Missions to Movements
Missions to Movements is the nonprofit marketing and fundraising podcast that helps you grow recurring donors, scale monthly giving programs, and build digital campaigns that convert. Hosted by Dana Snyder—speaker, strategist, and founder of Positive Equation—this show is packed with actionable nonprofit growth strategies, social media tips, and fundraising best practices. Each week, you’ll hear how organizations are increasing donor retention, building thought leadership, and using digital fundraising to drive real impact. If you want to learn how to attract monthly donors, master nonprofit marketing, and transform your mission into a movement, this podcast is for you.
The Future of Direct Mail for Nonprofits: Bring Joy Back to the Mailbox
In a world where nonprofits are competing with overcrowded inboxes, direct mail is experiencing a comeback. And if your direct mail looks the same as everyone else’s, there’s a good chance it’s heading straight for the recycling bin.
Brandon Gaty and Cait Connolly work at LettrLabs and help brands create hyper-personalized donor experiences with robotics-powered handwritten mail. This makes it possible to personalize EVERY piece of mail at scale!
So today, we are unpacking how to spark joy in someone’s mailbox, how segmentation and automation can dramatic...
How to Launch a Monthly Giving Program That Attracts First-Time Donors (Case Study: $10 for 10 Campaign) with Raegan Mach, Urban Bridge
Imagine if you ask someone to become a monthly donor for just $10, and they give more than triple that?
It's no secret that talking about monthly giving strategies and case studies is my jam, so I brought on Raegan Mach to break down Urban Bridge’s “10 for 10” campaign.
Their goal? 25 new donors at $10/month to celebrate their 10-year anniversary. In just 2.5 months, they surpassed it!
You’ll hear how they drove 15 new donors in the first 48 hours with a CEO-led launch video, strategic campaign champions, and consiste...
Inside the Monthly Giving Summit: Strategies, the Builder, and a Retreat for Recurring Revenue
It’s officially Monthly Giving Summit Day!!! This short episode is your invitation to join us and start building.
In this episode, Dana shares what’s happening at the Monthly Giving Summit and why this isn’t just another virtual event - it’s a room full of builders focused on sustainability, recurring revenue, and cultivating believers (not just donors).
You’ll get a preview of what attendees are learning, including:
How The Trevor Project acquired new monthly donors at scale in just two weeksHow Interfaith Sanctuary turned monthly don...Clarity Is the Strategy: Turning Experience into Influence with Brandy Walker
If your board can’t clearly articulate what you do in one sentence, your donors won’t either.
Brandy Walker is joining me to unpack why nonprofit leaders must get ruthlessly clear on the ONE thing their organization does exceptionally well. Not the 20 programs, not the calendar of activities, but the core impact.
Brandy shares why embracing the “messy middle” builds trust, how to use lived experience as influence, and the one question that can completely reshape your growth trajectory: What do you want to be known for?
P.S. We are in the f...
Monthly Giving Prediction #6: Monthly Donor Communities Move IRL
We close our 2026 monthly giving predictions with a bold call: move donor communities into real life to deepen belonging, retention, and advocacy.
Sincere gatherings beat big productions when donors feel trusted, included, and invited to co-create.
LettrLabs is the proud presenter of Missions to Movements.
LettrLabs helps nonprofits build lasting donor relationships through real, handwritten mail that’s fully automated - turning moments of intent into meaningful connection. From thank-yous to impact updates, they help you cut through with mail donors actually open, remember, and tru...
How to Get Your Board "On Board" with Monthly Giving
If you’ve ever sat at a board meeting thinking “we can't keep doing fundraising like this!” then it might be time to start championing monthly giving – which is one of the most practical shifts a nonprofit can make.
Board strategist Christal M. Cherry and I are getting specific about what staff should bring to the boardroom, how to pilot change without triggering resistance, and how dashboards and donor milestones help boards actually see the impact of recurring giving. That level of predictability can fundamentally shift how your nonprofit plans, invests, and leads with confidence.
P.S...
Monthly Giving Prediction #5: Retention Is Built Before the Gift
The neat donor funnel sounds good in slides, but it doesn’t match how people actually decide to give.
We dig into the real path supporters take today—bouncing from reels to Google to LinkedIn to your site—and why the strongest retention work happens long before the first dollar shows up.
Instead of chasing one perfect subject line or a last-minute match, we focus on what actually converts: consistency, clarity, and leadership that lowers the emotional risk of giving.
You’ll hear how to spot and support the messy, multi-touch donor jour...
Who Gets to Be ‘Legit’? BackBlack: The Movement That Proved Community Is the Infrastructure with Floyd Jones
A lot of movement builders might be thinking, who actually gets to be considered “legit”?
We are celebrating Black History Month, and in a very short amount of time, BackBlack has built massive momentum, which is why I had to have one of my favorite repeat guests back on the show, Floyd Jones.
This incredible case study unravels how they’ve helped move nearly $4 million to Black-led organizations, built a directory of close to 2,000 organizations, and driven tens of thousands of people to tak...
