Melissa
Erickson
Executive Director at The Funding Studio
"The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy"
"The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy"
Fri May 15 - 2:10 PM EDT/New York (See in local time)
Add to Calendar
05/15/2026 2:10 PM
05/15/2026 02:50 PM
America/New_York
#WTGC2026
"The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy"
#WTGC2026
"The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy"
https://www.womentech.net/ringcentral
https://www.womentech.net/ringcentral
"The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy"
"The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy"
Don’t miss out and join visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders from all over the world at the Women in Tech Global Conference.
Vote by Sharing
Unite 100 000 Women in Tech to Drive Change with Purpose and Impact.
Do you want to see this session? Help increase the sharing count and the session visibility. Sessions with +10 votes will be available to career ticket holders.
Please note that it might take some time until your share & vote is reflected.
Session: The Missing Piece of Your Fundraising Puzzle: Why Philanthropy Belongs in Every Founder’s Strategy
Most women founders are told to chase investors, not donors. What if the key to sustainable growth lies in doing both? This session reframes how women in tech and social innovation think about capital by introducing philanthropy as a powerful and often overlooked funding stream.Drawing from more than twenty years of experience in fundraising and social enterprise, Melissa Watson Erickson, CFRE, shares how to integrate philanthropic partnerships, fiscal sponsorship, and donor engagement into an existing fundraising mix. Attendees will walk away with practical tools to identify mission-aligned funders, communicate impact through a philanthropic lens, and design a diversified fundraising strategy that reflects both heart and ambition.
This talk has been highly sought after by film festivals, universities, and creative incubators, and it is now tailored specifically for women founders who want to reimagine how they raise and sustain capital for meaningful innovation.
Key Takeaways
- Understand how philanthropy fits alongside investment and earned income as part of a complete fundraising strategy.
- Learn how to identify and engage mission-aligned donors who support innovation and social impact.
- Learn how to identify and engage mission-aligned donors who support innovation and social impact.
- Gain language and storytelling tools to communicate impact to both donors and investors.
- Leave with a framework for designing a diversified fundraising plan that reflects both values and vision.
Bio
Melissa Watson Erickson is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), professional coach, and the founder of The Funding Studio, a national fiscal sponsor and fundraising consultancy that helps artists, filmmakers, and social entrepreneurs access philanthropic capital. The Funding Studio is known for its unique approach that integrates fiscal sponsorship with high-impact fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, and hands-on organizational support tailored to creative projects.