Ep 9. In this episode of our Nonprofit Changemakers series of Passion Inspires, we sit down with Nonprofit Consultant and Author, Kevin Eastway, as he completely reframes how we should think about fundraising and donor relationships. Kevin shares honestly how fundraising didn’t feel like a two-way street at first; it felt like he had to convince people to give, treating them like ATMs. To him, this transactional approach felt inauthentic, and that discomfort is what motivated him to change the way he thinks about raising funds.

Kevin introduces the idea of “mutual plenty,” the belief that fundraisers have something to give donors, too. Instead of making constant withdrawals, we can make deposits into their lives through genuine care, curiosity, and meaningful connection. He talks about the common fear of fundraising and how to help donors figure out their unique role in the organization’s mission.

In this episode, you’ll hear practical, heart-level guidance:

• Hold your donors loosely and care for them deeply. Even if that means sometimes saying, “If this vision doesn’t align for you anymore, can I help steer you toward something that does?”
• Treat every ask as an invitation to participate. Trusting that their life will be different because they said yes, and empowering them to feel they have a role in the organization.
• Clarity is key. A reminder that you shouldn’t take it too seriously, and how giving time for a response can change everything.
• Alumni groups and community-based models are powerful. Essential for building a deeper, more sustainable donor ecosystem.

If you’re in nonprofit leadership, development, or donor stewardship, we hope this conversation inspires your great, essential work. We also hope this encourages you to see fundraising as relationship-building and shared missions that serve both sides equally, not just meeting a number.

Ep 8. In this second episode of our Nonprofit Changemakers series, we sit down with Beth Fisher, author of Remorseless, cancer survivor, and former Chief Advancement Officer at Mel Trotter Ministries, to unpack what it really means to lead with heart, strategy, and equity in the nonprofit world. After 25 years in corporate sales, Beth made a bold shift to the nonprofit sector, bringing with her a business mindset rooted in compassion and purpose. She opens up about surviving leukemia at 25, navigating single motherhood, rediscovering faith, and finding her voice through storytelling and service. Together, we’re discussing the challenges nonprofits face, from chronic underfunding and low staff pay to outdated mindsets that limit impact. Beth challenges us to rethink what good stewardship looks like, urging leaders to: 1. Treat employees with the same dignity they extend to those they serve 2. Operate with strategic, for-profit-level excellence 3. Invest in marketing and storytelling as vital tools for growth Her message is clear. Nonprofits are not “just” nonprofits; they are powerhouses for change. We hope this episode will ignite your purpose, challenge your perspective, and remind you why people, not profit, are the true measure of success.

Ep 7. As part of our new series, The Nonprofit Changemakers, we sit down with Lisa Mathews, CEO of 70x7 Life Recovery, an organization walking alongside men and women returning to society after incarceration. Lisa shares the unique challenges returning citizens face, like barriers to housing and employment, decision fatigue, shame, and re-entering a world that has moved on without them.

Lisa also reflects on her journey from a “rescue mentality” in nonprofit work to an empowerment-based approach that honors the strengths and gifts each person already carries. Instead of approaching returning citizens as problems to fix, Lisa emphasizes meeting them as equals—people with inherent value, gifts, and stories that matter. She shares how 70x7 fosters spaces where accountability and compassion exist side-by-side, giving individuals the opportunity to rebuild their lives without being defined by their past. This shift from a rescue mindset to one of empowerment and dignity has transformed not only the lives of participants but also the hearts of volunteers, mentors, and community partners.

Through moving stories of resilience, friendship, and restored hope, this conversation reminds us of the power of forgiveness, the beauty of walking alongside others, and the importance of seeing people not through the lens of their mistakes, but as human beings full of potential and worth--with the dignity that everyone deserves.