Missions to Movements

A lot of movement builders might be thinking, who actually gets to be considered “legit”? We are celebrating Black History Month, and in a very short amount of time, BackBlack has built massive momentum, which is why I had to have one of my favorite repeat guests back on the show, Floyd Jones . This incredible case study unravels how they’ve helped move nearly $4 million to Black-led organizations...

Quiet signals decide retention long before a donor hits “cancel.”  We explore how to turn early indicators—failed payments, skipped emails, reduced engagement—into timely, human responses that save relationships and revenue.  Drawing on the proven playbook of subscription businesses, we unpack how predictive insights can flag risk before supporters drift away and how small teams can deploy light-t...

How do you build a storytelling rhythm that can fuel your fundraising efforts all year long? Max Kringen of Tellwell Story Co. is EXACTLY who nonprofits call when they want to stop guessing. We kick off by going behind the scenes of a Ronald McDonald House Charities gala where a beautiful, cinematic story helped raise more than $350,000 in one night. Max walks us through how Clara’s story was sele...

Donor flexibility is the quiet superpower of retention - and it’s about to become non-negotiable.  We dig into why giving supporters control to pause, downgrade, skip, or shift billing dates doesn’t fuel cancellations; it prevents them.  Pulling lessons from the subscription world and real stories that celebrate customer milestones, we translate those insights into practical steps any nonprofit ca...

If a corporate partner had to tell a story about working with your nonprofit, what would they say?  What companies want from nonprofit partnerships has FUNDAMENTALLY changed. That’s why I’m excited for you to meet a great friend of mine, Matthew Sutton, Director of Corporate Partnerships at United Way of Greater Atlanta, to talk about how corporate partnerships are evolving and what nonprofit lead...

What if the smallest monthly gift unlocks the biggest lifetime value? We’re digging into our second Monthly Giving Prediction for 2026: lower entry points will become the norm in monthly giving - and they’ll outperform the high-ask mindset many of us grew up with.  Donors aren’t less generous; they’re less willing to overcommit.  That’s a signal, not a setback, and it’s time to design programs aro...

At my third annual Monthly Giving Summit , you’ll hear from someone who understands how repeat engagement, community and generosity actually get built into the DNA of a brand, raising over one million dollars along the way! Adriana Carrig, Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Little Words Project , is joining me to break down how she bootstrapped growth and focused on trust, transparency, and showin...

Why monthly giving must move from a checkbox to core infrastructure and how that shift changes budgets, dashboards, and daily decisions. Practical prompts help you test your own reliance on recurring revenue and plan for a steadier 2026. Bloomerang is the proud presenter of Missions to Movements .  See how one team surpassed a $1M match and raised $2.25M for their mission with Penny, Bloomerang’s...

We’ve officially entered what I’m calling the retention era. Recurring GivingTuesday gifts are growing year over year, and nonprofit benchmarks are showing 80%+ retention rates for monthly donors. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down three powerful signals that are shaping monthly giving RIGHT NOW across the subscription economy and in the nonprofit sector. I’m covering Recurly’s 2025 State of...

In this special year-end recap episode, I’m revisiting seven of the most inspiring, quotable, “steal this idea” stories from 2025. You’ll hear the real numbers, tested strategies, and leadership insights you can carry straight into 2026. Here’s who you’ll hear from: Courtney Johnson from Culinary Care, who generated $300,000 across 20 corporate events Chad Nelsen from Surfrider Foundation, who inv...

This year held some of my highest highs and lowest lows, and much of it happened faster than I expected. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting honestly about what 2025 looked like for me, both personally and professionally.  You’ll hear what surprised me most, the growth of the Monthly Giving Summit, what it was like working 1:1 with 14 organizations through VIP intensives, the unexpected speaking...

When a former classroom educator becomes the one writing the checks, EVERYTHING about grantmaking shifts.  Dr. Maggie Sullivan Marcus of the Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation brings a rare, dual perspective shaped by years in the classroom and years in philanthropy. Her on-the-ground experience supporting multilingual learner programs is rooted in empathy, deep respect for educators, and a com...

