Welcome to the very first episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, where we explore how the subscription economy is reshaping generosity and creating new opportunities for nonprofits to grow recurring giving.

Hosted by Dave Raley—speaker, consultant, and best-selling author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving—this show will dive into the trends, tools, and tactics powering the future of nonprofit fundraising through recurring giving.

Dave is the founder of Imago Consulting, an innovation advisory firm helping organizations grow sustainable giving through forward-thinking strategies. He's also the voice behind The Wave Report, a weekly leadership and innovation briefing, and the co-host of the Purpose & Profit Podcast.

In this premiere episode, he's joined by his good friend Jon McCoy, co-founder of We Are For Good and a leader in nonprofit storytelling and innovation, to flip the script and introduce Dave to the world as the creator of this (hopefully) inspiring new podcast.

With lots of laughs and a good deal of casual storytelling, they explore why sustainable giving is more than just a buzzword—it's the future of generosity.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. The Heart Behind the Podcast

2. The Rise of the Subscription Economy

3. Defining Sustainable Giving

4. Behind the Book

5. Inspiring Real-Life Story: International Justice Mission

Also in this episode, you’ll hear:

- Childhood experiences that shaped Dave’s views on generosity

- How nonprofits can respond to the "generosity crisis"

- Practical takeaways for launching or improving recurring giving programs

- The role of community, trust, and identity in donor behavior

- Building recurring giving programs with intentionality and heart

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Sustainable Giving podcast, where we’re shining a light on how generosity works in a world increasingly shaped by the subscription economy.

Hosted by Dave Raley—speaker, consultant, and best-selling author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving—this show explores the trends, tools, and tactics powering the future of nonprofit fundraising through recurring giving.

In this episode, Dave is joined by Nathan Chappell—Chief AI Officer at Virtuous and co-author of The Generosity Crisis—to tackle the tough questions facing generosity today.

Nerding out together over this up-and-coming trend in the nonprofit space, Dave and Nathan dive into the state of generosity in North America, explore how nonprofits can build more sustainable giving models, and discuss the massive implications of artificial intelligence for the future of philanthropy.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. Why This Podcast, Why Now

2. The Generosity Crisis

3. Recurring Giving & The Subscription Economy

4. AI and the Future of Generosity

5. Inspiration for a Generous Future

Also in this episode, you’ll hear:

- How fewer individuals are giving to charity, and why that matters

- Why innovation is mission-critical, not optional

- The rise of AI fluency in nonprofit leadership

- Practical ways to start or improve a recurring giving program

- The joy of generosity—from French macarons to freedom fighters

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.

What if your donors aren’t just generous—but are craving more ways to give?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Abby Jarvis, Head of Research and Editorial at Neon One. Abby brings over 12 years of nonprofit technology and communications experience, offering a rich perspective on how data can humanize the giving experience—and how nonprofits can harness donor behavior to cultivate long-term sustainability.

Together, they explore why recurring giving is on the rise, what motivates modern donors, and how nonprofits can build deeper, more human-centered relationships with their supporters.

Key Topics They Cover:

- Humanizing Donor Data: How data can tell powerful stories, and why every data point is a person, not just a number.

- The Power of Recurring Giving: Why recurring donors are often your most committed supporters and how to build lasting programs around them.

- Insights from the Generosity Report: What Neon One’s latest research reveals about everyday donor behavior, and what nonprofits may be missing.

- Generosity Beyond the Gift: Why donations aren’t the only metric that matters, and how advocacy, volunteering, and engagement show up in big ways.

- Narrative, Myth, and Motivation: How fairy tales, storytelling, and meta-narratives shape the way we understand generosity and connect with causes.

Also in this episode, they talk about:

- How Abby’s background in literature and poetry influences her data work

- Misconceptions about recurring donors and why you should ask them to do more

- The emotional impact behind donor notes and the use of sentiment analysis

- Lessons from the recurring giving surge in 2020, and what it reveals about donor behavior

- The correlation between non-monetary involvement (volunteering, memberships) and increased giving

- Generational shifts in giving and the influence of the subscription economy

- Why fundraisers must reframe giving as an empowering invitation, not a burden

Additional Resources:

- Discover more and pick up a copy of Dave's book: sustainablegiving.org

- Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop: imago.consulting/workshop

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.

Is it innovation if it doesn’t have sustainability built in?

That’s the bold question at the heart of this conversation between your host, Dave Raley, and guest Becky Straw, Co-Founder and CEO of The Adventure Project.

Together, they challenge the nonprofit sector’s obsession with short-term wins and one-time donations, and make the case for deeper, more sustainable change. 

Drawing on Becky’s early work with charity: water and her decade-plus leading The Adventure Project, this episode explores how job creation, dignity, and recurring giving can reframe how we approach generosity and build true sustainability.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. Redefining Sustainability in the Nonprofit Sector

• Why “walking away” should be possible – and desirable – when programs are truly sustainable

• The failure of water projects without local ownership and ongoing maintenance

2. The Power of Job Creation as a Sustainable Solution

• The dignity of work vs. the danger of dependency

• The role of social enterprise and VC-like support models at The Adventure Project

3. Growing Sustainable Giving Through Innovation and Trust

• Monthly and multi-year giving as long-term impact tools

• How a women-focused quiz generated $40K in donations and recurring support

4. Experiencing and Modeling the Joy of Generosity

• Childhood lessons in service and generosity

• The importance of modeling generosity for the next generation

5. Applying Social Work Principles to Nonprofit Leadership

• Listening to communities and building with – not for – them
• Combining empathy with operational excellence Social Work Principles to Nonprofit Leadership

What if generosity is the most underutilized force for global change?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley is joined by Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer of GivingTuesday, to unpack how generosity is evolving, and what that means for the future of philanthropy. From invented holidays to the power of recurring giving, Woodrow brings a data-rich and human-centered perspective that challenges the status quo.

You’ll hear how GivingTuesday grew from a simple idea into a global movement, and how the GivingTuesday Data Commons, now over 2,400 collaborators strong, is uncovering billions in untapped generosity.

Key Topics We Cover:

1. What Generosity Really Means Today: Reframing generosity as more than money, but rather showing up, creating belonging, and participating in community change.

2. The Evolution of GivingTuesday: From a humble “what if” question to a global movement across 105+ countries, GivingTuesday became so much more than just a day.

3. Recurring Giving as a Game-Changer: Why GivingTuesday is one of the biggest days for new recurring donors, and how those donors are more loyal, more generous, and more engaged.

4. The Power of Invented Holidays: How cultural traction is built around invented moments like GivingTuesday, and how your organization might do the same.

5. The GivingTuesday Data Commons & Collective Innovation: How over 2,400 collaborators are pooling data to unlock $52 billion in missed philanthropic opportunity each year.

Also in this episode, we discuss:

- The surprising truth about who really gets left out of the giving conversation

- Why many orgs still default to “one-time” giving, and what it’s costing them

- How your nonprofit’s “natural resources” can unlock recurring revenue

- Why European nonprofits are light-years ahead in recurring giving

What if sustainable giving isn’t just a fundraising strategy, but a mindset shift?

More Resources:

- Discover more: sustainablegiving.org/podcast

- Get the data from GivingTuesday: https://data.givingtuesday.org

- Growing Giving research: https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/growing

-giving/

- Check out the Fundraising Effectiveness Project: https://fepreports.org/

- Learn more about the GivingPulse: http://givingpulse.givingtuesday.org/

- Get to know Woodrow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/woodrowrosenbaum/

- Grab Dave’s book: https://sustainablegiving.org/

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.

What if one of the key secrets to sustainable giving isn’t more staff or bigger budgets, but a better rhythm?

