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 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 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.Why fundraising history matters, and how not to waste time “reinventing the wheel.”Key Resources:Discover more about Ken’s workRegister for the Sustainable Giving WorkshopPick 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 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.orgSpecial thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Grace.
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 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 givingWhat 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 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 burdenAdditional Resources:- Discover more and pick up a copy of Dave's book: sustainablegiving.org- Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop: imago.consulting/workshopSpecial 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 SectorWhy “walking away” should be possible – and desirable – when programs are truly sustainableThe failure of water projects without local ownership and ongoing maintenance2. The Power of Job Creation as a Sustainable SolutionThe dignity of work vs. the danger of dependencyThe role of social enterprise and VC-like support models at The Adventure Project3. Growing Sustainable Giving Through Innovation and TrustMonthly and multi-year giving as long-term impact toolsHow a women-focused quiz generated $40K in donations and recurring support4. Experiencing and Modeling the Joy of GenerosityChildhood lessons in service and generosityThe importance of modeling generosity for the next generation5. Applying Social Work Principles to Nonprofit LeadershipListening to communities and building with – not for – themCombining empathy with operational excellence Social Work Principles to Nonprofit LeadershipAdditional Resources:Take the Adventure Project's Women's QuizRegister for the Sustainable Giving Workshop.Grab your copy of Dave’s book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving, at sustainablegiving.org to learn how the subscription economy is transforming recurring giving—and what nonprofits can do to benefit.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 Now2. The Generosity Crisis3. Recurring Giving & The Subscription Economy4. AI and the Future of Generosity5. Inspiration for a Generous FutureAlso 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 fightersSpecial thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.
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 Podcast2. The Rise of the Subscription Economy3. Defining Sustainable Giving4. Behind the Book5. Inspiring Real-Life Story: International Justice MissionAlso 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 heartSpecial thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.