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It Doesn't Hurt to Ask!Author: The Fundraising Lab
Whether you're a professional fundraiser, volunteer on the board of a non-profit organization or you're about to make your first charitable donation, we've got a podcast for you! It Doesn't Hurt to Ask! explores the world of philanthropy through a critical lens. While that might sound serious, we have a lot of fun along the way. In our first season, we're chatting with "Shift Disturbers," charitable sector leaders who are doing things differently. After listening, you won't think about our sector in the same way for our motto is: in fundraising, as in life, it doesn't hurt to ask! We hope you listen, learn and laugh along with us as we chat all things fundraising and philanthropy. Great news! It Doesn't Hurt to Ask! is in the Top 25 Fundraising Podcasts to listen to on Feedspot. Language: en Genres: Business, Education, How To, Non-Profit Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Building Capacity Without Burning Out with Scott Williams
Episode 9
Thursday, 5 February, 2026
There's no magic wand in fundraising – but there are smarter, more sustainable ways to build capacity without sacrificing your people or your mission in the process. In this episode, we sit down with Scott Williams, Executive in Residence at Capacity Canada and former Executive Director of Spectrum Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space. Scott shares candid insights from growing Spectrum from a volunteer-run organization to a stable nonprofit with a six-figure budget, including the personal cost of rapid scaling, the realities of burnout in the sector, and way fundraising often consumes far more of a leader's time than anyone expects. We cover: Why fundraising touches almost every part of an Executive Director's role and how to build systems that support sustainable growth How to choose fundraising tools and CRM systems based on future needs, not just current budget Aligning strategic planning, governance, communications and fundraising so your organization can grow without burning out your team If you're an Executive Director or nonprofit leader feeling stretched thin, navigating rapid growth, or trying to build fundraising capacity while managing everything else, this episode offers honest perspectives on what it really takes to scale sustainably. Resources and links: Check out Scott Williams, Erin Boyce and host Cathy Mann on LinkedIn Book your Fundraising Growth Game Plan call Email us at hello@fundraisinglab.ca Subscribe to our email list Share this episode with a friend! Podcast editing and post-production by: Daniella Sorrentino at Feral Culture Lab (feralculturelab.com) Music: Intro and Outro Music is Fancy Free by Reveille https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/16267
