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 leaders need to understand right now.

Matthew shares why companies are going deeper with fewer partners, why a multi-layer approach matters, and how nonprofits can become collaborators in a shared narrative.

We’re digging into real-world examples too, including a 24-month relationship-building process, and the growing role of social enterprise as nonprofits look for more predictable revenue.

Resources & Links

Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn or send him an email at matthewsutton2018@gmail.com.

Check out Matthew’s book recommendations, including my book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, and Beyond Checks & Halos by Cynthia Eads Currence.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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 around the easiest yes.

We break down recent data trends from major giving moments showing growth in recurring signups alongside smaller average amounts, and explain why that’s good news when you care about retention and lifetime value.

Drawing on lessons from the subscription economy, we look at how streaming and SaaS brands prioritize momentum over pressure, starting with doable plans and earning trust over time.

The same playbook works for nonprofits: invite people in with a low, human entry point, then nurture them with clear impact stories, flexible options, and upgrade moments that feel earned.

This conversation is a practical roadmap for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and digital teams who want sustainable revenue, wider reach, and a supporter community that stays.

Subscribe for more predictions, share with your team, and leave a quick review to help other nonprofits find the show.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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 showing up consistently, which resulted in 14 retail storefronts, partnerships with Target and Disney, and repeat purchases.

If you’re building or refining a monthly giving program, you’ll also love hearing how Adriana attracted 500 subscribers almost immediately into her Word of the Month subscription program.

Resources & Links

Connect with Adriana on LinkedIn and learn more about Little Words Project, Little Words Big Impact, and their Word of the Month subscription.

If you want to make your own Word of the Year bracelet, check out the 2026 Word of the Year Bead Kit.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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 Subscriptions analysis of 67 million subscribers, including what brands are doing to combat slow acquisition and churn, and the GivingTuesday trends emerging around mobile-first, recurring signups.

This conversation sets the foundation for the next few episodes, where I’ll share my 2026 monthly giving predictions.

Resources & Links

Check out Recurly’s 2025 State of Subscriptions report.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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 invested in recurring giving technology to reach 91% retention on auto-renew donors
• Liz Bohannon, a keynote speaker & author, who talks about “pluck ups” and how to reframe failure as courage-in-action
• Heather Sager, a speaking coach, who shares a powerful mindset shift to help you build confidence in public speaking
• Ashlyn Jones from Houston Food Bank, on growing their monthly giving program to 5,200 sustainers with human-centered storytelling
• Trovon C. Williams from NAACP, about why leading with solutions can create stronger donor empowerment
• Maddie Ward from End Overdose, about how they scaled from a single campus to 70+ cities nationwide

Resources & Links

Hear the full episodes with each of today’s featured guests:

How 20 Cook-Offs Raised $300k from Corporate Partnerships

How Surfrider Foundation’s CEO Amplifies Impact Through Thought Leadership

Celebrating Failures: A New Approach to “Pluck-Ups”

How to Craft a Signature Talk to Amplify Your Mission

How Houston Food Bank Grew 5,200 Monthly Donors - The Importance of a Sustainer Role

NAACP’s Bold Shift Toward Sustained Impact

From UCLA to 70+ Cities: End Overdose Sparked a College Campus Movement

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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 gigs (including international!), and the journaling questions I’m sitting with.

Of course, I couldn’t leave out the data, and we also dig into insights from this year’s M+R Benchmarks Report, including the stat that monthly giving now accounts for 31% of all online revenue. If you’ve been waiting for permission to prioritize sustainable, recurring giving, this is your sign!

My hope is that this episode helps you reflect on where you spent your energy this year as you build, prioritize, and prepare for the year ahead.

Resources & Links

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

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 commitment to equity.

We get into how small but strategic investments can spark outsized impact, like, DC Public Schools’ $2,500 micro-grants. Maggie also shares what it takes to build a multilingual educator pipeline and why meaningful change can’t be squeezed into a 12-month grant cycle.

Her candor around trust-based philanthropy, power dynamics, and multi-year funding models offers a blueprint for nonprofits eager to move the needle on bolder, more sustainable partnerships.

Resources & Links

Connect with Dr. Maggie Sullivan Marcus on LinkedIn and learn more about the Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation on their website.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

Let's Connect!

• Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!
• My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!