The Values in Action Award from Home Agency is opening the door for organizations to transform their storytelling and digital presence in a big way, and ONE lucky nonprofit will win $100,000 in marketing services!

Marivi Bryant spent nearly 25 years of her life leading campaigns for major brands like JetBlue, New Balance, The NASCAR Foundation, and the Phoenix Suns. Today, as the founder of Home Agency, she brings a powerhouse perspective on marketing that blends sports, corporate, and nonprofit lessons.

In this episode, Marivi shares how growing up in competitive environments taught her discipline, resilience, and strategy, why marketing is often nonprofits’ biggest need and biggest gap, how this award can break the “hamster wheel” of underfunded storytelling, and what practical steps organizations can take to build stronger brands and lasting donor trust.

P.S. Applications for the Values in Action Award are open until October 15th, with the winner to be announced on Giving Tuesday. Apply today!

Resources & Links

Connect with Marivi on LinkedIn and learn more about Home Agency on their website and on Instagram.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

Transform your fundraising events from one-time giving opportunities into sustainable revenue generators by making monthly giving a centerpiece rather than an afterthought. 

We share practical strategies to create signature moments that convert event attendees into loyal monthly supporters while maximizing the long-term impact of your gatherings.


• Creating signature visual moments that attendees will remember long after the event ends
• Elevating existing monthly donors through special recognition, VIP experiences, or distinctive identifiers
• Capturing content during events for ongoing donor stewardship throughout the year
• Working with technology vendors to seamlessly integrate monthly giving options into event platforms

If you implement these strategies at your next event, tag me on LinkedIn or share your success in the reviews! I'd love to hear your creative ideas and possibly feature your story on a future episode.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

Did you know that only 11–12% of visitors who click “Donate” actually complete their gift? That conversion gap represents a massive missed opportunity for nonprofits, and Scott Cross, sales leader at iDonate, has the data and tools to help you capture more donor intent – especially on mobile.

Scott breaks down how simple A/B tests, mobile-friendly donation forms, and new pop-up giving tools are helping organizations see up to a 50% lift in completed donations and a 23% boost in recurring gifts. We also dig into how to simplify your donation page without losing storytelling power, AND the small tweaks that make a big difference during year-end campaigns.

For nonprofits of all sizes, this conversation is packed with ideas to make small, strategic changes to your online giving experience so you can yield dramatic results without requiring significant additional resources. 

Resources & Links

Connect with Scott Cross on LinkedIn, at the upcoming NIO Summit in Kansas City, or via email at [email protected]. 

Episode 196: Is Your Donation Page Leaking Donors? Here’s How to Fix It

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

LinkedIn represents an untapped goldmine for nonprofit leaders seeking to grow recurring giving, with 80% of its billion-plus members wanting to give back. 

People are watching your content even when they don't engage, building relationships that can turn into donations, speaking opportunities, and partnerships when the time is right.

• Block 2-3 hours weekly to write and schedule LinkedIn content for consistency
• Think of posts as mini-newsletters that inspire conversation, consideration, or conversion
• Study nonprofit leaders like Tarika Barrett (Girls Who Code) and Courtney Johnson (Culinary Care) for effective examples
• Create a "three by three" content strategy with three pillars and three weekly posts
• Keep a running list of post ideas in your notes app to capture inspiration anytime
• Update your profile with a clear banner, accurate headline, and featured monthly giving page
• Remember that authentic storytelling resonates more than perfect marketing

Leave a review on Apple or Spotify if you enjoy this short-form tactical episode style, and stay tuned for upcoming episodes on event activations, PR opportunities, and email marketing strategies for year-end giving.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

From just 17 monthly donors in 2009 to nearly 400 today, the Cat Adoption Team (CAT) has built a creative and effective recurring giving program that has raised over $1 million dollars. In this episode, we’re chatting with Shanda Chroust-Masin, Development and Communications Director at CAT, to learn how their “Meow Team” has become an incredibly loyal base of brand ambassadors.

The most pivotal needle-mover? Leaning into playful, on-brand messaging (think “State of the Meownion” updates and “Cat Person” window clings), paired with strong volunteer engagement and donor stewardship.

Shanda shares ALL the tactics behind their growth: how they leverage volunteer relationships and embed monthly giving asks into evergreen experiences like adoptions and newsletters, plus their strategies for delighting donors with small but impactful touches. 

This case study is packed with lessons you can apply right away!

Resources & Links

Learn more about CAT on their website and check out their Meow Team. To connect with Shanda and the CAT team, email [email protected] or [email protected]. 

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

Imagine your monthly giving program is so successful that it sparks 65% growth in new recurring gifts and sustains investor loyalty for over two decades.

In this episode, Andrea Arkow and Ashley Schenk from The Hunger Project have cracked the code and are here to walk through their nine-month rebrand and the strategy behind their award-winning monthly giving community, The Core.

