EP 90: From RNS 2026 | How to Build a Brand That Drives Long-Term Fundraising Growth with Donna Lucas

EP 90: From RNS 2026 | How to Build a Brand That Drives Long-Term Fundraising Growth with Donna Lucas

Author: Virtuous Software August 4, 2026 Duration: 50:18

In this episode, we bring you content from the 2026 Responsive Nonprofit Summit from Donna Lucas, Chief Marketing Officer at Joni and Friends.


You'll hear about:

  • Why being the "best kept secret" is a sign of failure, not something to celebrate
  • How Donna convinced her CFO to shift 60 percent of the budget to brand awareness
  • The framework of brand first, marketing second, fundraising third
  • Why she compares branding to planting, marketing to cultivation, and fundraising to the harvest
  • How Joni and Friends grew fundraising 95 percent over seven years by investing in brand
  • Why treating every social comment and DM like a phone call transformed donor engagement
  • How a full brand audit uncovered nineteen field offices acting like their own marketing agencies
  • Why aligning internal staff around the brand matters as much as external messaging

Connect with Donna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamlucas/
Learn more about Joni and Friends: https://joniandfriends.org/

Looking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at virtuous.org.


Hosted by Virtuous Software, the Responsive Lab Podcast operates at the intersection of mission and method. Each episode is a practical session focused on the tools and strategies reshaping modern philanthropy. We examine real-world cases where software and thoughtful processes solve operational hurdles, helping organizations move beyond simple transactions to foster genuine, lasting relationships with their supporters. The conversation often delves into the how-to details of implementing new systems, training teams, and measuring what truly matters. It’s a resource for nonprofit professionals, technologists, and leaders who believe that operational efficiency and donor-centricity are not opposing goals. You’ll hear from practitioners who are actively rethinking their approach, sharing both successes and lessons learned from the field. This podcast provides a space to consider how technology, when applied with intention, can amplify human connection and drive sustainable impact. Tune in for grounded discussions that blend business acumen with educational insights, all aimed at equipping mission-driven teams for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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