Podcast Summary: The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast

Episode 104: Defending Life on Campus — How Protect Life MI Went from $329K to $690K

Air Date: October 1, 2025
Hosts: Jim Dempsey & Jason Galisinski
Guest: Kristin Polo (Protect Life Michigan)

Overview

This episode centers on Kristin Polo’s remarkable journey leading Protect Life Michigan from stagnant fundraising to explosive growth, nearly doubling their income in one year—$329,000 to $690,000. Kristin shares how the Perfect Vision Inner mentorship program transformed not only their fundraising dinner but also their team’s mindset and capacity to carry out their mission of making abortion unthinkable in Michigan. The episode unpacks practical strategies, personal breakthroughs, and spiritual principles that fueled this transformation, offering invaluable insights for nonprofit leaders seeking big results.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Kristin & Protect Life Michigan

• Kristin’s tenure: Over 11 years leading this pro-life outreach group.

• Mission: "To make abortion unthinkable in the state of Michigan" by reaching young people on campuses, training advocates, and changing hearts and minds (02:11–05:19).

  • “Over 90 children will lose their life to abortion in Michigan. … The pro-life movement is at a critical juncture.” – Kristin Polo, [02:11]
  • “Young people are two to five times more likely to change their mind on the issue of abortion, which means they’re a critical population for us to reach.” – Kristin Polo, [04:34]

• Challenge: Staying out of the “best-kept secret” trap – realizing many had never heard of them despite 20 years of activity (05:50).

2. The Stagnant Fundraising Plateau

• Stuck in a rut: Annual "Vision Dinner" event kept drawing the same people with flat attendance, minimal growth, and feelings of stagnation (06:57–08:03).

• Catalyst: Realization that funding was the bottleneck preventing their big vision: reaching more high schools and college campuses (07:32–08:28).

  • “By stagnant, I mean that it felt like the same event every year with the same people in the room. You know, we weren’t even confident that we were doing it the right way and we just kept doing the same thing over and over.” – Kristin Polo, [07:04]

3. Discovering the Perfect Vision Inner Mentorship

• Hooked on the podcast: Kristin initially tried to DIY using the podcast, but realized the need for structured guidance and scripts (09:17–09:54).

• Mindset shift: Trusted the process despite initial stubbornness and found mentorship essential, especially in challenging points (10:44–12:23).

• Spiritual foundation: Emphasis on prayer and trusting God with their vision; breakthroughs came after surrendering anxieties (13:13–13:43).

  • “You guys were a reminder that anytime I hit one of those hard points, you would remind me to take it to prayer and would take it to prayer with me. … That was a huge blessing.” – Kristin Polo, [12:23]

4. Breakthroughs, Struggles & Strategic Changes

The Name-Storming Challenge

• Initial discouragement: Despite gathering 580 new names, only 6 new table hosts were recruited; follow-up phone calls became tough and disheartening (12:59–13:43).

• Turning point: After prayer, “we ended up, I think probably about 70% of the people who are at our dinner were brand new, which was so exciting.” (14:01–17:13)

• Structural analogy: The dinner is like a camp designed to create the right environment for transformation—21-week process to prepare new supporters (15:30–16:07).

  • “There were other things we tried…but I’m not sure the little stuff like that really made a difference. I just needed to surrender it and trust.” – Kristin Polo, [16:13]

Record-Breaking Results

• Attendance: Two events, 375 attending the first night, almost 500 the second, with the vast majority brand new to the organization (17:31–17:57).
• New engagement: Many new table hosts participated who’d never even attended before, “because they trusted their friends.” (17:55)
• Matching gift strategy: Secured a significant matching gift—“more money than I had ever tried to raise before, more than double,” pivotal for results (18:24–19:07).

The Importance of Mindset & Systems

• Many organizations feel, “We’re already doing a good job,” but even small tweaks made an outsized impact on both funds and excitement (19:43–20:54).
• Strategic clarity increased: Clearer appeals, tighter program, live testimonies, less focus on corporate sponsorship in favor of major donor partnerships and matching gifts (28:21–29:19).

