Scaling Humanity in the Age of AI: The Beating Heart of Fundraising Isn’t Tech — It’s People
Dave Raley Dave Raley

Scaling Humanity in the Age of AI: The Beating Heart of Fundraising Isn’t Tech — It’s People

What if the secret to scaling generosity isn't more tech, but using tech to scale the one thing that actually sustains giving: people?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Nathan Hill, VP of Marketing at Avid (and a self-described "marketing and fundraising nerd"), for a wide-ranging, energizing conversation about data, AI, donor trends, and why the human element is still the beating heart of it all.

Read More
The Future of Sustainable Giving: From What Is to What Could Be 
Dave Raley Dave Raley

The Future of Sustainable Giving: From What Is to What Could Be 

What if recurring giving isn't just a payment plan, but the single biggest untapped opportunity for your nonprofit?

In this special live episode of Sustainable Giving, host Dave Raley convenes a powerhouse lineup of researchers, practitioners, and sector leaders to explore why the charitable world is at an inflection point. With donor behavior shifting, subscription models reshaping the economy, and a $10 to $20 billion annual opportunity sitting on the table, recurring giving is no longer reserved for organizations with traditional membership or sponsorship models. It's now accessible to the 75% of nonprofits historically left behind.

Read More
How charity: water Designs Experiences That Create Lifelong Donors
Dave Raley Dave Raley

How charity: water Designs Experiences That Create Lifelong Donors

What if the most powerful fundraising tool your organization has is not a landing page, an email campaign, or a social media strategy, but a room?

In this episode of Sustainable Giving, host Dave Raley sits down with Brian Seay, Experience Lab Director at charity: water, for a rich conversation about what it truly takes to move people from passive awareness into active, lasting generosity.

Read More
From Seasonal Generosity to Steady Support: How a Rescue Mission Grew w/ Sustainable Giving
Dave Raley Dave Raley

From Seasonal Generosity to Steady Support: How a Rescue Mission Grew w/ Sustainable Giving

What if the donors who could sustain your mission year-round have been waiting, and you just haven't asked them the right way?

This week on Sustainable Giving, host Dave Raley sits down with Kathy Coady, Chief Development Officer, and Melissa Tagg, Marketing & Communications Manager (and USA Today bestselling author!) from Hope Ministries Iowa. Together, they share the story of how a rescue mission that had quietly left monthly giving on the table completely transformed its approach and saw double-digit growth in sustainers within just eight months.

Read More
Fundable and Findable: Getting Out of the Nonprofit Starvation Cycle
Dave Raley Dave Raley

Fundable and Findable: Getting Out of the Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

What actually makes a nonprofit truly fundable, and not just busy, but built to last?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, Dave Raley sits down with Kevin L. Brown, CEO of Mighty Ally and author of Fundable & Findable, to unpack a hard truth: most nonprofits don’t struggle because they lack passion or effort. They struggle because they lack clarity.

Read More
From Subscriptions to Sustainers: What the Subscription Economy Teaches Nonprofits
Dave Raley Dave Raley

From Subscriptions to Sustainers: What the Subscription Economy Teaches Nonprofits

What if the future of generosity looks a lot more like the subscription economy?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with subscription economy pioneer Amy Konary for a fascinating conversation about recurring revenue, customer relationships, and what nonprofit leaders can learn from the companies that helped build the modern subscription model.

Read More
From One Night to Lasting Impact: Turning Fundraising Events into Sustainable Giving
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

From One Night to Lasting Impact: Turning Fundraising Events into Sustainable Giving

What if your next fundraising event didn’t just raise money for one night, but built generosity that lasts for years?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with longtime fundraising leader and speaker Kirk Walden for a wide-ranging, practical conversation about events, recurring giving, and the future of sustainable generosity.

Read More
The $326 Billion Question: DAFs, Donor Behavior, and What Comes Next
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

The $326 Billion Question: DAFs, Donor Behavior, and What Comes Next

What if the future of generosity isn’t about giving more, but about giving differently?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, to explore one of the most important (and misunderstood) shifts happening in philanthropy right now: the rise of Donor-Advised Funds, and what they could unlock for sustainable, recurring generosity.

Read More
Turning Belief Into Action: From Crisis-tunity to Consistent Giving
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Turning Belief Into Action: From Crisis-tunity to Consistent Giving

What if sustainable giving isn’t just a funding strategy, but part of your mission itself?

In this episode, Dave Raley sits down with with Eddie Kahler, Executive Director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Christian University, to unpack an honest, hopeful, and highly practical story of transformation. What started as a looming funding deadline quickly became a breakthrough moment, one that reshaped how Eddie and his team think about generosity, discipleship, and long-term impact.

Read More
Why Monthly Donors Matter More Than Ever: Lessons from 40 Years of Fundraising
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Why Monthly Donors Matter More Than Ever: Lessons from 40 Years of Fundraising

What if the key to long-term impact isn’t raising more money, but building giving that actually lasts? Is monthly giving still being treated like a side tactic when it should be core strategy?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, host Dave Raley welcomes fundraising pioneer Harvey McKinnon, one of the earliest and most influential voices in the recurring giving movement. With more than 40 years of experience, and decades of data to back it up, Harvey brings clarity, candor, and perspective to a conversation many nonprofits urgently need to revisit.

Read More
The Neuroscience of Generosity: How Recurring Giving Rewires Behavior
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

The Neuroscience of Generosity: How Recurring Giving Rewires Behavior

Why do donors say one thing… but do something completely different — and what does that mean for building generosity that lasts?

In this episode, Dave sits down with the brilliant (and very fun) Cherian Koshy — author of Neurogiving, globally recognized fundraising strategist, and newly-minted VP at Kindsight — for a lively conversation about what’s actually happening inside the donor brain.

