Scaling Impact Without Staff: The GIVE Study and the Recurring Giving for Small Charities

Written By Dave Raley

What if one of the key secrets to sustainable giving isn’t more staff or bigger budgets, but a better rhythm?

In the latest episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, Dave Raley sits down with Dr. Sanjay Bindra, a full-time cardiac electrophysiologist and co-founder of the zero-staff GOSUMEC Foundation USA. Together, they explore how Sanjay is combining medical insights, personal passion, and data-driven experimentation to help small nonprofits succeed in the world of recurring giving.

Sanjay’s foundation supports scholarships for medical students at his alma mater in India – but his vision goes far beyond a single cause. He’s launching The GIVE Study, a first-of-its-kind research project designed to uncover how small, under-resourced nonprofits can thrive in recurring giving without a full-time team or flashy tech. 

If you're part of the 92% of nonprofits operating under $1M, this episode is for you!

Key Topics They Cover:

  1. The GOSUMEC Origin Story: A Phone Call, A Birthday, and a Bold Idea
    Learn how a single conversation on his wife’s birthday sparked a nonprofit built on gratitude, legacy, and long-term thinking.

  2. Why Small is Mighty: Debunking the “Miniaturized Large Nonprofit” Myth
    Sanjay challenges conventional wisdom by highlighting the unique needs and power of small, zero-staff organizations, and why they deserve their own playbook.

  3. The GIVE Study: What Happens When You Apply Medical Rigor to Fundraising?
    With a research-backed framework rooted in gratitude, impact, voice, and engagement, this 12-month prospective study is designed to test recurring giving strategies for small nonprofits.

  4. The 4S Framework: Storytelling, Smart Tech, Simplicity, and Supportive Community
     Sanjay outlines the four pillars driving GOSUMEC’s success, and how any nonprofit can replicate them with minimal resources.

  5. Recurring Giving as Trust Giving
     More than a monthly donation, recurring giving is a relationship. Sanjay makes the case that “trust is the rhythm” that keeps a nonprofit’s heart beating strong.

They Also Talk About:

  • How Sanjay’s training as a heart rhythm specialist informs his nonprofit leadership

  • Why storytelling must be ethical and dignity-affirming, especially when highlighting beneficiaries

  • The neuroscience behind generosity and how gratitude can literally improve your health

  • The overlooked power of “living room moments” and micro-events

  • Why passion isn’t enough, and what small orgs really need to survive past five years

  • How smart tech tools (like Givebutter and MemoryFox) can act as “coworkers” for zero-staff teams
    The difference between building a donor list and nurturing a true community

Watch or Listen:

Watch this episode now by clicking the video above, or by visiting Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Key Resources:

  • The GIVE Study → Learn more about the GIVE Study, download the rationale, and follow the results as they unfold—all made publicly available.

  • Givebutter → Community-driven fundraising tech platform partnering with GOSUMEC on the GIVE Study.

  • MemoryFox → A storytelling platform that supports authentic, consent-based video collection from both donors and recipients.

Additional Links:

Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.

Dave Raley
Next

$10 Billion Unlocked: Why Recurring Giving Is the Future of Generosity