Missions to Movements

What if the strategies that win elections could also supercharge nonprofit fundraising? DJ Koessler is a trailblazer in political marketing who has shaped campaigns for Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Together, we’re unlocking the secrets of political messaging and exploring how these techniques can be adapted to energize nonprofit supporters, especially during Giving Tuesday. How can we call in people who believe in us and want to support the causes we do? How do we create campaigns for people to take action?DJ shares his unique journey from nonprofit development to the political arena, why TikTok is emerging as the platform of choice for today's political campaigns, and the significance of personalized donor experiences.Find out why it’s so important to “know who your most engaged reporters are” and how these grassroots connections can illuminate campaign strategies.Through fascinating examples from the Harris campaign, we examine the risks and rewards of engaging with cultural phenomena, stressing the importance of authenticity and audience understanding. P.S. Applications are now open for the next round of my Monthly Giving Mastermind. Visit positiveequation.com/mastermind to apply.P.P.S. Are you a nonprofit leader running an established monthly giving program with 10,000 or more recurring donors? DM me @positivequation to learn more about my Monthly Giving Leaders Mastermind (with an in-person retreat!)Resources & LinksConnect with DJ on his website, KoesslerStrategies.com and on social media at @DJKoessler. 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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

AI is already revolutionizing the way nonprofits operate and engage with donors.And Diana Atero is at the forefront, having spent over nine years as a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Bloomerang, a hub of nonprofit tech innovation!Together, we explore how AI is transforming wealth screening and donor segmentation to delivering personalized interactions that strengthen supporter connections. With cultural shifts in donor expectations, nonprofits are leveraging sophisticated measurement tools to showcase their impact, ensuring transparency and fostering deeper relationships with their audience.You’ll also hear about Bloomerang’s new integrated AI Content Assistant, a tool that will address common challenges like writer's block and time constraints.P.S. Applications are now open for the next round of my Monthly Giving Mastermind. Visit positiveequation.com/mastermind to apply.P.P.S. Are you a nonprofit leader running an established monthly giving program with 10,000 or more recurring donors? DM me @positivequation to learn more about my Monthly Giving Leaders Mastermind (with an in-person retreat!)Resources & LinksCheck out Diana’s recommended AI prompts to use with Bloomerang’s AI Content Assistant.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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

Do you know about Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)? This 3-letter word has been on a LOT of people’s minds, which is why I’m joined by Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, to learn how these tax-advantaged accounts are reshaping charitable giving. Mitch introduces us to the revolutionary DAF Pay, an innovation that simplifies the donation process to feel just like using a credit card, making it easier for nonprofits to connect with donors. We also talk about the democratization of DAFs, driven by major players like Fidelity and Schwab, which has opened the door for everyday donors to make a difference without the hurdles of high minimums and grant sizes.Even leading nonprofits like the Michael J. Fox Foundation are capitalizing on DAFs to inspire increased generosity!From creating engaging content to educating donors on viewing DAFs as active charitable wallets, Mitch generously shares how organizations can maintain top-of-mind awareness and encourage frequent use of DAFs. P.S. Applications are now open for the next round of my Monthly Giving Mastermind. Visit positiveequation.com/mastermind to apply.P.P.S. Are you a nonprofit leader running an established monthly giving program with 10,000 or more recurring donors? DM me @positivequation to learn more about my Monthly Giving Leaders Mastermind (with an in-person retreat!)Resources & LinksConnect with Mitch on LinkedIn and check out Chariot’s first ever DAF Fundraising Report and their blog for more education on Donor-Advised Funds.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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

