Venturing Something Crazy for God
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Russ Gregg joins us to share the transformative journey of founding Hope Academy, a classical Christian school in Minneapolis that serves children living in poverty. Russ shares his personal story of faith and commitment to education, detailing the challenges faced in starting the school and the miraculous ways God provided resources and support. The discussion also covers the establishment of the Spreading Hope Network, which aims to replicate the success of Hope Academy in other cities, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and the need for both founders and funders in...
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From the Margins to the Heart of Campus
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Bryan Bademan didn’t set out with a grand vision for Anselm House. When he joined the Christian study center at the University of Minnesota over 15 years ago, the ministry was struggling. It took five challenging years of dedicated effort just to achieve financial stability. However, as Bryan often notes, “God really loves the students and community at this university.” This love has been demonstrated through significant changes, including a renewed vision, a strategic relocation to the heart of the main campus in Minneapolis, and increased resources. Listen to our conversation to hear...
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Bringing Donors Into Your Story
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
In this conversation, Brad and Scott Brown discuss the mission and impact of Globe International, a unique mission-sending agency that empowers missionaries to pursue their individual callings. Scott shares his personal journey with Globe, the challenges faced in fundraising, and the transformative role of The FOCUS Group in enhancing their development efforts. They highlight success stories from missionaries who have benefited from the "Taking Donor Seriously" model and discuss the future vision for Globe, including new training initiatives and courses. The conversation concludes with Scott...
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A Rowboat in the Ocean
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
In this conversation, Brad interviews Nick Stumbo and John Begeman from Pure Desire Ministries, discussing their mission to help individuals overcome sexual addiction and the importance of community in healing. They share personal stories of struggle and recovery, emphasizing the need for churches to address sexual issues openly. The discussion also covers fundraising challenges, the growth of Pure Desire, and the impact of their counseling programs. The conversation highlights the importance of vulnerability, donor engagement, and the vision for changing church culture around sexual health....
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A Blueprint for Kingdom Impact
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
In this episode, Brad sits down with John Hudson, the founder of 100 Fold Studio, a nonprofit international architecture firm based in Montana that serves both the spiritual and physical needs of communities worldwide. John shares how 100 Fold uniquely blends architecture with vocational discipleship—designing for ministries while equipping the next generation of architects to use their skills for God's kingdom. John’s journey is one of faith, resilience, and obedience to a calling greater than himself. From his early influences in architecture, including his grandmother’s legacy, to a...
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Radically Hospitable
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Learning about Water Street Mission’s decade-long transformation to become a place that physically demonstrates the love of Christ–especially to those experiencing homelessness–would be a great story. The bonus is that, in this podcast, you will also get to know Jack Crowley who has been serving with the organization over 30 years and now serves as its president. His reflection on their strategic planning process? “I didn’t want it to be Jack’s strategic plan, and I knew there was a possibility of manipulating the process for that to happen. I wanted to respect the work God is...
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From the Rubble: Rebuilding a Stronger Culture
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Join us as we explore the transformative journey of leadership with Nigel Pollock, President of InterVarsity Canada. Tasked with revitalizing a nearly century-old ministry, Nigel began his tenure facing a $6 million debt, only to encounter the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic soon after. Through it all, he has focused on fostering a culture of kindness, trust, and acceptance, while introducing innovative strategies to advance their mission. In this episode, Nigel shares timeless wisdom, practical insights, and inspiring encouragement for leaders navigating their own paths of renewal....
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Using Our Power to Stand Up to Injustice
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Thomas Keown grew up in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles,” a time of conflict that deeply formed him. Inspired by this experience, Thomas dedicated himself to serving others facing similar struggles and empowering them to create solutions within their own communities. In this episode, Thomas shares the powerful story behind founding Many Hopes, and his counter-intuitive learning that to fundraise well, sometimes you need to slow down. Books Recommendations “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” Several Authors “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power,...
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The Year-End Appeal...It's Not Impawsible
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
In this episode, Brad, Dan, and Jamie from The FOCUS Group bring a mix of humor and expertise to tackle a crucial topic in nonprofit fundraising: year-end appeals. Fundraising can feel daunting—Who should you target? What's the best way to execute your strategy? How do you follow up effectively? Join us as we break it all down, share actionable insights, and offer practical tips to help make your year-end fundraising campaigns more manageable—and successful. TheFOCUSGroup.com
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Send Someone Else!
The Taking Donors Seriously® Podcast
Do you ever feel like God has called you to a big, challenging task? So did Rim Hinckley, founder and Head of School at The Geneva School of Manhattan. She started her career as a math teacher but soon found herself in NYC feeling the tug to respond to late pastor Tim Keller’s question: “What does this city really need?” Being faithful to answer that question has not been an easy road, but Rim shares, “Our timing is not the same as God’s, but when he delivers us, it’s more amazing than we can imagine.” Website: https://www.genevaschool.net/ Recommended Books: “Timothy Keller:...
info_outlineIn this conversation, Brad and Scott Brown discuss the mission and impact of Globe International, a unique mission-sending agency that empowers missionaries to pursue their individual callings. Scott shares his personal journey with Globe, the challenges faced in fundraising, and the transformative role of The FOCUS Group in enhancing their development efforts. They highlight success stories from missionaries who have benefited from the "Taking Donor Seriously" model and discuss the future vision for Globe, including new training initiatives and courses. The conversation concludes with Scott sharing his love for books and his own writing endeavors.
Globe International
https://globeintl.org/
Taking Donors Seriously
https://takingdonorsseriously.com/
Books
Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story, by Scott Brown
Baseball in Pensacola: America's Pastime & the City of Five Flags, By Scott Brown
You Can Work Your Own Miracles, by Napoleon Hill
The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears, by Mark Batterson
Empower Your Nonprofit: Simple Ways to Co-Create with AI for Profound Impact, by Amy Neumann