In the latest episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, Dave Raley sits down with Dr. Sanjay Bindra, a full-time cardiac electrophysiologist and co-founder of the zero-staff GOSUMEC Foundation USA. Together, they explore how Sanjay is combining medical insights, personal passion, and data-driven experimentation to help small nonprofits succeed in the world of recurring giving.

Sanjay’s foundation supports scholarships for medical students at his alma mater in India – but his vision goes far beyond a single cause. He’s launching The GIVE Study, a first-of-its-kind research project designed to uncover how small, under-resourced nonprofits can thrive in recurring giving without a full-time team or flashy tech. 

If you're part of the 92% of nonprofits operating under $1M, this episode is for you!

Key Topics They Discuss:

• The GOSUMEC Origin Story: A Phone Call, A Birthday, and a Bold IdeaLearn how a single conversation on his wife’s birthday sparked a nonprofit built on gratitude, legacy, and long-term thinking.
  

• Why Small is Mighty: Debunking the “Miniaturized Large Nonprofit” MythSanjay challenges conventional wisdom by highlighting the unique needs and power of small, zero-staff organizations, and why they deserve their own playbook.
  

• The GIVE Study: What Happens When You Apply Medical Rigor to Fundraising?With a research-backed framework rooted in gratitude, impact, voice, and engagement, this 12-month prospective study is designed to test recurring giving strategies for small nonprofits.
  

• The 4S Framework: Storytelling, Smart Tech, Simplicity, and Supportive Community Sanjay outlines the four pillars driving GOSUMEC’s success, and how any nonprofit can replicate them with minimal resources.

• Recurring Giving as Trust Giving More than a monthly donation, recurring giving is a relationship. Sanjay makes the case that “trust is the rhythm” that keeps a nonprofit’s heart beating strong.






More Resources:




Givebutter → A community-driven fundraising tech platform partnering with GOSUMEC on the GIVE Study.

MemoryFox → A storytelling platform that supports authentic, consent-based video collection from both donors and recipients.




Additional Links:




- Discover More: sustainablegiving.org/podcast

- Grab Dave’s book: https://sustainablegiving.org/




Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.

What if the stories your donors need to hear aren’t the ones you’re telling, but the ones your community is waiting to share?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Natalie Monroe, Manager of Community Engagement at MemoryFox. Natalie brings a unique lens to the conversation, blending a background in agriculture and wine with a deep passion for visual storytelling and nonprofit impact.

Together, they explore how ethical, community-generated storytelling can foster deeper connections with donors and build the foundation for recurring, sustainable giving.

Natalie shares her journey from working with veterans-turned-farmers to helping nonprofits collect and share powerful, authentic stories using MemoryFox. She unpacks why it’s no longer enough to tell polished marketing stories about your mission, and how nonprofits can shift toward telling stories with and by their communities.

Key Takeaways Include:

1. From Wine to Veterans to Video: Natalie’s unconventional path led her from the wine industry to writing veteran stories at Farmer Veteran Coalition, then discovering the power of letting people tell their own stories through video and visuals.

2. What Is Ethical Storytelling, and Why It Matters: Sharing someone’s story isn’t just a marketing tactic. It’s a responsibility. Natalie breaks down what it means to tell stories ethically, with dignity and authenticity.

3. User-Generated Content Builds Donor Trust: Donors don’t just want stories. They want real ones. From selfie videos to short testimonials, authentic user-generated content (UGC) builds social proof, credibility, and emotional connection.

4. Storytelling as a Bridge to Sustainable Giving: Natalie shares how organizations are using MemoryFox to deepen engagement with recurring donors, particularly by spotlighting the voices of those directly impacted.

5. The Hidden Power of Asking the Right Questions: Sometimes people don’t know they have a story until you invite them to share it. Natalie reflects on how the simple act of asking can unlock powerful moments of connection and generosity.

Also in this episode, you’ll hear:

- How visual storytelling helped a Kentucky nonprofit turn literacy stats into donor empathy

- The difference between “Star Wars stories” and “Springsteen stories”

- Why small, bite-sized gifts feel more accessible and sustainable to today’s donors

- How storytelling can educate, not just fundraise

- The surprising impact of letting donors share why they give right after making a gift- Why nonprofits should move from polished campaigns to real, community-driven narratives

- How kids can learn generosity early through videos, stories, and sustainable giving habits

- How would your donor strategy shift if your community’s stories — not your marketing team — became your most powerful fundraising asset?

Additional Links:

- Get to know Natalie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliesmonroe

- Discover more about Memory Fox: www.memoryfox.io

- Get to know Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draley

- Discover more: sustainablegiving.org/podcast

- Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop: https://www.imago.consulting/workshop

- Grab Dave’s Book: The Rise of Sustainable Giving: https://sustainablegiving.org

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Grace.

What if the best glimpse into the future of fundraising isn’t found in trend reports or tech forecasts, but in the story of someone who’s already lived it?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Ken Burnett—legendary fundraiser, author of Relationship Fundraising, and one of the earliest champions of “regular giving.”

Nearly 50 years ago, Ken stood where we are now, facing questions about how to engage donors for the long haul. What followed was a movement that reshaped generosity across the UK and Europe—and offers us a powerful preview of what’s possible for the future of giving everywhere.

From ActionAid’s early embrace of monthly donations to Greenpeace’s global regular giving campaigns, Ken shares lessons from the past that point straight toward the future of sustainable generosity. It’s a fun, thought-provoking conversation filled with wisdom, wit, and practical insights for every fundraiser who wants to build something that lasts.

Key Topics They Cover:

• The origins of regular giving in the UK – How ActionAid’s embrace of monthly giving in the late ‘70s turned a small startup into one of Britain’s top charities.
  

• UK vs. North America giving culture – Why regular giving is the norm “across the pond” and what’s holding the North American sector back.
  

• The power of direct debit (EFT) – Why it beats credit cards for retention, and how inertia can actually be a fundraiser’s best friend.
  

• From retention to legacy – How loyalty leads to bequests, and why focusing on the donor experience is the fastest path to long-term impact.
  

• The leadership gap – Why short-term thinking and underinvestment in fundraisers is costing the sector dearly, and how to change it.
  

Also in This Episode, They Talk About:

• Stories of face-to-face street fundraising that had people lining up to give.
  

• How to delight donors so much they never want to leave.
  

• The surprising mental and physical health benefits of being a donor.
  

• Discover more about Ken’s work

• Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop

• Pick up a copy of Dave’s book, “The Rise of Sustainable Giving”

  
  

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Grace.

What if the way we’ve been doing fundraising all along is actually setting nonprofits up to fail?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Author, Keynote Speaker, and Nonprofit Advisor Lisa Greer, a major donor with a front-row seat to the best (and worst) of fundraising. Lisa brings candor, humor, and wisdom as she unpacks why so much of fundraising feels outdated and what it takes to build organizations that truly last.

From awkward million-dollar donation calls to why recurring giving is still the nonprofit world’s best-kept secret, Lisa shares real stories and practical insights that will challenge how you think about generosity, boards, and building trust with donors.

Top 5 Topics We Dive Into:

1. Why most fundraising is broken: Antiquated, inefficient, and ultimately unsustainable practices that nonprofits keep repeating.

2. The nonprofit starvation cycle: How underfunding operations creates a vicious cycle that drives talent away and keeps organizations constantly on the edge.

3. Boards as allies or obstacles: Why boards so often block progress, and how leaders can shift board culture to be a true force for good.

4. The power of recurring giving: Why donors of all levels (even major donors!) are embracing recurring gifts and how it changes the game for sustainability.

5. The donor’s perspective: What fundraisers often get wrong about donors (hint: we’re people, not revenue streams!) and how to build authentic, long-term relationships.

Plus, We Touch On:

- The story behind Lisa’s first major gifts, and the shocking responses she got.

