Everybody say yay for Mallory.

[Unnamed Participant]

We say yay for fundraisers.

[Mallory Erickson]

It's giving Tuesday.

[Unnamed Participant]

We love you.

[Mallory Erickson]

We are cheering for you. And we cannot wait to hear about all of your results from today. Anything else you want to say to them before we go?

[Emmy Erickson]

Focus on your fundraising, not your results.

[Mallory Erickson]

Oh, I love that advice. Emmy, you're a fundraising coach.

[Unnamed Participant]

Thank you all so much for joining me and Emmy today for this special episode. You might have noticed that in the middle of the book, Emmy started to get a little bit emotional and so she couldn't read some of the words or didn't want to repeat them back. That's okay. You might might have a lot of feelings that come up today that feel tender or hard to tap into. Things might make you sad or worried at different times. Big emotions sometimes take some time to feel your way through, and that's okay. I just want to encourage you above anything else, to let any feelings that you feel to exist, to acknowledge and validate how you feel and to make sure that you are taking really good care of your head and your heart and everything today. It's a big day, but it's not the only day. It's not the only thing that matters. And you are worthy of investment in your organization. You are worthy of doing the incredible work that you are doing, and we are so incredibly proud of you for being the helpers that you are.