"Funding the Future NOW" Podcast
by Dr. Randy Dirks
Funding the Future is where fundraising meets real-world expertise. Hosted by Dr. Randy Dirks, a fundraising practitioner with 25 years of experience and StoryBrand certification, this podcast brings you practical, tactical insights you can use immediately to increase your effectiveness. Each episode features in-depth conversations with experts from diverse fields—from storytelling and data analytics to leadership and donor psychology. Randy bridges the gap between their specialized knowledge and your fundraising challenges, translating cutting-edge strategies into actionable approaches for donor relations, major gifts, annual campaigns, and nonprofit leadership. Whether you're cultivating relationships with major donors, crafting compelling campaign narratives, or leading a fundraising team, you'll walk away from every episode with concrete tools and fresh perspectives drawn from proven practitioners. This isn't theory—it's battle-tested wisdom appl
Episodes
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Clara Reynolds - Nobody Calls You on Their Best Day
Clara Reynolds compares crisis funding to insurance: nobody wants it until they need it. She fights staff burnout with safety plans, EAP support, and a lighter culture. Funding swings force pivots and hard calls on off-mission money. Her biggest leadership shift: dropping the need to have every...
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Jessie Dowsakul - How the Columbia Jewish Federation Turns Community Trust Into Consistent Giving
The interview centers on collective responsibility as Jessie's core donor pitch: "if not us, who?" reframes giving away from single-program preference toward trust in the Federation to steward the whole community. A second theme is proactive infrastructure over crisis fundraising, most visible in...
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Rich Armenia - The World Doesn't Have a Food Shortage. It Has a Logistics Problem
A conversation with Rich Armenia, Executive Director of Feeding Charlotte. Nearly 40% of the U.S. food supply ends up in a landfill. In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, roughly 120,000 people are food insecure. Rich Armenia calls that "the dumbest problem we could possibly have," and he built…
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Christine Mangino - Turning Radical Transparency Into Donor Trust
In this episode of Funding the Future Now, Dr. Randy Dirks talks with Christine Mangino, president of Queensborough Community College (CUNY), about earning donor trust through radical transparency. Rather than hiding hard numbers, she shows her foundation board the full budget down to the penny —...
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Bob Dees - Your Donors Are Smarter Than Your Timeline
In this episode of Funding the Future Now, Randy Dirks talks with Bob Dees, president of the National Center for Healthy Veterans, about how to fund and lead work that takes years to show results. Bob argues that sophisticated donors don't actually expect quick wins, and that the leader's job is…
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Dr. John Fuchko - The Power Is in the Question
Dr. John Fuchko closed a nearly 10% budget gap at Dalton State College by opening the books to his campus instead of handing down cuts from the corner office. He also posted the highest giving year in school history, more than $7 million, without a campaign to rally anyone around. His explanation...
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Marcus Menesse - The Fastest Way to Lose a Donor Is Also the Easiest to Fix
Marcus Meneese has been running a nonprofit for fourteen years, and when asked what quietly destroys donor trust, he did not hesitate for a second. Marcus Meneese Sr. founded Stronger Than My Father fourteen years ago in Nashville to serve young men growing up without fathers. Leadership skills....
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Wesley Laws - Don't be the Hero, be the Helper
In this episode of Funding the Future Now, Dr. Randy Dirks talks with head of school Wesley Laws about building healthy teams through relational equity — the mutual trust leaders earn by being present, knowing their people, and owning their mistakes rather than posturing as the hero who has it…
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Be the Advisor - Not the Hero
In the nonprofit world, we so often cast ourselves as the hero — look how many homes we built, how many meals we served, how many wells we dug. But your real job is to be a confident philanthropic advisor. The donor is the hero. You're the guide. And to guide well, you have to understand the…
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Randy Dirks - Building Trust in Nonprofits
So the whole issue is building collateral over a long period of time. And that's what leads to trust. And trust is indispensable in the success of a nonprofit because as donors trust you, they say, I'm trusting you with my most valuable resources, the money, the assets that I have earned. And I...
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Randy Dirks - 3 Indispensable Skills
To be an effective development professional, all you need are three skills. And it is not about being a good talker or promoter. Mark and Shiela's first gift of $10,000 has now grown to annual gifts totaling $400,000! It occurred due to using these three skills. They are: deep listening, being a...
