Missions to Movements

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 & LinksCheck 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 eventsChad Nelsen from Surfrider Foundation, who invested in recurring giving technology to reach 91% retention on auto-renew donorsLiz Bohannon, a keynote speaker & author, who talks about “pluck ups” and how to reframe failure as courage-in-actionHeather 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 storytellingTrovon C. Williams from NAACP, about why leading with solutions can create stronger donor empowermentMaddie Ward from End Overdose, about how they scaled from a single campus to 70+ cities nationwideResources & LinksHear the full episodes with each of today’s featured guests:How 20 Cook-Offs Raised $300k from Corporate PartnershipsHow Surfrider Foundation’s CEO Amplifies Impact Through Thought LeadershipCelebrating Failures: A New Approach to “Pluck-Ups”How to Craft a Signature Talk to Amplify Your MissionHow Houston Food Bank Grew 5,200 Monthly Donors - The Importance of a Sustainer RoleNAACP’s Bold Shift Toward Sustained ImpactFrom UCLA to 70+ Cities: End Overdose Sparked a College Campus MovementRegister 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!

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 & LinksRegister 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!

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 squeezed into a 12-month grant cycle.Her candor around trust-based philanthropy, power dynamics, and multi-year funding models offers a blueprint for nonprofits eager to move the needle on bolder, more sustainable partnerships.Resources & LinksConnect with Dr. Maggie Sullivan Marcus on LinkedIn and learn more about the Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation on their website.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!

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.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!