Are you ready to supercharge your nonprofit's monthly giving program? In this post, we're diving into how to create a winning recurring giving program in just nine steps. Let's get started!
When it comes to nonprofit fundraising, monthly giving (otherwise known as recurring giving) reigns supreme. Although big donations are valuable and should still be pursued, recurring giving programs provide a steady, reliable source of income for your nonprofit.
Imagine if your nonprofit no longer had to worry about the seasonal drops in giving. Wouldn’t it be great if you could count on a dependable stream of monthly revenue? That’s why developing a stellar monthly giving program is an investment that can have a tremendous impact on the long-term financial health of your organization.
A monthly giving program is a recurring donation setup where donors automatically give a set amount to a nonprofit every month. These programs help nonprofits generate a steady stream of financial support so that they can fulfill their vision and mission more effectively.
Donors simply pick an amount and how often they want to give. Monthly is the most common choice, but options like bi-monthly, weekly, or yearly work too. It’s all about what fits their budget.
Donorbox Recurring Donations helps you set up monthly (as well as daily, weekly, bi-weekly, 1st and 15th, quarterly, and annual) giving programs for your fundraising campaigns. You can easily add these intervals to our recurring donation form. Then it’s up to you to either use the Donorbox-hosted fundraising page (where your form will be included) or embed the donation form in your website. Here’s an example of the latter:
Create a Recurring Donation Form on Donorbox
Recurring giving programs can dramatically increase your fundraising potential. Did you know that the average monthly gift is $52? That adds up to $624 a year, compared to the average one-time gift of $128.
If your nonprofit isn’t prioritizing monthly giving, you’re losing out.
Want to get your hands on more data like this? Check out our dedicated blog on recurring giving statistics, or download our free Monthly Giving report for exclusive Donorbox stats and key takeaways:
Donors who give monthly have a higher retention rate than other types of donors. The Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) reports that retention climbs with each additional gift:
These stats show how how critical it is to convert donors into repeat and monthly givers.
Monthly giving programs are relatively simple to manage for nonprofits and make giving easy for donors.
Donors sign up once, and their gifts are made automatically and at a frequency of their choosing, giving them flexibility and convenience.
Furthermore, your donors may already be on monthly schedules. They pay many bills monthly and subscribe to many monthly services. So, monthly giving is easy to understand and incorporate into their lives.
Very few recurring donors cancel their donations. Signing up for monthly giving is a good sign that the donor is engaged and committed to your cause.
Here’s a real story of fundraising success from Pittsburgh Kids Foundation (PKF) which will help you understand the impact a monthly giving program can have on an organization. Learn about the benefits right from the horse’s mouth in this podcast episode on Donorbox:
Start a Monthly Giving Program With Donorbox
Chances are you already have some sort of monthly giving program in place. But is it working as hard as it could be?
Whether you’re launching your first program or looking to strengthen an existing one, these 10 steps will help you build a standout monthly giving program – one that keeps donors engaged and giving consistently!
Start by thinking big picture: how much funding do you need to sustain your program? Once you have that number, work backward to figure out what your program needs to look like.
We’ll give you an example. Say you need to raise $10,000 in 12 months. You’ll need about 42 donors giving $20 each month – or 28 donors giving $30 each month.
Doing this math up front makes planning easier and helps you communicate clear fundraising goals to your supporters.
The last thing you want is for your recurring giving program to feel like an obligation. Make donors feel special by offering perks – big or small. Some examples include:
If you don’t have the bandwidth, keep it simple. Record a short, TikTok-style thank-you video every month or share an update that feels personal and authentic. Think of these “mini” impact reports.
Any recurring giving tool worth its salt should take the headache out of managing your program. Look for a platform that:
Donorbox does all this – and more. Our Recurring Donation Upsell feature even nudges one-time donors to become monthly givers.
Giving your monthly program a name will strengthen its brand and show your donors they’re part of something special.
Name the program something that aligns with your broader nonprofit brand or goal. For example, Pencils of Promise calls their program “Passport,” Liberty in North Korea calls theirs “Liberty,” and charity:water calls theirs “Pipeline.”
