Missions to Movements

Did you know that only 3% of charitable giving in the U.S. happens on a recurring basis, and moving that needle to just 5% could unlock $9 BILLION in annual funding for nonprofits?! Today I’m sharing my keynote from the 2025 Monthly Giving Summit and pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to stop treating recurring giving like a side hustle. It’s time to make it the main event! Sustainab...

PR success can create a snowball effect for your nonprofit, ALL at once. But how do you do it? In this episode, I’m talking to former U.S. diplomat turned PR powerhouse Gloria Chou, who’s helped thousands of entrepreneurs and small organizations land over 10,000 media features without needing an agency, big budget, or insider contacts. Gloria shares why traditional PR is often gatekept and how you...

If you’d like to check out Flodesk + get my 4-Part Email Welcome Series Workflow sign up with my link ! What if your email marketing platform actually made you feel smarter instead of overwhelmed? Dawn Richardson, Product Education Manager at Flodesk, is here to help you redefine what’s possible in nonprofit email marketing (with ALL the segmenting and automations too!) Email personalization in 20...

If you're still manually sending thank you notes, chasing spreadsheets, or struggling to keep up with donor touch points, this episode could save you THOUSANDS of dollars. I’m talking with Rachel Bearbower, an absolute systems wizard and the founder of  Nonprofit Automation Agency , to break down how nonprofits can implement systems and automations that actually feel personal. Rachel walks us...

Did you know that 80% of LinkedIn's BILLION-plus members want to give back to organizations? Today I’m joined by a repeat guest: Ariana Younai, Head of LinkedIn for Nonprofits!  And we’re here to cover how you can strategically use LinkedIn’s most powerful (and often overlooked) tool: Sales Navigator.  Ariana shares exactly how it can help fuel your fundraising efforts, build warm donor relat...

Today’s episode is a peek behind the curtain of my recent virtual Monthly Giving Summit. The good, the surprising, and everything in between! With a team of 6 handling strategic planning and marketing, we ended up with 31 speakers and 4,693 registrants from 58 countries! I’ll share what we paid in speaker fees, the secrets behind our marketing approach, why simple, no-frills video ads work, and ho...

Did you know that LinkedIn video uploads have increased by 34% year over year?!  If your nonprofit isn’t leveraging video on LinkedIn, you’re missing out on a major opportunity to connect with potential donors and advocates. In this episode, I’m sharing a replay of a recent livestream I co-hosted about the power of LinkedIn video with Scott Rising, Senior Content Marketing Manager at LinkedIn. We...

Today, I'm sharing something I normally reserve for my paid mastermind clients: a ready-to-implement, 4-part email welcome series designed specifically for monthly donors. Even better? It’s built in Flodesk so you can download and customize it immediately for your organization! When you’re capturing new monthly donors, are you missing a crucial opportunity to take them through a well-timed se...

What happens when a nonprofit and a major beauty brand come together to change the narrative on the deeply ingrained biases surrounding facial differences?  You’re about to learn how a BOLD vision turned a dream collaboration with Sephora UK into reality with Phyllida Swift, CEO of Face Equality International.  Phyllida starts by sharing her incredible story of resilience and strength after a car...

You deserve to be on stages of all shapes and sizes this year. And the only way that we're going to shake up this world for good is if we get your stories out there! Speaking coach Heather Sager is behind the mic today to break down the wild world of public speaking and how to craft your signature talk.  Whether you’re pitching your nonprofit, leading a meeting, or commanding a stage, Heather...

The Monthly Giving Summit is HERE!   Instead of scrambling for last minute dollars or stressing over whether a big donor will renew their gift, imagine that you have a solid foundation of predictable revenue that gives you room to breathe, plan and focus on the work that truly matters.  That's what a thriving monthly giving program can do.  This year’s summit is a space where we can all come...

Did you know 97% of recurring donor value occurs AFTER the first gift?  Author and nonprofit advisor Dave Raley is here to share why the subscription economy is reshaping recurring giving and how nonprofits can shift from a transactional mindset, to building engaging donor experiences that foster long-term retention. We get into why you need a dedicated staff focusing on recurring giving programs...

