The Donor Centric Approach – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

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.

—

🎧 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.

If you’ve ever told a story in an appeal, newsletter, or donor meeting and it didn’t land, this episode is for you. In this solo session of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros unpacks the storytelling mistakes most nonprofits make—and how to fix them fast.

💡 What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ Why many nonprofit stories fall flat with donors ✅ The “People–Pivot–Purpose” storytelling framework ✅ How to write stories that connect emotionally and move donors to action ✅ Real-world examples from House of Mercy and Xavier Mission Fund ✅ Expanded action steps to strengthen your next appeal, email, or campaign

Whether you're writing your next donor update or preparing a major gift ask, this episode will help you craft stories that resonate, inspire, and drive results.

🛠️ Actionable takeaways included.

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

👉 Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review and share it with a nonprofit friend!

In this inspiring episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Peter Levesque, Founder and Executive Director of Xavier Mission Fund, to explore the powerful role of administrative support and donor partnerships in launching new Catholic ministries.

Peter shares the story behind Xavier Mission Fund’s founding, the real challenges early-stage ministries face, and how his team walks alongside new apostolates to remove administrative obstacles—freeing leaders to stay mission-focused and donor-ready.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why administration is often the “hidden ministry” behind mission success ✅ How Xavier Mission Fund incubates new Catholic startups and ministries ✅ How clarity in your mission story creates unity—and attracts donors ✅ Strategies for overcoming donor fatigue and building lasting donor relationships ✅ Actionable fundraising tips for startups with limited resources

❤️ Support Xavier Mission Fund: 🌐 Visit: https://www.xaviermissionfund.org 🤝 Connect with Peter: https://www.xaviermissionfund.org/connect

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

👉 Inspired by this episode? Share it with a friend and leave a review!

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/

👉 Liked this episode? Leave a review and share it with a nonprofit leader!

Are you leading a nonprofit or ministry without a full-time development staff? Maybe you're doing everything yourself—running programs, writing thank-you notes, and trying to raise money in the margins of your day. If that’s you, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros shares real talk and practical tools for nonprofit leaders who are fundraising solo or with a small team.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ The top 3 challenges most small teams face in fundraising ✅ A weekly framework you can use to stay focused and consistent ✅ How to create systems without fancy tools or software ✅ Why consistency beats complexity every time ✅ Encouragement that you’re not too small to fundraise well

Whether you're the executive director, founder, or the one-person army behind your mission, this episode is packed with clarity, strategy, and encouragement to help you grow your fundraising without burning out.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! 📩 Book a free strategy call with Orlando: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min 📢 Follow @MRPDONORDEV on social media 🌐 Learn more: https://mrpdonordev.com/

👉 If this helped you, share the episode and leave a review!

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Joelle Fitzmaurice, Development Coordinator at Catholic Terps, the vibrant Catholic campus ministry at the University of Maryland.

Together, they unpack how Catholic Terps is forming students to be faith-filled leaders—and the unique fundraising realities of operating a mission-based ministry on a secular college campus.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why college is one of the most spiritually formative seasons of life ✅ How Catholic Terps reaches thousands of students through sacraments, service, and leadership ✅ Two incredible student testimonies—one of which ends with a surprising vocation! ✅ How Joelle connects donor interests to real-life impact ✅ What every ministry can do today to improve donor retention and alumni engagement

❤️ Support Catholic Terps: 🌐 Visit: https://catholicterps.org 📅 Learn about the upcoming capital campaign & events 🎁 Donate to support their growing mission

Whether you're leading a ministry or managing a nonprofit, this episode is packed with inspiring stories and practical fundraising strategies you can apply right away.

🎧 Listen now & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! 📩 Work with Orlando: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min 📢 Follow @MRPDONORDEV on social media

👉 Enjoy the episode? Share it with a friend and leave us a review!

Losing a child is one of the most heartbreaking experiences a parent can go through, yet so many families suffer in silence without the right support. In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Kelly Breaux, founder of Red Bird Ministries, to discuss how her organization is filling a critical gap in the Church by offering faith-based grief support to families who have lost a child.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ How Kelly’s personal journey of loss led her to start Red Bird Ministries ✅ Why faith-based grief support is different from secular grief counseling ✅ The fundraising challenges of running a ministry that isn’t tied to a single parish or diocese ✅ How strong donor relationships make this mission possible ✅ Practical fundraising takeaways for nonprofits facing similar challenges

❤️ Support Red Bird Ministries: 🌐 Visit: https://www.redbird.love/ 📢 Follow them on social media: @redbirdministriesinc 🙏 Help them continue their mission: https://www.redbird.love/giving-page

If you’re a ministry leader, nonprofit professional, or someone seeking to strengthen donor engagement, this episode is full of powerful insights on messaging, fundraising, and serving with faith.

🎧 Listen now & subscribe! 📢 Connect with us: 🌐 Learn more: https://mrpdonordev.com/ 📢 Follow @MRPDONORDEV on social media 📩 Work with Orlando: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min

👉 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend and leave a comment below!

If your donors don’t immediately understand what you do, your fundraising will always feel like an uphill battle. A vague mission leads to vague fundraising results, but a clear mission leads to stronger donor engagement and better fundraising outcomes.

In this solo episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros walks you through how to define and refine your nonprofit’s mission so that fundraising becomes easier and more effective.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ The biggest mistakes nonprofits make when defining their mission ✅ A 3-step framework for clarifying your mission and messaging ✅ How refining your mission leads to stronger donor relationships & increased giving ✅ Three actionable steps you can take today to sharpen your messaging and fundraising strategy

If you’re a fundraising professional, development executive, or nonprofit leader, this episode will give you the tools to communicate your mission clearly and inspire more donor support.

🎧 Listen now & subscribe! 📢 Connect with us: 🌐 Learn more: https://mrpdonordev.com/ 📢 Follow @MRPDONORDEV on social media 📩 Work with Orlando: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min

👉 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend and leave a comment below!

In this episode of The Donor Centric Approach, host Orlando Barros sits down with Dr. Dan Baillargeon, co-founder of Mission Driven Catholic, to explore the power of Catholic education as a tool for evangelization and the challenges of funding faith-based schools.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why Catholic schools must move from student-centric to family-centric education ✅ How Mission Driven Catholic is helping schools become centers of evangelization ✅ The transition from an LLC to a nonprofit and lessons learned along the way ✅ The biggest fundraising challenges for Catholic schools—and how to overcome them ✅ How to build a strong mission-driven organization with long-term sustainability

If you’re a Catholic school leader, nonprofit executive, or mission-driven organization, this episode is packed with insights on building a movement, engaging donors, and creating transformational change.

🎧 Listen now & subscribe! 📢 Connect with us: 🌐 Learn more: https://mrpdonordev.com/ 📢 Follow @MRPDONORDEV on social media 📩 Work with Orlando: https://calendly.com/orlando-mrpdonordev/45min

👉 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend and leave a comment below!