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Ja'Lah Willingham - Make It Impossible to Ignore
Ask most donors what they want to fund, and "isolated older adults with no family" rarely makes the list. Ja'Lah Willingham, Executive Director of Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly in Cincinnati, Ohio, response to the question: "How do we make this not invisible?" The organization is...
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Renee Flagler and Stephen Powell - Open the Heart, and the Wallet Follows
The podcast episode features Dr. Randy Dirks interviewing Renee Daniel Flagler and Stephen Powell from the National CARES Mentoring Movement. The conversation covers topics such as the organization's background, programs, impact, healing-centered work, engaging volunteers, corporate partnerships,...
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Paul Fisher - The Mission Has to Matter More Than the Organization's Survival
The conversation delves into the challenges of maintaining mission commitment, communicating the value of aspirational investments, and leading people who believe in the mission more than the paycheck. It also explores the role of the headmaster in fundraising and provides insights and…
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Matt Lucas - Free Isn't the Problem. Telling the Story Is
The conversation covers the unique challenges of funding a nonprofit with a non-monetized content model, the transition of Our Daily Bread Ministry, the differences between fundraising in higher education and ministry, and the complexities of measuring spiritual transformation and return on...
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David LeVan - What Merging Two Organizations Taught This CEO About Donor Trust
The conversation covers the topics of building and sustaining donor confidence, merging nonprofit organizations, and leadership development and advice. The first chapter explores the challenges of building and sustaining donor confidence in nonprofit work, especially in remote and under-resourced...
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Dr. Joel Satterly - How He Keeps Donors Loyal to Two Organizations
The conversation covers the importance of prioritizing resources in nonprofit organizations and the significance of building trust and relationships with stakeholders. It delves into the decision-making process for resource allocation and the impact of these decisions on the organization's…
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Drayton Cosby - Keep top donors with you across multi-year build cycles.
Drayton Cosby, founder and CEO of Foundation for Intelligent Media and Design, discusses the impact of Bible-based video games on discipleship and engagement. He shares insights on donor engagement, stewardship, and the unique challenges of measuring impact in the interactive media space.…
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Darryl Anderson - Stop Making It Transactional
The conversation covers topics related to nonprofit leadership, fundraising, community engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Darrell Anderson, the executive president of Ares Senior Network, shares insights on building cross-functional teams, strategic planning, and the…
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Dion Green - How He Turned Personal Devastation into a National Nonprofit Movement
The podcast episode features Dion Green, CEO of the Fudge Foundation, who shares his personal story of tragedy and resilience. The conversation delves into the impact of personal stories on fundraising, the importance of strategic partnerships and community trust, and the challenges of building...
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Kim Nagle - She Walked Through the Door of a Nonprofit When She Left Her Pride in the Parking Lot
The conversation covers the DAMN Plan as a business approach, the need for a mindset shift in the nonprofit sector, the internal barrier to fundraising momentum, and the process of building authentic donor relationships in underrepresented communities. The conversation with Kim Nagle delves into...
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Andy Jones - Why 75% of First-Time Donors Never Give Again
The conversation delves into the critical issue of communication failure in the nonprofit sector, particularly the impact it has on donor retention. It emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the need for healthy communication patterns to retain donors. Additionally, it explores the...
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Monica Piper - Helping a Donor Feel the Mission — Not Just Understand It.
Monica Piper, the executive director of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, shares her experiences and insights on leading a nonprofit organization that pairs service dogs with veterans. She discusses the challenges, successes, and leadership lessons learned from her journey in the nonprofit sector....
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Bridget Whitney - Why Nonprofits Make It Harder for Donors to Leave a Legacy
The conversation covers topics related to legacy giving, donor engagement, and the work of Kids Food Basket. It delves into the organization's journey, scaling, advocacy, donor engagement strategies, legacy giving, engaging financial advisors, personal insights, and an overview of Kids Food...
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Russ Hanes - He didn't set out to build a nonprofit — he set out to survive.
The podcast episode features an insightful conversation with Russ Hanes, the founder of the Invisible Wounds Project, focusing on mental health support for military, first responders, and medical staff. The discussion covers the founding of the project, understanding donor's interests, engaging...
