Chains and Freedom: A Tale of Two Ministries
Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant Recently, I had the incredible gift of being with two of our clients who, on the surface, couldn’t be serving more dissimilar groups of people. One serves male prisoners in Houston’s Carol Vance Unit (a correctional facility), and the other, college students at Arizona State University. But […]
God’s Intense Love for Us
Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant A few years ago, one of my daughters pushed herself to the limit during a cross-country race. As a runner myself, I could see what was happening. I tracked her through each stage of the course, running from one vantage point to the next, watching her form, […]
Way Down Upon the Suwannee River
Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant When I was a teenager, my dad and I embarked on what was supposed to be an epic adventure—a three-day canoe trip down the Suwannee River in Florida. You know, the one immortalized in Stephen Foster’s song, where “the old folks play?” It was supposed to be […]
The Mountain of Leadership
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant Last summer, I led my family on an adventure to climb Mount Fuji. What I didn’t realize when we decided to take on this challenge was how complicated it would be to plan. Climbing Japan’s tallest mountain isn’t something you can do on a whim. It […]
How to Turn a First-Time Donor Into a $1 Million Partner
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant Would you like to know the secret formula for turning a brand-new donor into someone who gives you millions? A few years ago, during the St. Augustine Giving Day, a donor gave $5,000 to support Veritas Classical School, the school my wife, Wendy, and I helped […]
Lessons from the Battle of Richmond
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant There’s a story from history that serves as a powerful reminder of how we can approach challenges, even when they seem insurmountable. Let’s look back to the American Civil War, where General Robert E. Lee, an accomplished engineer, strategically defended the capital of the Confederacy—Richmond, Virginia. […]
“Way to Go, Mom!”
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant This past weekend, I had the privilege of running the Disney Marathon. It was an incredible experience, but it wasn’t just the race itself that stuck with me—it was what I witnessed at the very end of the course. After crossing the finish line, I stood […]
The Three Little Presidents and the Big Bad Fundraising Wolf
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant Once upon a time, in the world of nonprofits, there were three different leaders – each leading a unique organization and working hard to fulfill their mission. But lurking in the background was the Big Bad Fundraising Wolf, always ready to blow down any weak structures […]
Donor Circles: Should Your Organization Have One?
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant Hidden behind an unmarked door in Disneyland, there’s a secret world few people even know exists: Club 33. This exclusive members-only club offers access to private dining rooms, secret lounges, and special privileges that regular park guests can only dream of. Membership comes with a hefty […]
Big Boots, Big Hat, No Cattle
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant In the world of fundraising, relationships are everything. The connection between a donor and the organization should not be transactional but deeply relational, built on trust, mutual understanding, and shared values. When this relationship is strong, it can lead to transformative gifts that propel an organization […]
Landing on the Wrong Runway
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant Some of you may know that I have started to learn to fly. It has been a lifelong dream that is both fun and challenging. Last week, as I was landing in Athens, GA (with my flight instructor), the plane landing in front of us landed […]
Kicked out of Church
By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant As we strive to do good in the world, we often face obstacles and sometimes even encounter people who treat us poorly. This truth became real to me when I was the Area Director for Young Life in St. Augustine. One of my priorities had always […]