December 1 brings GivingTuesday and the start of Generosity Week, with year-end right behind it. Suddenly, everything feels urgent: every email, every appeal, every idea that was supposed to happen yesterday. The good news is that you don’t need to do it all. You need a plan you can follow.
That’s where Dana Snyder comes in. Dana is the founder of Positive Equation, helping nonprofits build sustainable, recurring revenue and monthly giving programs. She’s also a speaker, creator of The Monthly Giving Builder, and host of the virtual Monthly Giving Summit, where she helps nonprofits grow and more sustainable revenue. On her podcast, Missions to Movements, she helps nonprofit leaders sort what deserves their time from what can wait.
We picked four episodes to get you started: how to make monthly giving a year-end priority, how to build a voice supporters recognize, how to land a spot in holiday gift guides, and how one gratitude email earned 268 replies. Check out the highlights below and press play for the full conversations.
1. If Everything Feels Important, You Haven’t Made a Decision: Your Monthly Giving Year-End Plan
🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Episode Summary:
Is this the year you finally make monthly giving a priority, or the year you send another fundraising email, refresh your inbox, and hope for the best?
Dana knows that cycle well. The answer isn’t a magic email or a last-minute campaign. It’s making a decision and creating space in your year-end strategy for monthly giving.
Here’s how to get started:
- Lead with monthly giving. Invite supporters to join something meaningful, not just complete a transaction. Making recurring giving a priority can also help strengthen your overall fundraising messaging.
- Make it a season, not a single send. Weave monthly giving into your emails, donation page, stories, and thank-you messages instead of treating it as a one-time ask.
- Stay visible before you ask. Share events, behind-the-scenes moments, and stories that keep your organization on supporters’ radar.
- Give it an owner. Monthly giving doesn’t have to fall entirely on one person, but someone needs to be responsible for moving it forward.
- Take the three-part challenge. Cut one thing from your to-do list, decide who owns monthly giving, and block time in the next seven days to map out your year-end plan.
🔥 Progress over perfect. The work you’ve been putting off might be the work that makes the biggest difference this year.
2. From Voice to Velocity: Visibility Through Thought Leadership with Dion Dawson
🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Episode Summary:
Most nonprofits don’t have a revenue problem. According to Dion Dawson of Dion’s Chicago Dream, they have a voice problem.
Dawson turned visibility into $17.8 million in impact over five years by being clear, consistent, and willing to show up. His message? Thought leadership isn’t about becoming famous. It’s about becoming familiar and trusted.
That matters for fundraising, too. Monthly giving is an ongoing relationship, and supporters need to know who you are and what you stand for before they’re ready to commit.
Here’s a simple gut check:
- Clarity: Can someone new to your organization understand what you stand for in 30 seconds? Focus on the message you want people to remember, not just your mission statement.
- Consistency: Do you show up when you’re not asking for money or launching something?
- Continuity: Are you inviting people into an ongoing story or sending one-off appeals?
- Spark vs. system: A viral moment can introduce people to your work, but a consistent voice is what builds trust over time.
💡 The takeaway: You don’t need to go viral to get noticed. Show up consistently, tell people what makes your work matter, and give them a reason to keep paying attention.
3. How Nonprofits Can Get Featured in Holiday Gift Guides with AI-Powered Pitches
🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Episode Summary:
Holiday gift guides aren’t just for big brands. They’re an opportunity for nonprofits to put their missions in front of new audiences and position monthly giving as a gift that keeps making a difference.
Here’s what to know before you pitch:
- Timing matters. Editors often plan holiday gift guides well in advance, so start preparing early.
- Think beyond fundraising. A gift guide feature can bring visibility, credibility, and new audiences to your organization.
- Make monthly giving giftable. Position your recurring giving program as a subscription gift that delivers impact throughout the year.
- Get your materials ready. Prepare strong photos, sample copy, and quotes from your organization’s leadership.
- Look beyond national media. Consider niche publications, cause-specific websites, local outlets, and influencers who care about your mission.
💡 Pro tip: Don’t count yourself out. Your mission deserves a place in the holiday conversation, too.
4. Boost Donor Engagement Before Year-End: This ONE Nurture Email Sparked 268 Replies
🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Episode Summary:
Before you send your big year-end appeals, take a moment to connect with your supporters without asking them for anything.
Dana sent a simple National Nonprofit Day email focused on gratitude, not fundraising, and received 268 replies. The email also helped strengthen donor relationships and contributed to open rates of 56–60%.
Here’s how to try it yourself:
- Share stories and milestones without attaching an ask to every update.
- Keep emails personal. Plain-text messages with a genuine, one-to-one feel can make supporters more likely to respond.
- Invite interaction. Ask supporters to share their stories, weigh in on something fun, or choose between a few options.
- Get creative with engagement. Playlists, stickers, coffee cards, and other small surprises can give people a reason to participate.
- Explore local partnerships. Nearby businesses may be willing to contribute fun giveaways or experiences.
🔥 Try a short donor nurture challenge. Give your supporters a chance to connect with your organization before asking them to give. Stronger relationships are worth the time.
You don’t need to do everything this season. Pick the idea from Dana’s episodes that feels most like your organization, whether that’s inviting supporters to give monthly, finding your voice, pitching a gift guide, or sending a thank-you with no ask attached. Then give it a date on your calendar. GivingTuesday is December 1, and a small, clear plan beats a long to-do list.
More Resources:
- Year-End Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders: Grow Your Thought Leadership and Mission — Ideas for using LinkedIn to share your mission, grow your visibility, and connect with potential supporters.
- How Your Year-End Gala or Event Can Generate Revenue All Year with Monthly Giving as the Centerpiece — Rethink your next event as the starting point for year-round recurring revenue.
