What if your next fundraising event didn’t just raise money for one night, but built generosity that lasts for years?
In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with longtime fundraising leader and speaker Kirk Walden for a wide-ranging, practical conversation about events, recurring giving, and the future of sustainable generosity.
Kirk has spent more than 30 years in fund development and has helped ministries raise over $75 million, much of it by transforming high-energy fundraising events into engines for long-term, recurring support. Together, Dave and Kirk unpack why events still matter, where they often fall short, and how leaders can design moments that move people from inspiration to lasting commitment.
This isn’t a conversation about better banquets or sharper pitches. It’s about building systems, culture, and leadership maturity that turn embodied experiences into sustainable impact.
Key Topics They Talk About:
The Stage as a Strategy
Events as Major Donor Discovery Engines
Recurring Giving Inside a Live Event
Why Sustainable Giving Isn’t Rocket Science
Culture, Leadership, and Long-Term Impact
Also in this episode, they talk about:
Reading “signals in the room” during live appeals
Commitment psychology vs. emotional spikes
Follow-up strategies that actually work
The danger of event dependence
Why unhealthy culture eventually breaks recurring generosity
If you only get one moment with a donor — on a stage, in a room, or during a shared experience — how are you inviting them into something that lasts?
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