"Funding the Future NOW" Podcast

Epizode

• 
  Rich Armenia - The World Doesn't Have a Food Shortage. It Has a Logistics Problem 13.08.2026 31min

  A conversation with Rich Armenia, Executive Director of Feeding Charlotte.Nearly 40% of the U.S. food supply ends up in a landfill. In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, roughly 120,000 people are food insecure. Rich Armenia calls that "the dumbest problem we could possibly have," and he built an organization around fixing it.I sat down with Rich on the Funding the Future Now podcast to talk about food rescue, volunteer retention, and why he refuses to tell donors he is ending hunger.
• 
  Christine Mangino - Turning Radical Transparency Into Donor Trust 27.07.2026 23min

  In this episode of Funding the Future Now, Dr. Randy Dirks talks with Christine Mangino, president of Queensborough Community College (CUNY), about earning donor trust through radical transparency. Rather than hiding hard numbers, she shows her foundation board the full budget down to the penny — because when leaders share only good news, people stop believing them. She builds trust by letting donors see the work firsthand, whether at a campus celebration or graduation, where one donor told her, "I know I am giving my money to the right place." The same authenticity drives her internal culture and her crisis leadership, which she sums up as optimism paired with a plan. Her message is simple: people trust what they can see, so show them everything — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
• 
  Bob Dees - Your Donors Are Smarter Than Your Timeline 23.07.2026 33min

  In this episode of Funding the Future Now, Randy Dirks talks with Bob Dees, president of the National Center for Healthy Veterans, about how to fund and lead work that takes years to show results. Bob argues that sophisticated donors don't actually expect quick wins, and that the leader's job is to measure outcomes while also painting the complexity of the challenge, illustrated by a veteran who would have been counted a loss at three months and a clear win years later. Drawing on thirty-one years in the Army, Bob names the sector's most common failure as vision without operational strategy: nonprofits cast the vision but skip the phasing, role definition, and lines of authority needed to actually get there. He closes on language, arguing that organizations should look through the windshield rather than the rearview mirror, using a prophetic name, tagline, and vocabulary that names where people are headed instead of what happened to them.
• 
  Dr. John Fuchko - The Power Is in the Question 23.07.2026 31min

  Dr. John Fuchko closed a nearly 10% budget gap at Dalton State College by opening the books to his campus instead of handing down cuts from the corner office. He also posted the highest giving year in school history, more than $7 million, without a campaign to rally anyone around. His explanation traces back to a line from a mentor named Bill Goodwin: the power is in the question. We also get into what five command tours taught him about planning, what he had to unlearn when he left the military, and the three filters he uses to decide what earns his time. If your senior leaders are still asking you for permission, John has a blunt diagnosis for you.
• 
  Marcus Menesse - The Fastest Way to Lose a Donor Is Also the Easiest to Fix 21.07.2026 23min

  Marcus Meneese has been running a nonprofit for fourteen years, and when asked what quietly destroys donor trust, he did not hesitate for a second. Marcus Meneese Sr. founded Stronger Than My Father fourteen years ago in Nashville to serve young men growing up without fathers. Leadership skills. Career exposure. Drone flying, cooking, auto mechanics, podcasting. Real things boys can see and touch, because touching a career can trigger a mind toward a future it had not imagined yet.I sat down with Marcus on the Funding the Future Now podcast. Three things he said are worth every executive director's attention.
• 
  Wesley Laws - Don't be the Hero, be the Helper 26.06.2026 25min

  In this episode of Funding the Future Now, Dr. Randy Dirks talks with head of school Wesley Laws about building healthy teams through relational equity — the mutual trust leaders earn by being present, knowing their people, and owning their mistakes rather than posturing as the hero who has it all figured out ("your team is not looking for you to be a hero, they are looking for you to be a helper"). The heart of the conversation is conflict: most leaders treat it like a fire to stamp out and avoid it until it spreads, when the real skill is pinching out the match early — speaking up at the first murmur or slight before it hits the gasoline and becomes a wildfire that takes out the whole "neighborhood" of concentric relationships. Laws's signature move is the Monday-morning reset: do the reflective legwork first, then walk in and own what's gone wrong before you're shown it, because a leader who names their own shortcomings rebuilds trust faster than one who waits to be confronted. When teams finally get healthy, he says, everyone — administration, teacher, and family — gets in the room, names the real issues, and pushes toward a shared goal, turning struggling students into thriving ones; gossip is the enemy that quietly undoes that work. The takeaway Randy lands on: get people in different places, with different opinions, onto the same page by bringing issues into the open, understanding them, and owning them.
• 
  Be the Advisor - Not the Hero 25.06.2026 1min