Branding your monthly giving program emphasizes the element of community. By showing your monthly donors that they’re part of something bigger than themselves, you make them feel more valued.
On your monthly giving page, you could also consider using social proof – a powerful psychological and social phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior in a given situation. In other words, this means people do what they see others do.
To leverage this phenomenon, include testimonials and photos of current monthly donors, and their names.
Your page should make recurring giving the obvious choice, and there are a few ways to do that:
Real-life example: Project Street Vet used Donorbox’s recurring donation features to grow their number of monthly donors from zero to 700. Their favorite feature? Marking the monthly interval with a heart. Read their case study.
We’ll say it louder for the people in the back: use real examples or descriptions to connect donation amounts to impact! For instance:
Putting donations into real terms helps donors understand the difference they’re making!
The sign-up process should be quick, intuitive, and mobile-friendly. Your donation page should load fast and feel trustworthy, too.
Add the link in your website header so it’s easy to find in just a click or two.
Monthly giving might be convenient for you and your donors, automatizing the payments and admin involved. However, this doesn’t mean your nonprofit should apply a hands-off approach when it comes to building relationships with your donors.
Send a warm welcome within 48 hours and keep donors updated with stories, images, and impact reports.
Personal touches can make all the difference here.
Did you know that your monthly giving program doesn’t have to be limited to your website?
If your nonprofit has a physical location, hosts regular events, or attends community gatherings, in-person giving can be a powerful way to sign donors up for recurring gifts on the spot.
With Donorbox Live Kiosk™, it’s easier than ever. Use the Donorbox Live app to turn your tablet or Android phone into a portable giving kiosk. Set up a monthly recurring giving option for donors to choose instead of a one-time donation – they can complete their gift using a card, smartphone, or smartwatch in seconds.
You can even offer other intervals like quarterly or annually, giving donors more flexibility while still boosting your recurring revenue.
Again and again, fundraiser wonder how to get the most out of their monthly giving programs. Here are some answers to the most common questions.
Sometimes, finding donors for your monthly giving program is as easy as making the right ask at the right time – and that goes for your existing donors, too.
Typically, one-time donors convert to monthly donors within the first 30-60 days. Spend that time sending them informative and interesting content about your mission, the problem you’re solving, and how your team makes a difference. Then share a gentle ask that fully demonstrates the value of your monthly giving program.
For a hands-off approach, use Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell feature to prompt one-time donors to upgrade to a monthly gift. This will help you capture both new donors and returning donors who have yet to consider becoming a monthly supporter.
First, start with the donors you already have. As we mentioned above, converting existing one-time and annual donors is all about a timely ask.
But even for more established repeat donors who haven’t converted to your recurring giving program yet, don’t be afraid to share the details about your new program with them, along with a polite ask.
Personal outreach is best for this – especially if your organization has an ongoing relationship with these donors.
Other sources for recurring donors include:
Anyone with an interest in your organization is a prospect for your monthly giving program.
If you only have 20 minutes in your day to dedicate to upkeep on your recurring giving program, here are some things you can do:
Tip: Use automation tools to get the most out of your limited bandwidth.
Creating a successful monthly giving program can be challenging, but the reliable funding these programs provide can help sustain your mission through uncertain times. Forming a lasting relationship with dedicated donors who continuously support your organization makes all the difference.
At Donorbox, we see every day how recurring giving transforms small nonprofits into sustainable powerhouses.
Our tools are designed to be easy to use and empowering for both you and your donors. Whether you’re starting a recurring giving program from scratch or looking to scale your existing one, we have you covered with innovative, donor-empowering recurring donation tools. Check out all our features here, and sign up today to start fundraising in under 15 minutes!
Ilma is a content writer with over eight years of experience, specializing in nonprofits and social impact, marketing, language, and psychology. She draws on years of volunteering in the nonprofit sector to craft thoughtful, research-informed pieces. Ilma is also a therapist passionate about mental health and often weaves this perspective into her writing.
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Ilma Ibrisevic