- Why recurring donors aren’t “downgrades” (and are often your most loyal supporters).

- Creative ways to keep recurring donors engaged and connected.

- The role of transparency in building trust between donors and organizations.

- Why overhead shouldn’t be a dirty word. It’s actually the foundation for impact.

What would change if your nonprofit started treating donors like partners instead of pocketbooks?

Key Resources:

- Learn more about Lisa Greer.

- Subscribe to Lisa’s Philanthropy 541 Substack to receive free weekly tips.

- Pick up a copy of Dave’s book, "The Rise of Sustainable Giving."

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

What if your donors felt just as essential to your mission as the people you serve?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Tina Hudgins, a seasoned fundraiser, consultant, and educator who has spent her career helping organizations build donor-centric cultures that spark lasting generosity. From her days pioneering sustainer programs at International Justice Mission to her current work with Philanthropy and Fundraising of North America (PFNA), Tina brings a wealth of insight, energy, and heart to the conversation.

Together, Dave and Tina explore how recurring giving isn’t just a strategy. It’s a movement. They talk about the power of sustainer programs to weather economic storms, the lessons from bold experiments in event-based giving, and how nonprofits can reframe their culture to honor donors as much as beneficiaries.

Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode:

• Sustainer Giving as “C²R²”: Tina’s mantra — cash consistent, recession resistant — and how monthly giving creates stability and freedom for planning and innovation.
  

• Event-Based Acquisition in Action: The powerful story of the IF:Gathering event, where IJM invited thousands of women to become Freedom Partners through a deeply integrated, mission-driven experience.
  

• The Freedom Partner Journey: How IJM cultivated monthly donors — from $5 givers to $5,000/month partners — through storytelling, access, and intentional community.
  

• Donor-Centric Culture: Why nonprofits must treat donors as equally important as beneficiaries, and how this shift transforms revenue, retention, and relationships.
  

• Budgets & Boldness: Tina’s framework for acquisition, retention, and innovation budgets, and why learning itself should be considered a KPI.

Plus, a few more gems you won’t want to miss:

• Why asking major donors for recurring gifts actually deepens commitment (without reducing larger gifts).
  

• How to make events more than “one-time fundraising moments” by embedding them in your mission story.
  

• What it looks like when every staff member is equipped to tell your organization’s story, even in a 14-floor elevator ride.
  

• Why cultural transformation is the secret to long-term growth (200–1000% revenue gains over time!).
  

So, how can your organization start seeing itself through the eyes of your donors?

Key Resources:

• Learn more about the work that Tina does.
• Get to know Tina.
• Get to know Dave.
• Pick up a copy of Dave's book, "The Rise of Sustainable Giving."

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

What does it take to shift an entire organization to a “sustainer-first” mindset — and keep donors engaged for the long haul?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Sofia Machado Lemus, Director of Multi-Channel Fundraising at Operation Smile. From her early work with underserved communities in Guatemala to leading multicultural and sustainer fundraising efforts today, Sofia brings a global perspective, practical insights, and a deep passion for helping donors make a lasting impact.

Together, Dave and Sofia explore the real-life challenges and opportunities of building a strong recurring giving program, one that not only drives long-term stability but also reflects the values of diverse donor communities.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. The power of recurring giving at Operation Smile
   How sustainers now make up nearly a third of annual revenue, and why that stability matters for global programs.

2. Shifting to a sustainer-first mindset
   The internal challenges, testing strategies, and leadership conversations that made this cultural and operational shift possible.

3. The role of Hispanic donors in sustaining growth
   Why Spanish-speaking donors are especially loyal, how cultural values shape retention, and what other nonprofits can learn.

4. Leadership buy-in through small wins
   The importance of testing, proving ROI, and showing long-term donor value to get C-suite support.

5. Innovation through SMS and mobile engagement
   How text messaging is outperforming email for sustainer acquisition, and where Sofia sees future opportunities.

   
   

   Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Lessons learned from testing sustainer-first campaigns during year-end giving.

• The balance between one-time gifts and long-term recurring support.

• How gratitude and consistent communication drive donor retention.

• Why multicultural fundraising is not optional for the future.

  
  

What role will sustainers play in the next decade of nonprofit growth, and are we doing enough today to prepare?

Key Resources:

• Discover more about the work Sofia does at Operation Smile and Sonrisas Nuevas.

• Get to know Sofia.

• Get to know Dave⁠.

• Register for the 2026 Sustainable Giving Workshop.

• Pick up a copy of Dave's book, "⁠The Rise of Sustainable Giving⁠."

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

What if the biggest opportunity in fundraising has been quietly waiting all along — hidden in plain sight?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley chats with Erica Waasdorp, President of A Direct Solution, longtime champion of monthly giving, and self-proclaimed “Philanthropyholic.” From her early career at Reader’s Digest in Amsterdam to 30+ years helping nonprofits grow recurring giving programs around the world, Erica has seen it all, and she’s here to share the lessons that last.

Together, Dave and Erica dive into what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in the world of recurring giving, from the first direct-debit donors in Europe to the digital subscription era today. They unpack the tactics, mindset, and global insights that help organizations build sustainable, recession-resistant revenue, and what the next generation of fundraisers needs to know.

Whether you’re just getting started with recurring giving or looking to take your program to the next level, this conversation is packed with wisdom, wit, and plenty of inspiration.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. The Evolution of Recurring Giving: How monthly giving has transformed from mail and phone to digital-first—and why some organizations are still playing catch-up.
   

2. The Commitment Gap: Why many nonprofits still treat monthly giving as an afterthought—and how shifting from a “single-gift mindset” to a sustainability mindset changes everything.
   

3. Tactics That Still Work: Erica’s go-to strategies, from adding a simple “Give Monthly” button to leveraging donor testimonials, direct mail, and even the humble thank-you letter.
   

4. Lessons from Around the World: What generosity looks like in different cultures—and why human behavior (and the desire to help) is far more universal than we think.
   

5. The Next Generation of Sustainable Fundraisers: What today’s leaders can do to invest in recurring giving, mentor the next wave, and build long-term programs that inspire both donors and staff.

   
   

Also in this episode, they talk about: 

• How Dutch directness inspired A Direct Solution, and why honesty matters in fundraising

• Why smaller monthly gifts can lead to major legacy gifts later

• The underrated power of direct mail and phone calls in a digital world

• What European fundraisers got right decades ago, and what the U.S. can learn

• The simple truth behind “Just start—and keep going”

  
  

If recurring giving is the key to sustainability, what’s stopping your organization from planting that first seed today?

Additional Resources:

• Register for the 2026 Sustainable Giving Workshop.

• Pick up a copy of Dave's book, "⁠The Rise of Sustainable Giving⁠."

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

How could giving circles reshape the future of philanthropy — and what might they unlock for your nonprofit?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, Dave sits down with Emily Rasmussen, Founder & CEO of Grapevine and one of the leading voices in the modern collective giving movement. From her early life as a professional ballet dancer to her work in microfinance in rural India to now building the largest platform dedicated to giving circles, Emily brings a truly unique perspective to what generosity can look like when people do it together.

This conversation moves fast (in the best way!) as Dave and Emily dive into the resurgence of community-driven philanthropy, the psychology behind recurring generosity, and why giving circles just might be one of the biggest under-the-radar bright spots in the entire fundraising landscape.

