Cultivating strong relationships is the foundation of a successful fundraising program, especially one built on recurring givers. The shift from transactions to relationships is more than nice to have; it’s mission‑critical.
Sustained giving means greater financial stability, stronger community ties, and more predictable support for your work.
In this panel, 4aGoodCause founder Ronald Pruitt met with other nonprofit leaders to explore how to move beyond one‑time transactions and build lasting partnerships with supporters by leveraging smart tools, data, and personalized communication.
This session was hosted by our friends at NXUnite, a community by Nexus Marketing that supports professionals in the mission-drive sector.
💡Pro tip: Streamline your fundraising process so collecting stories doesn’t fall off the to-do list. 4aGoodCause makes nonprofit fundraising simple. It’s not just another fundraising platform; it’s a partnership. We handle the tech so you can focus on your mission. Get a demo.
Watch the full video
In this session, you’ll explore:
- How to leverage data and technology to personalize donor outreach and communication.
- Creating a sustainable donor pipeline through strategic relationship management.
- The impact of nonprofit storytelling and transparency on building donor trust and loyalty.
- Strategies for converting one-time donors into long-term recurring supporters.
- Cultivating major and planned gifts through deep, personal connections.
Panel and speakers
5 top takeaways from the webinar
Here are five essential insights from the session:
1. Make giving easy, personal, and transparent
- Offer one-click, digital wallets, and recurring on every form.
- Show clear impact with human stories. Data plus heart builds trust.
2. Recurring-first drives stability and belonging
- Promote monthly giving as a community, not a payment plan.
- Welcome new sustainers with quick thanks, simple perks, and regular updates.
3. Use tech to enhance, not replace, relationships
- Automate receipts, reminders, and basic follow-ups.
- Save time for handwritten notes, short thank-you videos, and real conversations.
4. Unify data to personalize well
- Pull data into one CRM view. Track channel preference, first-gift trigger, and content interests.
- Segment by behavior and motivation; test, learn, and adjust.
5. Lead with specific, local stories and clear next steps
- Tell the story of one, make the donor the hero, and show a solvable problem.
- Ask directly, use multiple channels, and follow up fast, especially with first-time and younger donors.
🤯 Did you know? The 4aGoodCause platform makes giving effortless for your donors (and you). Your stories inspire the giving, but we make fundraising easy with the right tech. See it for yourself.
What’s ahead: Future trends to watch from the panel
- Erin shares: Nonprofits are uniquely positioned to give people purpose and agency. Lean into that partnership message. Help people see this is the place where we can create the world we want.
- Mark shares: Better data tools and AI will make impact reporting easier and more visual. That levels the field for smaller nonprofits that have struggled with analysis in the past.
- Michelle shares: Technology will keep evolving, but the core still wins. Tell your story. Make the donor’s impact central. Meet them where they are.
- Ronald shares: Go all-in on recurring giving. Become a recurring-first organization. It builds community, deepens relationships, and creates stable, reliable income in uncertain times.
Quick stats about recurring giving
- 50% of recurring donors give additional gifts.
- A typical monthly donor’s lifetime value (LTV) is around $7,604 on average.
- Recurring givers have retention rates from 77% up to 90% (depending on the the study).
- New donor acquisition can often cost 10 to 20 times that of donor renewals.
- 31% of online revenue came from monthly giving in 2024. (And according to M+R Benchmarks, if long-term trends continue, it’s likely that percentage will only increase.)
Supplemental resources mentioned in this session
Missed the invitation?
Want to keep building this momentum?
- Sign up for upcoming webinars from 4aGoodCause to stay ahead of nonprofit trends in donor engagement. Simply join our newsletter to get future invites.
- If you’re ready to explore how a recurring‑giving strategy or smarter donor communications could work for your team, reach out and we’ll help you get started.
Thank you to everyone who attended live, asked questions, and shared insights. Here’s to stronger bonds with your donors and greater impact ahead!
About the experts
Erin Straza
CEO + Chief Donor Engagement Strategist, Erin Straza Nonprofit Consulting
Erin helps nonprofits craft irresistible donor messaging and engagement strategies that drive growth and deepen impact. Her consulting agency works with organizations nationwide on campaign development, donor journeys, and communication plans.
Mark Montoya
President, akoyaGO
With deep roots in philanthropy and foundation operations, Mark leads akoyaGO in delivering tech-driven solutions that empower foundations to make a greater impact. Under his leadership, the company has seen rapid growth and innovation in client success.
Michelle McDonald
Chief Service Officer, CDS Global
Michelle oversees service operations and strategy at CDS Global, where she leads omnichannel engagement, payment processing, and data-driven insights for nonprofits and higher education institutions nationwide.
Ronald Pruitt
Founder & President, 4aGoodCause
Ronald is the founder of 4aGoodCause, a fundraising platform helping small nonprofits thrive through smart technology and recurring giving. He brings over 25 years of experience supporting online fundraising success for mission-driven organizations.
