The Donor Centric Approach

Episode 24: Strengthening Campus Ministry with CCMA

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, I sit down with my friend, Rosie Chinea Shawver, Executive Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA).
Rosie shares her own journey into campus ministry and the fire that continues to fuel her mission today. Together, we dive into:
The unique challenges of reaching students on today’s college campuses
Why campus ministers need support, mentorship, and resources to thrive
How CCMA is equipping ministers nationwide to accompany students in faith
Practical lessons in fundraising and development that apply to any nonprofit or ministry
One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how Rosie frames fundraising as accompaniment—a spiritual act of walking with donors, just as ministers walk with students. Her perspective is a powerful reminder that development is not just about money—it’s about relationship, clarity, and mission.
👉 Learn more about CCMA’s mission and resources: https://ccmanetwork.org
👉 If today’s conversation encouraged you and you’d like to explore working with me on your organization’s fundraising, you can book a time with me here: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min
As always, thank you for listening. If this episode resonates, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a colleague who needs encouragement today.

Episode 23: From Ashes to Beauty

This week’s episode is something different — and deeply personal.
In this talk, originally given to my local covenant community, I share how my recent accident became a moment of interruption that God transformed into an invitation: to deeper dependence, to gratitude, and to the gift of community.
While this isn’t a fundraising strategy session, the lessons here apply directly to the work of nonprofit and ministry leaders. Just as I needed others to carry me through weakness, our missions cannot thrive without the strength of community and the humility to depend on others.
Listen in as I reflect on:
The reality of suffering and interruptions in life and ministry.
How dependence is not weakness, but a gift.
Why true community sustains us in life, faith, and mission.
What this means for fundraising and building donor relationships.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying your mission alone, this episode is for you.
👉 I’d love to hear your thoughts. Reach out at orlando@mrpdonordev.com, visit my website at www.mrpdonordev.com, or schedule a time to connect with me directly here: calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min

Episode 22: Healing Wounds, Faith, and Fundraising Leadership (with Dr. Dan Meola)

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, Orlando sits down with Dr. Daniel Meola, co-founder and president of Life-Giving Wounds, a Catholic ministry dedicated to bringing Christ’s healing to adult children of divorce and separation.
Dan shares his powerful story of how his personal wounds became the seed of a national ministry, the challenges and surprises of building and sustaining Life-Giving Wounds, and the lessons he’s learned about integrating mission and fundraising. Together, we explore:
Why fundraising is ministry — not just a means to support it.
How vulnerability, trust, and honesty are central to both healing and donor relationships.
Practical lessons in building sustainable fundraising programs, from major gifts to monthly donors.
Why caring for donors spiritually (yes, even through prayer!) is as essential as showing them impact.
This conversation is both deeply moving and incredibly practical for nonprofit and ministry leaders who carry wounds of their own while trying to lead with faith and vision.
🔗 Learn more about Life-Giving Wounds: https://www.lifegivingwounds.org/📧 Connect with Dr. Dan Meola: dan@lifegivingwounds.org

Episode 21: The Fundraising Lesson I Learned from a Meal Train

Three weeks ago, I was in a serious bicycle accident that changed my perspective — not just on life, but on fundraising.
When a friend from high school set up a Meal Train for my family, she made it crystal clear how people could help. If you lived nearby, you could drop off a meal. If you lived far away, you could send a DoorDash gift card. Simple. Specific. No guessing.
Within hours, people responded generously.
In this episode, I share why this is exactly how great fundraising works — and how an invitation from a mindset of abundance will always inspire more generosity than an obligation rooted in scarcity. You’ll learn three ways to make your next donor ask crystal clear, actionable, and easy to say “yes” to.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How to shift from a scarcity mindset to abundance in fundraising
Why vague calls to action fall flat
How clarity and specificity make generosity easy
Three takeaways to immediately improve your next donor ask
Whether you’re a solo fundraiser, a nonprofit leader, or part of a development team, this episode will help you create invitations that donors are eager to accept.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to make your next ask feel like a gift, not an obligation.

Episode 20: My Conversation with JJ Berg

This episode is unlike anything I’ve shared before.
A few weeks ago, I was involved in a serious cycling accident. I don’t remember much about what happened on the road that day—but I do know this: without JJ Berg, I might not be here.
JJ was the young man who found me unconscious, called 911, and stayed by my side until help arrived. Today, I get to sit down with him, not as a host, but as someone deeply grateful for his courage, compassion, and presence.
This is a raw, unedited conversation. You’ll hear the real story, in JJ’s own words—and at the end, I’ve included the original 911 audio, which we received just days ago.
There’s no talk of fundraising strategy in this episode. No lessons on donor development. Just a reminder of the power of showing up—and the unexpected grace that can enter our lives through others.
JJ, thank you. This one’s for you.
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🎧 Subscribe to The Donor Centric Approach for weekly episodes on mission-driven fundraising and nonprofit leadership. We’ll be back to our regular programming next week.