If you care about connection, recurring giving, and the future of generosity… this one’s for you.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. Emily’s Unexpected Journey to Philanthropy

• From professional ballet to global arts leadership to microfinance in rural India

• How her early work in hyper-local, community-led financing became a blueprint for her later work in philanthropy

• The common thread: using creativity and community to unlock impact

  2. The Deep Roots of Collective Giving

• Giving circles: newer term, ancient concept

• Cultural traditions like tontines, susus, and self-help groups as early models

• Why doing good together is resurging now — and how it answers today’s loneliness + disconnection crisis

  3. What Giving Circles Actually Are (and Why They Matter)

• A clear, simple definition (100 people × $100 → $10,000 grant)

• How members nominate, vote, learn, and build lasting relationships

• “The Four C’s”: Community, Collective Resources, Collaboration, and Continuation

• Why giving circles create real belonging, not transactional giving

  4. The Powerful Connection Between Giving Circles & Sustainable Recurring Giving

• Stunning data:

• Only ~2% of new nonprofit donations are set to recur (GivingTuesday Data Commons)

• 50–80%+ of new giving-circle donations on Grapevine recur

• Why recurring giving is “baked in” to the giving circle model

• How collective models build trust, accountability, and long-term donor loyalty naturally

  5. How Nonprofit Leaders Can Tap Into the Giving Circle Movement

• How to find circles already giving in your region or cause area

• Why nonprofits should ask their donors whether they’re in one

• The rise of nonprofit-created giving circles + group-based donor communities

• How giving circles can supercharge board engagement, next-gen donors, and mid-level giving

  
  

  They Also Talk About:

• The role of trust, transparency, and “the five T’s” of generosity

• How Grapevine supports giving circles with infrastructure, community tools, and the global directory

• The surprising overlap between giving circles and workplace giving

• How companies are experimenting with employee-led giving circles

• Why generosity evolves with culture — and why that’s actually encouraging

So… what might happen if your community had a giving circle of its own? Or if you joined one yourself?

Watch or Listen:

Watch this episode now by clicking the video above, or by visiting Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Key Resources:

• ⁠GivingTuesday Data & Research

• “Growing Giving” Research

• Explore Grapevine

• Connect with Emily on LinkedIn

• Grab Dave’s book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving

• Discover more episodes of the Sustainable Giving podcast

• Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop

• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn
  

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

How do you turn an emergency donor into a lifelong partner in impact?

When disaster strikes, generosity surges — but what happens when the headlines fade? In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Vila-Sheree Watson, Vice President for Development & Membership at Bread for the World and author of the Bag Secured newsletter, to talk about transforming urgency into lasting generosity.

With nearly three decades of experience in humanitarian fundraising and advocacy, Vila-Sheree shares practical, hard-earned wisdom for any nonprofit leader navigating the space between crisis response and sustainable impact. This one’s equal parts strategy, storytelling, and inspiration — with plenty of laughs along the way.

Topics They Cover: 

• From Emergency to Endurance: How to move beyond one-time disaster gifts and design donor journeys that last long after the crisis fades.
  

• Turning Urgency into Habit: Vila-Sheree’s framework for helping donors connect their immediate compassion to long-term impact, and why “habit” is the secret ingredient to retention.
  

• Retention by Design, Not Luck: What it takes to intentionally plan for donor retention, including the digital tactics and messaging rhythms that keep people engaged.
  

• The “Sustainer-First” Mindset: Why leading with recurring giving (even during emergencies!) can double lifetime donor value, and how to make that ask feel natural.
  

• The Evolution of One-to-One Giving: What Vila-Sheree learned from years leading child sponsorship programs, and how to carry that human connection into today’s digital, subscription-style world.

Also in this episode, they talk about: 

• What Bread for the World teaches us about sustaining engagement in advocacy work

• Why donor acquisition should never be the first budget cut

• The importance of storytelling and dignity when representing program participants

• How organizations can prepare now for the “next” crisis

• The power of bringing humanity (and humor!) back into fundraising

What could your organization do today to make generosity last tomorrow?

Key Resources:

• Retaining Emergency Donors Before They Disappear

• Discover more about the work Vila-Sheree does at https://www.bread.org and https://bagsecured.substack.com/

• Get to know Vila-Sheree

• Get to know Dave Raley

• Discover more about the Sustainable Giving podcast⁠

• The Rise of Sustainable Giving Book⁠⁠⁠⁠

• The Sustainable Giving Workshop 2026

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Victoria and Kirsten.

What does it take to build an organization — and a life — that can go the distance?

In this episode of The Sustainable Giving podcast, host ⁠⁠Dave Raley sits down with Chris Free, Senior Director of Communications & Advancement at The Joshua Fund, to unpack what it really looks like to build endurance — both personally and organizationally.

From his beginnings as a filmmaker and storyteller to leading one of the most remarkable transformations in recurring giving we’ve seen, Chris shares the inside story of how The Joshua Fund grew from $5.3M to $18.6M in five years, with 47% of their revenue now coming from recurring donors.

They dig into the heart behind the data, exploring how storytelling, discipline, and faith intersect to create something truly sustainable. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or simply someone who cares about long-term impact, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about what it means to build something that lasts.

Key Topics They Discuss:

• The Power of Storytelling in Generosity How Chris’s early career as a filmmaker shaped his passion for purpose-driven storytelling,  and how that foundation now fuels The Joshua Fund’s mission and donor engagement.
  

• From Campaigns to Continuity The pivotal “aha moment” when Chris realized recurring giving wasn’t just a tactic. It was a mindset shift toward long-term sustainability.
  

• Building Systems that Sustain The real-life process of implementing sustainable giving practices, from adopting Fundraise Up to reworking donor experiences and automating communication flows.
  

• Transformation & Tangible Results How The Joshua Fund nearly doubled its recurring giving program and grew overall revenue 2.5x,  and what that stability means for impact, planning, and peace of mind.
  

• Endurance for the Long Run Parallels between marathon running and leadership: the discipline of consistency, learning to pace yourself, and the courage to keep going when you “hit the wall.”

  
  

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Lessons from The Sustainable Giving Accelerator and how it reshaped The Joshua Fund’s culture.

• The importance of data over ego — why objective insights always win.

• How crisis moments can drive innovation in fundraising.

• The role of automation in scaling meaningful donor relationships.

• Why January (or September!) doesn’t have to be scary when half your revenue is already recurring.

What if your organization could move from reaction to rhythm; from chasing donations to cultivating generosity that lasts?

Additional Resources:

• ⁠The Rise of Sustainable Giving Book⁠
• ⁠The Sustainable Giving Workshop 2026

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

What happens when the world’s biggest day of generosity meets the rise of the subscription economy?

In this special LIVE edition of The Sustainable Giving podcast, host ⁠Dave Raley⁠ is joined by ⁠Woodrow Rosenbaum⁠, Chief Data Officer at ⁠GivingTuesday⁠, for a deep and energizing conversation on how generosity is evolving, and how nonprofit leaders can turn one powerful day into lasting, sustainable impact.

Broadcast live on LinkedIn and made possible by ⁠CharityEngine⁠ — with a special word from Vice President of Marketing, ⁠Dave Martin⁠ — this episode unpacks what’s happening at the intersection of technology, culture, and generosity — and how organizations can build year-round giving strategies rooted in belonging, not burnout.

Key Topics They Covered:

1. The Future of Generosity: Woodrow shares the scale and scope of GivingTuesday’s global impact, and how the data shows generosity is more participatory, community-driven, and sustainable than ever before.

2. The Rise of Sustainable Giving: Dave and Woodrow explore the momentum behind recurring giving — noting that 12% of GivingTuesday donors last year became monthly givers — and what that tells us about the future of donor loyalty.

3. Four Insights to Grow Sustainable Giving This GivingTuesday: Dave outlines four proven strategies from the field:

- Start early, stay late: Treat GivingTuesday as a season, not a single day.

- Lead with recurring: Make monthly giving the hero of your campaign.

- Incentivize conversion: Use simple, delightful nudges like match offers or special perks.

- Leverage multiple channels: Align your message across email, social, direct mail, and events for a unified story.

