Missions to Movements

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 the Children’s Center in Detroit, where her team tripled philanthropy in three years and doubled it again before her departure. You’ll hear what it actually looked like on the ground: auditing revenue channels, analyzing cost-per-dollar raised and ROI across events, grants, and direct response, strengthening monthly and planned giving, and expanding donor engagement.This episode also explores why many nonprofits thrive with younger generations, offers in-the-trenches advice for leaders navigating busy giving seasons, and how to thoughtfully affirm everyone who contributes their time, talent, and resources.Resources & LinksConnect with Tammy on LinkedIn and learn more about her book, Calling All Heroes. Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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!

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 monthly office hours, expert Q&As, and coworking huddles.We’re also going to talk about what’s in store for the 2026 Monthly Giving Summit, happening February 25-26th, including the why behind the theme, and all about our keynote speaker, Adriana Carrig of Little Words Project.Finally, I’m unveiling two mastermind tracks next year! A high-touch 4-month Monthly Giving Mastermind, and a new Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind that offers a full year of strategic support, AND an in-person retreat in Atlanta.I love getting to do this work and can’t wait to support you.Resources & LinksAlready have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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!

After GivingTuesday, a crucial moment arises when donors are still emotionally connected to their gifts. A simple, text-only email can dramatically enhance relationships by uncovering what inspired each donation. Responses not only reveal motivations but also provide valuable stories for future campaigns. Practical tips for sending this email include using plain text and personalizing the sender. Discover how to harness this unique opportunity to engage and learn from supporters to fuel ongoing efforts.

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 donor engagement.You’ll hear the inside story of a charity: water experiment that tested postcards vs. full letters, QR codes on the outer envelope, and personality trait targeting based on the Big Five framework. Kevin and I also dig into measuring donor commitment, what predicts retention, and how some nonprofits are increasing their first-year monthly donor retention by 6-9 percentage points simply by adjusting their communication volume. If you’re rethinking how direct mail fits into your world, this episode will reshape how you design, segment, and evaluate your campaigns.Resources & LinksConnect with Kevin on LinkedIn and learn more about DonorVoice on their website.Check out the book I’m currently reading, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, by Will Guidara.Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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 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 the ground can use voter files, civic data, and tailored analytics to understand who they’re reaching, measure what’s moving the needle, and mobilize supporters in ways that feel personal.You’ll also hear one of Murmuration’s most compelling case studies: Memphis Lift, a parent-led group that began with stacks of yellow legal pads that funneled into thousands of engaged community members showing up for local education issues.And with tools like Civic Pulse, which polls 500 people every day using open-ended questions, Emma highlights how nonprofits can gain deeper insight into what their communities are thinking in real time.Resources & LinksLearn more about Murmuration and request a demo on their website. You can also subscribe to their newsletter, Insights by Murmuration, on Substack.Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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!

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 metrics.Bill walks us through BrightDot’s “Teach, Train, Transform” methodology and how one community college in Florida raised significant gifts by rethinking their team structure, board accountability, and donor strategy.He explains how handwritten notes, emotionally intelligent hiring practices, and even a 2 hour “Fundraising Focus” window each week can wildly change donor engagement outcomes. You’ll leave this conversation with so many practical takeaways to catalyze your results and bring more meaning into your fundraising culture.Resources & LinksConnect with Bill at bill@thebrightdot.com and learn more about BrightDot on their website. Check out Bill’s book: Start with Heart: The Secret Power of Emotions to Catalyze Fundraising Results.Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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 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 grocery delivery program for unhoused youth that now reaches 30 of Chicago’s 50 wards, and why funders jumped to support it. Plus, how an unexpected construction delay funneled into a long-term partnership with the Church of the Atonement, and why focusing on shared values over speed can create sustainable, scalable growth.Hope is no stranger to strategic growth and mission aligned innovation. She also shares her process for crafting clear, funder-friendly storytelling, along with real-world examples on collaboration and leading through uncertainty.Resources & LinksLearn more about Care for Friends, their programs, and how to donate.Check out The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level.Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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!

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% of nonprofit leaders say they don’t have enough staff to deliver programs and services?Vicki explains how her Nonprofit Virtual Assistant program helps organizations scale smarter, freeing up leaders from day-to-day administrative tasks so they can focus on mission-driven growth.You’ll learn what successful integration of a VA looks like in action, how much it costs, and how to assess when it’s the right time to seek outside support. I also share my own experience as a client!Resources & LinksLearn more about Vicki on LinkedIn, email her at mtg@morethangiving.co, and check out The More Than Giving website to explore their fractional staffing services. You can also schedule a meeting to determine the next best steps for your organization.Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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 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 systems for leadership, recruitment, and sustainability to empower students to take ownership of their local chapters. What’s also been key to their growth? Standardizing operations and giving volunteers autonomy!We also explore End Overdose’s creative marketing partnerships with Insomniac Events, Goldenvoice (the producers of Coachella and Stagecoach), and major musicians to spark life-saving conversations across the country.Resources & LinksLearn more about End Overdose on their website and Instagram and connect with Maddie on LinkedIn.Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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 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• Nurture campaigns should share stories and milestones without making asks• Dana's personal case study of a National Nonprofit Day email generated 268 replies • Simple, heartfelt gratitude emails with small engagement incentives build relationships• Nurture emails boost deliverability metrics – subsequent emails reached 56-60% open rates• Creative incentives can include digital guides, playlists, coffee gift cards, pins, or stickers• Partnerships with local businesses can provide gifts for engagement incentives• Interactive calls-to-action where supporters can choose gifts or share personal stories work particularly well• Try implementing a nurture challenge with plain text, story-driven emails before year-end appealsIf you enjoyed this mini-series, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. The call for speakers is now open for Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26: https://www.monthlygivingsummit.com/Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you. 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. 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!