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Joshua Mazrin - Partners, Not ATMs: Cultivating Donor Ownership
The podcast episode features an insightful conversation between Randy and Joshua Mesrin, focusing on education, donor engagement, and institutional assumptions. Joshua shares his background and discusses the Albertus Magnus Institute and the Immaculata Institute, challenging assumptions in...
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Adam Koloski - What Financial Health Really Looks Like Before the Crisis Hits
The podcast episode features a conversation with Adam Kolosik, the founder CFO, who shares insights on financial health for nonprofits and churches. The discussion covers the importance of financial management, key blind spots, and the value of financial reports. Adam also provides advice and...
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Kerrie Holschbach - The Goat Gets Us in the Door: How to Fundraise to Change Lives
The podcast episode delves into the challenges of fundraising for intangible outcomes, the importance of slowing down to find the right diagnosis, building a culture that rewards obsolescence, and empowering and equipping people for self-sustainability in nonprofit work. Takeaways Understanding…
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Caleb Spitler - How to have Effective Donor Conversations
The conversation explores the challenges and strategies for nonprofit leaders to engage and retain donors through effective communication and relationship-building. It emphasizes the importance of humility, empathy, and understanding the donor's perspective to create lasting partnerships.…
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Franklin Senters - He Gave Away Bibles — and Discovered the Secret to Donor Engagement
The conversation covers a range of topics related to nonprofit leadership, donor engagement, and personal insights. Dr. Franklin J. Senters shares valuable advice for nonprofit leaders, emphasizing the importance of engaging donors, understanding their needs, and staying true to the…
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Russ Hanes - Russ Haynes didn't set out to build a nonprofit — he set out to survive.
The podcast episode features Dr. Randy Dirks and Russ Haynes, the founder of the Invisible Wounds Project. They discuss the importance of understanding donor's interests and the impact of personal experience on nonprofit work. Russ shares his journey of founding the Invisible Wounds Project and…
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Al Goracke - From Snow Banks to 103,000 Families: Leading Volunteers Nobody Talks About
The conversation delves into the journey of Hope for the Community, highlighting leadership principles, team building, navigating community crisis, and funding. It also provides personal and professional insights, daily habits, life lessons, advice to a younger self, and overcoming failures. The...
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Serena Kelsch - How Radical Honesty Turned a $250K Gift Into a $17.5 Million Partnership
The conversation covers the topics of building donor relationships and innovation during a crisis. It delves into the background and introduction, scaling funding and impact, a breakthrough moment in revenue growth, getting unstuck and finding new ways, securing a $16 million partnership…
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Madeleine (Maddie) Nance - Your Donors Aren't Ignoring You — They Just Don't Feel Anything Yet
The conversation explores the critical role of communication in nonprofit organizations, emphasizing the impact of emotions and personalization in donor communications. It also delves into the cost of ineffective communication in fundraising teams and provides insights into professional advice,...
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Andrea McMaster - When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words
In this episode, Dr. Randy Dirks interviews Andrea McMaster, the president of Amplify Mission Network, discussing topics such as crisis management, effective communication strategies, and the power of storytelling in nonprofit leadership. Andrea shares valuable insights and practical advice for...
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Tammy Kocher - Relationship Beats Strategy Every Time - Building a Nonprofit That Lasts
The conversation delves into the importance of transparency and longevity in building sustainable donor trust, the significance of cultivating a mission-focused and personally sustainable staff culture, and the need for diversifying revenue sources for financial resilience. Additionally, the...
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Corey Magstadt - Nonprofits Are Solving the Wrong Problem — And It’s Costing Millions
The conversation with Corey Magstadt covers topics related to nonprofit challenges, grant strategy, youth participation, equity, and effective program design. Corey shares insights on the misconceptions about serving homeless youth, the importance of staying true to the mission, and the need for...
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Rhea LeGrande - She Leads 2,000 Volunteers this Belief: The Champions Are Already Out There.
The conversation explores the challenges of finding volunteers, mobilizing the community for literacy, leadership mindset for volunteer pipeline, literacy as liberation, impactful collaborations, navigating stakeholder priorities, advice and daily habit, advice to younger self and learning from...
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Melissa LaPlante - What Nonprofits Are Missing Is Right Under Their Nose
The conversation explores the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders in maximizing team potential, uncovering hidden assets, building sustainable fundraising relationships, utilizing AI-driven workflows, creating alignment, and the power of self-awareness in leadership. Takeaways Maximizing team...