Nonprofits need to stop playing it safe.  Liz Bohannon (our keynote speaker for the upcoming 2025 Monthly Giving Summit!) is here to share her take on embracing perceived failures, or as she calls them, "Pluck Ups."  What if failure wasn't something to fear, but something to celebrate? Liz shares how the stories we tell ourselves about setbacks can either lead to shame and isolation...

Last week’s federal grant freeze sent shockwaves through the nonprofit sector, and you may be wondering, what is the impact as it relates to funding and future sustainability?  DeaRonda Harrison, CEO of June First Firm , is here to break down what this means for grant-funded nonprofits. DeaRhonda shares her expertise on federal and private grants, explaining the ripple effects of the freeze, the c...

How can you use a quiz to elevate your nonprofit’s fundraising goals? I’m excited to bring back Lauren Hanson from Every Shelter , to share the nuts and bolts of their successful GivingTuesday quiz that generated 170+ new contacts AND counting. Inspired by The Adventure Project, who deployed a similar strategy ( see Episode 7! ), Lauren breaks down the easy-to-use quiz maker she used, and the 4-pa...

How can you use LinkedIn to boost your nonprofit’s visibility, partnerships and funding?  In this episode, I’m sharing FIVE powerful tips that can help you maximize LinkedIn in 2025.  We’ll cover how to craft an impeccable LinkedIn profile and company page that serves as your nonprofit’s “digital handshake”, using the “2-2-1” content strategy to captivate and connect, and the importance of experim...

Get ready to explore the vibrant world of ocean and beach conservation! Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation , leads one of the most impactful environmental nonprofit organizations. Today, Chad shares his 27+ years of turning surfing culture into a powerful force for environmental stewardship, now with over 200 chapters and thousands of volunteers. You’ll hear everything from how Surfrider...

When I was 23, I could not even fathom starting a nonprofit, but Courtney Johnson did just that. In this episode, she shares her extraordinary journey and how her father’s battle with long cancer inspired her to start Culinary Care, an organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients with nourishing meals.  Fostering corporate partnerships have been a game changer for Courtney and she walks us...

In 2025, can you dare to wonder?  To kick off the new year, I’m sharing my word of the year, and what’s to come on the Missions to Movements podcast in 2025. The four core themes we’ll be diving into? Revolutionizing fundraising, monthly giving programs, personal branding and thought leadership, and creating unique partnerships. In this episode, I also take a moment to reflect on my favorite momen...

Could embracing the latest nonprofit tech trends redefine your fundraising strategy for 2025?! Today I’m sharing a comprehensive, data-driven look at my top FIVE key trends and predictions that will transform how you connect with supporters in the new year… starting with AI! We’ll explore how AI innovations like Claude and Perplexity are transforming grant writing and donor communication, with fas...

The Canada Post strike began on November 15th, and Shellie Power, the Executive Director of Hope Centre Ministries , is here to shine a light on the fascinating creative strategies she’s crafted to maintain crucial donor communications. (Hint: it’s pretty heartwarming!) We talk about the strike's ripple effect that has been felt across sectors and how it’s challenging nonprofits to find innov...

In honor of the 12 Days of Christmas, I thought it would be fun to share 12 of my FAVORITE tools, services, personal treasures, and subscriptions that make my life easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. Shop Dana’s Favorite Things The Monthly Giving Mastermind Book (For a limited time, get the first two chapters for FREE!) Flodesk Nonprofit Automation Agency Monthly Giving Summit Replays (Bi...

As a board member of the Impact Communications Institute (ICI), I am excited to share a thought-provoking conversation during one of our Impact Councils that we hosted in partnership with 3BL Media . In this episode, we explore how open hiring and criminal justice reform can be woven into brand storytelling without objectifying those with lived experiences. You’ll learn how purpose-driven companie...

Leadership isn't just a title. It's about influence and building trust. And today's guest is someone who FUNDAMENTALLY shaped my career and even became a catalyst in my leap to entrepreneurship.  Kristin Boehm was a pioneer in digital media at People Magazine and with an always sharp pulse on culture, is now a branding consultant. Known for her killer headlines and strategic mind, h...

Caught in the beautiful whirlwind of Giving Tuesday, I found myself reflecting on a vital lesson learned from last year’s campaign. Imagine the scenario: you pour your passion and effort into creating a memorable GivingTuesday, only to find that the connection with your donors dwindles as soon as the thank-you emails are sent. This episode draws from my experience with a local animal organization...