Most organizations rush straight from GivingTuesday into metrics, wrap-ups, and end-of-year planning, but if you do, you’re missing the most valuable moment of all: the DAY AFTER, when donors are still inspired and emotionally connected to the gift they just made.

In this replay of my most downloaded episode ever, you’ll hear the super simple, text-only email that can dramatically strengthen donor relationships, why it works, and how the responses can uncover donor motivations you’d never know otherwise.

Every single donation represents a person who chose your cause among MILLIONS of nonprofits!

And these replies can become fuel for future campaigns, major donor follow-ups, and segmentation strategies.

Resources & Links

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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!

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 & Links

Connect 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.

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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 & Links

Learn more about Murmuration and request a demo on their website. You can also subscribe to their newsletter, Insights by Murmuration, on Substack.

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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 & Links

Connect 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.

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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 & Links

Learn 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.

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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 & Links

Learn 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.

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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 & Links

Learn more about End Overdose on their website and Instagram and connect with Maddie on LinkedIn.

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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 appeals

If 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/

This show is brought to you by GivingTuesday! GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012 with a simple idea: a day to do good.

This year, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, join the conversation: share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign, volunteer for a cause you care about, share an act of kindness, or encourage your audience to do the same.

Use #GivingTuesday, tag @GivingTuesday, and visit GivingTuesday.org/Participate to get involved and inspire others!

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!