It’s 2025, and we’re fully living in a subscription culture. Everything from our favorite tunes on Spotify to our weekly meal kits is just part of how we live now—simple, straightforward, and automatic. This model of convenience and consistency isn’t just limited to consumer goods; it’s actually been part of nonprofit fundraising for decades in the form of monthly giving, and it fits right into this subscription culture.
If your nonprofit hasn’t started a monthly giving program yet, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity. Whether you’re refining an existing program or just beginning to play around with the idea of recurring donations, this guide is designed for you. Much like a premium app subscription that enhances your experience, a well-structured monthly giving program provides your nonprofit with a predictable revenue stream and deepens donor engagement.
Are you ready to make your monthly giving program a must-have for donors, much like their favorite streaming service? We’re here to show you how. We’ve curated six steps to amplify your program and keep your donors engaged month after month.
1. Optimize Your Sign-Up Process
As a fundraiser, you know that it’s vital to make the donation process as accessible and intuitive as possible. This begins with prominently featuring your monthly giving option across all your donation forms. CauseVox simplifies this integration, allowing you to showcase recurring donation opportunities across multiple channels—be it your main website donation form, peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, or special event sites. This visibility ensures that every donor interaction has the potential to convert into ongoing support.
To optimize for monthly giving, incorporating suggested donation levels can help take the guesswork out of giving. By offering preset options like $50, $100, or $250, you give donors a clear starting point, making the decision easier while also encouraging higher contributions through subtle social cues.
For even more success, we highly recommend tying your donation tiers to impact, like in the example below. With CauseVox, you can customize different donation tiers for one-time and recurring donors, helping you demonstrate the increased impact donors’ dollars have when they give monthly.
Even a small tweak—like setting monthly donations as the default—can serve as a gentle nudge toward ongoing support, while still allowing donors the flexibility to choose a one-time gift.
To help donors think about giving in more manageable, bite-sized ways, CauseVox offers a pledge donation option that breaks down larger contributions into smaller, digestible installments. Instead of making a big gift all at once, donors can commit to a larger amount and pay it off over time—monthly, yearly, or on a custom schedule. It’s a flexible and approachable way to increase giving without overwhelming your supporters. Plus, with automated billing and easy tracking built in, your team spends less time on admin work. Donors can also choose from a variety of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, ACH, Venmo, and digital wallets like Google Pay and PayPal—making it simple for them to give in whatever way works best.
By leveraging these features, your nonprofit can greatly enhance the donor experience, making it easier for supporters to give regularly and on their terms.
2. Run a Dedicated Monthly Giving Program Campaign
While adding a recurring donation option to your form is a great first step, it’s not enough on its own. Monthly giving thrives when it’s paired with intentional outreach. Donors are far more likely to commit to ongoing support when they understand the long-term value and real-world impact of their gifts. That’s why running a dedicated monthly giving campaign is essential. It helps educate, inspire, and motivate donors to make that recurring commitment.
To start, clearly define your campaign goal. Do you want to reach a specific number of monthly donors? Increase the average gift amount? Raise a set amount in recurring revenue? Having a clear, measurable objective will help guide your strategy and evaluate your success.
MPPH created a recurring gift campaign, using CauseVox’s platform,where they recruited donors to sign up to give monthly in a short, 30-day sprint.
From there, craft a strong message that centers on impact. Highlight how recurring gifts provide stability, allow for long-term planning, and create consistent support for the people or programs you serve. Use simple, compelling language that reinforces the idea that becoming a monthly donor is one of the most effective ways to make a lasting difference.
Storytelling is your most powerful tool. Share real stories from your community—individuals or families who have been directly impacted by your work—and tie their outcomes back to the power of ongoing support. These stories bring your mission to life and show prospective donors the tangible results of sustained giving.
Next, decide on your channels. It’s a great idea to segment your email list so you can send targeted messages to different tiers of donors and those on your email list who haven’t donated yet; but successful campaigns meet donors where they are, so think beyond just email. Social media, website banners, peer-to-peer fundraising, printed materials, and even text messages can all play a role. Make sure each piece of content reinforces the campaign’s core message and includes a clear, compelling call-to-action to become a monthly donor.
Consider layering in urgency and incentives to boost participation. For example:
- Launch the campaign with a time-bound goal (e.g., “Help us reach 50 new monthly donors by the end of the month”).
- Introduce a match (e.g., “All new monthly gifts will be matched for the first 3 months”).
- Offer small perks like exclusive updates, shout-outs, or early access to an event for those who join during the campaign.
And don’t forget to plan your follow-up strategy, utilizing your nonprofit’s CRM as a tool to keep you on track. Thank new monthly donors promptly and publicly when appropriate. Keep them engaged by sending updates about how their gifts are being used, reinforcing that they made a great choice by signing up.
Lastly, track your results in real time. Monitor what channels are performing best, what messages are resonating, and how your donor base is responding. Use this data to adjust your approach as needed and to inform future campaigns.
