How the Subscription Economy is Revolutionizing Nonprofit Fundraising

I recently had the opportunity to join Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions, a leading provider of loans for nonprofits, on the Nonprofit MBA Podcast to talk about my book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving, and how the subscription economy is transforming philanthropy. 

You can listen to the full conversation here: 

🎙️The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Revolutionizing Nonprofit Fundraising

As we talked, a few themes stood out that I think are worth sharing:

1. Subscriptions have reshaped our expectations.
Whether it’s Netflix, Spotify, or meal kits, recurring value is now the default in our daily lives. The same mindset can be applied to giving – where donors don’t just make a transaction but invest in an ongoing relationship with the causes they care about.

2. Predictability beats one-time peaks.
Many donors assume nonprofits prefer a large, one-time gift. But the truth is, recurring support gives organizations something even more valuable: stability. Predictable revenue allows nonprofits to plan better, respond faster, and scale their mission.

3. It’s not about copying Netflix.
Sustainable giving isn’t about perks or gimmicks. It’s about offering ongoing connection and meaning—regular updates, stories of impact, and opportunities to belong to something larger than a one-off donation.

For me, that’s the heart of sustainable giving: moving beyond scarcity thinking to create lasting impact at scale.

If you’re curious, I’d encourage you to take a listen. Stephen and I cover a lot more ground, including how nonprofits can break free from old models and embrace a subscription mindset for the good of their mission.

🎧 The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Revolutionizing Nonprofit Fundraising

Until next week… Surf’s Up! 🌊

  - Dave