Missions to Movements

  1. 6d ago

    Giving Teens Real Authority + Real Money to Design Change with Chidi Asoluka

    When a high schooler at NewComm manages a $10,000 budget, the money is real. So is the authority, and so are the neighborhoods they're designing solutions for. Chidi Asoluka spent 16 years as a classroom teacher before founding NewComm, a civic design studio where high schoolers from historically marginalized communities pair literature with real community challenges. He joins me in Atlanta for a special in-person CEO Series episode to share how a dream about Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon became an English elective in Philadelphia, then a summer program for 11 students, and now serves more than 150 students in the Bronx, with Brooklyn coming this fall. We also talk about the bank CEO who paid his full Georgetown tuition, why success shouldn't require erasure, how senior "managing partners" help run the organization, and how the Net Gala, the first project students funded with their $10,000 budget, became NewComm's annual fundraiser. Resources & Links Learn more about NewComm and follow along on Instagram. Connect with Chidi on Instagram and LinkedIn. Watch Chidi's TED Talk This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  2. 6d ago

    Making Good Famous: Carolina García Jayaram on Why Visibility Is Capital for Social Entrepreneurs

    What if the boldest thing philanthropy could do is to hand an organization $250,000, and $50,000 directly to the individual to support the whole leader? My next guest runs a foundation around that exact idea.  Carolina García Jayaram, founding CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation, believes that strategic visibility can be just as catalytic as funding, especially for social entrepreneurs trying to grow beyond the people and communities who already know them. We talk about Elevate Prize’s “Make Good Famous” philosophy, what relationship-based philanthropy looks like, and how Elevate Studios helped one storytelling series generate more than 3 MILLION views and 100,000 new YouTube subscribers. Resources & Links Connect with Carolina García Jayaram on LinkedIn and Instagram. Learn more about Elevate Studios, the Get Loud Award, and the Elevate Prize Foundation.  This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  3. Sep 30

    Meet Monthlies Greatest Impact Winner: World Central Kitchen | How 80,000 Kitchen Corps Members Fund Day 0 Disaster Response

    When World Central Kitchen shows up within hours of a disaster, that response didn’t start that day. The relationships, infrastructure, and funding were already in place, and more than 80,000 Kitchen Corps members are a huge reason why. Monthly Giving Manager Lindsey Latham joins me to share how WCK turned an already successful recurring donor base into a true community, including a monthly newsletter that catapulted their open rates to 40-45%, along with a 4-part welcome series designed around stewardship. We also talk about their $500,000 monthly giving match, why it keeps matching gifts through the end of the year instead of just once, and what nonprofits with an unnamed recurring donor base can learn from their retention first strategy. Resources & Links Learn more about World Central Kitchen and Kitchen Corps and connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  4. Sep 28 ·  Bonus

    If Everything Feels Important, You Haven't Made a Decision | Monthly Giving Year-End Plan

    Use code: MOVEMENTS for 25% off Monthly Giving Builder Join the Sustainer Slack Group (FREE) Is monthly giving on your year-end fundraising plan, or is it just one email? In this tough love episode, Dana Snyder shares two quotes from Emma Grede that changed how she thinks about her work: "If everything feels important, you haven't made a decision" and "The work you avoid would probably change your life." If your nonprofit says it doesn't have time to start a monthly giving program, this episode is for you. Dana shares: Why "we don't have time" usually means monthly giving isn't at the top of the listWhy one monthly giving email at year-end is not enough, and how to build a full season of asksHow leading with a recurring ask can raise one-time gifts tooHow St. Jude turned a booth at Create and Cultivate into new supporters, and how to build visibility before year-endA 3-step challenge: cut one thing this week, choose who owns monthly giving, and block time on your calendar in the next 7 daysJoin the free Sustainer Slack group at positiveequation.com (click Resources) to share your plan with other nonprofit peers. Ready to build a monthly giving program? Use code MOVEMENTS for 25% off the annual plan of the Monthly Giving Builder. On October 22nd, Monthly Giving Builder users get a live coaching call with Dana to work on their year-end plan. Coming Wednesday: our final Monthlies winner, World Central Kitchen, and how their 80,000 Kitchen Corps members fund day zero disaster response. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  5. Sep 23

    Meet Monthlies Most Creative Campaign Winner: Letters to a Pre-Scientist | The Volunteer Pipeline Behind a 500-Member Recurring Program

