Is Direct Mail Dead? Best Digital Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofits | Interview - Mark Dreistadt
Release Date: 11/04/2025
Failed? Here's How to Bounce Back Stronger
Phil Cooke Podcast
Failure can knock you down or move you forward! If the bottom just dropped out in your creative career, Phil Cooke offers 5 keys to help you gain resilience and come back stronger. Many of your ideas are going to fail – but if you’re not failing on a regular basis, you’re not pushing the envelope very hard. Here’s how to turn failure into success. “Don’t let failure derail your dream. Your failure does not define you.” —Phil Cooke Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church,...
info_outline
Work Cultures: How to Build a Creative Team that Thrives
Phil Cooke Podcast
In today’s design-driven world, creativity is more important than ever before. If you’re leading a creative team, Phil Cooke highlights five ways leaders can create a work culture where ideas flow and creatives thrive. Inspire and challenge your creative team and they’ll do amazing things for your organization. Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke...
info_outline
Rebuilding After Your World Falls Apart: Helping Leaders Heal with Steve Robinson
Phil Cooke Podcast
Trauma can be a one-time event or a cumulation of crisis events – but most leaders ignore the symptoms that lead to post traumatic stress. In this conversation, Phil Cooke sits down with Steve Robinson, pastor of Church of the King in New Orleans, to talk about his book, “Soul Leadership: Rebound from Crisis, Grow in Resilience, Live from Wholeness.” Based on Steve’s personal journey of healing after a meltdown, this interview will help leaders struggling with mental health and emotional trauma to find the pathway to recovery through the integration of theology, therapy and neural...
info_outline
Church on Trial: Legal Lessons Every Leader Needs | David Middlebrook, The Church Lawyers
Phil Cooke Podcast
Does your church have a crisis communication plan? In this interview, Phil Cooke talks with David Middlebrook, one of the country’s leading practitioners in religious nonprofit organizations law and founder of The Church Lawyers. David’s team provides legal support to churches, ministries and nonprofits, domestically and internationally, with years of experience helping churches with crisis planning and crisis management. In this interview, you’ll gain practical wisdom on how to: 👉 Prepare a crisis communication plan👉 Develop a crisis communication team👉 Implement...
info_outline
No Burn Out! How Pastors Can Flourish in Ministry | Josh Turner, The 10Ten Project
Phil Cooke Podcast
“When guys have moral failure, I always ask them, ‘What got you there?’” Helping pastors and ministry leaders avoid burnout is the topic of today’s conversation as Phil Cooke sits down with Josh Turner, founder of the 10Ten Project. Josh has dedicated his life to helping Christian men flourish in their calling and in every area of life. If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, the 10Ten project offers connection, coaching and care for spiritual, emotional and mental health as you serve the Lord. “We give pastors a safe place to say dangerous things — to be honest, open.”...
info_outline
3 Rules for Pitching: Connecting with the People Who Can Make Your Dream Happen
Phil Cooke Podcast
If you’re having trouble getting your ideas heard, media executive Phil Cooke’s three rules for pitching will help you share your creative vision with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re pitching a film idea, business idea, creative project or ministry vision, these pro tips will help you connect with the people who can make your dream happen. 👉 Listen now and transform your creative leadership career! Rate and subscribe for more tips on faith, media and culture for executive pastors, nonprofit leaders, and church media and communications creatives. Get the book: ...
info_outline
Why Pastors Fail: Christian Leadership & Accountability with Larry Stockstill, Pastors University
Phil Cooke Podcast
What should Christian leadership and accountability look like in today’s church? Join Phil Cooke for this insightful conversation with Larry Stockstill, founder of Pastors University, as he shares hard-earned wisdom from over 50 years in ministry. This conversation dives deep into leadership accountability, crisis communication, pastoral integrity, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. If you're a pastor or ministry leader, this episode will equip you to lead with integrity and build sustainable leadership structures that last. Larry Stockstill is the founder of Pastors University...
info_outline
🎬 Indie Film Distribution: How to Submit Your Film to Angel Studios | Jared Geesey Interview
Phil Cooke Podcast
Want to get your film distributed by Angel Studios? In this in-depth conversation, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com sits down with Jared Geesey (EVP of International Distribution at Angel Studios) to break down the Angel Studios submission process, how the Angel Guild works, and what filmmakers need to know to secure a distribution deal. If you're an indie filmmaker looking for film distribution opportunities, this episode reveals how Angel’s audience-driven model is changing the industry—giving YOU the chance to get your project reviewed, improved, and potentially...
info_outline
Why Most Churches Struggle to Grow | Mark MacDonald, Church Branding Strategist
Phil Cooke Podcast
What is your church known for in your community? In this episode, Phil Cooke sits down with church branding strategist Mark MacDonald to uncover the real reason many churches don’t grow and what church leaders can do to fix it. Discover how churches can stop being known for what they’re against and start becoming known for what they’re for—using practical branding and communication strategies that actually help people find and understand your church. If your church wants to grow, stand out, and truly matter in your community, this conversation will challenge the way you think about...
