It Doesn't Hurt to Ask

It Doesn't Hurt to Ask - The Fundraising Lab Podcast

Real conversations. Practical fundraising. Lasting change.

It Doesn't Hurt to Ask is the podcast for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers who want to raise more money with less chaos and build systems that last.

Hosted by Cathy Mann, award-winning fundraiser, educator, and founder of The Fundraising Lab, each episode blends decades of sector experience with practical insights you can apply right away. Whether you’re leading a team, writing your first grant, or steering a $2M campaign, you’ll find real talk, relatable stories, and strategies rooted in social-change philanthropy.

Every other week, Cathy and her guests break down how strategy, systems, and culture work together so your organization can scale its fundraising from $200K to $2M and beyond, without burning out your people or your mission.

Who It's For

Executive Directors & CEOs who need fundraising confidence and strategy without adding headcount
Fundraising Leaders & Teams looking for capacity, coaching, and reinforcement
Non-profit Boards seeking assurance that fundraising is sustainable, scalable, and mission-aligned
Ops & Admin Enablers who want clarity on grants, data, and donor systems that actually work

Start with Season 2

Season 2 is a practical roadmap for small and mid-size shops ready to grow with purpose. In just 18 minutes, Episode 1 walks you through what to focus on each fundraising stage and how to build the ecosystem that makes growth possible.

You'll learn:

What to prioritize at each fundraising stage
How to decide when (and who) to hire
When to stop doing things that spread you thin
Why culture and systems are non-negotiable
A practical path from $200K to $2M

All Episodes

Listen wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

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