As Hurricane Milton threatened Florida, I found myself grappling with anxiety and worry for my hometown of Sarasota. Traveling to Cincinnati for a keynote on the power of personal stories, I couldn't escape the shared trepidation at the airport, as travelers exchanged tales of loved ones caught in the storm's path. This collective concern spurred me into action, reaching out to Florida-based organizations to see how we could all lend a hand. The responses were heartwarming, offering a glimpse into how community and storytelling can become a beacon of hope during crises.Join me in this special episode of Missions to Movements, where I illuminate the efforts of remarkable organizations like the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the Treasure Coast Food Bank, both tirelessly distributing meals and supplies. Susan from the SPCA of Brevard shares the challenges faced by animal shelters, while the Community Foundation of Sarasota County unveils key initiatives like the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund and the Season of Sharing campaign, focused on long-term recovery. Discover how you can contribute to these essential efforts and help rebuild communities ravaged by Hurricane Milton.Get Involved & Donate here: Feed Hope NowSPCA of BrevardSuncoast Disaster Recovery FundSeason of Sharing CampaignThis show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

Three of the most famous movements in history were built on marketing, storytelling, subcultures, and creating influence. Today, we’re going to explore how leaning into subcultures (rather than mass marketing), can be REALLY powerful and create sustainable impact for your nonprofit. We’ll start by unraveling lessons from the Civil Rights Movement and Women's Suffrage. These movements thrived by uniting deeply connected communities. Your nonprofit can adopt similar strategies, focusing on smaller groups that resonate with your cause to create a lasting impact.Storytelling plays a pivotal role in any movement-building strategy, and we'll explore its profound impact by examining the #MeToo movement. When you're building your monthly giving program, what stories can you share to really connect with your audience?Connecting with a specific subculture of survivors, #MeToo grew exponentially by sharing personal narratives. Hear how your nonprofit can harness this powerful approach for monthly giving programs, especially when you target subcultures that align with your mission.As we approach the giving season, there's no better time than now to nurture those relationships.P.S. Applications are now open for the next round of my Monthly Giving Mastermind. Visit positiveequation.com/mastermind to apply.P.P.S. Are you a nonprofit leader running an established monthly giving program with 10,000 or more recurring donors? DM me @positivequation to learn more about my Monthly Giving Leaders Mastermind (with an in-person retreat!)Resources & LinksMissed the Monthly Giving Summit? Get access to all of the keynotes and breakout sessions here.Check out Episode 68 of Missions to Movements with Marcus Collins: How Culture Influences Marketing.This show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

Mallory Erickson’s new book “What The Fundraising” is out TODAY, and I can’t wait to share her wisdom around “alignment fundraising” – specifically why prioritizing alignment over your monetary goals is transformative.Mallory has done extensive research into the psychological and physiological responses of fundraisers, and you’re going to walk away with so many actionable steps for a holistic strategy that benefits both you and your supporters.We discuss the crucial role of internal alignment and self-compassion in forming and maintaining successful partnerships, plus the magic and science of serendipity.Discomfort is a big theme in our conversation. And it can stem from so many places - toxic environments, unfamiliar situations – even the tension between short-term relief and long-term alignment. But what if discomfort could serve as a catalyst for your personal and professional growth? This episode will leave you with practical strategies for managing the uncertainty.Be sure to pick up Mallory’s new book, What The Fundraising, and grab a copy for a friend, too!Resources & LinksConnect with Mallory on her website and buy her new book, What The Fundraising. Follow her on LinkedIn or on Instagram at _malloryerickson. Mallory also hosts a podcast, What the Fundraising.Join The Sustainers, my Slack community for nonprofit professionals growing and scaling a recurring giving program.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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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 do some fundraising appeals succeed while others fall flat? It all comes down to the power of language.Dr. Emilie Socash, the visionary founder and CEO of the Nonprofit Help Center, is here to share groundbreaking findings from her research, including why donors are MORE generous when messaging emphasizes preventing negative outcomes. We break down the psychological contrasts between promotion-focused and prevention-focused approaches, drawing from an eye-opening experiment involving 225 high-income adults. Prevention-focused individuals are 53% more likely to increase their donations when they receive messages tailored to their motivational orientation! Later, we go through Emilie’s incredibly actionable “Mad Libs” exercise to A/B test, analyze, and refine your appeals.This episode is FILLED with impactful advice. Get ready to furiously take notes and have your pen and paper ready.Resources & LinksConnect with Emilie on LinkedIn and learn more about the Nonprofit Help Center on their website, where they host hundreds of micro-learning courses.Check out the free resource Emilie talked about in today’s episode: How To Say It And Speak Their Language (with promotion and prevention language examples!)Join The Sustainers, my Slack community for nonprofit professionals growing and scaling a recurring giving program.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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

