What if your donors aren’t just generous—but are craving more ways to give?
In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Abby Jarvis, Head of Research and Editorial at Neon One. Abby brings over 12 years of nonprofit technology and communications experience, offering a rich perspective on how data can humanize the giving experience—and how nonprofits can harness donor behavior to cultivate long-term sustainability.
Together, they explore why recurring giving is on the rise, what motivates modern donors, and how nonprofits can build deeper, more human-centered relationships with their supporters.
Key Topics They Cover:
- Humanizing Donor Data: How data can tell powerful stories, and why every data point is a person, not just a number.
- The Power of Recurring Giving: Why recurring donors are often your most committed supporters and how to build lasting programs around them.
- Insights from the Generosity Report: What Neon One’s latest research reveals about everyday donor behavior, and what nonprofits may be missing.
- Generosity Beyond the Gift: Why donations aren’t the only metric that matters, and how advocacy, volunteering, and engagement show up in big ways.
- Narrative, Myth, and Motivation: How fairy tales, storytelling, and meta-narratives shape the way we understand generosity and connect with causes.
Also in this episode, they talk about:
- How Abby’s background in literature and poetry influences her data work
- Misconceptions about recurring donors and why you should ask them to do more
- The emotional impact behind donor notes and the use of sentiment analysis
- Lessons from the recurring giving surge in 2020, and what it reveals about donor behavior
- The correlation between non-monetary involvement (volunteering, memberships) and increased giving
- Generational shifts in giving and the influence of the subscription economy
- Why fundraisers must reframe giving as an empowering invitation, not a burden
Additional Resources:
- Discover more and pick up a copy of Dave's book: sustainablegiving.org
- Register for the Sustainable Giving Workshop: imago.consulting/workshop
Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.
Is it innovation if it doesn’t have sustainability built in?
That’s the bold question at the heart of this conversation between your host, Dave Raley, and guest Becky Straw, Co-Founder and CEO of The Adventure Project.
Together, they challenge the nonprofit sector’s obsession with short-term wins and one-time donations, and make the case for deeper, more sustainable change.
Drawing on Becky’s early work with charity: water and her decade-plus leading The Adventure Project, this episode explores how job creation, dignity, and recurring giving can reframe how we approach generosity and build true sustainability.
Key Topics They Cover:
1. Redefining Sustainability in the Nonprofit Sector
Why “walking away” should be possible – and desirable – when programs are truly sustainable
The failure of water projects without local ownership and ongoing maintenance
2. The Power of Job Creation as a Sustainable Solution
The dignity of work vs. the danger of dependency
The role of social enterprise and VC-like support models at The Adventure Project
3. Growing Sustainable Giving Through Innovation and Trust
Monthly and multi-year giving as long-term impact tools
How a women-focused quiz generated $40K in donations and recurring support
4. Experiencing and Modeling the Joy of Generosity
Childhood lessons in service and generosity
The importance of modeling generosity for the next generation
5. Applying Social Work Principles to Nonprofit Leadership
Additional Resources:
Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.
Welcome to Episode 1 of the Sustainable Giving podcast, where we’re shining a light on how generosity works in a world increasingly shaped by the subscription economy.
Hosted by Dave Raley—speaker, consultant, and best-selling author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving—this show explores the trends, tools, and tactics powering the future of nonprofit fundraising through recurring giving.
In this episode, Dave is joined by Nathan Chappell—Chief AI Officer at Virtuous and co-author of The Generosity Crisis—to tackle the tough questions facing generosity today.
Nerding out together over this up-and-coming trend in the nonprofit space, Dave and Nathan dive into the state of generosity in North America, explore how nonprofits can build more sustainable giving models, and discuss the massive implications of artificial intelligence for the future of philanthropy.
Key Topics They Cover:
1. Why This Podcast, Why Now
2. The Generosity Crisis
3. Recurring Giving & The Subscription Economy
4. AI and the Future of Generosity
5. Inspiration for a Generous Future
Also in this episode, you’ll hear:
- How fewer individuals are giving to charity, and why that matters
- Why innovation is mission-critical, not optional
- The rise of AI fluency in nonprofit leadership
- Practical ways to start or improve a recurring giving program
- The joy of generosity—from French macarons to freedom fighters
Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.
Welcome to the very first episode of the Sustainable Giving Podcast, where we explore how the subscription economy is reshaping generosity and creating new opportunities for nonprofits to grow recurring giving.
Hosted by Dave Raley—speaker, consultant, and best-selling author of The Rise of Sustainable Giving—this show will dive into the trends, tools, and tactics powering the future of nonprofit fundraising through recurring giving.
Dave is the founder of Imago Consulting, an innovation advisory firm helping organizations grow sustainable giving through forward-thinking strategies. He's also the voice behind The Wave Report, a weekly leadership and innovation briefing, and the co-host of the Purpose & Profit Podcast.
In this premiere episode, he's joined by his good friend Jon McCoy, co-founder of We Are For Good and a leader in nonprofit storytelling and innovation, to flip the script and introduce Dave to the world as the creator of this (hopefully) inspiring new podcast.
With lots of laughs and a good deal of casual storytelling, they explore why sustainable giving is more than just a buzzword—it's the future of generosity.
Key Topics They Cover:
1. The Heart Behind the Podcast
2. The Rise of the Subscription Economy
3. Defining Sustainable Giving
4. Behind the Book
5. Inspiring Real-Life Story: International Justice Mission
Also in this episode, you’ll hear:
- Childhood experiences that shaped Dave’s views on generosity
- How nonprofits can respond to the "generosity crisis"
- Practical takeaways for launching or improving recurring giving programs
- The role of community, trust, and identity in donor behavior
- Building recurring giving programs with intentionality and heart
Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, Grace, and Christeen.
