Podcast Summary: What the Fundraising – Episode 227: Fundraising with Integrity: Why Success is More Than Just Dollars Raised with Esther Saehyun Lee

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Introduction

In episode 227 of What the Fundraising, host Mallory Erickson engages in a profound conversation with Esther Se Hyun Lee, a community-centric fundraiser and the founder of Elevate Philanthropy Consulting. This episode delves into the intricate dynamics of fundraising within the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the importance of integrity, cultural shifts, and redefining success beyond mere financial metrics.

Guest Background

Esther Se Hyun Lee introduces herself as a passionate advocate for equity and justice in fundraising practices. She leads Elevate Philanthropy Consulting, supporting small nonprofits in adopting community-centric approaches. Esther is actively involved in creating supportive spaces for people of color within the sector, serving on committees and advisory boards to uplift and empower marginalized voices.

The Nonprofit Industrial Complex and Complicity

Esther opens the discussion by addressing a critical and uncomfortable truth: “We all are complicit in perpetuating the nonprofit industrial complex. Like you, me, every fundraiser, every nonprofit folk like this sector in this complex does perpetuate harm” [00:25]. She emphasizes the collective responsibility to acknowledge and confront the systemic issues that sustain harmful practices within the nonprofit landscape.

Individual vs. Systemic Responsibility in Fundraising Culture

The conversation shifts to the balance between individual agency and collective, systemic responsibility in shaping organizational culture. Mallory highlights the intersection of personal methodologies and systemic frameworks, questioning how personal and collective actions contribute to a healthy fundraising culture.

Esther responds by underscoring the power fundraisers hold in transforming culture: “A lot of fundraisers have the power to do that. So first thing I'll say is my brain is actually extremely strategic… As a woman of color, like, sometimes you try and equip yourself with the strategies and the methodologies and the data to be like, how am I going to, like, fix this?” [04:24]. She argues that shifting the cultural mindset is indispensable for meaningful change, moving beyond mere strategic planning to addressing underlying power dynamics.

Challenges Faced by Women of Color in the Sector

Esther poignantly discusses the specific challenges women of color encounter in fundraising roles. She highlights the systemic barriers and stereotypes that undermine their leadership potential: “Like, Asian women are really good at their work and quiet and humble…and like, will always take care of each other, but they're not perceived as someone that can be defiant and strong and bold and risk-taking and visionary” [09:46]. Esther stresses the importance of community and solidarity in combating internalized oppression and fostering environments where women of color can thrive and lead authentically.

The Scarcity Mindset and its Impact on Fundraising Practices

A significant portion of the episode examines the pervasive scarcity mindset in nonprofit fundraising. Mallory reflects on her personal journey from an operator constrained by scarcity to a visionary leader: “I don't have that person. I don't know how to dream big that way… But once I got rid of those beliefs and that, like, fundamental underpinning… I do know how to dream big…” [25:33]. Esther echoes this sentiment, critiquing the sector's focus on immediate revenue goals at the expense of systemic change: “We have to start questioning if, like, the industry standards or the practices that we've just become accustomed to… are right” [28:56].

Rethinking Success Metrics in Fundraising

A core theme of the discussion centers on redefining what constitutes success in fundraising. Esther advocates for metrics that reflect community engagement and cultural shifts rather than solely financial outcomes: “The thing that excites me is a board that's like, I do not care about fundraising. It is icky. Get away from me. They actually stepped up and said, we'll divvy up the work of calling people to thank them” [32:22]. Mallory concurs, highlighting the need to prioritize leading indicators such as board participation and organizational culture over traditional lagging financial indicators: “The money is the lagging indicator, right? The leading indicators are what we do, what our board does, how we feel, what we think about this…” [34:59].

Practical Applications and Future Direction

Esther shares practical insights from her experience managing fundraising in women's shelters, emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic issues alongside immediate needs: “Shelters are a band-aid solution to the systemic issue of gender-based violence” [15:49]. She advocates for holistic support systems that go beyond temporary fixes, urging fundraisers to engage deeply with the underlying causes of the issues they address.

The conversation also touches on the need for nonprofits to cultivate imagination and creativity in their practices, moving away from safe, traditional methods towards more innovative and value-aligned approaches: “Our imagination… how do we actually do this work differently? How do we do it in a way that really honors everyone's power and autonomy?” [19:07].

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Mallory and Esther reinforcing the message that fundraising integrity involves a collective effort to shift cultural and systemic paradigms. Esther emphasizes the multifaceted role of fundraisers as connectors and cultural harbingers, advocating for metrics that reflect deeper organizational and community values: “We're the harbingers of culture… we're communicating for both” [36:09].

Mallory echoes this by urging listeners to adopt leading indicators in their assessment of fundraising success, aligning their practices with the values and impact they genuinely aspire to achieve.

Key Takeaways

1. Collective Responsibility: Acknowledge and address the ways in which all members of the nonprofit sector contribute to systemic issues.
2. Cultural Shifts: Fundraisers have the power to transform organizational culture by fostering respect, community, and equitable practices.
3. Challenges for Women of Color: Women of color face unique systemic barriers that require community support and solidarity to overcome.
4. Scarcity Mindset: Moving beyond immediate revenue goals to embrace visionary and systemic change is crucial for long-term impact.
5. Redefining Success: Success in fundraising should be measured by community engagement, organizational culture, and alignment with core values, not just financial metrics.

Notable Quotes

• “We all are complicit in perpetuating the nonprofit industrial complex. Like you, me, every fundraiser, every nonprofit folk like this sector in this complex does perpetuate harm.” – Esther Se Hyun Lee [00:25]

• “Shelters are a band-aid solution to the systemic issue of gender-based violence.” – Esther Se Hyun Lee [15:49]

• “The money is the lagging indicator, right? The leading indicators are what we do, what our board does, how we feel, what we think about this…” – Mallory Erickson [34:59]

Connect with Esther Se Hyun Lee

• Website: elevatephilanthropyconsulting.com
• LinkedIn: Engage with Esther for insightful discussions, cat photos, and memes.
• CCF Hub: Contribute thoughts and join the conversation on fostering inclusive nonprofit practices.

This episode of What the Fundraising challenges listeners to rethink traditional fundraising approaches, advocating for a more holistic, community-centered, and culturally aware methodology. Esther Se Hyun Lee provides actionable insights and a compelling vision for a nonprofit sector that values integrity, equity, and systemic change over mere financial success.