  In the nonprofit world, we so often cast ourselves as the hero — look how many homes we built, how many meals we served, how many wells we dug. But your real job is to be a confident philanthropic advisor. The donor is the hero. You're the guide. And to guide well, you have to understand the other person — their values, what matters to them, what they're longing to achieve — not who your organization is. So be that advisor. Build a bridge between the donor's values, goals, and dreams and what your organization can actually deliver.
• 
  Randy Dirks - Building Trust in Nonprofits 21.06.2026

  So the whole issue is building collateral over a long period of time. And that's what leads to trust. And trust is indispensable in the success of a nonprofit because as donors trust you, they say, I'm trusting you with my most valuable resources, the money, the assets that I have earned. And I want to give it to you and to your organization because I trust you.
• 
  Randy Dirks - 3 Indispensable Skills 12.06.2026 9min

  To be an effective development professional, all you need are three skills. And it is not about being a good talker or promoter. Mark and Shiela's first gift of $10,000 has now grown to annual gifts totaling $400,000! It occurred due to using these three skills. They are: deep listening, being a philanthropic advisor and engaging in the long game.
• 
  Ja'Lah Willingham - Make It Impossible to Ignore 05.06.2026 26min

  Ask most donors what they want to fund, and "isolated older adults with no family" rarely makes the list. Ja'Lah Willingham, Executive Director of Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly in Cincinnati, Ohio, response to the question: "How do we make this not invisible?"The organization is volunteer-based, built around a single mission: relieving the loneliness and isolation of older adults — with a specific focus on those who have little to no family support. What follows is a conversation about making an invisible problem visible, turning first-time volunteers into lifelong advocates, and measuring the things that resist measurement.
• 
  Renee Flagler and Stephen Powell - Open the Heart, and the Wallet Follows 29.05.2026 35min

  The podcast episode features Dr. Randy Dirks interviewing Renee Daniel Flagler and Stephen Powell from the National CARES Mentoring Movement. The conversation covers topics such as the organization's background, programs, impact, healing-centered work, engaging volunteers, corporate partnerships, fundraising, recruiting and engagement strategies, strategic leadership, storytelling, and personal and professional insights.TakeawaysRecruiting and engaging volunteersStrategic leadership and storytelling in the nonprofit worldChapters00:00 Introduction and Background05:23 Engaging Volunteers10:34 Recruiting and Engagement Strategies24:47 Strategic Leadership and Storytelling
• 
  Paul Fisher - The Mission Has to Matter More Than the Organization's Survival 22.05.2026 29min

  The conversation delves into the challenges of maintaining mission commitment, communicating the value of aspirational investments, and leading people who believe in the mission more than the paycheck. It also explores the role of the headmaster in fundraising and provides insights and reflections on leadership and development in the nonprofit sector.TakeawaysMission Drift vs. Mission CommitmentBuilding Relationships in FundraisingLeadership and Mission AlignmentChapters00:00 Fast Five: Insights and Reflections
• 
  Matt Lucas - Free Isn't the Problem. Telling the Story Is 21.05.2026 32min

  The conversation covers the unique challenges of funding a nonprofit with a non-monetized content model, the transition of Our Daily Bread Ministry, the differences between fundraising in higher education and ministry, and the complexities of measuring spiritual transformation and return on investment. It also delves into personal insights and reflections on leadership and development.TakeawaysNon-monetized content funding challengesMulti-channel communication for engagementChapters00:00 The Nonprofit Funding Model08:18 Donor Case for Funding Non-Monetized Content13:25 Digital Engagement and Multi-Channel Communication22:05 Measuring Spiritual Transformation and Return on Investment28:26 Personal Insights and Reflections
• 
  David LeVan - What Merging Two Organizations Taught This CEO About Donor Trust 18.05.2026 28min

  The conversation covers the topics of building and sustaining donor confidence, merging nonprofit organizations, and leadership development and advice. The first chapter explores the challenges of building and sustaining donor confidence in nonprofit work, especially in remote and under-resourced areas. The second chapter delves into the process of merging nonprofit organizations and the underestimated aspects of bringing two cultures together. The final chapter discusses leadership development, advice, and the importance of preparing the next generation of leaders in the nonprofit sector.TakeawaysDonor ConfidenceMerging OrganizationsChapters00:00 Building and Sustaining Donor Confidence09:27 Merging Nonprofit Organizations20:00 Leadership Development and Advice
• 
  Dr. Joel Satterly - How He Keeps Donors Loyal to Two Organizations 14.05.2026 27min