Wendy Faust, the Executive Director of the Live Like Lou Foundation, is dedicated to supporting families affected by ALS and funding essential research. She shares how the foundation has transformed its donor engagement strategy, boasting a remarkable 64% email open rate. Wendy discusses the viral impact of the Ice Bucket Challenge and strategies like personalized outreach, TikTok videos, and data-driven decisions to maintain donor relationships. The conversation underscores the power of storytelling and community connection in effective fundraising.

What if the key to turning your mission into a movement lies in the power of video? Shannon Fitzgerald from The Hooligans Agency is here to reveal how creative video content can revolutionize advocacy and nonprofit work. And you DON’T need a massive budget to make a significant impact.You’ll hear the incredible story behind two “fake” horror movie trailers designed with a scrappy budget in less than a week (!) for Gas Leaks Action, that educated audiences about the dangers of natural gas.These ads received a TON of earned media attention, even landing in movie theaters during Halloween season.Shannon has one heck of a resume, going from Hollywood to spearheading 80+ campaigns for democratic and climate initiatives. You’re no doubt going to learn so many practical tips for aligning your creative projects with your core values, and why the “MAYA Principle” is so special (it will help your content resonate more deeply!)This episode is for you if you’re ready to elevate your social impact mission with video.P.S. Join me for my Book Launch Tour at the Kendra Scott store in Sarasota, FL on September 18th! RSVP here.Resources & LinksLearn more about Shannon’s work on her agency website and connect with her at shannon@thehooligansagency.com, or on LinkedIn.Check out the video examples discussed in this episode: Silent But Deadly for Gas Leaks Action and Assume That I Can for CoreDown.Join The Sustainers, my Slack community for nonprofit professionals growing and scaling a recurring giving program.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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!

The Monthly Giving Summit is here! In less than 24 hours, over 1,500 nonprofits from all over the world are coming to the first online virtual event completely dedicated to monthly giving.So what can you expect? Day 1 is focused on keynotes and panels, sharing stories about growth, retention, and fostering values-aligned partnerships. You’ll hear from the Head of LinkedIn for Nonprofits, Ariana Younai, and Marcus Collins, who wrote one of my favorite books.Day 2 will feel like a mastermind. It’s time to come together and network, share your learnings and experiences, AND we’ll have two breakout sessions where you can get hot seat style coaching. Come prepared with your most burning questions!Whether you are in the pre-launch phase of your monthly giving strategy, or you have over 100,000 monthly donors, this event is for you.Join me on Sept 5-6 from 1-4 pm ET to learn how to build, grow and sustain subscriptions for good. RSVP for FREE here.P.S. I am hitting the road this week! Join me for my Book Launch Tour at Kendra Scott stores in Atlanta, GA and Sarasota, FL! RSVP for Atlanta on September 7thRSVP for Sarasota on September 18thP.P.S. Would an in-person monthly giving event in 2025 pique your interest? Send me a DM at @positivequation on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you.Resources & LinksSpecial thanks to the Monthly Giving Summit’s growth partners: Neon One, iDonate, Givebutter, and DonorPerfect. Register for my Monthly Giving Summit coming up on Sept 5-6 from 1-4 pm ET - the ONLY virtual event designed to help nonprofits build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good. RSVP for FREE here!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 show is brought to you by iDonate. Your donation page is leaking donors, and iDonate's new pop-up donation form is here to fix that. See it in action. Launch the interactive demo here and experience how a well-timed form captures donors in the moment they care most. 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!