5. The Transformative Dinner Experience

Capturing Vision & Energy

• Atmosphere: “There was an energy in both rooms that you could feel the joy from people… There was a marked difference both in how dressed up the room was, the intentionality of the program. They loved the testimonies…” (26:03–26:33)
• Dual audiences: Hosted in two different cities (one predominantly Protestant; the other Catholic), yet success in both (26:53–27:18).
• Live impact: Dinner aligned with the launch of their summer internship; a donor sponsored the entire summer intern program after seeing the opportunity (29:46–30:25).

Transformational Giving

• Shifted from “tipping” behavior to donors seeing themselves as mission partners: “People understand we do value them as partners…there’s an excitement that comes with that.” (31:50)

  • “When we see someone come to Christ, that’s life changing, but when you see [donors] understand how they can fulfill God’s mission for their lives through their giving, that’s also transformational, and that’s ministry.” – Jim Dempsey, [32:21]

6. Results & Ripple Effects

• Raised: Nearly $690,000, well beyond the $300–400K goal (33:18)

• Outcomes: Event enabled expansion to new campuses, doubling of a key training event, fully funded summer internships (33:31–34:46).

  • “There is such a gift in being able to go forward in ministry work for the coming year, knowing that every crazy vision God has given you…is fully funded.” – Kristin Polo, [33:31]

• Personal & team faith: Success boosted team and board faith—“every time that happens, it increases your faith and you’re ready for the next big thing, whatever it is.” (35:20)

7. Looking Ahead & Advice for Nonprofits

• No fear of “sophomore slump”: The team is energized for next year, with more people eager to be table hosts (36:07–36:37).
• The vision is scalable—Kirstin acknowledges Michigan as their focus for now but with a mindset for greater expansion.
• Advice for listeners:
  • The course is worth every penny—don’t shortcut the process or try to build it all from the podcast alone (38:28–39:23).
  • “The course provides value from the second you first log on…scripts, resources, mentorship. I can’t even begin to describe how valuable this was… It’s worth every penny. You have to do it. Sign up, don’t wait.” – Kristin Polo, [38:28]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with timestamps)

• On spiritual breakthrough:
  • “It sounds like you’re doing everything right. Have you taken this to prayer?” – Jim Dempsey, [13:13]
• On the power of process + faith:
  • “I think the results that we saw really show how much that paid.” – Kristin Polo, [10:44]
  • “If I look back on this journey, that’s one of the things that I’m most shocked by, is that I didn’t have more trust in Him…” – Kristin Polo, [11:52]
• On donor transformation:
  • "People give to people justified by the cost." – Jim Dempsey, [30:25]
  • “Transformational giving, when we can take them over to that next level…that’s that sweet spot.” – Jim Dempsey, [31:30]
  • “We saw a change…that people understand we do value them as partners and we see them as partners in this ministry.” – Kristin Polo, [31:50]
• On program recommendation:
  • “Don’t shortcut the process. I thought I could just glean enough from the podcast, but you need the course.” – Kristin Polo, [38:28]

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|----------------------| | Kristin introduces Protect Life Michigan | 02:11–05:19 | | Stagnation & searching for growth | 06:57–08:28 | | Discovering the podcast/mentorship | 09:17–10:44 | | Hitting the name-storming wall | 12:59–13:43 | | Prayer breakthrough & results | 13:13–17:13 | | Vision Dinner outcomes & numbers | 17:31–18:07 | | Strategic program changes | 18:24–20:54, 28:21 | | Describing the dinner atmosphere | 26:03–27:18 | | Live testimonies, new donor excitement | 29:46–31:50 | | Post-event expansion & impact | 33:31–34:46 | | Advice for nonprofit leaders | 38:28–39:23 |

Conclusion

Main Takeaways:

• Transformative fundraising is possible by combining practical systems, bold vision, spiritual reliance, and expert mentorship.
• Even veteran nonprofit leaders have much to learn; small but strategic changes yield outsized results.
• Donors become partners when they are given vision and opportunities that resonate deeply with their calling.
• Encouragement for leaders: trust the process, invest in high-value mentorship, and prepare for more impact than you imagine.

Closing Quote:

“The course provides value from the second you first log on… I can’t even begin to describe how valuable this was… It’s worth every penny. You have to do it. Sign up, don’t wait.” – Kristin Polo, [38:28]