4. Leveraging Shared Moments for Lasting Impact: The conversation turns to how shared cultural moments like GivingTuesday create belonging, spark participation, and, when leveraged well, lead to higher retention and deeper connection.

5. Launch of the Sustainable Giving Certification: Dave announces the new Sustainable Giving Certification, designed to recognize technology and service providers that enable recurring giving at scale. CharityEngine was recognized as the Founding Certified Partner for its leadership in sustainable giving technology.

Also in this episode, they talked about:

- How data insights from GivingTuesday reveal shifting donor behaviors.

- The link between technology, donor experience, and long-term retention.

- Practical steps for smaller nonprofits with limited tech resources.

- The importance of aligning providers and platforms with sustainable giving principles.

- Highlights from the Sustainable Giving Workshop and upcoming opportunities to engage.

What if your next GivingTuesday campaign didn’t end after 24 hours — but built a foundation for year-round generosity?

Get to Know the Presenters:⁠

- Learn more about Woodrow Rosenbaum⁠⁠

- Learn more about Dave Martin

⁠⁠- Learn more about Dave Raley⁠

Additional Resources:

• The Rise of Sustainable Giving Book
• The Sustainable Giving Workshop 2026
• Sustainable Giving Accelerator
• Recent Wave Report: “Growing Sustainable Giving This GivingTuesday”
• GivingTuesday Resources
• Growing Giving Research⁠
• Latest Research (GivingTuesday Data)
• CharityEngine Sticky Sustainers
• CharityEngine Sustainer Calculator

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

Why do donors say one thing… but do something completely different — and what does that mean for building generosity that lasts?

In this episode, Dave Raley sits down with the brilliant (and very fun) Cherian Koshy — author of Neurogiving, globally recognized fundraising strategist, and newly-minted VP at Kindsight — for a lively conversation about what’s actually happening inside the donor brain.

This is not your typical “fundraising best practices” episode. This is behavioral science meets generosity… with a side of humor, identity psychology, and a whole lot of practical insight for anyone trying to grow recurring generosity.

Together, Dave and Cherian explore why donors move from considering a gift to actually giving, why monthly giving turns out to be a trust-building superpower, and how fundraisers can create donor experiences that feel easier, lighter, and more human.

If you’ve ever wondered why donors behave the way they do (or why your “surefire” campaign didn’t perform the same way twice), this episode is a goldmine.

Key Topics They Talk About:

1. The Story Behind Neurogiving

• How frustration, curiosity, and years of field-tested research led Cherian to compile one of the most comprehensive behavioral-science-driven resources in fundraising.

• The gap he saw between “best practices” and actual donor behavior — and why the sector needed better data, not just anecdotes.
  2. What Donors Say vs. What Donors Do

• Why donors genuinely believe their stated motivations… yet behave differently when making real decisions.

• How cognitive load, emotional triggers, identity, and bias shape donor behavior far more than stated intention.

• Why optimizing for what donors do (not what they claim) leads to better repeatability and sustainability.
  3. Consistency, Trust & the Donor Brain

• The neuroscience behind why repeated positive experiences strengthen trust like a muscle.The “relaxed confidence” donors develop when nonprofits consistently follow through.

• How recurring giving acts as a trust engine — not just a revenue model.
  4. Habit Formation & Donor Behavior

• How repetition rewires neural pathways and transforms giving from decision → habit → identity.

• Why donors who give repeatedly are far more likely to stay long-term, upgrade, or eventually make legacy gifts.
  5. Applying Behavioral Science to Recurring Giving

• Why offering one clear action (vs. 7 options) dramatically increases follow-through.How defaults, simplicity, and identity-based messaging increase conversion and retention.

• The science-backed reason “the enemy of fundraising isn’t ‘no’ — it’s ‘not now.’”

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Single gifts vs. recurring commitments: how the brain processes them differently

• How nonprofits accidentally create friction that slows generosity

• Why recurring donors are more likely to advocate for you publicly

• The long-term psychological benefits of habitual giving

• AI, personalization, and the ethical questions fundraisers must wrestle with next

What would fundraising look like if your donor experience made giving feel effortless — even automatic?
Key Resources:

1. Get Dave’s book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving: sustainablegiving.org

2. Explore Cherian’s work: neurogivingbook.com

3. More from Cherian: cheriankoshy.com

4. Connect with Cherian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy

5. Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop: imago.consulting/workshop

6. Connect with Dave on LinkedIn:

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

What if the key to long-term impact isn’t raising more money, but building giving that actually lasts? Is monthly giving still being treated like a side tactic when it should be core strategy?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley welcomes fundraising pioneer Harvey McKinnon, one of the earliest and most influential voices in the recurring giving movement. With more than 40 years of experience, and decades of data to back it up, Harvey brings clarity, candor, and perspective to a conversation many nonprofits urgently need to revisit.

Together, Dave and Harvey explore how monthly giving became foundational to sustainable philanthropy, why so many organizations still hesitate to fully invest in it, and what leaders can do, whether they’re just getting started or ready to scale. From emergency response moments to lifelong donor relationships, this conversation is both practical and deeply human.

Key Topics They Cover:

1. Why Monthly Giving Is Foundational to Sustainable Philanthropy

   Harvey shares what led him to write How to Create Lifelong Donors Through Monthly Giving and the moment he realized recurring giving wasn’t just a tactic, but essential infrastructure.
   

2. The Compounding Power of Lifelong Donors

   Why monthly donors consistently give more per year, stay longer, and upgrade more often, and how those effects multiply over time.
   

3. Scaling vs. Starting: Two Very Different Journeys

   Clear guidance for leaders looking to scale an existing recurring program, alongside simple, high-leverage starting moves for organizations at ground zero.
   

4. Persistent Myths That Hold Monthly Giving Back

   From short-term thinking to internal silos, Harvey names the misconceptions that keep organizations from investing wisely in recurring revenue.
   

5. Recurring Giving Across Borders: Canada, the U.S., and Europe

   What geography and culture reveal about donor behavior, and what North American nonprofits can learn from global approaches.

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Turning emergency response into long-term donor relationships

• Why investment mindset matters more than tactics

• How leadership incentives can unintentionally block progress

• The importance of ease, urgency, and perceived impact

• Why monthly donors are your strongest legacy giving prospects

What would change if your organization treated monthly giving as essential, not optional?

Key Resources:

• Visit Harvey's Website
• Connect with Harvey on LinkedIn
• Get Dave’s book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving
• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.

What if sustainable giving isn’t just a funding strategy, but part of your mission itself?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, Dave Raley sits down with with Eddie Kahler, Executive Director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Christian University, to unpack an honest, hopeful, and highly practical story of transformation. What started as a looming funding deadline quickly became a breakthrough moment, one that reshaped how Eddie and his team think about generosity, discipleship, and long-term impact.

Recorded live during our Sustainable Giving Workshop last week, this conversation traces TCU Wesley’s journey from cautious experimentation to nearly quadrupling their recurring giving in just one year.

Along the way, Eddie shares what surprised him most, what fears were disproven, and how leaning into community (rather than doing everything alone) made all the difference.

Key Topics They Cover:

• From Crisis to “Crisis-tunity” 💪🏻

  A looming staffing funding gap became the catalyst for innovation, reframing urgency as opportunity and sparking meaningful change.

• Recurring Giving vs. One-Time Gifts (Spoiler: They’re Not Competing) 🥳

  Eddie shares how leading with monthly giving actually increased overall donations during key campaigns, including a major giving day.

• Turning Donor Insight Into Resonant Messaging ✨

  Alumni surveys revealed one powerful word—home—which became the heart of TCU Wesley’s recurring giving program and donor storytelling.

• You Don’t Have to Do This Alone 🤝

  From students with design skills to board members stepping into donor communication, sustainable giving became a shared effort, not a solo grind.