Monthly Giving Prediction #4: AI-Powered Donor Care Moves From “Nice to Have” to Necessary
Quiet signals decide retention long before a donor hits “cancel.”
We explore how to turn early indicators—failed payments, skipped emails, reduced engagement—into timely, human responses that save relationships and revenue.
Drawing on the proven playbook of subscription businesses, we unpack how predictive insights can flag risk before supporters drift away and how small teams can deploy light-touch interventions that feel like care, not automation.
You’ll hear why the best results come from respectful timing and segmentation based on behavior, not guesswork. The goal isn’t to send more messages; it’s...
How To Choose Stories Based on Strategy - Creating Belonging & Champions of Your Mission with Max Kringen
How do you build a storytelling rhythm that can fuel your fundraising efforts all year long? Max Kringen of Tellwell Story Co. is EXACTLY who nonprofits call when they want to stop guessing.
We kick off by going behind the scenes of a Ronald McDonald House Charities gala where a beautiful, cinematic story helped raise more than $350,000 in one night.
Max walks us through how Clara’s story was selected, the meaning of narrative transportation, and how organizations can reposition themselves as the “helpful guide” instead of the hero.
On...
2026 Monthly Giving Prediction #3: Pause Isn’t Failure - Flexibility Becomes Non-Negotiable
Donor flexibility is the quiet superpower of retention - and it’s about to become non-negotiable.
We dig into why giving supporters control to pause, downgrade, skip, or shift billing dates doesn’t fuel cancellations; it prevents them.
Pulling lessons from the subscription world and real stories that celebrate customer milestones, we translate those insights into practical steps any nonprofit can take to keep monthly givers connected through life’s ups and downs.
If you’re ready to reduce churn, lift lifetime value, and build trust that lasts, this conversation will give you t...
“How Can We Be Expansive Together?” The Future of Nonprofit Partnerships with United Way's Matthew Sutton
If a corporate partner had to tell a story about working with your nonprofit, what would they say?
What companies want from nonprofit partnerships has FUNDAMENTALLY changed. That’s why I’m excited for you to meet a great friend of mine, Matthew Sutton, Director of Corporate Partnerships at United Way of Greater Atlanta, to talk about how corporate partnerships are evolving and what nonprofit leaders need to understand right now.
Matthew shares why companies are going deeper with fewer partners, why a multi-layer approach matters, and how nonprofits can become collaborators in a shared...
2026 Monthly Giving Prediction #2: The “Easiest Yes” Wins
What if the smallest monthly gift unlocks the biggest lifetime value? We’re digging into our second Monthly Giving Prediction for 2026: lower entry points will become the norm in monthly giving - and they’ll outperform the high-ask mindset many of us grew up with.
Donors aren’t less generous; they’re less willing to overcommit.
That’s a signal, not a setback, and it’s time to design programs around the easiest yes.
We break down recent data trends from major giving moments showing growth in recurring signups alongside smaller average amount...
How Small Words Spark Big Movements with Adriana Carrig, Little Words Project
At my third annual Monthly Giving Summit, you’ll hear from someone who understands how repeat engagement, community and generosity actually get built into the DNA of a brand, raising over one million dollars along the way!
Adriana Carrig, Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Little Words Project, is joining me to break down how she bootstrapped growth and focused on trust, transparency, and showing up consistently, which resulted in 14 retail storefronts, partnerships with Target and Disney, and repeat purchases.
If you’re building or refining a mo...
2026 Monthly Giving Predictions: #1 - Recurring Giving Becomes Core Infrastructure
Why monthly giving must move from a checkbox to core infrastructure and how that shift changes budgets, dashboards, and daily decisions. Practical prompts help you test your own reliance on recurring revenue and plan for a steadier 2026.
LettrLabs is the proud presenter of Missions to Movements.
LettrLabs helps nonprofits build lasting donor relationships through real, handwritten mail that’s fully automated - turning moments of intent into meaningful connection. From thank-yous to impact updates, they help you cut through with mail donors actually open, remember, and trust.
...A Subscription-Economy Lens on Monthly Giving (And What It Means For 2026)
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 ne...
7 Fundraising & Leadership Lessons Every Nonprofit Should Carry into 2026
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:
I Didn’t Expect This Year to Go This Way: Reflections & Looking Ahead
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 Bench...
From Practitioner to Funder: How to Build Collaborative Funding (Foundations & Grants) with Dr. Maggie Sullivan Marcus
When a former classroom educator becomes the one writing the checks, EVERYTHING about grantmaking shifts.
Dr. Maggie Sullivan Marcus of the Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation brings a rare, dual perspective shaped by years in the classroom and years in philanthropy. Her on-the-ground experience supporting multilingual learner programs is rooted in empathy, deep respect for educators, and a commitment to equity.
We get into how small but strategic investments can spark outsized impact, like, DC Public Schools’ $2,500 micro-grants. Maggie also shares what it takes to build a multilingual educator pipeline and why meaningful change can’t be...
IMPOSSIBLE > Reasonable Goals: What IF Thinking 10x Can Clarify What Matters Most?
