Great leadership isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about creating the kind of space where others feel safe enough to ask the hard questions.  

In this debut episode of Real Talk for Real Fundraisers, Jeff Schreifels is joined by Adrian Owen Jones, a partner at Success Lab and the CEO and Founder of Lady Jones Consulting, for a vulnerable and energizing conversation about what it truly means to lead well in the non-profit space. 

Together, they unpack how transformational leadership starts with deep listening—especially to the voices that are too often overlooked.

Adrian shares how real leadership is rooted not in power or titles, but in curiosity, empathy, and the willingness to let others be fully seen. It’s a style of leadership that builds trust, sparks collaboration, and fosters a culture of psychological safety. 

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the complex, human-centered world of fundraising.

If you’ve ever wrestled with how to lead with authenticity while still driving results, this episode will leave you both challenged and encouraged. 

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

• How the most impactful leaders lead with openness and vulnerability and create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and free to grow. 

• Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about empowering others, sharing the spotlight, and believing in the potential within every team member. 

• The biggest insights and ideas for how to become a better leader 

Veritus Group is passionate about partnering with you and your organization throughout your fundraising journey. We believe that the key to transformative fundraising is a disciplined system and structure, trusted accountability, persistence, and a bit of fun. We specialize in mid-level fundraising, major gifts, and planned giving, helping our clients to develop compelling donor offers and to focus on strategic leadership and organizational development. You can learn more about how we can partner with you at www.VeritusGroup.com. 

Additional Resources: 
 

• [Blog] Do You Want a Great Major Gift Team? Hire a Great Manager 

• [White Paper] Evaluating and Rewarding MGO Performance 

• [Courses] Take Our Certification Course for Fundraising Managers and Executives 

BIG NEWS! Our podcast is evolving. Welcome to Real Talk for Real Fundraisers. 

Non-profit work is not easy. It takes heart. It takes courage. And most days, it takes everything you’ve got. 

Today, more than ever before, it’s important to have a community where you can tell the truth about what this work really demands, without judgment.

A space where you can exhale, be reminded that you’re not alone, and gather the tools and encouragement you need to keep going.

That’s what Real Talk for Real Fundraisers is all about.

We created this podcast as a place to be real- about the challenges, the joy, the doubt, and the purpose that drives it all. 

Here, you’ll find honest conversations, stories from the field, and practical insights you can carry into your day-to-day.

Because the truth is, fundraising isn’t just about raising money- it’s about connecting with one another. It’s about building real relationships, strengthening community, and showing up with authenticity and heart. It’s about staying grounded in your values and true to your mission, even when the pressure is high.

And that’s the kind of work worth talking about.

Stay tuned for our first episode, dropping soon!

We all have a desire to connect with others, but we’re often afraid to bring our whole, real, and complete self to our work, which often becomes a liability over time. A lack of authenticity in fundraisers has real, revenue-related consequences for the non-profit. 

But how do you foster authentic professional relationships, and not just deep, personal bonds? How do you balance building trust with someone while still achieving your donor and organizational goals? 

In this podcast episode, Karen is joined by Nick Khoury, a brilliant strategist and communicator who has spent his career helping people and organizations thrive through the power of authentic relationships. Their conversation dives into a variety of key areas and attributes that fundraisers can develop to have more effective relationships with their donors.  

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

How was the end of 2024? Did you make it through OK? A lot of fundraisers we work with enter January exhausted from the busy year-end season, which is often filled with last-minute donor meetings, calls, and holiday events. It can be a stressful time.  

While we highly recommend taking time to rest and recover, there are also important strategies you need to focus on during this month to continue to build strong relationships with your donors and keep the momentum going deeper into the winter. We’re here to help! 

In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by colleagues Diana Frazier and Edie Dahlen for a great discussion about the key strategies that fundraisers should implement to start their new year and how they can prepare and plan to surpass last year’s goals. 

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

With about a week remaining in the year, most fundraisers feel like they've exhausted their to-do list. They’ve worked their plan, made their last calls, and written their thank-you cards. What happens to their donors now is mostly out of their hands. 

While that may be true, there are still a few achievable strategies to adopt in your plan so that you can make the most of this final stretch before the new year and secure a few remaining and impactful gifts. 

In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by colleagues Matt Korn and Theresa Tapocsi for a great discussion about how to prepare for and approach the final week of the year, and make these final seven days count towards your revenue goals.  

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

Relational fundraising isn’t just a buzzword, it’s part of the Veritus mission. Whether you’re in mid-level, major gifts, or planned giving, being relationship-focused means that you are prioritizing the long-term relationship with the donor over just getting the money.  

Ideally, everyone at your organization should see the donor as a vital partner in your work. 

It’s been our goal at Veritus to insert this model within the non-profit sector so more organizations can create thriving gift programs, build a culture that prioritizes collaboration over competition, and connect more strategically with their donors. It’s a tough but ultimately rewarding transition that many are making.  

In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by colleague Karen Kendrick for a great discussion about the state of relational fundraising along with the trends and insights they’ve learned this year–and the ones they're anticipating in 2025.  

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

At Veritus, we’re all about relational fundraising, but too often, we hear about non-profit leaders making random budget cuts that negatively impact this tried-and-true approach. 

 We know that leaders are under a lot financial pressure at their organizations. Tough decisions have to be made when times and budgets are tight. But it’s important for decision-makers to understand how these cuts can impact relational fundraising, and why they need to invest in relational major gifts when things start to feel pinched.  

 In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by colleague Kendra Loper for an in-depth conversation about how leaders can better support their fundraisers’ work and when to think twice about slashing parts of the budget. 

 Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

In the non-profit sector, if you aren’t willing to advance into management, there is very little opportunity to grow as a fundraiser, take on new responsibilities, and increase your salary.  

This is a frustrating reality, because not everyone is right for management.  

Leadership requires a different skillset and specific perspective, one that’s interested in finding success and delivering results through others. It’s not as simple as taking your best frontline fundraiser and putting them in charge. 

In this podcast episode, Jeff is joined by special guest Greg Gibbs, who shares whether management is the right track for your career, and provides some tips to help current managers get better at their jobs. 

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

More and more, fundraisers are being overworked and underpaid. They’re frequently pulled in different directions and asked to accomplish tasks that don’t fall under their domain – all without a solid support structure. It’s caused many to leave the sector entirely.  

There is so much important work to do in our world and we need to take care of our people in order to solve these big problems. That means implementing mindful, self-care practices so you’re ready to approach your work with the energy and focus it deserves.  

In this podcast episode, Karen and Megan share their top tips and best practices for managing burnout and overwhelming stress, and provide you with tools to quiet your inner critic.  

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…  

It’s not easy to let go of certain donors, but there comes a time in every fundraising cycle when you’ll need to transition a donor relationship to someone else.  

Whether the donor is moving from mid-level to a major gifts portfolio, or from a higher level of giving back into mid-level or direct response, transitioning them to another colleague is one of the best things you can do for your program, organization, and the donor! But you need to have protocols in place so that the transition feels seamless and keeps your pipeline free and clear of any clogs.   

In this podcast episode, Jeff, Theresa, and Matt share their top tips and best practices for handling donor handoffs, shifting your thinking, and transitioning members of your caseload.  

Show Highlights: In this episode, you’ll learn about…