Episode Summary: The Netflix Model of Fundraising – Turning One-Time Donors into Lifelong Partners

Podcast: The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast
Hosts: Jason Galasinski & Jim Dempsey
Episode: 113
Date: January 7, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Jason and Jim dive into the “Netflix Model” of fundraising—a shift from relying on one-time donations to building sustainable, long-term support through monthly giving. Drawing parallels with the rise of subscription services like Netflix, they explain why and how nonprofits can cultivate enduring relationships with donors, ultimately leading to greater financial stability and mission impact. With decades of combined experience and practical examples, the hosts guide nonprofit leaders through both the mindset and mechanics required to nurture a thriving monthly donor program.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Subscription Economy & Donor Behavior

• Parallels with Netflix (02:38):
  Hosts recall the transition from Blockbuster to Netflix and the convenience-driven shift in society—from one-off purchases to stable subscriptions.
  Notable quote: “We just started getting used to paying subscription fees... it’s that regular subscription pattern that really helped people.” – Jim Dempsey [04:35]

• Applications to Nonprofits (05:48):

  • Modern donor engagement should mimic popular subscription models, offering sustainable, convenient giving options.
  • Monthly giving is rapidly becoming an expectation, not an exception.

Building a Monthly Giving Program

• Transition from Sporadic to Sustainable (06:04–08:43):

  • Most nonprofits start fundraising with one-time gifts from friends, family, and project appeals.
  • True stability comes from focusing on a monthly giving program.
  • Creating compelling monthly sponsorship opportunities is critical but can be challenging, especially if similar programs already exist.
  • Consistency and persistence are needed to grow a monthly donor base.

• The Power of “Automatic” Monthly Giving (08:43):

  • Automated withdrawals ensure greater consistency and reduce churn due to missed payments.
  • “If you get them connected with an automatic program…it’s the way to go.” – Jim [08:43]

The Lifetime Value of Monthly Donors

• Comparing Gift Types (09:33–11:16):

  • Jim poses a critical question:
    “Would you rather have a $1,000 check today or $10/month for life?”
  • The numbers reveal the staggering long-term value of loyal monthly donors:

    “I’ve got 75 to 80% of those individuals that helped us from day one... still giving monthly. It boggles my mind…some individuals have never missed a month in 40 plus years.” – Jim [09:45]

  • $50/month over 40 years = $24,000 per donor. Scale this across 100 people and it’s $2.4 million.

• Stability & Confidence for Operations (11:26–12:50):

  • Monthly gifts allow organizations to reliably cover operational expenses and focus on growth.
  • One-time gifts are still valuable but are less predictable.

Practical Steps to Start & Grow Your Program

• Always Offer Monthly as an Option (12:50–14:20):

  • Present one-time and monthly giving side by side in all appeals:
    “A gift of $1,200 or $100/month.”
  • Include monthly options in newsletters, direct mail, emails—everywhere fundraising happens.

• Appealing to Different Donor Capacities (14:20):

  • "There are people who can't write a $1,200 check, but they can do $100/month." – Jason [14:26]

• Real-World Examples (14:52–17:02):

  • Jim recounts how CREW’s first monthly partner program, “The Penny Plan,” started small but eventually grew into a major funding stream.
  • “History’s Handful” campaign: recruiting 1,000 major donors to each give $1M/year, demonstrating the power of vision and scale.

The Perfect Vision Dinner as a Growth Accelerator

• The Perfect Vision Dinner Model (17:15–26:28):

  • Described as an accelerant for monthly giving:
    “One of the secrets that we have is the Perfect Vision Dinner…to go from 5, 10, 15 people giving monthly to 100+ monthly commitments at a dinner.” – Jim [17:15]
  • At these events, up to 50% of funds raised are committed as monthly gifts.
  • Layering year-over-year: Each year adds a new “sediment layer” of recurring donors, compounding organizational sustainability.
  • Proven to work in any community size, even rural towns with limited resources:

    “This was a small town...They raised over $350,000 on their first Perfect Vision Dinner.” – Jason [22:54]

• Principle-Based and Timeless (25:09–26:28):

  • Monthly giving models are anchored in long-standing fundraising principles that work across generations and technological changes.
  • The key is consistently inviting and onboarding donors into “lifelong partnership.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Monthly Donor Value:
  “40 times $50 a month, that’s a lot of gifts... What a way to go.” – Jim [10:39]

• On Automation:
  “When you’ve got that automatic withdrawal, that’s the way to go.” – Jim [08:43]

• On Consistency:
  “Imagine doing that year three, year four, year five, year six. So after 5–7 years...your sediment layer is going to become fairly large.” – Jason [21:22]

• On the Universal Applicability:
  “If it wouldn’t have worked, it wouldn’t have worked for us...But it did work.” – Jason [23:50]

• On Getting Started:
  “It takes months, years to build a strong, solid monthly giving program. But you have to start. There’s no better time...than today.” – Jim [29:13]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:38] – Introduction to Netflix/blockbuster analogy for giving
• [06:04] – Challenge of building first monthly donor base as a nonprofit
• [08:43] – The importance of automated giving to donor retention
• [09:45] – The lifetime value of monthly donors
• [14:52] – Jim shares the origin story of CREW’s monthly giving program
• [17:15] – The Perfect Vision Dinner as a fundraising accelerator
• [20:31] – Compounding effect of annual fundraising events
• [22:54] – Success story from a rural community’s first Vision Dinner
• [25:09] – Timeless principles behind monthly donor programs
• [29:13] – Final advice: Start a monthly program now for long-term sustainability

Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Leaders

• Move your organization toward a “subscription” culture by promoting monthly giving at every opportunity.
• Monthly donors have much higher lifetime value and provide operational stability.
• Present giving options in both annual and monthly terms to appeal to all donors.
• Use tested event models like the Perfect Vision Dinner to rapidly accelerate your monthly giving base.
• Start as soon as possible. Consistency and layering over time are the keys to success.

Closing Thought

“There’s no better time to start a monthly giving program than today.” – Jim Dempsey [29:13]

Useful for listeners and action-oriented, this summary captures the practical wisdom and tested strategies shared by Jason and Jim to help nonprofit leaders build the steady, sustainable funding streams that underpin long-term impact.