    During a funding crunch, Lucy Madden, CEO of Letters to a Pre-Scientist, recorded a video asking volunteers if they could spare $5 a month to help the organization finish the school year. That first ask brought in 300 monthly donors, and today, more than 90% of Stamp Squad members have also been penpal volunteers. We get into why this worked so well, including how Lucy embedded the monthly giving ask directly into required volunteer training, and how their word-of-mouth momentum is now spilling into fundraising, too. Recurring revenue changed Lucy’s mindset about what was possible. And her biggest lesson for anyone building a recurring program? Get your tech right! Resources & Links Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn, learn more about Letters to a Pre-Scientist, Stamp Squad, and follow them on Instagram. Want to make Missions to Movements even better? Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @positivequation so I can connect with you.  This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  6. Sep 16

    Meet Monthlies Winner: How AART Turned Monthly Donors Into Organizers (Not Just Givers)

    If you've ever wondered whether a membership model could work for grassroots organizing and not just traditional fundraising, today's guest is going to show you exactly how. The African American Roundtable (AART) won this year’s Monthlies award for Strongest Sense of Community, and Executive Director Markasa Tucker-Harris is joining me to share how AART created a five-tier membership structure, inviting donors to “be the work.” That shift has influenced EVERYTHING, from fundraising and staffing to storytelling and retention, including how they think about dedicated membership roles, relationship-building with donors, and creating pathways for members to organize more people into the movement. Markasa also shares why AART’s churn stays low and what nonprofits considering a membership or recurring giving model should do first. Resources & Links Learn more about the African American Roundtable and their upcoming events. 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 make Missions to Movements even better? Take a screenshot of this episode and share it on Instagram. Be sure to tag @positivequation so I can connect with you. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  7. Sep 9

    Two Nonprofits' Year End Playbooks: Habitat for Humanity Omaha + Canadian Cancer Society (Q3 State of Recurring Giving)

    Recurring giving now makes up 27% of ALL online revenue, and for many nonprofits, 30-40% of total online revenue can arrive in the final three weeks of the year. Is your monthly giving program actually positioned to take advantage of all that attention and generosity? Today’s episode is your front row seat into my Q3 State of Recurring Giving webinar, where I brought together the team from STella! alongside fundraising leaders from Habitat for Humanity Omaha and the Canadian Cancer Society to share what they’re doing heading into year end. We also get tactical about the channels and tools driving that growth, including Google Performance Max, paid search, SMS, Fundraise Up, UTMs, and AI. Canadian Cancer Society generated an additional $171,000 from pre-donation upsells, while one recurring donor upgrade test produced an average increase of $14 per donor! And if you’re wondering what to do before Q4, we end with four VERY practical actions. Resources & Links Learn more about STella!, Habitat for Humanity Omaha and Canadian Cancer Society. Read the Neon One 2026 Recurring Donor Report and the M+R Benchmarks 2026. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  8. Sep 2

    Agentic Giving Explained: How to Get Your Nonprofit Found, Understood, and Trusted by AI with Fundraise Up CEO Peter Byrnes

    Your next donor may never visit your website! Peter Byrnes, CEO of Fundraise Up, is joining me to explain agentic giving and the shift he sees happening RIGHT now from discovery, to recommendation, to delegation.  Donors are already asking AI tools where they should give, and soon they may be asking those same tools to actually make the donation for them. We get into what nonprofits need to do now to become easier for AI to find, understand, and trust, including why consistency across your website, annual reports, financial information, and outside sources matters more than ever.  We also talk about Fundraise Up’s free Agentic Giving Readiness Assessment, how to audit what AI is already saying about your organization, and why the goal isn’t to panic — it’s to prepare. Resources & Links Check out the Fundraise Up Agentic Giving Readiness Assessment. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn. Learn more about Peec.ai. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  9. Aug 26

    Meet Monthlies Mid-Size Org Winner: Global Catalyst | This Is What Happens When You Stop Waiting

    Global Catalyst is on a mission to mentor girls around the world to become powerful advocates and confident leaders. They went from just 7 monthly donors in July 2025, to growing their Girls First community by 500% to 35 monthly donors. As a girl mom, this episode with Courtney Stricklin Burgan hits deep to my heart. In her role as VP of Engagement and Communications, Courtney leads a passionate team of fundraising and storytelling professionals, and we're going to get into every single detail of how she did it. You’ll discover why donors started choosing $20, $25, and even $33 a month, how they steward their community with birthday cards, anniversary emails, sticker packs, and personal outreach, and why Courtney sees monthly giving as “major giving in a different way.” Resources & Links Learn more about Global Catalyst, follow them on Instagram, and connect with Courtney at c.strickland@globalgirlsglow.org.  Check out Courtney’s book recs, Dungeon Crawler Carl and I Am A Girl From Africa. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  10. Aug 19

