Your Monthly Giving Program Needs a Makeover

Do you dream of consistent revenue so you never have to wonder if you can keep up your mission? Yeah, ok—that's a rhetorical question.

Here’s the real talk: Most nonprofits don’t have a true monthly giving program. They’ve got a “make it monthly” button hiding on a donate form. And they call it a day.

But a checkbox isn’t a strategy.

If you want people to give month after month, you’ve gotta build something worth sticking with. Something that feels personal. Transparent. Easy. Even joyful.

Let’s break down how.

1. Lead with trust, not tech.

The best way to grow your program? Be ridiculously clear.

📬 Yes, they’ll get a notification each month when their gift processes.

🔄 Yes, they can change or cancel anytime.

📞 And yes—there’s a real human they can contact: Reach out to Maria at maria@yournonprofit.org or 555-123-4567 to make updates anytime.

When people know they’re not stuck in donation limbo, they’re way more likely to say yes.

2. Don’t launch without a stewardship plan.

Getting someone to join is just the beginning. A solid monthly giving program has an actual stewardship strategy behind it.

That means:

• A welcome message that sounds like a real person wrote it

• Thoughtful check-ins (quarterly works great)

• A milestone plan—6 months, 12 months, even donor anniversaries

• And a moment to say, “Your giving made this possible”

Stewardship is the heartbeat of retention. Don’t skip it.

3. Give your program a name—and a vibe.

Don’t call it “monthly giving.” That’s like naming your pet “animal.” Give folks something to feel part of:

• 🔦 The Lightkeepers – for housing, recovery, or support services

• 🛟 Steady Hands – for crisis response or mental health orgs

• 🫶 The Good Hands Collective – for human services with a communal, uplifting tone

• 🪵 The Steady Stack – for food pantries or emergency aid programs quietly keeping people going

The name sets the tone. Make it feel purposeful, dependable, and worthy of belonging.

4. Make it painfully easy to join.

Mobile-friendly page.Clear ask.Pre-filled amounts that tie to real-world impact.

💧 $15/month = hygiene kit📄

$25/month = resume help

🦺 $49/month = safety gear

No guesswork. No 12 clicks. Just a button, a mission, and some good feelings.

5. Market the heck out of it.

If you're not actively promoting your monthly giving program, it won’t grow.

Ideas that work:

• A dedicated email series (not just one message and done)

• Social posts that show behind-the-scenes impact

• Add it to your signature line, flyers, events, even your voicemail

• Give it a soft launch, then a bigger push later

And don’t forget to mention it in every appeal: “Join as a monthly donor and make your impact last all year.”

6. Keep the love going.

Monthly giving should feel different from a one-time gift. More connected. More appreciated.

So go beyond receipts:

• Send quarterly updates just for them

• Share exclusive content or previews

• Highlight them as a core part of the mission

Let them know: “You are the reason this work continues.”

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I'm Liz. I help nonprofits raise more money with less stress—so you can stay focused on the work that matters. You don’t have to figure out fundraising alone. Let’s talk.