In this episode of Wisdom from the Field, I sit down with legendary fundraising coach Mendel Duchman, whose message can be summed up in one word: Padyom — pick yourself up and go.

Mendel has spent decades on the front lines of shlichus, working directly with shluchim in their communities, meeting balabatim face-to-face, and helping moisdos regain stability and momentum. Drawing from real-world experience, he makes a powerful case for why showing up — especially when it’s uncomfortable — is the greatest fundraising superpower a shliach can develop.

In this candid and energetic conversation, we explore:

• Why fundraising doesn’t start when you need money — but when you take responsibility

• How fear shows up right before the ask, and how to move through it

• The discipline of getting out of the office and into real conversations

• A simple, practical framework for fundraising: prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

• Real stories where one bold moment of Padyom changed the trajectory of a moisad

This episode is a reminder that confidence doesn’t come before action — it’s built through action.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, hesitant, or overwhelmed around fundraising, Mendel’s message is simple and direct: your main superpower is showing up

---

For more on the work I do with Shluchim, see my website: CoachingByTzviki.com