The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast

In this conversation, Brad interviews Nick Stumbo and John Begeman from Pure Desire Ministries, discussing their mission to help individuals overcome sexual addiction and the importance of community in healing. They share personal stories of struggle and recovery, emphasizing the need for churches to address sexual issues openly. The discussion also covers fundraising challenges, the growth of Pure Desire, and the impact of their counseling programs. The conversation highlights the importance of vulnerability, donor engagement, and the vision for changing church culture around sexual health. Pure Desire: Helping People Break Free from Sexual Struggles by Ted Roberts https://puredesire.org/ Resources: Weekly podcast, stories of healing, Unwanted by Jay Stringer, 7 Pillars of Freedom workbook. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pure Desire Ministries 02:05 Nick Stumbo's Journey and Role 05:11 John Begeman's Background and Connection 06:43 The Importance of Vulnerability in Healing 09:45 Changing Church Culture Aro

In this episode, Brad sits down with John Hudson, the founder of 100 Fold Studio, a nonprofit international architecture firm based in Montana that serves both the spiritual and physical needs of communities worldwide. John shares how 100 Fold uniquely blends architecture with vocational discipleship—designing for ministries while equipping the next generation of architects to use their skills for God's kingdom. John’s journey is one of faith, resilience, and obedience to a calling greater than himself. From his early influences in architecture, including his grandmother’s legacy, to a life-changing moment in a remote village, John recounts how God led him to create 100 Fold Studio. He also shares the trials that shaped his path—losing a home, facing setbacks, and ultimately trusting God's plan. As the conversation unfolds, John and Brad discuss the remarkable success of 100 Fold’s recent capital campaign, surpassing its $4 million goal ten months early! John reflects on the overwhelming generosity, divine pr

Learning about Water Street Mission’s decade-long transformation to become a place that physically demonstrates the love of Christ–especially to those experiencing homelessness–would be a great story. The bonus is that, in this podcast, you will also get to know Jack Crawley who has been serving with the organization over 30 years and now serves as its president. His reflection on their strategic planning process? “I didn’t want it to be Jack’s strategic plan, and I knew there was a possibility of manipulating the process for that to happen. I wanted to respect the work God is doing at Water Street Mission and make sure we discerned His strategic plan for this organization.” I call that a dose of radical honesty.  Water Street Mission website: https://wsm.org/

Join us as we explore the transformative journey of leadership with Nigel Pollock, President of InterVarsity Canada. Tasked with revitalizing a nearly century-old ministry, Nigel began his tenure facing a $6 million debt, only to encounter the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic soon after. Through it all, he has focused on fostering a culture of kindness, trust, and acceptance, while introducing innovative strategies to advance their mission. In this episode, Nigel shares timeless wisdom, practical insights, and inspiring encouragement for leaders navigating their own paths of renewal. Tune in and be inspired to build a healthier, purpose-driven culture in your organization. https://ivcf.ca/about/ Book Recommendations “Retired: What Footballers Do When the Game's Up” by Alan Gernon “A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West” by James Donovan “Holiness Here: Searching for God in the Ordinary Events of Everyday Life” by Karen Stiller

Thomas Keown grew up in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles,” a time of conflict that deeply formed him. Inspired by this experience, Thomas dedicated himself to serving others facing similar struggles and empowering them to create solutions within their own communities. In this episode, Thomas shares the powerful story behind founding Many Hopes, and his counter-intuitive learning that to fundraise well, sometimes you need to slow down. Books Recommendations “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” Several Authors “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty” by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson Links The Rising Video Website: https://manyhopes.org/  

In this episode, Brad, Dan, and Jamie from The FOCUS Group bring a mix of humor and expertise to tackle a crucial topic in nonprofit fundraising: year-end appeals. Fundraising can feel daunting—Who should you target? What's the best way to execute your strategy? How do you follow up effectively? Join us as we break it all down, share actionable insights, and offer practical tips to help make your year-end fundraising campaigns more manageable—and successful. TheFOCUSGroup.com

Do you ever feel like God has called you to a big, challenging task? So did Rim Hinckley, founder and Head of School at The Geneva School of Manhattan. She started her career as a math teacher but soon found herself in NYC feeling the tug to respond to late pastor Tim Keller’s question: “What does this city really need?” Being faithful to answer that question has not been an easy road, but Rim shares, “Our timing is not the same as God’s, but when he delivers us, it’s more amazing than we can imagine.” Website: https://www.genevaschool.net/ Recommended Books: “Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation” – by Collin Hansen “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt “Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution” – by Carl R. Trueman

Service, Learning & People. Romanita calls these the “red threads” that have been woven into her life and work since she was little. Her current role as CEO of M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is simply the next step in her journey of living out these themes and following the quiet leading in her life. As a leader, she seeks to lift up and empower everyone around her by listening well and always investing in people. https://murdocktrust.org/ Book recommendations: A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God Through Prayer, Wisdom, and Silence by Henri Nouwen  

Andrew Smalley is UK-born, loves running and triathlons, and relishes the role he gets to play as head of school in St. Augustine, FL. Hear about Andrew’s journey to his current leadership role and the joy he finds in furthering classical Christian education. The school is in the process of launching a capital campaign, and Andrew knows that to do it well, “You have to start with a strategic plan that tells you what you need to raise money for.” https://veritasclassicalschool.org Books Mentioned Mathematics for Human Flourishing, by Francis Su The Coddling of the American Mind, by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt  

