The Donor Centric Approach

For the past several months, I've had the privilege of walking alongside St. Albert's High School and Our Lady of Fatima Orphanage in Pakistan as part of my work helping ministries strengthen their fundraising and donor development. Rather than talking about fundraising, I wanted to introduce you to the people behind this remarkable mission. In this conversation, you'll meet: Fr. Waqar Amer, the y...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, I sit down with my friend, Rosie Chinea Shawver, Executive Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA). Rosie shares her own journey into campus ministry and the fire that continues to fuel her mission today. Together, we dive into: The unique challenges of reaching students on today’s college campuses Why campus ministers need support...

This week’s episode is something different — and deeply personal. In this talk, originally given to my local covenant community, I share how my recent accident became a moment of interruption that God transformed into an invitation: to deeper dependence, to gratitude, and to the gift of community. While this isn’t a fundraising strategy session, the lessons here apply directly to the work of nonpr...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, Orlando sits down with Dr. Daniel Meola, co-founder and president of Life-Giving Wounds, a Catholic ministry dedicated to bringing Christ’s healing to adult children of divorce and separation. Dan shares his powerful story of how his personal wounds became the seed of a national ministry, the challenges and surprises of building and sustaining Life-Gi...

Three weeks ago, I was in a serious bicycle accident that changed my perspective — not just on life, but on fundraising. When a friend from high school set up a Meal Train for my family, she made it crystal clear how people could help. If you lived nearby, you could drop off a meal. If you lived far away, you could send a DoorDash gift card. Simple. Specific. No guessing. Within hours, people resp...

This episode is unlike anything I’ve shared before. A few weeks ago, I was involved in a serious cycling accident. I don’t remember much about what happened on the road that day—but I do know this: without JJ Berg, I might not be here. JJ was the young man who found me unconscious, called 911, and stayed by my side until help arrived. Today, I get to sit down with him, not as a host, but as someon...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, Orlando sits down with seasoned fundraiser Doug Stamps, currently serving as Development Director at a major organization in Washington, D.C. This episode delivers practical, honest, and hard-earned insights from a career spent building meaningful donor relationships at scale. Doug shares: What builds lasting donor trust, regardless of your org’s size...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, I sit down with Matt Aujero, founder of Fight Club Catholic, for a candid and energizing conversation about building a movement from scratch. We talk about what it’s really like to lead as a founder—when you’re fundraising, vision-casting, discipling, and doing the setup and takedown every week. Matt shares what’s working for Fight Club, how they’ve g...

In this solo episode of The Donor-Centric Approach, Orlando speaks directly to the founders and executive directors carrying the weight of the mission and the burden of fundraising. If you feel like you’re wearing every hat—and dropping balls in the process—this episode is your permission to stop doing it all. 💡 You’ll learn: The 3 fundraising roles only you can own The 3 things you should let go...

In this solo episode of The Donor-Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros breaks down one of the most powerful yet overlooked fundraising tools: clear messaging. Forget jargon and generic slogans. Orlando introduces a simple but game-changing framework—Problem, Vision, Invitation—that helps nonprofit leaders and fundraisers speak directly to the hearts of their donors. Whether you're crafting your n...

Is your fundraising always in reactive mode? Scrambling to write last-minute appeals, chase down donors, or meet arbitrary goals? It doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros shows you how to shift from chaos to clarity by creating a simple, effective 90-day fundraising plan. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why quarterly planning beats...

Are you unintentionally missing the mark with your major donor pitches? In this solo episode, Orlando shares powerful, behind-the-scenes insights into what major donors and funders are actually looking for when deciding whether or not to support your nonprofit or ministry. Drawing from years of experience coaching nonprofit leaders and consulting directly with funders, Orlando outlines the five cr...

In this solo episode, Orlando Barros breaks down one of the most overlooked (yet mission-critical) areas in nonprofit fundraising: stewardship. If you’ve ever felt like donors give once and then disappear—or if you’re stuck in a cycle of constantly chasing new donors—this episode is for you. 🎯 What you'll learn: Why most stewardship efforts fall flat—and how to avoid the same mistakes What donors...

If your team ever says, “We just don’t have the time or staff to focus on fundraising,” this episode is for you. In this solo episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros breaks down how any nonprofit or ministry—no matter how small—can shift from a scarcity mindset to a development culture that works. 💡 In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ What a culture of development really is (and...

If you’ve ever told a story in an appeal, newsletter, or donor meeting and it didn’t land, this episode is for you. In this solo session of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros unpacks the storytelling mistakes most nonprofits make—and how to fix them fast. 💡 What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ Why many nonprofit stories fall flat with donors ✅ The “People–Pivot–Purpose” storytellin...

In this inspiring episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Peter Levesque, Founder and Executive Director of Xavier Mission Fund, to explore the powerful role of administrative support and donor partnerships in launching new Catholic ministries. Peter shares the story behind Xavier Mission Fund’s founding, the real challenges early-stage ministries face, and how hi...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, Orlando Barros welcomes Jessica Root, Executive Director of House of Mercy, a Catholic nonprofit serving thousands of families through its food pantry, thrift store, and donation center. Jessica shares the power of meeting real needs with dignity, the challenges of running a fast-growing nonprofit, and the fundraising insights she’s gained from years...

Are you leading a nonprofit or ministry without a full-time development staff? Maybe you're doing everything yourself—running programs, writing thank-you notes, and trying to raise money in the margins of your day. If that’s you, this episode is for you. In this solo episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros shares real talk and practical tools for nonprofit leaders who are fundra...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Joelle Fitzmaurice, Development Coordinator at Catholic Terps, the vibrant Catholic campus ministry at the University of Maryland. Together, they unpack how Catholic Terps is forming students to be faith-filled leaders—and the unique fundraising realities of operating a mission-based ministry on a secular college cam...

Losing a child is one of the most heartbreaking experiences a parent can go through, yet so many families suffer in silence without the right support. In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Kelly Breaux, founder of Red Bird Ministries, to discuss how her organization is filling a critical gap in the Church by offering faith-based grief support to families...

If your donors don’t immediately understand what you do, your fundraising will always feel like an uphill battle. A vague mission leads to vague fundraising results, but a clear mission leads to stronger donor engagement and better fundraising outcomes. In this solo episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros walks you through how to define and refine your nonprofit’s mission so tha...

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Dr. Dan Baillargeon, co-founder of Mission Driven Catholic, to explore the power of Catholic education as a tool for evangelization and the challenges of funding faith-based schools. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why Catholic schools must move from student-centric to family-centric education ✅ How Mission...

In this powerful episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Dr. John Bishop, founder of FORGE, an organization committed to forming men into the husbands, fathers, and leaders they were meant to be—all through a strong Catholic identity and brotherhood. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ The crisis of masculinity in today’s society and how FORGE is addressing i...

Nonprofit leaders—do you have a clear and effective annual fundraising plan in place? If not, you're not alone! In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros walks you through the key steps to developing a strong donor engagement and fundraising strategy that works. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why having a structured annual development plan is crucial for nonprofi...

🎙 Welcome to The Donor Centric Approach Podcast! 🎙 In this pilot episode, host Orlando Barros, founder of MRP Donor Development, introduces the podcast and shares why putting donors at the center of your fundraising strategy is the key to nonprofit success. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ The story behind the podcast and what to expect in future episodes ✅ Why a donor-first mindset can t...