A dramatic shift in fundraising is occurring nationwide. Revenues are shifting by channel. A decade ago, easily 75 percent of all revenue came from direct response. Channels like direct mail, email, and digital marketing drove two-thirds to three-quarters of all income.
In this episode, Roy Jones talks with 28 year nonprofit legend, Tony Marciano, president emeritus, of the Charlotte Rescue Mission, about nonprofit leadership and the challenges facing frontline fundraisers in America today. With emphasis on human services and work with homeless shelter guests; connecting to the emotions of the donor, learn strategies for campaigns that get results.
The major gift fundraisers are not magicians. They can’t simply pull their millionaire contacts and tell them to give to your ministry now that they work for you. It just does not happen that way. If you have a large pool of middle donors and/or current major donors that need to be cultivated, then you are ready to hire a frontline fundraiser. Here is some fundraiser hiring best practices:
Learn the five key strategies to make “the ask” more effective, from knowing your audience to the art of the pledge. Don’t miss out on these invaluable tips to boost your fundraising efforts!
Every day your organization goes without an unfilled fulltime fund development position you are losing money.
In Part 2, Roy Jones and Carrie Lynn Wright dig deeper into the communication gaps, giving habits, and leadership challenges across generations. Hear real-world stories—like the viral “Tony the Paint Guy” moment—that reveal how embracing change, adopting new technologies, and fostering open dialogue can help nonprofits engage donors and rally multi-generational teams for long-term success.
Navigating uncertainty isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about leading with clarity, compassion, and confidence with the people beside you. Your team is your greatest asset—cultivate them well and lean on one another even when seasons seem to be changing.
You can’t control what happens in the world or your neighborhood, but you can control what happens in your shop. Focus on your donors, what are their needs and
goals. There are always hills and valleys, the biggest drop comes when you don’t stick to the schedule. Keep asking and they will give.
In Part 1, Roy Jones sits down with workplace culture expert Carrie Lynn Wright to explore the defining traits of Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z—and how these differences shape nonprofit teams and donor relationships. Learn how understanding generational perspectives can strengthen workplace culture, improve communication, and build stronger connections across every age group
It has been a year of starts and stops, peaks and valleys for the nonprofit industry. The year following any presidential election presents challenges for philanthropy. Changes and uncertainty do impact giving; when new administrations put new programs in place, it can take time for donors to assess and adjust accordingly.
In Part 2 of our conversation with Donna Lucas, Chief Marketing Officer at Joni and Friends, we explore what it takes to lead effective fundraising in today’s fast-moving, often unpredictable nonprofit landscape. From segmenting donor audiences with the help of AI to preparing leadership and fundraisers for economic plateaus, Donna shares actionable insights shaped by decades of experience in both the corporate and ministry worlds.
What does it take to lead fundraising and marketing at one of the most trusted ministries in the world? Donna Lucas, Chief Marketing Officer of Joni and Friends, joins the Fit Fundraising Podcast to share how her team inspires generosity through consistency, transparency, and a mission-centered message. From adapting to economic uncertainty to creating omnichannel campaigns that meet donors where they are, Donna offers practical, powerful insight for nonprofit leaders who want to build lasting trust—and lasting impact.
If you’ve been in nonprofit leadership long enough, you know one thing for certain:
funding is never guaranteed. Contracts get slashed, priorities shift, and new
administrations bring new rules. The worst thing you can do? Panic. The best thing you
can do? Strategize.
If you want to inspire generosity in others, one of the keys is to first live generously yourself. Generosity is not just about giving; it’s about sowing. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), Jesus explains how seeds fall on different types of soil—some thrive, others wither. The principle here isn’t just about crops or even people. The message in this story is about what happens when we release what we’ve been given. It is about what God adds to our efforts towards generosity.
In seasons of disruption, it’s easy to feel unsettled and even off-course. External pressures—economic, political, even organizational—can push a nonprofit to react instead of respond. Shifting priorities at the federal level and changes in funding landscapes only add to the uncertainty.
