328: From Proposals to Partnerships: What Funders Really Want (Whitney Feld)

328: From Proposals to Partnerships: What Funders Really Want (Whitney Feld) SUMMARY Special thanks to Armstrong McGuire for bringing these conversations to life, and for their commitment to strengthening leadership throughout nonprofit organizations. Learn more at ArmstrongMcGuire.com.  What if the best way to secure funding is to stop writing proposals and start building relationships? In episode #328 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, foundation president Whitney Feld offers a fresh perspective on what funders really want. She unpacks the power of bold, relational philanthropy, where trust, humility, and partnership drive investment. She explores why funders are shifting away from transactional models, how to articulate catalytic impact, and why investing in talent is as important as investing in programs. Whitney also addresses the potential of AI in philanthropy, the importance of vulnerability with funders, and the rising tide of collaborative giving. Nonprofit leaders will leave this episode inspired and better equipped to build lasting, transformational funder relationships. ABOUT WHITNEY Whitney Feld is the inaugural president of the Bissell Ballantyne Legacy Foundation (BBLF), a private family foundation established by Smoky and Margaret Bissell. She leads BBLF’s grant making across health, human services, and education in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, having built the foundation’s strategic and governance framework from the ground up. Previously, Feld served in regulatory relations at Wells Fargo and spent six years at Foundation For The Carolinas, where she led divisions including Planned Giving and Family Office Partners. She advised FFTC’s most complex donors on philanthropy, legacy planning, and multi-generational engagement. A former special education teacher in Brooklyn, Feld is a passionate advocate for nonprofits, serving on several local boards. She holds degrees from Miami University (BA), Pace University (M.Ed), and Charleston School of Law (JD), and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESReady for your next leadership opportunity? Visit our partners at Armstrong McGuireA Choice of Weapons by Gordon ParksBillions of Drops in Millions of Buckets by Steven H. GoldbergWant to chat leadership 24/7?  Go to delphi.ai/pattonmcdowellHave you gotten Patton’s book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector – Now available on Audible