We’ve officially entered what I’m calling the retention era. Recurring GivingTuesday gifts are growing year over year, and nonprofit benchmarks are showing 80%+ retention rates for monthly donors.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down three powerful signals that are shaping monthly giving RIGHT NOW across the subscription economy and in the nonprofit sector.

I’m covering Recurly’s 2025 State of Subscriptions analysis of 67 million subscribers, including what brands are doing to combat slow acquisition and churn, and the GivingTuesday trends emerging around mobile-first, recurring signups.

This conversation sets the foundation for the next few episodes, where I’ll share my 2026 monthly giving predictions.

Resources & Links

Check out Recurly’s 2025 State of Subscriptions report.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind: A high-touch Mini Mastermind + optional in-person retreat (May 6-8) for nonprofit leaders that have an existing monthly giving program and ready to take it to the next level with 1:1 and peer support. Apply now!

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!

In this special year-end recap episode, I’m revisiting seven of the most inspiring, quotable, “steal this idea” stories from 2025. You’ll hear the real numbers, tested strategies, and leadership insights you can carry straight into 2026.

Here’s who you’ll hear from:

• Courtney Johnson from Culinary Care, who generated $300,000 across 20 corporate events
• Chad Nelsen from Surfrider Foundation, who invested in recurring giving technology to reach 91% retention on auto-renew donors
• Liz Bohannon, a keynote speaker & author, who talks about “pluck ups” and how to reframe failure as courage-in-action
• Heather Sager, a speaking coach, who shares a powerful mindset shift to help you build confidence in public speaking
• Ashlyn Jones from Houston Food Bank, on growing their monthly giving program to 5,200 sustainers with human-centered storytelling
• Trovon C. Williams from NAACP, about why leading with solutions can create stronger donor empowerment
• Maddie Ward from End Overdose, about how they scaled from a single campus to 70+ cities nationwide

Resources & Links

Hear the full episodes with each of today’s featured guests:

How 20 Cook-Offs Raised $300k from Corporate Partnerships

How Surfrider Foundation’s CEO Amplifies Impact Through Thought Leadership

Celebrating Failures: A New Approach to “Pluck-Ups”

How to Craft a Signature Talk to Amplify Your Mission

How Houston Food Bank Grew 5,200 Monthly Donors - The Importance of a Sustainer Role

NAACP’s Bold Shift Toward Sustained Impact

From UCLA to 70+ Cities: End Overdose Sparked a College Campus Movement

Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

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!

This year held some of my highest highs and lowest lows, and much of it happened faster than I expected. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting honestly about what 2025 looked like for me, both personally and professionally.

You’ll hear what surprised me most, the growth of the Monthly Giving Summit, what it was like working 1:1 with 14 organizations through VIP intensives, the unexpected speaking gigs (including international!), and the journaling questions I’m sitting with.

Of course, I couldn’t leave out the data, and we also dig into insights from this year’s M+R Benchmarks Report, including the stat that monthly giving now accounts for 31% of all online revenue. If you’ve been waiting for permission to prioritize sustainable, recurring giving, this is your sign!

My hope is that this episode helps you reflect on where you spent your energy this year as you build, prioritize, and prepare for the year ahead.

Resources & Links

Already have a monthly giving program? The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind starts in January and is just for you.

Register now for the FREE Monthly Giving Summit on February 25-26th, the only virtual event where nonprofits unite to master monthly giving, attract committed believers, and fund the future with confidence.

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!