What happens when the world’s biggest day of generosity meets the rise of the subscription economy?
In this special LIVE edition of The Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley is joined by Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer at GivingTuesday, for a deep and energizing conversation on how generosity is evolving, and how nonprofit leaders can turn one powerful day into lasting, sustainable impact.
Broadcast live on LinkedIn and made possible by CharityEngine — with a special word from Vice President of Marketing, Dave Martin — this episode unpacks what’s happening at the intersection of technology, culture, and generosity — and how organizations can build year-round giving strategies rooted in belonging, not burnout.
Key Topics They Covered:
1. The Future of Generosity: Woodrow shares the scale and scope of GivingTuesday’s global impact, and how the data shows generosity is more participatory, community-driven, and sustainable than ever before.
2. The Rise of Sustainable Giving: Dave and Woodrow explore the momentum behind recurring giving — noting that 12% of GivingTuesday donors last year became monthly givers — and what that tells us about the future of donor loyalty.
3. Four Insights to Grow Sustainable Giving This GivingTuesday: Dave outlines four proven strategies from the field:
- Start early, stay late: Treat GivingTuesday as a season, not a single day.
- Lead with recurring: Make monthly giving the hero of your campaign.
- Incentivize conversion: Use simple, delightful nudges like match offers or special perks.
- Leverage multiple channels: Align your message across email, social, direct mail, and events for a unified story.
4. Leveraging Shared Moments for Lasting Impact: The conversation turns to how shared cultural moments like GivingTuesday create belonging, spark participation, and, when leveraged well, lead to higher retention and deeper connection.
5. Launch of the Sustainable Giving Certification: Dave announces the new Sustainable Giving Certification, designed to recognize technology and service providers that enable recurring giving at scale. CharityEngine was recognized as the Founding Certified Partner for its leadership in sustainable giving technology.
Also in this episode, they talked about:
- How data insights from GivingTuesday reveal shifting donor behaviors.
- The link between technology, donor experience, and long-term retention.
- Practical steps for smaller nonprofits with limited tech resources.
- The importance of aligning providers and platforms with sustainable giving principles.
- Highlights from the Sustainable Giving Workshop and upcoming opportunities to engage.
What if your next GivingTuesday campaign didn’t end after 24 hours — but built a foundation for year-round generosity?
Get to Know the Presenters:
- Learn more about Woodrow Rosenbaum
- Learn more about Dave Martin
- Learn more about Dave Raley
Additional Resources:
Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.