Sustainable Giving

What does it actually take to grow a monthly giving program that's already been running for 30 years? Dave Raley sits down with Erin Shuler, Sustainer Advisor at Catholic Relief Services, to use CRS's Footsteps in Faith program as a real-world case study. With 13 years at CRS and 5 years laser-focused on their sustainer community, Erin brings the kind of hard-won wisdom you only get from s...

What if 91% donor retention and 46% revenue growth were achievable with a team of one — and zero tchotchkes? Karen Kelly, Development Manager at the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, joins Dave Raley to share how she built the Full Plates Giving Circle: formalizing 200+ overlooked monthly donors into a named program that grew from 211 to 342 members and $20,585 to $30,094 in monthly revenue in just o...

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...

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,...

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 organiza...

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 b...

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 rescu...

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 a...

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 spen...

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 yea...

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, recurrin...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 n...

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 ur...

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...

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, sus...

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 g...

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 fundraisin...

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 Jus...

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 feel...

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 wher...

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 s...

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 da...