    He Wrote the Longest Book Title in Nonprofit History about Planned Giving. The Advice Inside Is Even Better with Tony Martignetti

    Planned giving does not have to be complicated OR expensive, and you don’t need an estate attorney to get started. What if your nonprofit already has planned giving prospects sitting inside your donor database, but you just haven’t asked them yet? Tony Martignetti worked with a historical society who mailed just 250 people about planned giving. SIX donors responded that they had already included the organization in their wills! We talk about how Tony built St. John’s University’s planned giving program to $20 million, why your best prospects are often your most loyal long-term donors, and why he recommends starting with donors around age 55-60+ and older. And yes, monthly donors absolutely belong in this conversation. Someone who has supported your organization month after month for years can make an incredible planned giving prospect. Resources & Links Connect with Tony on LinkedIn, tune in to his podcast Nonprofit Radio, and learn more Planned Giving Accelerated. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  11. Aug 12

    Meet Monthlies Small Org Winner: Magical Creatures Sanctuary | How Authentic Storytelling on Social Media Built a Monthly Giving Program

    If you've ever wondered what's possible with zero full-time paid staff and zero development budget, this episode is for you. Magical Creatures Sanctuary is a 100% volunteer-run farmed animal rescue on Hawaii Island that cares for more than 100 rescued animals, and today, 48% of their individual donor revenue comes from recurring gifts, with an 83% donor retention rate. Executive Director Jill Vanderhoef joins me to break down their Adopt a Magical Creature sponsorship program and how even a $5 monthly gift can create meaningful stability. Plus, Jill shares EXACTLY what’s working for them on Instagram and TikTok and why emotional connection, before-and-after storytelling, and paying attention to the questions your audience is already asking can help create content that brings supporters closer to your mission. Resources & Links Learn more about Magical Creatures Sanctuary and follow them on Instagram and TikTok. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  12. Aug 5

    Why Monthly Giving Stays on the To-Do List (What I've Learned From 1,000 Nonprofit Leaders)

    How do you walk into the end of the year with your monthly giving program finally built? More than HALF of the nonprofit professionals who joined my recent monthly giving webinars either had no recurring giving program or had started one and stalled.  And after analyzing feedback and behavior from more than 1,000 nonprofit leaders, I found that there are three primary barriers keeping organizations from making recurring giving the front door to fundraising. I also take you behind the scenes of how I use Claude and MCP connectors to analyze webinar registrations, purchasing behavior, and participant feedback in a single afternoon. Plus, why another webinar, workbook, or framework won’t solve the problem unless it helps your team produce the actual program name, landing page copy, email sequence, and board-ready plan. Resources & Links This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  13. Jul 29

    Black Philanthropy Month: The $86 Million Case for Funding Ecosystems with Kaci Patterson

    August is Black Philanthropy Month, so consider today’s episode the kickoff! Kaci Patterson has helped raise and leverage more than $86 million for Black-led organizations.  As the founder of Social Good Solutions and the Black Equity Collective, she joins me to get into their incredible study. 220 Black-led nonprofits across California created more than 4,000 jobs and generated over $335 MILLION in salaries. These organizations are powerhouse economic engines, truly driving critical work in health, safety, and racial justice. Kaci also shares how legacy can be a filter for which opportunities to say yes to, why funders must model the collaboration they ask nonprofits to practice, and how both sides can become values-based partners in community co-design. Resources & Links Connect with Kaci on LinkedIn and learn more about Social Good Solutions and Black Equity Collective. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  14. Jul 22

    Your Visibility Is an Asset: Shilpa Alva on Leading Out Loud

    Shilpa Alva is on a mission to fix one of the world’s most fundamental problems: the fact that hundreds of millions of people don’t have access to safe, clean water. Surge for Water is a women-led nonprofit that went from a nights-and-weekends passion project into a global organization delivering clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and women’s health solutions. And after operating across 12 countries and reaching hundreds of thousands of people, Shilpa shares why the organization has shifted its focus from chasing the biggest numbers to demonstrating deeper, community-owned impact. We talk about the business principles Shilpa carried from chemical engineering and corporate leadership into the nonprofit sector, why her board encouraged her to become a more visible speaker and advocate, how media appearances build credibility even when the ROI is difficult to isolate, and why nonprofit leaders should begin telling their stories long before they feel fully ready. Resources & Links Connect with Shilpa on LinkedIn and learn more about Surge for Water on their website. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  15. Jul 15

    The AI Shift Nonprofits Can’t Ignore: Chatbots, Cancer Support, and the Future of Search with Mike Osborne