This is not your typical “fundraising best practices” episode.

Read More
From Crowdfunding to Community: Giving Circles and Sustainable Giving
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

From Crowdfunding to Community: Giving Circles and Sustainable Giving

How could giving circles reshape the future of philanthropy — and what might they unlock for your nonprofit?

On this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, Dave sits down with Emily Rasmussen, Founder & CEO of Grapevine and one of the leading voices in the modern collective giving movement. From her early life as a professional ballet dancer to her work in microfinance in rural India to now building the largest platform dedicated to giving circles, Emily brings a truly unique perspective to what generosity can look like when people do it together.

Read More
Emergency Relief to Sustainable Impact: How to Keep Crisis Donors for the Long Haul
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Emergency Relief to Sustainable Impact: How to Keep Crisis Donors for the Long Haul

How do you turn an emergency donor into a lifelong partner in impact?

When disaster strikes, generosity surges — but what happens when the headlines fade? In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Vila-Sheree Watson, Vice President for Development & Membership at Bread for the World and author of the Bag Secured newsletter, to talk about transforming urgency into lasting generosity.

Read More
Building Endurance in Sustainable Giving: The Joshua Fund’s Explosive Growth Story
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Building Endurance in Sustainable Giving: The Joshua Fund’s Explosive Growth Story

What does it take to build an organization — and a life — that can go the distance?

In this episode of The Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Chris Free, Senior Director of Communications & Advancement at The Joshua Fund, to unpack what it really looks like to build endurance —  both personally and organizationally.

From his beginnings as a filmmaker and storyteller to leading one of the most remarkable transformations in recurring giving we’ve seen, Chris shares the inside story of how The Joshua Fund grew from $5.3M to $18.6M in five years, with 47% of their revenue now coming from recurring donors.

Read More
Sustainable Giving Podcast LIVE: Growing Sustainable Giving this GivingTuesday with Woodrow Rosenbaum and Dave Raley
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Sustainable Giving Podcast LIVE: Growing Sustainable Giving this GivingTuesday with Woodrow Rosenbaum and Dave Raley

What happens when the world’s biggest day of generosity meets the rise of the subscription economy?

In this special LIVE edition of The Sustainable Giving podcast, host ⁠Dave Raley⁠ is joined by ⁠Woodrow Rosenbaum⁠, Chief Data Officer at ⁠GivingTuesday⁠, for a deep and energizing conversation on how generosity is evolving, and how nonprofit leaders can turn one powerful day into lasting, sustainable impact.

Broadcast live on LinkedIn and made possible by ⁠CharityEngine⁠ — with a special word from Vice President of Marketing, ⁠Dave Martin⁠ — this episode unpacks what’s happening at the intersection of technology, culture, and generosity — and how organizations can build year-round giving strategies rooted in belonging, not burnout.

Read More
Don’t Wait, Just Start: Simple Steps to Monthly Giving Success
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Don’t Wait, Just Start: Simple Steps to Monthly Giving Success

What if the biggest opportunity in fundraising has been quietly waiting all along — hidden in plain sight?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley chats with Erica Waasdorp, President of A Direct Solution, longtime champion of monthly giving, and self-proclaimed “Philanthropyholic.” From her early career at Reader’s Digest in Amsterdam to 30+ years helping nonprofits grow recurring giving programs around the world, Erica has seen it all, and she’s here to share the lessons that last.

Read More
The Sustainer-First Mindset: From Leadership Buy-In to Long Term Success
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

The Sustainer-First Mindset: From Leadership Buy-In to Long Term Success

What does it take to shift an entire organization to a “sustainer-first” mindset — and keep donors engaged for the long haul?

In today’s episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Sofia Machado Lemus, Director of Multi-Channel Fundraising at Operation Smile. From her early work with underserved communities in Guatemala to leading multicultural and sustainer fundraising efforts today, Sofia brings a global perspective, practical insights, and a deep passion for helping donors make a lasting impact.

Read More
Cash Consistent, Recession Resistant: The Power of Sustainer Giving
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Cash Consistent, Recession Resistant: The Power of Sustainer Giving

What if your donors felt just as essential to your mission as the people you serve?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Tina Hudgins, a seasoned fundraiser, consultant, and educator who has spent her career helping organizations build donor-centric cultures that spark lasting generosity. From her days pioneering sustainer programs at International Justice Mission to her current work with Philanthropy and Fundraising of North America (PFNA), Tina brings a wealth of insight, energy, and heart to the conversation.

Read More
The Philanthropy Revolution: Ending the Nonprofit Starvation Cycle
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

The Philanthropy Revolution: Ending the Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

What if the way we’ve been doing fundraising all along is actually setting nonprofits up to fail?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Author, Keynote Speaker, and Nonprofit Advisor Lisa Greer, a major donor with a front-row seat to the best (and worst) of fundraising. Lisa brings candor, humor, and wisdom as she unpacks why so much of fundraising feels outdated and what it takes to build organizations that truly last.

Read More
Back to the Future: Lessons in Sustainable Giving From Those Who Have Gone Before
Kirsten Judkins Kirsten Judkins

Back to the Future: Lessons in Sustainable Giving From Those Who Have Gone Before

What if the best glimpse into the future of fundraising isn’t found in trend reports or tech forecasts, but in the story of someone who’s already lived it?

In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, I sit down with Ken Burnett—legendary fundraiser, author of Relationship Fundraising, and one of the earliest champions of “regular giving.” Nearly 50 years ago, Ken stood where we are now, facing questions about how to engage donors for the long haul. What followed was a movement that reshaped generosity across the UK and Europe—and offers us a powerful preview of what’s possible for the future of giving everywhere.

Read More