3. Integrate Monthly Giving Into Your Messaging
Consistency in messaging is key to keeping your program in the minds of your supporters. Your outreach efforts should regularly feature stories and updates that underscore the importance of monthly gifts. By sharing videos, testimonials, and detailed accounts of how these donations are used, you reinforce the value and necessity of continuous support.
Incorporate these elements into your regular communication strategy to ensure that every newsletter, update, and appeal contributes to a cohesive narrative about the benefits of becoming a monthly donor. This integration helps maintain a connection with your supporters, reminding them of their role in your ongoing success.
4. Create Exclusive Perks for Monthly Donors
Your monthly donors already care deeply about your cause—but a few thoughtful touches can help them feel even more connected and appreciated.
Start by making their first impression count. When someone signs up to give monthly, send a warm, personal welcome. A printed letter with a short handwritten note from your executive director or a board member adds a personal touch that feels genuine. Consider including a small, inexpensive token of appreciation—like a flat sticker, bookmark, or magnet—something easy to mail that reminds them they’re part of something meaningful.
Continue to layer in perks that make their support feel even more valuable. These can be exclusive invitations to donor events like virtual Q&As or casual in-person gatherings. You don’t have to go overboard: simple snacks, a quick program update, and time to mingle with board members or staff can go a long way. You can even offer early or discounted registration for annual events or ticketed fundraisers,giving monthly donors first dibs shows you value their consistent support.
Also, public recognition can go a long way. Try a monthly donor spotlight in your email or social media posts, or highlight long-time supporters and board members who give monthly to help build a culture of giving from the inside out.
Don’t forget to mark milestones, too—a short email or card on their one-year giving anniversary or during the holidays can make donors feel remembered and appreciated. Remember, these don’t have to be elaborate; donors don’t necessarily want to see their donations going toward fancy gifts, and authenticity matters more than anything.
5. Implement a Strong Retention Strategy
Now that you’ve welcomed a new monthly donor, what comes next? Think of it as the beginning of an ongoing conversation—one where keeping them engaged is just as crucial as the initial sign-up. We can’t reiterate a strong welcome enough and a tailored email series can do just that.
Building on this solid foundation (and again, remembering to use your CRM as a tool) maintain regular communication to keep the momentum going. Impact reports that articulate the difference their contributions make not only keep donors informed but also deepen their connection to your cause. This regular update loop makes each donor feel personally involved in the successes they’re helping to create.
To add a personal touch to these interactions, address donors by name and tailor your updates to align with their interests. Sharing exclusive content like behind-the-scenes videos or insights gives them a peek into your daily operations and the challenges you face, further enhancing their commitment to your mission.
Celebrating your donors also plays a pivotal role in nurturing this relationship. Featuring a monthly donor like we mentioned above in your newsletter or on social media not only honors their contributions but also motivates others to consider increasing their support. It highlights the community aspect of giving, showing that individual contributions are recognized and valued.
Finally, ensure the dialogue is two-way by soliciting feedback through surveys, which shows you value their input and are committed to evolving the donor experience.
By blending these strategies, you create a continuous engagement cycle that not only keeps your monthly donors involved but also makes them feel truly valued and integral to your nonprofit’s mission.
6. Make Upgrading and Adjusting Gifts Easy
We’ve all been there—stuck in a subscription we can’t figure out how to cancel or change. That kind of frustration can quickly lead to cancellations, and the same goes for monthly giving. The easier you make it for donors to manage their gifts, the more likely they are to stick around.
Flexibility is key to donor satisfaction. Life changes, and donors may need to adjust how much they give or when they give. Make sure they can easily increase, pause, or update their donation without having to jump through hoops. Giving donors control over their contributions helps prevent cancellations and shows that you respect their commitment, whatever form it takes.
That’s where the CauseVox Member Portal comes in. It gives donors a simple, self-service way to manage their monthly gifts, personal info, and communication preferences—all in one place.
Give Local Together’s branded donor portal, built through CauseVox
With just a few clicks, supporters can make changes anytime, which not only improves their experience but also builds trust and transparency.
Pro Tip: Just because someone starts with $10 or $15 a month doesn’t mean they’ll stay there. After 6 to 12 months, consider launching a gentle “Grow Your Impact” campaign. With the right messaging and timing, many donors will be open to increasing their gift. Sometimes, you just need to ask.
Your Monthly Giving Program: Built to Last
Growing a successful monthly giving program isn’t just about adding a checkbox to your donation form—it’s about creating a donor experience that’s thoughtful, flexible, and built for long-term connection. From simplifying sign-ups and launching targeted campaigns to showing appreciation and making it easy for donors to manage their gifts, every step plays a role in building something sustainable.
The good news? You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Start small, be consistent, and focus on the donor experience. When donors feel valued, informed, and empowered, they stick around—and your impact grows.
Download our free complete guide to recurring donations today and start transforming your monthly giving program into one of your most valuable assets.
