EP 71: Building a Relationship-First Fundraising Culture with Marc Stein

Show Notes

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, hosts Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Marc Stein, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Jews for Jesus, to unpack what it really looks like to put donor relationships first without sacrificing growth.

Marc brings a rare perspective shaped by decades as an entrepreneur, donor, board member, and now nonprofit executive. He shares how his team redefined success by shifting away from revenue-first metrics and toward meaningful partner engagement… and why that shift led to stronger retention, healthier teams, and sustained major gift growth.

You’ll hear how Jews for Jesus reduced portfolio sizes, rethought performance measurement, embraced transparency during missteps, and used both technology and volunteers to extend personal care at scale. Marc also tackles one of the hardest challenges in major gifts… how to ensure donors stay connected to the organization even when fundraisers move on.

Links from the episode:

• Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcstein/
• Learn more about Jews for Jesus: https://jewsforjesus.org/

Learn more about Virtuous at  virtuous.org/learnmore  and download your free Nonprofit CRM Checklist at  virtuous.org/crmchecklist

What is Responsive Lab Podcast?

Welcome to The Responsive Lab, presented by Virtuous. In this podcast, we're exploring how nonprofits leverage technology to deepen donor engagement. Join us in the lab as we mix innovation with impact, tackling challenges and discovering new possibilities for the nonprofit sector.