info_outline
Starting a Nonprofit? Here's What You Need to Know | Fundraising Consultant David Baker
Phil Cooke Podcast
Launching a ministry or nonprofit — and feeling terrified about fundraising? In this conversation, Phil Cooke sits down with fundraising strategist David Baker of Giving Design to discuss what truly drives generosity and how to build a strong sustainable funding foundation from day one. This is your Fundraising 101 to gain the mindset behind successful donor development! Find out what motivates giving, the role of story in casting vision and sharing impact, and the biggest fundraising mistake most churches and nonprofits make. Whether you’re launching a brand-new ministry, growing...
info_outlineIs direct mail still relevant in today’s digital world? In this insightful interview, Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com talks with Mark Dreistadt, founder and president of Infinity Concepts, about why direct mail remains the foundation of successful fundraising—and how digital tools like email, Google ads, social media, and text-to-give options are transforming donor engagement for nonprofits and ministries.
Discover practical fundraising tactics, donor acquisition strategies, and how to balance traditional and digital communication to maximize results. Learn why relationship building, speed of donor response, and a well-articulated vision are key to growing your ministry or nonprofit organization.
👉 Watch now and gain valuable tips to help your nonprofit thrive. Like, comment, and subscribe for more tips on creative leadership.
👉 Get my FREE DOWNLOAD when you sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/
🔥 New Masterclasses
Church on Trial—Crisis Management with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/masterclass
Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass with Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com/ideasonadeadline
Subscribe to My YouTube Channel and Expand your Creative Leadership https://www.youtube.com/c/philcookeofficial?sub_confirmation=1
⚡️ BOOK “Church on Trial – How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis” Get your copy here: https://philcooke.com/crisis
========================================
Phil Cooke — Media Producer-Writer-Speaker-Coach
Helping Creative Leaders Influence the World — Faith, Media & Culture
Do you have a message or story the world needs to hear? I offer advice on creative leadership, digital media, branding, marketing, film and television production – and the faith to take you from where you are in your ministry or career to where you want to be.
As a filmmaker, media consultant and co-founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles, my client list includes Hollywood studios, major nonprofit organizations, and many of the most respected churches and ministries in the world. I’ve produced media programming in nearly 70 countries and created many of the most influential inspirational TV programs in history.
My philosophy? Get your ideas out there and change the world in the process.
==========================
Connect with me on social media:
Twitter https://twitter.com/philcooke
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/philcookepage/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/philcooke/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@philcookeofficial
Find out about Cooke Media Group here: https://www.cookemediagroup.com
===========================
⚡️ More About This Episode
Is Direct Mail Dead? Best Digital Fundraising Strategies for Nonprofits | Interview - Mark Dreistadt
Whether you’re a ministry leader, nonprofit executive, or fundraiser, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you raise more, engage better, and build lasting donor relationships in a digital-first world.
About Mark Dreistadt, President/CEO, Infinity Concepts
Mark Dreistadt is a visionary strategist, trusted advisor, and dynamic communicator dedicated to helping leaders maximize the impact of their organizations. With a unique blend of strategic insight and creative innovation, Mark consistently delivers transformational solutions that produce measurable, lasting results.
As the founder of Infinity Concepts, Mark has spent decades guiding some of the largest nonprofits and ministry organizations in America and abroad. He is a nationally recognized expert in branding, marketing, fundraising, public relations and communication—widely respected for his ability to craft strategies that drive growth, increase engagement, and inspire action. His clear and compelling presentation style makes him a sought-after speaker, consultant, and leadership coach across the faith-based and nonprofit sectors.
🔗 Learn more at https://infinityconcepts.com
📈 Explore IDEX Pro: https://idexpro.com
⏰ Timecodes ⏰
00:00 Find out the best fundraising strategies for nonprofits in the digital age
03:11 Why direct mail still drives over 60% of fundraising revenue
08:29 How digital donor acquisition can exponentially grow your giving base
11:45 How to combine TV, radio, and online platforms to build engagement
13:00 Short form video for fundraising
14:00 The best digital fundraising tools for nonprofits (video, email, texting, and QR codes)
17:30 Why quick thank-you responses dramatically increase donor retention
24:08 Where to start with your fundraising efforts & how to articulate your vision and reduce friction in giving
36:00 Find out more at https://infinityconcepts.com
37:00 Find out more about the mission of The Influence Lab at https://influencelab.com
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for the support!)
#DigitalFundraising #Nonprofits #FundraisingStrategies #DonorDevelopment #InfinityConcepts #MarkDreistadt #FundraisingIdeas #ChristianMedia #NonprofitLeadership #MinistryGrowth