    Most nonprofits start with the tools. The better question is, what’s the scalable opportunity technology can solve so your team can stay focused on the human interactions that matter most? With 1 in 2 people impacted by cancer in their lifetime, Mike Osborne and his team at Cancer Council Victoria are applying that thinking to one of their biggest pressure points: freeing up counselors from digging through systems so they can stay present and support more people in less time. Mike also reveals research-backed hot takes on AI-generated search summaries, and why teens are more likely to open up to a chatbot than talk to an adult. Resources & Links Connect with Mike on LinkedIn and learn more about Cancer Council Victoria on their website. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  16. Jul 8

    From Months to DAYS: How AI Is Helping Children International Scale to 275,000 Kids with Tim Bachta

    Way too much of our human capacity is spent on tasks that DON’T require human empathy. That’s how Tim Bachta from Children International is thinking about growth as his team works to expand from 220,000 to 275,000 children served. Tim shares how his team is using Microsoft Copilot to eliminate the manual work that’s been slowing them down (like letter translation processes that once took months, to systems running in DAYS!) so their staff can focus on building relationships and supporting families. This episode is a powerful look at what happens when you stop asking, “how can we use AI?!” and start asking where your team’s time is being wasted and who your champions are to help drive change. Resources & Links Connect with Tim on LinkedIn and learn more about Children International on their website. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  17. Jul 1

    From Spikes to Steady: World Central Kitchen's Monthly Giving Rebrand + What the Data Says About Recurring Giving Right Now

    What does the latest recurring giving data actually tell us? In this special State of Recurring Giving episode, three leaders from CharityEngine, GivingTuesday Data Commons, and World Central Kitchen are joining me to unpack the latest recurring giving benchmarks AND one of the most compelling monthly giving case studies of the year. Together, we're exploring the trends shaping recurring giving today, why monthly donors generate nearly 3x the annual value of one-time donors, and how World Central Kitchen turned 2,800 new monthly donors into an estimated $6 million in lifetime value with their Kitchen Core monthly giving program. Resources & Links A special thank you to CharityEngine for making this quarter's State of Recurring Giving webinar possible. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  18. Jun 24

    What 1,000 Donors Are Telling You: Key Takeaways from 2026 Giving Signals Report by Bloomerang

    Did you know 92% of donors say giving is part of who they are? And that 94% say they're MORE motivated to give when they know exactly where their money will go? Today I'm doing one of my favorite things – diving into the data and research from Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report, and sharing the major opportunity gaps every nonprofit should be paying attention to. Generosity isn't disappearing, but it's becoming much more intentional! This episode is packed with several high-impact changes that can help you remove friction, strengthen donor relationships, and increase giving. Resources & Links Check out Bloomerang’s latest research in their 2026 Giving Signals Report. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  19. Jun 17

    From Certification to Skills: Preparing Nonprofits for the AI Economy with Naria Santa Lucia

    With AI adoption exploding, what does that actually mean for how you grow your team, your donors, and your impact? Naria Santa Lucia brought SO much energy and joy to her MC role at the Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit, that I had to sit down with her to hear how nonprofit leaders can build practical pathways for using AI in their day-to-day work and cut through the hype. Naria also brings a perspective every nonprofit needs to hear: take the big swing, stay true to your mission, and don’t pivot just to chase funding. When you focus on real impact (and communicate it clearly!) you’ll draw the right supporters in. Resources & Links Connect with Naria Santa Lucia on LinkedIn and learn more about Microsoft Elevate here. Not sure where to start in building your program? Start with this $5 audit to know where your gap is. Takes 5-10 minutes max, and you'll know where to start --> Monthly Giving Interactive Audit  This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  20. Jun 10

    How Shared Data and AI Are Transforming ALS Research with Clare Durrett and Terri Thompson

    Most AI conversations are loaded with productivity hacks, but it’s also accelerating scientific discovery in ways most people aren’t even thinking about. In this live conversation from the Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit, I’m talking to Clare Durrett from Answer ALS and Terri Thompson from OnPoint Scientific about how they’re helping cut ALS research timelines by 65%!  With a shared platform called Neuromine, researchers now have access to clinical data, genetics, bio samples, and more, all in one place. Even if you’re not in the research space, this episode is a super powerful example of what becomes possible when you break down silos and build the right partnerships. Resources & Links Connect with Clare on LinkedIn and learn more about Answer ALS on their website. Connect with Terri on LinkedIn and learn more about OnPoint Scientific on their website. Learn more about Team Gleason, a nonprofit that improves daily life for people living with ALS. The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  21. Jun 3

    Leading AI Adoption From the Top with World Vision Germany's CEO Christoph Hilligen