How can a 10X mindset replace incremental goals with focused, brave action that scales monthly giving and clarifies what to stop doing?
• 10X mindset versus incremental growth
• letting go of low-leverage work
• applying bold goals to monthly giving growth
• risk reframed as focus and resource questions
Resources Mentioned:
Join the Sustainer Slack Group — completely free. The Mini Monthly Giving Mastermind + Retreat "10x Is Easier Than 2X" - By Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin HardyMessage me on LinkedIn (Dana Snyder) or Instagram (@positivequation) to learn more.
LettrLabs...
Human-Centered Fundraising: Tammy Zonker Redefines What It Means to Be a Hero in Philanthropy
If you've ever wrestled with the tension between being donor-centered and community-centered in your fundraising, today's episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. The incredible Tammy Zonker, founder of Fundraising Transformed, has helped raise more than $1 billion over her career, including facilitating a single $27 million dollar gift!
We dive into Tammy’s hands-on case study from the Children’s Center in Detroit, where her team tripled philanthropy in three years and doubled it again before her departure. You’ll hear what it actually looked like on the ground: auditing revenue channels, analyzing cost-per-dollar raised and RO...
Your Monthly Giving Blueprint: Free Community, Inside MGS 2026, & Mastermind Details
After an electrifying GivingTuesday, I’m here to share three BIG behind the scenes announcements that will directly support your recurring revenue goals and monthly giving programs in 2026:
First, I’m thrilled to announce that my Sustainers Slack community is now 100% free! It has become one of the most generous, collaborative, and energizing spaces on the internet, and if you join, you’ll get monthly office hours, expert Q&As, and coworking huddles.
We’re also going to talk about what’s in store for the 2026 Monthly Giving Summit...
Send This One Email (That Cuts Through the Noise) the Day AFTER GivingTuesday
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 a...
Improve Direct Mail Performance Using Behavioral Science & Personality Traits with Kevin Schulman
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 framewor...
Mobilizing Communities: A Data-Driven Approach to Grassroots Change
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.
...
Start with Heart: Why Emotional Intelligence Is Every Fundraiser's Superpower with Bill Crouch
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 accoun...
She Tripled the Budget and Built a 3-Campus Nonprofit - Here’s How with Hope Pavich from Care for Friends
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 fun...
At Capacity? Not Enough Time? Scale Your Mission with Fractional Support with Vicki Burkhart
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 progra...
From UCLA to 70+ Cities: End Overdose Sparked a College Campus Movement with Maddie Ward
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!
...
Boost Donor Engagement Before Year-End: This ONE Nurture Email Sparked 268 Replies
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 e...
The CFO’s Case for Monthly Giving: How Recurring Donors Drive Long-Term Decision Making with Stephen Newland
What does recurring giving look like through a CFO’s eyes, vs. relying on grants and one-time gifts? It isn’t just good for cash flow – it’s the foundation for smarter, calmer leadership.
Fractional CFO Stephen Newland is here to make the financial case for monthly giving. With over 15 years of experience guiding nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 500s, he breaks down how recurring gifts build stability, reduce burnout, and give leaders the space to think beyond survival mode.
Stephen shares why forecasting is the single most underutilized financial tool in the sector, and walks th...
How Nonprofits Can Get Featured in Holiday Gift Guides with AI-Powered Pitches
Holiday gift guides present a powerful opportunity for nonprofits to position their monthly giving programs and symbolic gifts as meaningful alternatives to traditional presents.
With millions of people searching for gifts that create lasting impact, now is the perfect time to pitch your nonprofit's offerings to publications, local outlets, and influencers who create "gifts that give back" content.
• Timing is crucial – editors are finalizing holiday gift guides between October and December
• Gift guides provide visibility through shares, links, Google searches, and now AI recommendations
• Being featured by third parties adds credibility and posit...
Missions to Movements Podcast - Trailer
Ready to transform your mission into something monumental? Promise yourself the tools to shake up nonprofit marketing and fundraising as you join me, Dana Snyder, on a journey from the heart of the nonprofit sector to the dynamic world of corporate agencies. This episode of the Missions to Movements podcast isn’t just about playing it safe—it’s about pioneering new paths with audacious strategies. If you're eager to craft a standout monthly giving program or want to boost your personal brand to unimagined heights, we’re setting the stage for innovation and growth like never before. From Atlanta...
Apply for the Values in Action Award - $100k in Marketing Services with Marivi Bryant
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...
How Your Year-End Gala or Event Can Generate Revenue All Year with Monthly Giving as the Centerpiece
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 g...
The Secret to 50% More Donations: A/B Testing & Mobile Giving Breakthroughs with Scott Cross
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, A...
LinkedIn Year-End Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders: Grow Your Thought Leadership and Mission
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...
From 17 to 400: How CAT Scaled Monthly Giving with The Meow Team
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...
Inside The Hunger Project’s Monthly Giving Rebrand: 65% Growth + 20 Years of Investor Loyalty
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...
Scaling Monthly Giving to 34% of Donors and $134K in Recurring Revenue with Meghan Walsh
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 too...
