Can "Seminary" and "Innovative" Go Together?
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
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.
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What I Learned at Taco Tuesday
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
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...
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Saying "Yes" To Kids
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Chuck Hagele, CEO of , 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...
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The Most Significant Influencer in the World: Mom
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
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...
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From Stockbroker to Apologist
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
In this special Juneteenth edition of the podcast, we interview Lisa Fields, a prominent apologist, speaker and founder of the Jude 3 Project. The 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 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...
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Redeeming Education for Jesus
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
As God laid on his heart a desire to re-orient education to the focus of glorifying God, David Nees was drawn to classical education. He is now the Head of School at Heritage Classical Academy outside Cleveland, OH, and has led the school through a phenomenal season of growth in the last decade. More students often leads to a need for new physical spaces, and Heritage is, indeed, in the midst of a campaign to consolidate multiple campuses into one. A book that David recommends is: George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade
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Outbidding the Amish
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Hear from Ty Fischer, a 27-year veteran Head of School at Veritas Academy in Lancaster, PA. He shares about the need for humility in asking for help with fundraising as well as the surprising diversity God has brought to his school via the refugee community. For a school nestled in Amish country, it has been an unexpected blessing to have students from over 10 different countries become part of this classical school community. 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...
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From the Holler to the World
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
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/
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A Primer on Capital Campaigns (Geneva College)
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Dr. Calvin Troup, President of Geneva College opens up about his personal journey into higher ed and shares invaluable insights he's gleaned along the way that will benefit any fundraising professional. Delve into Geneva College's strategic planning process, feasibility studies and pivotal elements in their successful capital campaign. But beyond strategies, discover the profound significance of fostering real relationships and pursuing transparency throughout the fundraising process. Mentioned in the podcast: A Spirituality of Fundraising: The Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series by Henri...
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Sitting With Your Donors Even When They Cannot Talk
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Here’s the story of Ben Homan, President of Langham Partnership US, finishing his 14-year career with them. When it comes to fundraising, Brad says, “Follow Ben!” He has had a remarkable ministry as a leader and has seen the ministry multiply three times over this past capital campaign. He has used strategic planning, feasibility studies, capital campaigns, and team training in his fund-raising efforts. Perhaps the more important thing is how Ben sees his work with donors as a ministry. How he cares about them and cares for them. Not to mention the excellent fruit in the work of the...
info_outlineAs God laid on his heart a desire to re-orient education to the focus of glorifying God, David Nees was drawn to classical education. He is now the Head of School at Heritage Classical Academy outside Cleveland, OH, and has led the school through a phenomenal season of growth in the last decade. More students often leads to a need for new physical spaces, and Heritage is, indeed, in the midst of a campaign to consolidate multiple campuses into one.
A book that David recommends is:
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution
by Brian Kilmeade