How can a 10X mindset replace incremental goals with focused, brave action that scales monthly giving and clarifies what to stop doing? • 10X mindset versus incremental growth • letting go of low-leverage work  • applying bold goals to monthly giving growth   • risk reframed as focus and resource questions  Resources Mentioned: Join the Sustainer Slack Group — completely free.  The Mini Monthly Gi...

If you've ever wrestled with the tension between being donor-centered and community-centered in your fundraising, today's episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. The incredible Tammy Zonker, founder of Fundraising Transformed, has helped raise more than $1 billion over her career, including facilitating a single $27 million dollar gift! We dive into Tammy’s hands-on case study from...

After an electrifying GivingTuesday, I’m here to share three BIG behind the scenes announcements that will directly support your recurring revenue goals and monthly giving programs in 2026: First, I’m thrilled to announce that my Sustainers Slack community is now 100% free! It has become one of the most generous, collaborative, and energizing spaces on the internet, and if you join, you’ll get mon...

Most organizations rush straight from GivingTuesday into metrics, wrap-ups, and end-of-year planning, but if you do, you’re missing the most valuable moment of all: the DAY AFTER , when donors are still inspired and emotionally connected to the gift they just made.  In this replay of my most downloaded episode ever, you’ll hear the super simple, text-only email that can dramatically strengthen don...

Fewer than five of charity: water’s donors wrote a check during a 75,000-piece direct mail test, yet direct mail STILL lifted revenue by 1.5-2%! Behavioral science expert and DonorVoice founder Kevin Schulman is here to talk about why traditional direct mail metrics fall short, why your “non-check-writers” may be your biggest missed opportunity, and how personality-based messaging can transform do...

When your mission depends on people not just caring, but acting, the right data and technology infrastructure is so important. I am thrilled to welcome Emma Bloomberg, Founder and CEO of Murmuration , a nonprofit civic tech organization equipping grassroots groups with the tools to engage communities more efficiently, track progress, and build lasting civic power. Emma shares how organizations on...

Would you believe me if I told you that emotional intelligence can transform donor relationships and drive sustainable fundraising growth? Bill Crouch is the visionary leader of BrightDot and the author of Start with Heart: The Secret Power of Emotions to Catalyze Fundraising Results . And according to Bill, there is REAL data to prove why resilience and empathy consistently outperform traditional...

What does it take to triple a nonprofit’s operating budget, raise $3.3 million for a capital campaign, complete a $10 million dollar facility renovation, AND expand to three campuses, all in just six years? Hope Pavich, Executive Director of Care for Friends , joins me to share how she did exactly that.  In this episode, you’ll hear how Hope’s team identified service gaps to build an innovative gr...

If you and your team are constantly juggling WAY too many priorities with not enough support, this episode is exactly what you need to hear. Vicki Burkhart is the powerhouse founder and CEO of The More Than Giving Co. , a virtual, fractional staffing firm that has served over 230 nonprofit clients and counting! There is a growing “crisis of capacity” across the nonprofit sector. Did you know 65% o...

At just 23 years old, Maddie Ward became Chief Operating Officer of End Overdose , a nonprofit that’s trained over 500,000 people to identify and respond to opioid overdoses. What began as a grassroots effort at UCLA has since EXPLODED into a powerful, youth-driven network spanning 70+ cities, fueled by data, creativity, and pure heart. Maddie offers a fresh perspective on how she built scalable s...

We explore the power of nurture campaigns as a critical strategy before launching year-end appeals. Sharing personal stories and gratitude before making asks creates deeper connections with donors and significantly improves engagement metrics. • Previous bonus episodes covered LinkedIn thought leadership, making monthly giving the centerpiece of events, and getting featured in holiday gift guides...

What does recurring giving look like through a CFO’s eyes, vs. relying on grants and one-time gifts? It isn’t just good for cash flow – it’s the foundation for smarter, calmer leadership. Fractional CFO Stephen Newland is here to make the financial case for monthly giving. With over 15 years of experience guiding nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 500s, he breaks down how recurring gifts build stab...

Holiday gift guides present a powerful opportunity for nonprofits to position their monthly giving programs and symbolic gifts as meaningful alternatives to traditional presents.  With millions of people searching for gifts that create lasting impact, now is the perfect time to pitch your nonprofit's offerings to publications, local outlets, and influencers who create "gifts that give ba...