• When Generosity Becomes the Mission 😎

  A mindset shift from “fundraising supports ministry” to “growing generosity is ministry” with powerful implications for leadership, discipleship, and donor relationships.

So what might change if you stopped seeing recurring giving as a tactic... and started seeing it as formation?

Key Resources:

• Learn more about TCU Wesley
• Connect with Eddie on LinkedIn
• Discover more about RISE
• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn 

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Victoria, Kirsten, and Abigail.

What if the future of generosity isn’t about giving more, but about giving differently?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, to explore one of the most important (and misunderstood) shifts happening in philanthropy right now: the rise of Donor-Advised Funds, and what they could unlock for sustainable, recurring generosity.

This isn’t a technical DAF explainer or a tax-policy deep dive. Instead, Dave and Mitch zoom out to look at how modern donor behavior is changing, why friction—not generosity—is often the real blocker, and how DAFs, recurring giving, and better infrastructure might help nonprofits plan with more confidence and resilience.

Along the way, Mitch shares his unconventional path from Goldman Sachs to startup founder to philanthropy innovator, and what seeing the sector from the outside taught him about what’s broken and what’s possible.

Top 5 Topics They Dive Into:

• From Wall Street to Social Impact Innovation Mitch shares how being “too creative” for traditional finance ultimately led him to philanthropy, and why founders shaping the future of generosity often didn’t start in the sector at all.
  

• Why Donor-Advised Funds Are Rising Right Now DAF growth isn’t random. We unpack the cultural, economic, and psychological forces behind their rise, from complexity fatigue to trust gaps and the “set aside now, decide later” mindset.
  

• Donor-Advised Funds as Infrastructure, Not Just a Tax Tool What changes if nonprofits stop thinking of DAFs as accounts and start thinking of them as behavior-shaping infrastructure? And what are leaders still getting wrong about how donors actually use them?
  

• The Overlap Between DAFs and Recurring Giving DAFs and recurring giving aren’t competitors but cousins. We explore how DAFs can act as a generosity reservoir and what that means for long-term sustainability and donor commitment.
  

• What DAFs Could Make More Sustainable in the Sector From forecasting and retention to stewardship and planning, we look at how better DAF integration could reshape how nonprofits operate, and what risks exist if systems don’t evolve alongside scale.

  
  

  Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Why friction, not intent, is often the real barrier to generosity

• The difference between recurring cash flow and recurring commitment

• How nonprofits can better identify and steward DAF donors

• Simple mindset shifts leaders can make without adding new tech

• What nonprofit leaders should stop assuming about DAF donors

So what’s the one question nonprofit leaders should be asking themselves this year as generosity continues to evolve?

Key Resources:

• Learn more about Mitch’s work at Chariot

• Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn

• Read TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2025: Chariot DAFpay

• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn

• Learn about Dave’s new program, RISE

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Victoria, Kirsten, and Abigail.

What if your next fundraising event didn’t just raise money for one night, but built generosity that lasts for years?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with longtime fundraising leader and speaker Kirk Walden for a wide-ranging, practical conversation about events, recurring giving, and the future of sustainable generosity.

Kirk has spent more than 30 years in fund development and has helped ministries raise over $75 million, much of it by transforming high-energy fundraising events into engines for long-term, recurring support. Together, Dave and Kirk unpack why events still matter, where they often fall short, and how leaders can design moments that move people from inspiration to lasting commitment.

This isn’t a conversation about better banquets or sharper pitches. It’s about building systems, culture, and leadership maturity that turn embodied experiences into sustainable impact.

Key Topics They Talk About:

1. The Stage as a Strategy
2. Events as Major Donor Discovery Engines
3. Recurring Giving Inside a Live Event
4. Why Sustainable Giving Isn’t Rocket Science
5. Culture, Leadership, and Long-Term Impact

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Reading “signals in the room” during live appeals

• Commitment psychology vs. emotional spikes

• Follow-up strategies that actually work

• The danger of event dependence

• Why unhealthy culture eventually breaks recurring generosity

If you only get one moment with a donor — on a stage, in a room, or during a shared experience — how are you inviting them into something that lasts?

Key Resources:

• Learn more about Kirk’s work.

• Subscribe to Kirk’s Substack.

• Connect with Kirk on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

• Connect with Dave on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

• Learn about Dave’s new program, ⁠RISE.

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Kirsten, Victoria, and Abigail

What if the future of generosity looks a lot more like the subscription economy?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with subscription economy pioneer Amy Konary for a fascinating conversation about recurring revenue, customer relationships, and what nonprofit leaders can learn from the companies that helped build the modern subscription model.

Amy has spent her career studying the shift from one-time transactions to long-term customer relationships. As the founder of the Subscribed Institute at Zuora, she works with hundreds of organizations navigating the transition to recurring revenue. And as one of the earliest analysts to help define the category of “SaaS,” she has had a front-row seat to the massive transformation that has reshaped entire industries.

In this conversation, Dave and Amy explore the parallels between the subscription economy and sustainable generosity. They unpack why recurring models require a deeper shift than simply changing pricing, what separates organizations that successfully scale recurring revenue from those that stall, and how nonprofits can create lasting donor relationships built on ongoing value and trust.

Along the way, they also look ahead to trends like subscription fatigue, retention-first strategies, and the growing role of AI, and what they might mean for the future of fundraising.

Key Topics They Talk About:

1. Why subscriptions are more than just a pricing model

   Amy explains how the shift to subscription-based businesses fundamentally changed how companies operate, moving from one-time transactions to ongoing value delivery and long-term relationships with customers.

2. Lessons from the early days of the SaaS revolution

   Drawing from her early career studying software companies, Amy shares how pioneers like Marc Benioff and Tien Tzuo helped reshape the industry, and why their approach offers powerful parallels for nonprofit leaders today.

3. What actually makes recurring revenue work

   The most successful recurring models are not “set it and forget it.” They rely on ongoing communication, delivering real value, and helping customers or donors clearly see the impact of their relationship over time.

   4. The rise of subscription fatigue and what it mean

   As subscriptions become more common, expectations are rising. Amy explains why organizations must prioritize transparency, flexibility like pause or downgrade options, and clear value to keep people engaged.

   5. Why leadership commitment is the biggest factor in success

   Recurring revenue is not just a tactic. It is a cultural shift. Amy explains why organizations that succeed usually have leaders who fully commit to the model and align teams, metrics, and strategy around long-term relationships.

• Also in this episode, they talk about:

  • How nonprofits can better understand and segment their donors

  • The importance of showing ongoing impact to recurring supporters

  • Creative ways organizations can build community with supporters

  • Why recurring models can be better for people, products, and the planet

• How AI may shape the next evolution of subscription-based organizations

  
  

  Key Resources:

  
  

• Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

• Connect with Dave on ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

• Learn about Dave’s new program, ⁠RISE.

  
  

  Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Kirsten, Victoria, and Abigail.

What if the donors who could sustain your mission year-round have been waiting, and you just haven't asked them the right way?

This week on Sustainable Giving, host Dave Raley sits down with Kathy Coady, Chief Development Officer, and Melissa Tagg, Marketing & Communications Manager (and USA Today bestselling author!) from Hope Ministries Iowa. Together, they share the story of how a rescue mission that had quietly left monthly giving on the table completely transformed its approach and saw double-digit growth in sustainers within just eight months.

Hope Ministries has served the homeless, hungry, abused, and addicted in central Iowa for over 110 years. Their need is 24/7, 365, but their recurring donor support had been flat for years. It was a checkbox, not a strategy. That changed when Kathy and Melissa decided they were done starting every fiscal year at the bottom of the mountain. This episode is full of practical wisdom and honest reflection for any leader wondering whether recurring giving could really work for their organization. Spoiler: it can.