Reid Saunders is an evangelist who has led his organization for 27 years. During the past 15 years of Brad and Reid's friendship, RSA has grown 10x and has seen a million people make decisions to follow Jesus worldwide! Enjoy this inspiring and fun interview. Our prayer is that you are encouraged in your journey. Reid’s Book Recommendation: Finishing Strong: Going the Distance for Your Family by Steve Farrar Links: https://reidsaunders.org/ https://reidsaunders.org/books/ Book mentioned: Stories From The Ends Of The Earth  

When I first learned about Medical Ambassadors International, the scale of their ministry relative to their budget seemed so crazy that it was almost too good to be true. In this episode, we dive deep with Dr. Ravi Jayakaran, the current President, to explore this incredible Christ-centered, grassroots organization. Their holistic approach beautifully intertwines physical and spiritual care, creating lasting change in communities. We’ll also discuss their recent capital campaign, which has dramatically transformed their work. Medical Ambassadors International has 231 staff members in 76 countries and utilize a robust number of volunteers. They combine medical help with the gospel's good news, impacting 3,007 communities and 3.4 million people!  Website: https://www.medicalambassadors.org/ Healing Lives Magazine: https://www.medicalambassadors.org/publications/ Ravi’s book list: "Best Things in the Worst Times: An Insider’s View of World Vision” by Graeme Irvine Flamin' Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Ma

What do Mother Theresa, six US Presidents, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, and Oprah Winfrey all have in common? Dr. Wintley Phipps! Today Brad interviews Dr. Phipps, hearing about his remarkable life experience and the vision that God has given him to make things better in this world. https://www.usdreamacademy.org/  

Dr. Felix Theonugraha, President of Western Theological Seminary shares how he sees fundraising as a way to minister to and care for his donor partners. As many seminaries are struggling, Western, instead is leaning into their distinctives such as focus on mental health and Hispanic ministry. Part of their current capital campaign is raising funding to further innovative initiatives including ministry to those with disabilities and a center for Christian imagination. https://www.westernsem.edu/  

Ray Keen exudes wisdom and compassion. He’s a veteran CEO of The Canby Center, a wrap-around care ministry to youth and families in a small town in Oregon. Even as a growing organization–they are currently finishing up a $10 million campaign to expand their facilities and services– they seek to emphasize dignity and learning for everyone they serve. Advice to his younger self? "Get to know the Lord, yourself, and those you serve." The Canby Center: thecanbycenter.org Book List: Practicing the Way, by John Mark Comer Giving it all away... and getting it back again, by David Green The 6 Types of Working Genius, by Patrick Lencioni Atomic Habits, by James Clear  

Chuck Hagele, CEO of Project Patch, is no stranger to darkness. The ministry he leads provides therapeutic residential programs for teens struggling with severe depression, anxiety and other acute challenges. Through fundraising, they strive to say "Yes" to kids needing treatment even if finances are a barrier. Chuck discusses the difficulties of learning his role, including transitioning leadership from the founder (who also happens to be his father-in-law.)   Some helpful books he is reading are: Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Dr. Lisa Demore The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook

Mandy Arioto wrote a book about fun. She loves to give unusual gifts. She's also the President and CEO of the organization that led 58,000 women to follow Christ last year. Through her leadership of MomCo (formerly MOPS), she has transformed from seeing fundraising as a "necessary evil" to considering it one of the biggest blessings of her role. Mandy's book is: Have More Fun: How to Be Remarkable, Stop Feeling Stuck, and Start Enjoying Life https://www.themom.co/home She has recently enjoyed reading: Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday Running with Sherman: How a Rescue Donkey Inspired a Rag-tag Gang of Runners to Enter the Craziest Race in America by Christopher McDougall

In this special Juneteenth edition of the podcast, we interview Lisa Fields, a prominent apologist, speaker and founder of the Jude 3 Project. The Jude 3 Project exists to help equip the black Christian community to know what they believe and why they believe it. Lisa is also an expert on Juneteenth and led the production of a recent faith-filled documentary picked up by PBS. If you are not familiar with Lisa and her work, you absolutely should be.    Her book: When Faith Disappoints: The Gap Between What We Believe and What We Experience Films: Unspoken Documentary, PBS Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom Website: https://jude3project.org/ YouTube: @Jude3Project  

Hear from David Nees, the Head of School at Heritage Classical Academy in Northeast Ohio. He shares how the team around him has accomplished great things for the sake of children, education, and the Kingdom of God. They are nearing the end of a campaign to purchase a 65 acre property that will consolidate multiple campuses. A book that David recommends is: George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution  by Brian Kilmeade

Ty Fischer, Head of School of Veritas Academy in Lancaster, PA, shares random points about his path to and the early days of Veritas, including dropped Bibles, a public library, sewer bills, and a police station. Aside from all the fun of interesting stories about people and places, Ty shares special experiences of the beauty of diversity and the power of community in education. Some books that Ty is reading are: Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up, by Abigail Shrier Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture, by Christopher Watkin

Oliver Asher, President of Advancing Native Missions, tells his story of a journey from a Virginia "Holler" to leading an organization that takes good news to the world. From him we hear about joy, optimism, commitment, and strategies he has employed to lead his growing organization successfully and effectively. Read more about Advancing Native Missions, Oliver, and his book “Invincible Joy!” https://advancingnativemissions.com/ https://www.oliverasher.com/