  The conversation covers the importance of prioritizing resources in nonprofit organizations and the significance of building trust and relationships with stakeholders. It delves into the decision-making process for resource allocation and the impact of these decisions on the organization's mission and goals. Additionally, it explores the role of nonprofit leaders in fostering trust and collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure the success and sustainability of the organization.TakeawaysPrioritizing resources in a nonprofit organization is crucialBuilding trust and relationships with stakeholders is essential for nonprofit leadersChapters00:00 Prioritizing Resources in Nonprofit Organizations18:00 Building Trust and Relationships with Stakeholders
• 
  Drayton Cosby - Keep top donors with you across multi-year build cycles. 11.05.2026 28min

  Drayton Cosby, founder and CEO of Foundation for Intelligent Media and Design, discusses the impact of Bible-based video games on discipleship and engagement. He shares insights on donor engagement, stewardship, and the unique challenges of measuring impact in the interactive media space.TakeawaysBible-based video games as a tool for discipleshipChallenges of donor engagement in the interactive media spaceChapters00:00 Mission of IMD and How to Connect with Drayton Cosby
• 
  Darryl Anderson - Stop Making It Transactional 05.05.2026 27min

  The conversation covers topics related to nonprofit leadership, fundraising, community engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Darrell Anderson, the executive president of Ares Senior Network, shares insights on building cross-functional teams, strategic planning, and the importance of community in personal and professional growth. The conversation also delves into the significance of donor relationships, long-term community investments, and the operationalization of DEI within organizations.TakeawaysNonprofit leaders can shift board culture by building individual rapport with board members, understanding their strengths, and fostering strong relationships.Fundraising strategies should focus on building strong donor relationships, demonstrating impact, and showing gratitude to donors.Operationalizing DEI involves centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizational systems, hiring processes, and leadership teams, and reflecting the community being served.Community plays a vital role in personal and professional growth, providing support, encouragement, and opportunities for learning and development.Chapters00:00 Fast Five: Insights and Reflections
• 
  Dion Green - How He Turned Personal Devastation into a National Nonprofit Movement 04.05.2026 24min

  The podcast episode features Dion Green, CEO of the Fudge Foundation, who shares his personal story of tragedy and resilience. The conversation delves into the impact of personal stories on fundraising, the importance of strategic partnerships and community trust, and the challenges of building credibility in communities. Dion's insights provide valuable lessons in leadership, personal growth, and community engagement.TakeawaysLeadership through personal tragedyBuilding credibility in communitiesThe impact of personal stories on fundraisingStrategic partnerships and community trustLessons from failure and personal growthChapters00:00 Building Credibility in Communities
• 
  Kim Nagle - She Walked Through the Door of a Nonprofit When She Left Her Pride in the Parking Lot 01.05.2026 36min

  The conversation covers the DAMN Plan as a business approach, the need for a mindset shift in the nonprofit sector, the internal barrier to fundraising momentum, and the process of building authentic donor relationships in underrepresented communities. The conversation with Kim Nagle delves into the importance of constant planning and the role of cash flow in avoiding crisis. Kim shares personal advice and reflections, and discusses her resources for connecting with nonprofits.TakeawaysBelief is a key internal barrier to fundraising momentumNonprofit organizations need to shift their mindset towards profitabilityBuilding authentic donor relationships in underrepresented communities requires trust and integrity Constant planning is keyCash flow is crucial for avoiding crisisChapters00:00 The DAMN Plan: A Business Approach09:10 The Internal Barrier to Fundraising Momentum15:51 Building Authentic Donor Relationships23:00 The Importance of Constant Planning29:04 Personal Advice and Reflections37:52 Connecting with Kim Nagle
• 
  Andy Jones - Why 75% of First-Time Donors Never Give Again 01.05.2026 31min

  The conversation delves into the critical issue of communication failure in the nonprofit sector, particularly the impact it has on donor retention. It emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the need for healthy communication patterns to retain donors. Additionally, it explores the challenges of retaining donors after their first gift, the significance of clear mission statements, and the application of entertainment industry principles to nonprofit communication. The discussion also includes insights, reflections, and the role of Roundtree Agency in supporting nonprofit growth and communication.TakeawaysStorytelling is keyCommunication failure leads to donor lossChapters00:00 The Communication Failure12:31 The Mission Clarity Problem20:13 The Hollywood Principle25:28 Insights and Reflections32:19 Roundtree Agency and Nonprofit Communication