passion inspires

Ep 16.  Rising rents. Increasing costs of living. Families working full-time yet struggling to make ends meet. As affordability challenges continue to grow across America, more families are finding themselves just one unexpected expense, medical emergency, or job loss away from losing their housing. In this powerful episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff sits down with Family Promise National CEO Chery...

Ep 15.  In this episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff sits down with Keith Hopkins, president of Hopkins Fundraising Consulting, for a candid and insightful conversation about what it really takes to lead a successful capital campaign, and explains why campaigns often fail long before they begin. Keith shares his unexpected journey from teaching to fundraising, revealing how decades of experience and...

Ep 14.  In this episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff Johnson shares the story of his partnership with Scott Allen Creative. It all started with a simple coffee shop conversation, and slowly grew into something much deeper than just creative work together. At the time, International Needs was stepping into a really important season and needed help telling that story. But what made that first meeting s...

Ep 13. What if LinkedIn worked better when you stopped trying so hard to “market” yourself? In this episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff talks with Karen Horrigan of Kareismatic about how to build a LinkedIn presence that actually feels human. Karen shares why your personal profile matters more than your company page, why genuine storytelling beats salesy content, and how real conversations create st...

Ep 12.  What happens when a mother turns a personal breakthrough into a movement that changes lives? In this episode of our Start Up Nonprofit series on Passion Inspires, we sit down with Tosha, founder of Pawsitive Friendships, to hear how one unexpected moment with her son and their French bulldog, Zoe, sparked something extraordinary. After her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in...

Ep 11.  In this episode, we sit down with Kema Charles, Founder and Executive Director of Lights, Camera, Discover, a nonprofit that is transforming the lives of youth through filmmaking, creativity, and life skills. What began as a passion rooted in Kema’s own journey through the entertainment industry has grown into a powerful, tuition-free STEAM program serving youth ages 8–18 (and now up to 24...

Ep 10.  As part of our newest series, Start-Up Nonprofits, we hear from Andy Gibson,  who shares the heart behind Certain Hope Community, a nonprofit founded to bring connection, hope, and belonging to families raising children with disabilities. Andy and his wife Laura’s youngest daughter was born with a rare chromosome disorder that introduced countless hospital stays, difficult conversations, a...

Ep 9.  In this episode of our Nonprofit Changemakers series of Passion Inspires, we sit down with Nonprofit Consultant and Author, Kevin Eastway, as he completely reframes how we should think about fundraising and donor relationships. Kevin shares honestly how fundraising didn’t feel like a two-way street at first; it felt like he had to convince people to give, treating them like ATMs. To him, th...

Ep 8. In this second episode of our Nonprofit Changemakers series, we sit down with Beth Fisher, author of Remorseless, cancer survivor, and former Chief Advancement Officer at Mel Trotter Ministries, to unpack what it really means to lead with heart, strategy, and equity in the nonprofit world. After 25 years in corporate sales, Beth made a bold shift to the nonprofit sector, bringing with her a...

Ep 7.  As part of our new series, The Nonprofit Changemakers, we sit down with Lisa Mathews, CEO of 70x7 Life Recovery , an organization walking alongside men and women returning to society after incarceration. Lisa shares the unique challenges returning citizens face, like barriers to housing and employment, decision fatigue, shame, and re-entering a world that has moved on without them. Lisa als...

Ep 6. In this deeply moving episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Paws With a Cause, a nonprofit that trains assistance dogs to transform lives. What starts as a story of financial hardship becomes a testimony to the power of passion and storytelling. Jeff shares how Scott Allen Creative unexpectedly landed a pitch with Paws at a time when the organization was in crisis. Competing agains...

Ep 5.  In this heartfelt episode, Jeff reflects on his journey of discovering and partnering with Senior Neighbors, a Grand Rapids nonprofit committed to serving older adults. What began as a casual hallway conversation with then-Executive Director, Bob Barnes, evolved into a transformative collaboration centered around one powerful insight: as people age, they often lose key relationships and fac...