Key Topics They Talk About:

1. The Recurring Giving Wake-Up Call: For years, Hope Ministries treated monthly giving as a passive option rather than a priority. The turning point? A benchmark report showing they were hitting every metric except sustainer revenue. Kathy and Melissa, both self-described competitive spirits, decided then and there: "We're going to fix this."

2. The Accelerator Campaign That Changed Everything: The first move Hope Ministries made was an accelerator email campaign: eight to nine emails in three weeks. Melissa admits it scared her. She remembers when sending one email a month felt risky. But the results were stunning. New monthly donors came in fast, and people who hadn't given in over a decade showed up and said yes. They've now run three of these campaigns and are planning a fourth.

3. Messaging That Clicked: The New Women & Children's Center: The key to their campaign's success was specificity. Hope Ministries had just opened a new center for women and children, tripling capacity from 30-35 to 100 people at one time. That milestone became the campaign message: a clear, timely, and compelling reason to give monthly right now, rather than a generic ask.

4. Making Monthly Giving a Whole-Organization Priority: Before this work, monthly giving was one item on a long menu. Now it's woven into everything -- the website relaunch, event planning, donation platform decisions, and everyday team conversations. As Kathy puts it: "It's part of our conversation now." That shift from "one option among many" to "strategic priority" is what separates organizations that grow sustainers from those that stay flat.

5. Results That Speak for Themselves: Over eight months, Hope Ministries gained approximately 90 new monthly donors, well into double-digit percentage growth. The average monthly gift also increased as they added donors -- something Kathy did not expect. They recovered their investment within the first few emails of the first campaign, and they're now aiming for 25% of total revenue from monthly donors long-term.

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• The "Base of the Mountain" Problem

• Stewardship as Partnership

• Data Cleanup and Hidden Gems

• Advice for Hesitant Leaders

• What Gives Them Hope

If your most loyal donors could give every month, automatically and joyfully, for years, what is standing between them and that commitment?

Key Resources:

• Learn more about Hope Ministries Iowa (Consider joining Team Hope!)

• Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Melissa Tagg

• Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Dave’s work

  Connect with Dave on LinkedIn

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Victoria, Kirsten and Abigail.

What actually makes a nonprofit truly fundable, and not just busy, but built to last?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, Dave Raley sits down with Kevin L. Brown, CEO of Mighty Ally and author of Fundable & Findable, to unpack a hard truth: most nonprofits don’t struggle because they lack passion or effort. They struggle because they lack clarity.

From his journey out of the advertising world to working alongside nonprofits globally, Kevin brings a sharp lens to the structural challenges holding organizations back. Together, Dave and Kevin explore what it really takes to move beyond the “starvation cycle” and into a model of sustainable, scalable impact, where organizations are not only doing meaningful work, but are clearly positioned, deeply trusted, and consistently supported.

This is a candid, thought-provoking conversation that challenges assumptions about fundraising, branding, and what it means to build something that lasts.

What would change if your organization focused less on doing more, and more on becoming unmistakably clear?

Key Topics They Cover:

1. Why most nonprofits stay small, and what’s really holding them back
2. The “Fundable & Findable” Framework explained
3. Escaping the starvation cycle
4. From confusion to clarity: a real transformation story
5. The tension around “looking slick” as a nonprofit

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Why donors don’t read—and how to “get to the point to get to the donor”

• The myth of diversification in nonprofit funding models

• Why retention starts immediately after the first gift

• The role of leadership as the “chief earning officer”

• How hybrid nonprofit models (like Mighty Ally) unlock new sustainability pathways

Key Resources:

• Get your copy of Fundable & Findable.

• Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

• The Bridgespan Group Study.

• Connect with Dave on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠.

• Learn about Dave’s new program, ⁠⁠RISE⁠.

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Kirsten, Victoria, and Abigail.

What if the most powerful fundraising tool your organization has is not a landing page, an email campaign, or a social media strategy, but a room?

In this episode of Sustainable Giving, host Dave Raley sits down with Brian Seay, Experience Lab Director at charity: water, for a rich conversation about what it truly takes to move people from passive awareness into active, lasting generosity.

Brian brings more than two decades of experience designing live events that inspire action, first on the artist relations and live events team at Compassion International, and now leading one of the most innovative donor experience spaces in the nonprofit world: The Experience Lab, a free, immersive exhibit housed at The Factory at Franklin, just outside Nashville, Tennessee.

Brian and Dave dig into the architecture of transformation, the psychology of the ask, and what separates a moment of emotional inspiration from a genuine long-term commitment.

Key Topics They Talk About:

1. What The Experience Lab is and why charity: water built it.

2. The architecture of transformation: Problem, Solution, Action.

3. The psychology of the ask and why slowing down matters.

4. What it takes to move people into recurring giving.

5. The role of artists and influencers in expanding a cause.

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Hudson, an 11-year-old who came through the Experience Lab during a preview tour, spent four months raising $10,000 door to door and through his church, and handed an envelope of cash and checks to Scott Harrison on opening night

• Practical advice for leaders who want to create more immersive donor experiences without a large budget, including using virtual reality storytelling and making the mission visual through art and physical objects

• Why the story should never be about the organization: "We are not the core of the story. We are the response."

How might you design a donor experience in your own context, whether at a gala, an open house, or even a single meeting, that moves people not just emotionally, but into sustained, long-term generosity?

Key Resources:

• charity: water website: https://www.charitywater.org

• The Experience Lab: https://www.charitywater.org/experience

• The Spring, charity: water's monthly giving program: https://www.charitywater.org/the-spring

• charity: water on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charitywater

• Brian Seay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-seay-11557a55/

• Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: https://www.heathbrothers.com/made-to-stick/

• The Rise of Sustainable Giving by Dave Raley: https://www.imagoconsulting.com

• Dave Raley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draley/ 

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Victoria, Kirsten and Abigail.

In this special live episode of Sustainable Giving, host Dave Raley convenes a powerhouse lineup of researchers, practitioners, and sector leaders to explore why the charitable world is at an inflection point. With donor behavior shifting, subscription models reshaping the economy, and a $10 to $20 billion annual opportunity sitting on the table, recurring giving is no longer reserved for organizations with traditional membership or sponsorship models. It's now accessible to the 75% of nonprofits historically left behind.

Joined by Samir Kahn (GivingTuesday), Dr. Sanjay Bindra (GOSUMEC Foundation USA), Chris Free (The Joshua Fund), Becky Endicott and Jon McCoy (We Are For Good), and Erica Waasdorp (A Direct Solution), Dave unpacks the research, the real-world results, and the global perspectives that prove sustainable giving can transform any organization willing to believe it's possible.

Key Topics They Talk About

• Samir Kahn shares fresh GivingTuesday research revealing a $10 to $20 billion annual opportunity. The median organization has just 4% of donors on recurring schedules, 40% of charities had zero new recurring donors from first gifts, and monthly donors carry a median annual value of $275 versus $100 for non-recurring donors, nearly 3x higher.

• Dr. Sanjay Bindra of the zero-staff GOSUMEC Foundation explains how removing transactional pressure (no Giving Tuesday, no urgency campaigns) and building the "Give Arc" framework of Gratitude, Impact, Voice, and Engagement produced a 98% retention rate for recurring donors. Recurring giving, he argues, is "not a payment plan, it's an identity shift."

• Chris Free of The Joshua Fund describes going all in on recurring giving and doubling revenue from $7.2M to $14.4M in 18 months. Recurring donors grew 116% (from 1,885 to 4,080), new donors increased from 7,528 to 13,609 in 13 months, and digital recurring revenue reached 48%. Belief, he says, precedes growth.