    This is the first time in 18 years that Christoph Hilligen sees a possibility to radically change the way NGOs operate. As the CEO of World Vision Germany, he’s already using AI to launch emergency appeals in HOURS and build personalized donor journeys. One of the most fascinating examples? His team uses predictive models to flag which donors may be at risk of canceling, so they can step in earlier and build stronger relationships. AI is definitely no longer optional, and the nonprofits who move faster, personalize better, and use their data to guide decisions will raise more and create more impact without risking falling behind. This is exactly the kind of case study I could have talked about with Christoph forever! Resources & Links Connect with Christoph on LinkedIn and learn more about World Vision Germany on their website. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  22. May 27

    Predictive Fundraising, Donor Identity, and the Nonprofit of 2030: Inside GiveCon with Bloomerang CMO Ann Fellman

    Right off the heels of GiveCon, the data is IN. Bloomerang just released their 2026 Giving Signals report, and there's one stat that stopped me in my tracks: donors prefer specific impact language over vague appeals by an 88 point margin! Ann Fellman, CMO of Bloomerang, is joining me fresh off the GiveCon stage to break down what the data is telling us about donor behavior and why your $25/month donor might actually be worth $3,200+ in lifetime value. Ann also reveals two major product launches, including a native integration with Dataro's predictive donor intelligence — and shares exactly what she'd focus on this summer to get ahead of end-of-year fundraising. Resources & Links Connect with Ann on LinkedIn and check out Bloomerang’s 2026 Giving Signals Report. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  23. May 20

    The Inclusive AI Economy: How Nonprofits Win with Microsoft Elevate's Justin Spelhaug

    What happens when 1.3 billion people adopt AI in just 39 months… and most nonprofits are still trying to figure out where to even start? While nearly 90% of nonprofits are already using AI, only 6-7% are seeing meaningful returns, which is why I HAD to sit down with Justin Spelhaug, President of Microsoft Elevate, to talk about why that gap exists, and how nonprofits have a once-in-a-generation chance to shape a more inclusive AI economy. We also talk about generating personalized donor thank you messages at scale, and how to use predictive modeling to better understand giving behavior. This moment requires all of us to lean in and will challenge how you think about AI. Resources & Links Connect with Justin on LinkedIn and learn more about Microsoft Elevate on their website. Justin also recommends Carol Dweck and her work on growth mindsets. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  24. May 13

    Belief Precedes Growth: Building a Recurring-First Culture with Dave Raley and Dana Snyder

    Monthly Giving Awareness Week feels like the perfect time to bring back repeat guest Dave Raley, especially after he just launched The Center for Sustainable Giving, a new initiative helping nonprofits rethink how they approach recurring generosity. The subscription economy is fundamentally changing donor expectations, which is why we’re exploring topics like “10x thinking”, generosity as a learned habit, the future of sustainable philanthropy, and why recurring giving programs deserve far more visibility, staffing, and investment than they’re currently getting. So many nonprofits are still stuck in a “single gift mindset” and this conversation is a reminder of just how big the opportunity is if you’re willing to think differently about donor relationships. Resources & Links Monthly Giving Awareness Week is THIS week and the deadline to apply for the 2026 Monthlies is May 13, 2026. Enter here. Learn about The Center for Sustainable Giving. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...

  25. May 6

    From Voice to Velocity: Visibility Through Thought Leadership with Dion Dawson (MGS Main Stage Session)

    Dion Dawson took the Monthly Giving Summit Main Stage in February and it was mic drop after mic drop. Over the last five years, his work at Dion’s Chicago Dream has generated more than $17.8 MILLION dollars in impact feeding families, building systems, and creating jobs.  And he didn’t get there by being perfect or cracking a universal code. Dion shares how to build visibility through thought leadership, the importance of knowing where to invest your time, and why showing up over and over again is what builds trust and momentum. If you’ve been sitting on ideas, waiting for the right moment, or questioning how you can build belief at scale, this episode will fire you up. Your mission deserves to be heard! Resources & Links Connect with Dion on LinkedIn and learn more about Dion’s Chicago Dream on their website. This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.  Now is the time to start making your plans for GivingTuesday. Visit GivingTuesday.org/participate for resources and inspiration. Save the date for our next Monthly Giving Summit on February 25, 2027. Apply to speak here! Applications are now open for the 2027 Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind and Retreat. If you have built a monthly giving program, join our high-touch peer coaching community for nonprofit leaders who are ready to break through. Supercharge your monthly giving program and apply for my Monthly Giving VIP Intensive session. Only 2 spots are available this fall! 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 ...