Episode 19 – A Conversation with Doug Stamps

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, Orlando sits down with seasoned fundraiser Doug Stamps, currently serving as Development Director at a major organization in Washington, D.C.
This episode delivers practical, honest, and hard-earned insights from a career spent building meaningful donor relationships at scale. Doug shares:
What builds lasting donor trust, regardless of your org’s size
The mindset shifts that often unlock major growth
How to approach donor conversations with clarity and confidence
How to stay true to your mission even when big donors come with expectations
Encouragement for fundraisers doing it all on their own
This is a must-listen for Executive Directors and fundraisers at small to mid-sized nonprofits—especially if you’re trying to grow your donor base without compromising your authenticity.
🔗 Tune in now and take away actionable steps to improve your donor development strategy—no matter where you're starting from.
📬 Want to connect with Doug directly? Reach out to him at: doug.stamps@gmail.com
Book a time with Orlando here: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min
Find out more about our work at https://mrpdonordev.com/

Episode 18 - Leading from the Trenches: How Fight Club Catholic is Forming Men for Mission

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, I sit down with Matt Aujero, founder of Fight Club Catholic, for a candid and energizing conversation about building a movement from scratch.
We talk about what it’s really like to lead as a founder—when you’re fundraising, vision-casting, discipling, and doing the setup and takedown every week. Matt shares what’s working for Fight Club, how they’ve grown their reach and community without compromising their core identity, and what he’s learning about building trust with donors from the ground up.
This one’s for every leader who’s building something bold and beautiful—without a blueprint.
In this episode:
The importance of showing up before scaling up
When to move from grassroots to growth mode
Why clarity of identity attracts the right donors
How personal formation drives sustainable mission
Lessons from Matt’s experience as a ministry founder
This conversation is packed with insights, especially if you’re in the trenches of launching or growing your mission.
👉 Learn more about Fight Club Catholic: https://www.fightclubcatholic.com/
🎧 Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app or at: https://thedonorcentricapproach.podbean.com/
 
Book a time with Orlando here: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min
 
Find out more about our work at https://mrpdonordev.com/

Episode 17 — Leading Fundraising Without Burning Out: A Message to Founders

In this solo episode of The Donor-Centric Approach, Orlando speaks directly to the founders and executive directors carrying the weight of the mission and the burden of fundraising. If you feel like you’re wearing every hat—and dropping balls in the process—this episode is your permission to stop doing it all.
💡 You’ll learn:
The 3 fundraising roles only you can own
The 3 things you should let go of today
How to create a monthly rhythm that keeps you focused, energized, and connected to top donors
Why clarity—not hustle—is the secret to growth and sustainability
Whether you’re running a young nonprofit or leading a growing ministry, this episode offers a roadmap to lead with clarity and build development systems that won’t burn you out.
🎯 Plus: Simple, powerful action steps you can take this week to refocus your efforts.
 
Book a time with Orlando here: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min
 
Find out more about our work at https://mrpdonordev.com/

Episode 16 – Clarify Your Message, Multiply Your Impact

In this solo episode of The Donor-Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros breaks down one of the most powerful yet overlooked fundraising tools: clear messaging.
Forget jargon and generic slogans. Orlando introduces a simple but game-changing framework—Problem, Vision, Invitation—that helps nonprofit leaders and fundraisers speak directly to the hearts of their donors. Whether you're crafting your next appeal, prepping for a donor meeting, onboarding a board member, or writing a newsletter, this framework brings clarity that drives action.
 
🔍 In this episode, you'll learn:
Why unclear messaging sabotages your fundraising
How to name the real problem your nonprofit exists to solve
What it means to cast a compelling vision donors can get behind
How to make a clear, proportionate invitation that inspires generosity
The most common messaging mistakes—and how to avoid them
Actionable next steps to immediately improve your appeals, emails, and meetings
💬 Real examples. Practical advice. No fluff. Just clarity that converts.
If you’ve ever struggled with how to talk about your mission in a way that truly resonates—this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.
🎧 Listen now and start refining your message for better fundraising results.
For more, visit https://mrpdonordev.com/
Book a time with Orlando at https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min

Episode 15 – The Quarterly Plan: How to Build a 90-Day Fundraising Strategy That Actually Works

Is your fundraising always in reactive mode? Scrambling to write last-minute appeals, chase down donors, or meet arbitrary goals? It doesn’t have to be that way.
In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros shows you how to shift from chaos to clarity by creating a simple, effective 90-day fundraising plan.
💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ Why quarterly planning beats annual wish lists and month-to-month scrambling✅ The four core pillars every 90-day plan needs: Stewardship, Outreach, Messaging, and Leadership✅ Real examples of what a clear, doable fundraising plan looks like✅ How to go from “Are we doing enough?” to “Are we doing the right things?”✅ Simple steps to create your own 90-day plan—starting today
Whether you’re a founder juggling everything or a development lead trying to build consistency, this episode gives you a practical structure to take control of your fundraising calendar—and your sanity.
🎯 Build a plan that works for your team, your capacity, and your goals.
📅 Schedule your free planning call: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min🌐 Learn more about MRP Donor Development: www.mrpdonordev.com