372 Missionaries in 71 Countries: How Global Outreach Grew Retention Doing Things That Don't Scale

Building Bridges and Moving Hearts with Josh Yerkes: Stories, Funding, and Mission ImpactIn this conversation, Josh Yerkes Vice President of Development at Global Outreach International—shares how storytelling, unscalable donor engagement, and documentary filmmaking fuel the organization's mission to send missionaries worldwide. Discover the power of personal touches in fundraising, the challenges of donor retention, and innovative ways to inspire support for global missions.Key Topics:The role of faith-based organizations in international missionsThe importance of storytelling in donor engagement and fundraisingUnscalable yet impactful donor stewardship tacticsHow documentary films can energize mission-focused givingLessons learned from fundraising failures and setbacksStrategies for building long-term donor loyaltyThe significance of personal, experiential touches in supporter relationshipsEffective use of social media and video content to tell compelling storiesTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Josh Yerkes and Global Outreach International00:39 - What Global Outreach does annually—mission, support, training01:10 - Josh’s background as a missionary kid and career transition into nonprofit leadership03:15 - The path from YMCA leadership to global missions and fundraising06:44 - The storytelling approach and its impact on fundraising success07:14 - The influence of personal stories and experiences in donor relationships09:12 - Using sensory memories like chlorine smell to craft compelling stories10:20 - How Global Outreach funds its mission: impact, partnership, and broad-spectrum investing13:24 - Strategies for increasing revenue and donor retention14:23 - The importance of personalized thank-yous and stewardship16:33 - The power of experiential gifts and unscalable acts of generosity18:53 - The value of personal gestures in donor loyalty and supporter engagement20:45 - Overcoming scarcity mindset in fundraising and supporting loyal supporters22:36 - The importance of focusing on supporter loyalty over immediate metrics23:14 - Lessons from fundraising failures and experimenting in the space26:46 - A personal story of a failed year-end campaign and lessons learned27:24 - Announcing the upcoming documentary project "Beyond River's Edge"29:18 - How storytelling through film can galvanize support for missions31:09 - Practical ways to connect with Josh and collaborate in global missionsResources & Links:The Kipos Group WebsiteSchedule a Discovery Call with JamesConnect with James Misner on LinkedinConnect with Josh:Global Outrech International Official WebsiteConnect with Josh Yerkes on Linkedin