Driving successful recurring giving requires more than strong digital acquisition.  It demands intentional coordination across digital, mail, and phone channels. This session explores how leading teams move donors seamlessly from first click to long-term recurring commitment through integrated, multi-channel strategies. Speakers will share examples of sustainer acquisition campaigns, proven approaches for converting one-time donors into reliable recurring supporters, and tactics for using phone and mail at the right moments in the donor journey. The conversation will also examine how teams build internal partnerships and secure leadership buy-in to support sustained, cross-channel investment. Attendees will leave with a frameworks and ideas they can apply immediately to strengthen and scale their recurring giving programs.

In this lunchtime keynote, Ben Smithee – Chief Growth Officer at NextAfter - will reveal the biggest takeaways from the 2025 Recurring Giving Benchmark Study, an in-depth look at how 140 nonprofits across eight sectors are winning (or losing) recurring donors.

We tested the donor journey from first recurring gift to post-gift cultivation and upgrades, tracking what actually moves people to give consistently. Expect clear benchmarks, surprising patterns, and practical moves you can steal before dessert, so your recurring program becomes a predictable revenue engine, that compounds growth each year.

Key Takeaways:

1. What is working and not working in acquiring recurring donors?

2. What did we see across a study of nearly 140 different nonprofit orgs and 600 gifts?

3. How can you optimize your donation pages, email sequences, and other comms

     to increase recurring giving?

How do small nonprofits with limited brand recognition achieve retention rates that outperform industry benchmarks for face-to-face acquired sustainers? In this data-driven session, we’ll explore two compelling case studies of national-mission organizations that delivered exceptional results, despite modest budgets and minimal name recognition.

Using benchmarked data (PFFA and Blackbaud) as a baseline, we’ll walk through the first 13 months of the sustainer journey, from Month 0 (acquisition) through Month 13, highlighting what we expected versus what we learned. You’ll see how these insights informed testing strategies that not only optimized Year One retention but also laid the foundation for a best-in-class multi-year roadmap.

Key Takeaways for Attendees:

1. Identify critical touchpoints in the first-year sustainer journey.

2. Learn backend support essentials to ensure a seamless donor experience.

3. Discover testing recommendations to optimize retention

30 Ideas That Wow’d Us is a fast-paced lightning round showcasing standout sustainer strategies that truly moved the needle this year. Panelists will share the ideas, tests, and small shifts that delivered outsized impact in their programs. The kind of wins you can apply right away. Attendees are invited to actively participate by sharing one sustainer idea, test, or insight that wow’d them this year. You may even see your idea reflected as part of the session highlights. Learn from peers, and leave with inspiration and a few prizes along the way.

Full participation in this program is applicable for up to 4 Continuing Education Points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.