Can you believe more than HALF of their 1,000+ members have been giving for over 20 years?!

They discuss their intentional use of the term investor (rather than donor), how they decreased cancellations by 5%, and what they’ve implemented to balance acquisition and retention, including quarterly newsletters with data and partner stories, community calls, anniversary emails, and a four-part welcome series anchored by a video from their CEO.

No matter what size your organization is or how much budget you have, Andrea and Ashley are packing this conversation with great takeaways to implement for your mission.

Resources & Links

Learn more about The Hunger Project on their website, Facebook, or Instagram, and check out The Core to explore their monthly giving program. 

Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn.

Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

When Roots Ethiopia first attempted to build a monthly giving program, it was cumbersome and collapsing under its own weight. 

Fast forward to today? That SAME program has transformed into a fundraising powerhouse with 93% donor retention, 34% of all donors giving monthly, and over $134K in annual recurring revenue.

Meghan Walsh, founder and board chair of Roots Ethiopia is back on the show to share it all: the handwritten cards, real-time donor reports, and a simple $20/month offer that shaped their results.

You’ll hear all about the nitty gritty tech tools, donor segmentation tactics, and community-building efforts, why she’s moving all donation asks toward a “monthly-first” approach, and how she's preparing to scale even further with automations and new acquisition campaigns.

Resources & Links

Learn more about the incredible mission of Roots Ethiopia on their website. You can also connect with Meghan on LinkedIn.

Meghan is using Bloomerang, FundraiseUp, Handwrytten, and Small Shop Strategies.

Tune in to Episode 179: How Automations Can Save You Time + Increase Donor Relations to learn more about Rachel Bearbower.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

It is Black Philanthropy Month, and I couldn't think of a better conversation to spotlight this than with two incredible women behind the Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, Dr. Leslie Farrington and Khadejah Stegall. When it comes to giving birth while Black in America, having advocacy skills can literally save lives.

BCFSM’s ACTT framework of “ask questions, claim your space, trust your body, tell your story”, equips birthing people and supporters to speak up in medical settings, reduce communication breakdowns, and secure dignified, safer care.

You’ll hear how a Mother’s Day email push brought in their first recurring donor, why you should integrate a monthly ask into everything, and how they offer tangible value to supporters with free monthly workshops.

If you’re a small team looking to diversify beyond grants, streamline tools, and grow recurring revenue with focused storytelling, this conversation is a playbook you can borrow today.

Resources & Links

Learn more about Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood on their website, join a free ACTT workshop, and check out their monthly giving program, The Advocates.

Connect with Leslie: [email protected] 

Connect with Khadija: [email protected].

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

Differentiation can transform both your brand AND your internal culture.

For over 40 years, Barry LaBov has helped iconic companies like Harley-Davidson, Audi, and The Macallan uncover the magic that sets them apart - and now he’s bringing those lessons to the nonprofit sector.

Barry walks us through his 5-step “brand re-engineering” process, which starts with a profound question: "What should we NOT change?"

You’ll hear why naming your unique approach is critical, how to avoid the trap of generic mission statements, and why launching your brand refresh should start with your most important audience: your team and supporters.

These learnings from Barry's work at LABOV Marketing Communications and Training offer powerful parallels for nonprofits seeking emotional connection with supporters, and I just know this episode will challenge you to sharpen your language, simplify your message, and lead with confidence!

Resources & Links

Connect with Barry on LinkedIn and learn more about LABOV on their website. Barry also has a book, The Power of Differentiation.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...

What if your nonprofit could grow its impact by 5x, WITHOUT increasing staff or burning out your team? That’s exactly what Greg Harrell-Edge did during his tenure as Executive Director of CoachArt. And you’d never believe that a mindset shift ultimately led to their 37% year-over-year increase in impact, sustained over five years.

Greg shares how a single board retreat sparked a movement within the organization, and why traditional models of nonprofit growth no longer serve today’s landscape. He also reveals how he created a unique spin on monthly giving by forming online advisory boards and inviting donors to contribute not just funds, but also their expertise.

Now, Greg is channeling his hard-won insights into the Proimpact Project, a content and community hub built to help Executive Directors embrace modern growth strategies. You’ll hear practical frameworks (like his 3x 3y napkin test), fresh takes on donor engagement, and ideas for building a movement.

Resources & Links

Learn more about the Proimpact Project on their website and connect with Greg on LinkedIn.

Greg shares his TEDx talk, An Impact-First Way to Think About Charity, on his LinkedIn.

Check out one of Greg’s favorite books, Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One, by Emily Heyward.

This episode is presented by The Monthly Giving Builder.  

With the Monthly Giving Builder, you can generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. 

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 a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.
• Want to book Dana as a speaker for your even...