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Fursey Gotuaco - Never mentioned a price tag, just told stories
The conversation explores the challenges faced by nonprofit leaders in effective communication and storytelling, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, empathy, and personal presence. It also delves into the role of innate talents, the impact of failure, and the significance of thoughtful...
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Dena Vongchang - Why Fundraising Operations Are Your Nonprofit’s Greatest Untapped Asset
The podcast episode features a conversation between Dr. Randy Dirks and Dena Vongchang, founder of Good Soup, focusing on fundraising operations for nonprofit teams. They discuss the importance of CRM management, donor retention, and the impact of fundraising operations on relationship-building....
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Rita Ernst - What Leaders Get Wrong About Employee Engagement
The conversation explores the importance of creating a workplace environment that values and fulfills employees, understanding the three pillars of sustained happiness, adding value to team members, building a culture of accountability and wellbeing, and addressing outdated leadership habits and...
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Angela Shope - FROM BURNOUT TO BREAKTHROUGH
The conversation delves into the pressure faced by nonprofit leaders, the strategic shifts needed for struggling nonprofits, and the importance of protecting the mission and the team. It also explores overlooked fundraising strategies and the significance of strategic vision and impact in…
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Derric Bakker - We Built Fundraising for an Era That No Longer Exists — Here's What Replaces It
The conversation delves into the state of nonprofits today, the single biggest mistake in fundraising, the donor retention crisis, earning second gifts, treating every donor like a major donor, and understanding today's donors. Key takeaways include the importance of trust, connection, and...
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Jill Johnson - She's Influenced $4 Billion in Decisions — Here's What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Hear
The conversation covers strategic guidance for nonprofit leaders, evaluating critical decisions, transforming boards, and understanding market forces and donor preferences. Jill Johnson shares insights on leadership effectiveness, staff development, and personal growth. She emphasizes the...
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Chris McGown - The $3 Million Secret Hiding in Your $10 Donor List
The podcast episode features a discussion with Chris McGown, a plan giving professional, covering topics such as misconceptions about plan giving, the power of wills, engaging donors, success stories, professional advice, daily habits, advice to a younger self, and favorite places to disconnect…
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Lyn Wineman - When Nonprofits Get Branding Right, Everything Changes
The conversation delves into the importance of branding for nonprofits, addressing misconceptions, the value of investing in branding, and the impact of strong branding on nonprofit organizations. It also includes personal and professional insights from the speakers. Takeaways Misconceptions…
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Kevin Eastway - What if Slowing Down Is the Fastest Way Forward?
The podcast episode delves into the challenges of fundraising and the practical guidance for nonprofit leaders. It explores the transition from transactional fundraising to relationship-centered generosity, emphasizing the importance of aligning internally before acting externally. The…
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Shawn Morrison - Forming Partnerships in the Community
The conversation delves into the transformative power of kindness, the importance of community ownership, and the true meaning of partnership in the nonprofit world. It also emphasizes the value of process over outcomes, the need for disconnecting and recharging, and the lessons learned from...
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Dr. Daniel Freeman - Non-Profit Leaders Making Decisions Alone And What It Costs
In this podcast episode, Dr. Randy Dirks interviews Dr. Daniel Freeman, an executive thought partner for senior leaders in the nonprofit space. They discuss the misaligned incentives and the need for creating space for clarity in major philanthropic relationships. Dr. Freeman shares insights on…
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About this show
Funding the Future is where fundraising meets real-world expertise. Hosted by Dr. Randy Dirks, a fundraising practitioner with 25 years of experience and StoryBrand certification, this podcast brings you practical, tactical insights you can use immediately to increase your effectiveness.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with experts from diverse fields—from storytelling and data analytics to leadership and donor psychology. Randy bridges the gap between their specialized knowledge and your fundraising challenges, translating cutting-edge strategies into actionable approaches for donor relations, major gifts, annual campaigns, and nonprofit leadership.
Whether you're cultivating relationships with major donors, crafting compelling campaign narratives, or leading a fundraising team, you'll walk away from every episode with concrete tools and fresh perspectives drawn from proven practitioners. This isn't theory—it's battle-tested wisdom appl
Hosted by
Dr. Randy Dirks
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