Building Endurance in Sustainable Giving: The Joshua Fund’s Explosive Growth Story

What does it take to build an organization — and a life — that can go the distance?In this episode of The Sustainable Giving podcast, host ⁠⁠Dave Raley sits down with Chris Free, Senior Director of Communications & Advancement at The Joshua Fund, to unpack what it really looks like to build endurance — both personally and organizationally.From his beginnings as a filmmaker and storyteller to leading one of the most remarkable transformations in recurring giving we’ve seen, Chris shares the inside story of how The Joshua Fund grew from $5.3M to $18.6M in five years, with 47% of their revenue now coming from recurring donors.They dig into the heart behind the data, exploring how storytelling, discipline, and faith intersect to create something truly sustainable. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or simply someone who cares about long-term impact, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about what it means to build something that lasts.Key Topics They Discuss:The Power of Storytelling in Generosity How Chris’s early career as a filmmaker shaped his passion for purpose-driven storytelling,  and how that foundation now fuels The Joshua Fund’s mission and donor engagement.From Campaigns to Continuity The pivotal “aha moment” when Chris realized recurring giving wasn’t just a tactic. It was a mindset shift toward long-term sustainability.Building Systems that Sustain The real-life process of implementing sustainable giving practices, from adopting Fundraise Up to reworking donor experiences and automating communication flows.Transformation & Tangible Results How The Joshua Fund nearly doubled its recurring giving program and grew overall revenue 2.5x,  and what that stability means for impact, planning, and peace of mind.Endurance for the Long Run Parallels between marathon running and leadership: the discipline of consistency, learning to pace yourself, and the courage to keep going when you “hit the wall.”Also in this episode, they talk about:Lessons from The Sustainable Giving Accelerator and how it reshaped The Joshua Fund’s culture.The importance of data over ego — why objective insights always win.How crisis moments can drive innovation in fundraising.The role of automation in scaling meaningful donor relationships.Why January (or September!) doesn’t have to be scary when half your revenue is already recurring.What if your organization could move from reaction to rhythm; from chasing donations to cultivating generosity that lasts?Additional Resources: ⁠The Rise of Sustainable Giving Book⁠⁠The Sustainable Giving Workshop 2026Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Abigail, Tom, Kirsten, and Victoria.