• Becky Endicott and Jon McCoy of We Are For Good reflect on more than 708 nonprofit leader interviews and what sustainability actually means: resourced leaders who can dream again instead of keeping the lights on, organizations shifting from donor pyramids to donor communities, and recurring revenue understood as "recurring trust."

• Erica Waasdorp draws on 30+ years of international monthly giving expertise to highlight benchmarks from Norway, Spain, Australia, Europe, and Canada. She shares proven tactics like SMS/texting, face-to-face fundraising, and integrated digital campaigns, plus the powerful connection between monthly donors and legacy giving (recurring donors are 6x more likely to leave estate gifts, with average legacy gifts of $50,000).

Also in this episode, they talk about:

• Two trends reshaping recurring giving: 95.8% of Americans have a subscription, the average person has 12 of them, and 52% of millennials prefer monthly donations over single large gifts.

• The critical "invitation gap" facing nonprofits, with new recurring donor acquisition flat at roughly 2% and donor bases aging out without replacement.

• The supplemental and legacy gift opportunity: 30% of recurring donors give additional gifts that are 2 to 3x their recurring amount.

• The Center for Sustainable Giving's dual approach of educating leaders and walking alongside organizations through deep-dive assessments and 2-year roadmaps.

• Why January 1st can move from the worst day of the year to a stable funding day when sustainability is built into the model.

Key Resources

• GivingTuesday recurring giving research: givingtuesday.org
• GOSUMEC Foundation USA: gosumec.org
• We Are For Good podcast: weareforgood.com
• The Joshua Fund: joshuafund.com
• Erica Waasdorp's books on monthly giving: adirectsolution.com
• Get free 30-day access to The Rise of Sustainable Giving audiobook: SustainableGiving.org/gift
• Register for the upcoming Workshop in Seattle: SustainableGiving.org/workshop
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What if the secret to scaling generosity isn't more tech, but using tech to scale the one thing that actually sustains giving: people?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Nathan Hill, VP of Marketing at Avid (and a self-described "marketing and fundraising nerd"), for a wide-ranging, energizing conversation about data, AI, donor trends, and why the human element is still the beating heart of it all.

Nathan brings a rare blend of perspectives. He's worked in nonprofits big and small, spent nearly a decade helping fundraisers level up at Next After, and now leads marketing at one of the most talked-about AI-powered fundraising platforms in the sector.

Dave and Nathan swap stories about the accidental paths that led them into this work, the "face-palm" moments every organization discovers when they actually secret-shop their own donor experience, and why the current "fewer donors, larger gifts" trend may be a bubble about to pop.

Plus: a surfing metaphor, a printing press history lesson, and a surprisingly hopeful take on what AI means for lean nonprofit teams.

Key topics they talked about:

1. Why the "Fewer Donors, Larger Gifts" Trend Might Not Last: Nathan unpacks fresh data from the new Avid + Wiland benchmark (1,000+ organizations, $14B+ in revenue, updated in real time). Retention of high-value donors is declining faster than the broad base, upgrade rates have fallen off a cliff, and the pipeline of future mid- and major-level donors is weakening. Translation: the bubble is real, and leaders need to act now.

2. Data, AI, and the "Fundraising Operating System:” Nathan explains how Avid sits on top of your existing tech stack (CRM, email, donation platform, ads) to unify your data, surface insights, automate segmentation, and even help create and launch campaigns in minutes instead of weeks. The goal: free fundraisers to focus on what only humans can do.

3. The Human Element Still Wins: Nathan and Dave agree: the most unique, differentiating thing in fundraising will always be authentic humanity. AI and data aren't here to replace relationships. They're here to scale them. And in a world drowning in noise, showing up human is the ultimate competitive advantage.

4. The Generosity Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight: Dave breaks down a brand-new Lilly School of Philanthropy analysis of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and its universal charitable deduction, which could bring 6–9 million new giving households into philanthropy. But only if nonprofits actually invite them in.

5. The Power of the Ongoing Value Proposition: Drawing on his work on value proposition at Next After (and a shout-out in Chapter 23 of The Rise of Sustainable Giving), Nathan explains why the appeal that wins a one-time gift isn't the same one that earns a monthly donor, and how to clearly communicate the unique impact of recurring giving.

What are you doing today to build a sustainable pipeline of generous, engaged, recurring donors, and how are you using the tools at your fingertips to scale the human relationships that make it all work?

Key Resources:

• Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn

• Email Nathan directly

• Learn more about Avid

• Access the Avid + Wiland Benchmark (free, updated in real time)

• Grab Dave's book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving

• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn

• Lilly Family School of Philanthropy research on charitable giving policy

• Whisper Flow (the dictation tool Dave is currently nerding out on)

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Kirsten, Victoria, and Abigail.

What does it take to build a recurring giving program inside an organization with 80+ years of history, deep donor relationships, and a mission that literally flies people to the ends of the earth?

In this episode, Dave Raley sits down with Tracey Werre, Director of Growth & Digital Experiences at Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to grow sustainable recurring revenue, not in a vacuum, but inside a complex, multi-model organization with a lot of heritage and a lot of heart.

Tracey brings over two decades of marketing expertise, a background that spans fashion to aviation (yes, really), and 16 years of deep nonprofit fundraising experience at MAF. She's built a recurring giving program called Flight Crew from the ground up, and she's not done yet. From a scrappy MVP launch in 2020 to a full-scale 5.0 revamp, Tracey shares the wins, the walls she hit, and the wisdom she's picked up along the way. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to actually commit to recurring giving — not just test it once and move on — this conversation is for you.

Key Topics They Talk About:

• Tracey's Unconventional Path into Nonprofit Fundraising — Tracey went from fashion and e-commerce to MAF after the dot-com bust, bringing her digital marketing chops into a sector that needed them. She sees a fascinating parallel between that early internet disruption and today's "subscription economy" moment and believes we're entering a new era of maturity in recurring giving.

• MAF's Unique Funding Model and the Challenge of Building a General Fund — MAF is funded three ways: organizational revenue, career staff missionary support, and fees for service. For years, monthly giving was tied primarily to individual missionaries, not the general fund. As staff tenures shortened and retirement waves hit, Tracey and her colleague Mickey saw the writing on the wall: it was time to invest seriously in organizational recurring giving.

• The Birth of Flight Crew: Human-Centered Design Meets Nonprofit Fundraising — Rather than guessing, MAF partnered with Alan Thornburg (now of Sublimity) to talk directly to donors and run concept tests. The name "Flight Crew" emerged because it put donors in the story. They're not passive supporters, they're part of the crew. Early feedback confirmed it: members said they felt like they had a "bird's eye view" of the mission, like a co-pilot on every flight.

• The Evolution from Launch to 5.0 — What Changed and Why — Flight Crew launched in fall 2020 (COVID year, no less) with four times the expected signups. But growth eventually plateaued. Tracey shares candidly what prompted the 5.0 revamp — new human-centered design research, upgraded donation platform technology (hello, Fundraise Up), and a fresh storytelling angle tied to MAF's documentary Ends of the Earth. The payoff? A 20% jump in recurring donors since last fall.

• What Reliable Recurring Revenue Actually Makes Possible — For MAF, this isn't just a fundraising metric. It's Ebola flights in the Congo. Emergency medevacs from conflict zones. Fuel price volatility. Having thousands of Flight Crew members means the work doesn't stop when the unexpected happens, and it frees leadership to think strategically rather than scramble for immediate cash.

What's one thing your organization could do in the next 90 days to make it easier for donors to give monthly? 

Key Resources

• Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

• Ends of the Earth Documentary

• The Rise of Sustainable Giving by Dave Raley

• Sublimity (Alan Thornburg)

• Fundraise Up

• The Center for Sustainable Giving

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Michelle, Victoria, Kirsten, and Abigail.