Ep 4.  In this uplifting podcast episode, Jeff celebrates the powerful creative partnership his team at Scott Allen Creative had with Mary Buikema, former Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. From the deeply moving “I See a Castle” Annual Report, inspired by the words of a young girl seeing her Habitat home for the first time, to the transformative “Building Blocks” Campaign,...

Ep 3.  In this episode, Jeff shares the powerful story of Rev. Dr. Judy, who answered God’s calling to leave a life of wealth and comfort to serve the vulnerable in the Kibera slums. What began as a small act of compassion for four women in need, has now blossomed into Home Care Spiritual Fellowship, a ministry serving thousands through education, job training, and Bible Clubs. Jeff also shares th...

Ep 2.  In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jeff Johnson, President of International Needs USA, to explore the humble beginnings of this global nonprofit. From what started as a single $5 gift, to a recent vision to raise $1 million to reach 1 million, Jeff shares how small gifts can create lasting impact when led by faith. Learn more about the history of International Needs, how it operate...

Ep. 1  I always wondered why cups of cold water were important to the One who taught us so much about sacrificial love. He said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones he will be rewarded.” My father exemplified that to me. Every day he would show small acts of thoughtfulness to those around him. I remember him helping my blind mother with the dishes, bringing meals ...

Why do great designs stand out? While it may be challenging to pinpoint the exact reason, most people can recognize them instantly. In this episode, we explore the fundamental principles that guide designers in their creative process. Our goal is to provide you with a deeper understanding and practical insights into crafting exceptional designs. Hosted by Jeff Terpstra and Jayson Brewer through Sc...

Writing is the bridge to people’s hearts. In the latest episode, we discuss "Stein on Writing" by Sol Stein. The book is a masterclass on effective communication and storytelling, offering insights that nonprofits can leverage to improve their messaging. Sol Stein wrote, “Readers don’t want to be told what to think or feel—they want to experience it for themselves.” We vaguely tell our audience to...

When it comes to naming or renaming your organization, it’s easy to feel the weight of the decision. A name is often the first impression, a lasting one that will shape how people view your brand. Whether you’re starting fresh or considering a rebrand, two primary approaches can help guide the process. Hosted by Jeff Terpstra and Jayson Brewer through Scott Allen Creative, a marketing agency in Gr...

Hear the story behind the rebrand that Scott Allen Creative did for a nonprofit organization in Arizona that went from Veterans Heritage Project to Imprints of Honor and the lessons we learned from the process. Learn more about Imprints of Honor at https://www.imprintsofhonor.org/ Hosted by Jeff Terpstra and Jayson Brewer through Scott Allen Creative, a marketing agency in Grand Rapids, MI. Your p...

You may be thinking of rebranding your organization. Rebranding may come in the form of a new name or an entire new visual identity. How do you know if it’s a good time to rebrand? In this episode, we’ll share two reasons why you shouldn’t rebrand and three reasons why you should.  Hosted by Jeff Terpstra and Jayson Brewer through Scott Allen Creative, a marketing agency in Grand Rapids, MI. Your...

When research moves our heart, our goal should be to bring that enlightenment to other people’s hearts in a beautiful way through our marketing efforts. It invites them into that journey of discovery. Hosted by Jeff Terpstra and Jayson Brewer through Scott Allen Creative, a marketing agency in Grand Rapids, MI. Your passion is our inspiration. Watch this episode on YouTube or find our more at scot...

In the realm of market research, looking to experts can provide invaluable guidance. By understanding what industry leaders are saying, we can align our strategies with broader research and societal attitudes. The greater conversations about our nonprofit's mission may be beneficial in determining a marketing objective. In this episode, we do a case study of how studying psychology experts helped...

You can learn a lot by looking at your competition and looking at those who are simply knocking it out of the park (experts) regardless of endeavor or application. How should these two approaches be combined to get the results you are looking for in marketing? In this episode, we discuss why the two different approaches in external research is important before starting the creative process. Hosted...

One-on-one interviews are the most effective way to gather the quantitative research you are looking for. This is where you can discover your belief, your hero, or how you can best make an impact in the world. The interviews help provide the understanding of why you’re doing what you’re doing.  It gets to the heart of the organization more clearly. In this episode, we discuss these methods of mark...