"Funding the Future NOW" Podcast

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 answer, which built more trust and better team problem-solving.  

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 the SCN security partnership, built before threats materialize rather than scrambled together after. T...

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 an organization around fixing it. I sat down with Rich on the Funding the Future Now podcast to talk ab...

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 — because when leaders share only good news, people stop believing them. She builds trust by letting do...

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 to measure outcomes while also painting the complexity of the challenge, illustrated by a veteran who w...

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 traces back to a line from a mentor named Bill Goodwin: the power is in the question. We also get into...

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. Career exposure. Drone flying, cooking, auto mechanics, podcasting. Real things boys can see and touch,...

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 all figured out ("your team is not looking for you to be a hero, they are looking for you to be a helper...

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 other person — their values, what matters to them, what they're longing to achieve — not who your organizat...

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 want to give it to you and to your organization because I trust you.

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 philanthropic advisor and engaging in the long game.

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 volunteer-based, built around a single mission: relieving the loneliness and isolation of older adults — wit...

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, fundraising, recruiting and engagement strategies, strategic leadership, storytelling, and personal an...

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 reflections on leadership and development in the nonprofit sector. Takeaways Mission Drift vs. Mission Commitment...

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 investment. It also delves into personal insights and reflections on leadership and development. Takeaways N...

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 areas. The second chapter delves into the process of merging nonprofit organizations and the underesti...

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 mission and goals. Additionally, it explores the role of nonprofit leaders in fostering trust and collaborati...

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. Takeaways Bible-based video games as a tool for discipleship Challenges of donor engagement in the interactive...

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 importance of community in personal and professional growth. The conversation also delves into the significance...

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 credibility in communities. Dion's insights provide valuable lessons in leadership, personal growth, and...

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 the importance of constant planning and the role of cash flow in avoiding crisis. Kim shares personal a...

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 challenges of retaining donors after their first gift, the significance of clear mission statements, and the a...

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. Takeaways Leadership Lessons from Personal Experience The Impact of Service Dogs on Veterans Chapters 00:...

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 Basket's work. Takeaways Legacy giving Donor engagement Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kids Food Basket 05:1...

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 donors and volunteers, making the case to donors, volunteer engagement and impact, sustainability and mi...