138: The Power of Inclusive Approaches in Achieving Lasting Change with Nisha Anand

In this episode of What the Fundraising, I am interviewing the amazing Nisha Anand, a boundary-buster, common ground creator, non-violent culture-creator, outside-the-box experimenter, and national leader for social and racial justice. Once a grassroots activist arrested in Burma for pro-democracy demonstrations, Nisha is known today as a leader in cultivating unlikely and unconventional partnerships to create change. As Dream.Org’s CEO, Nisha guides a team of storytellers, organizers, and policy experts working on some of society’s toughest problems to create a better future for all.

Understanding the nuances of human emotions, Nisha leverages inclusivity and unity to create policies that appeal to both sides of the aisle. Her vision is rooted in the belief that progress should never leave anyone behind – a philosophy borne out of her own experiences as an immigrant. Being comfortable with her blind spots and valuing individual liberty as much as equity, Nisha's journey is a testament to the power of love, trust, and the relentless pursuit of inclusivity and progress. And in a world that is increasingly polarized, her perspective is a breath of fresh air. 

We’ll talk about Nisha’s approach to bipartisanship and her focus is on inclusive legislation that brings unlike allies together. We talk about how to effectively navigate bipartisanship while advancing transformative agendas, and the pushback you might receive from funders or folks who have a strong resistance to working across belief areas. We also discuss strategic ways to turn fundraising into a potent organizing strategy and how to confidently address the money talk hurdle in your fundraising endeavors. There is so much here for community leaders, organizers, and fundraisers.

In this episode, you will:


Experience firsthand how radical inclusivity can profoundly influence policy creation.

Get equipped with effective techniques to maneuver through bipartisanship.

Reveal how fundraising can serve as a formidable organizing tool.

Break down the obstacles surrounding financial conversations in your fundraising trajectory.


Get all the resources from today’s episode here. 

Many thanks to our sponsor, Bloomerang for making this episode possible. Bloomerang offers donor management and online fundraising software that helps small to medium nonprofits, like First Tee of Greater Akron, a nonprofit that empowers kids and teens through the game of golf. After just one year with Bloomerang they doubled their unique donors, improved donor stewardship, and raised more funds. Head to bloomerang.com/whatthefundraising to learn more about Bloomerang. 

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If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization.