Ep 18. What if the way we tell someone’s story could change the way others see them?

In this episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff sits down with Abbey Sladick for a heartfelt conversation about storytelling, empathy, faith, and the responsibility we have to truly see the people behind the stories we tell.

Abbey’s career began in broadcast journalism, where she learned that the most powerful stories aren’t simply about what happened; they’re about the people living through it. That passion eventually led her into nonprofit communications, fundraising, and community relations, where storytelling became a way to challenge assumptions and inspire meaningful change.

One of the most impactful chapters of Abbey’s journey came during her time at Mel Trotter Ministries. Getting to know people experiencing homelessness changed her own perspective and reinforced a powerful idea: instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?” we should be asking, “What happened to you?”

Abbey and Jeff also look back on the partnership between Mel Trotter Ministries and Scott Allen Creative during the Immeasurably More capital campaign, which raised the goal from $12 million to $19 million. They revisit the research, strategy, photography, video, and creative process behind the campaign, and how taking the time to deeply understand the mission helped tell stories of homelessness with dignity and humanity.

For nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and communicators, this episode is a reminder that the strongest campaigns don’t start with creative; they start with understanding. You’ll hear why research matters, how empathy can transform the way you communicate your mission, and why investing in thoughtful storytelling can strengthen far more than a single campaign. If you want to walk away feeling inspired by stories that help people care, connect, and see others differently, this conversation is worth a listen.

https://scottallencreative.com/ #PassionInspires #NonprofitStorytelling #Storytelling #NonprofitMarketing #NonprofitLeadership #Fundraising #FundraisingStrategy #Empathy #SocialImpact #MissionDriven #PurposeDriven #StorytellingForChange #CommunityImpact #NonprofitCommunications #Philanthropy

Ep 17. Most nonprofits spend countless hours pursuing annual donations, yet overlook one of the greatest opportunities for lasting impact. In this insightful episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff sits down with Mike Buwalda, founder of Money for Ministry (now Canopy Giving), to explore how legacy giving can transform the future of nonprofit organizations—not through complicated legal strategies, but through meaningful relationships built on trust, faith, and family. Mike shares the remarkable story of how an unexpected assignment at a small Christian school eventually led him to develop a nationally recognized approach to planned giving that has helped nonprofits build more than $1 billion in documented legacy gift commitments. Along the way, he reveals why the most valuable donors are often not the wealthiest, but the most faithful. Together, Jeff and Mike challenge many of the assumptions nonprofits hold about fundraising. They discuss why organizations should stop chasing wealth indicators and instead focus on loyalty, why planned giving conversations should center on values instead of death and legal terminology, and how simply listening to donors can uncover opportunities no marketing strategy ever could. The conversation also dives into practical strategies any nonprofit can begin implementing today—from creating donor-centered messaging and building organization-wide ownership of legacy giving to cultivating deeper relationships that strengthen both current generosity and future impact.

#LegacyGiving #PlannedGiving #Fundraising #NonprofitLeadership #FundraisingStrategy #DonorRelations #Philanthropy #Stewardship #ChristianLeadership #MissionDriven #Generosity #NonprofitMarketing #MajorGifts #PassionInspires #Podcast

Ep 16. Rising rents. Increasing costs of living. Families working full-time yet struggling to make ends meet. As affordability challenges continue to grow across America, more families are finding themselves just one unexpected expense, medical emergency, or job loss away from losing their housing. In this powerful episode of Passion Inspires, Jeff sits down with Family Promise National CEO Cheryl Shook to explore the hidden realities of family homelessness, the lasting impact housing instability has on children, and why the face of homelessness often looks very different than most people imagine. Cheryl shares insights from her journey leading a national organization serving nearly 200 communities, while reflecting on how Family Promise transformed its impact by shifting its messaging to focus on the "voice of the child." Together, Jeff and Cheryl discuss how empathy-driven storytelling changed Family Promise’s donor engagement and reshaped perceptions of homelessness. This conversation will challenge assumptions and shed light on one of the most urgent issues families are facing today.

#ScottAllenCreative #FamilyPromise ##nonprofitleadership #Storytelling #homelessness #NonprofitMarketing #FamilyHomelessness #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #CostOfLiving