Episode 9: Dignity, Impact & Donor Relationships – Inside House of Mercy’s Mission

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, Orlando Barros welcomes Jessica Root, Executive Director of House of Mercy, a Catholic nonprofit serving thousands of families through its food pantry, thrift store, and donation center.

Jessica shares the power of meeting real needs with dignity, the challenges of running a fast-growing nonprofit, and the fundraising insights she’s gained from years of hands-on experience in executive leadership.

💡 What you’ll hear in this episode:
✅ How House of Mercy served 80,000+ people last year—and why dignity is at the heart of it all
✅ One powerful story of a client-turned-entrepreneur whose life was transformed
✅ Real talk about communicating impact to donors who may not relate to the problem
✅ Strategies for building donor relationships without a large development team
✅ Why in-person gatherings and storytelling are critical to their success

Plus: Jessica and Orlando reflect on their time working together—and what it really takes to build a fundraising strategy rooted in relationships, not transactions.

❤️ Support House of Mercy:
🌐 Visit: https://houseofmercyva.org
🎁 Donate or shop their Amazon Wish List
📍 Volunteer or organize a food drive (if local to Northern VA)

🎧 Listen now and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!
📩 Work with Orlando: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min
📢 Follow @MRPDONORDEV on social media
🌐 Learn more: https://mrpdonordev.com/

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