Best Monthly Giving Programs for Nonprofits

Monthly giving programs for nonprofits are one of the smartest ways to generate steady funding. Instead of chasing donations throughout the year, your nonprofit can count on consistent support month after month. 

But with so many choices, figuring out the best monthly giving programs can feel tricky. That's why we're here—to make things easier for you. In this blog, we'll walk you through some of the most user-friendly, effective programs available. 

You'll learn exactly how these recurring giving programs help you raise more, keep donors happy, and simplify your fundraising. Ready to find the right fit? Let's begin.

1. Sponsor a Child, Family, or Community

Great for humanitarian, education, or community-based nonprofits.

A nonprofit monthly giving program like this allows donors to personally connect with the people they’re helping. Instead of making a one-time donation, they commit to supporting a child, family, or entire community every month. 

This model works well for organizations that provide food, education, healthcare, or community development.

What makes it effective is the ongoing engagement. Donors receive regular updates, photos, and sometimes even letters from the individuals or communities they support. These updates show how their contributions make a difference, which makes them feel more involved.

Nonprofits running these programs can set up different giving levels, allowing donors to choose how much they contribute each month. The key is to keep donors engaged with meaningful stories and progress reports to reinforce the impact of their generosity.

2. Membership-Based Giving

Great for arts, cultural, environmental, and advocacy nonprofits.

A monthly giving program example, like this one, turns donors into members who get special perks in return for their ongoing support. It works well for organizations that have a strong community of supporters, such as museums, theaters, conservation groups, and advocacy organizations.

Members pay a set amount each month, and in return they receive benefits like early access to events, exclusive newsletters, discounts on merchandise, or even branded items like tote bags or T-shirts. These perks make donors feel like they are part of something bigger while helping nonprofits maintain steady funding.

The key to making this work is offering meaningful benefits that match donor interests. For example, a theater might offer behind-the-scenes content, while an environmental nonprofit might give members early access to volunteer opportunities. 

3. Impact Levels Giving

Perfect for nonprofits that offer clear, tangible outcomes, such as food banks, shelters, and educational nonprofits.

This nonprofit monthly giving model allows donors to choose a giving tier based on the impact they want to make. Instead of a general donation, each level is tied to a specific result, making it easy for donors to see where their money goes.

For example, a food bank might set up tiers like:

• $10/month feeds a child for a week
• $25/month provides groceries for a family
• $50/month supplies meals for a shelter

Educational nonprofits can use a similar approach by linking donation amounts to items like school supplies, tutoring sessions, or scholarships.

The benefit of this model is transparency. Donors feel more connected to the cause when they see exactly what their monthly gift provides. 

Read our guide "What is a Recurring Donation" for in-depth knowledge.

4. Round-Up Giving

Ideal for nonprofits partnering with fintech platforms.

Nonprofits partnering with fintech platforms can benefit from round-up giving. Instead of making a set donation each month, supporters link their debit or credit cards to an app that rounds up each purchase to the nearest dollar. 

The extra cents from daily transactions are collected and donated at the end of the month, making it an easy way to participate in a monthly giving program for nonprofits.

This approach works well because it doesn’t require a big financial commitment. A few cents here and there may not seem like much, but when combined with hundreds of donors, it adds up to real support. 

Nonprofits focused on hunger relief, education, or community programs can use this method to encourage consistent giving without asking donors to change their spending habits.

To keep engagement high, organizations can send updates on how round-up donations are being used. Sharing stories about meals provided, supplies purchased, or services funded helps donors see the impact of their small but steady contributions.

5. Emergency Response Fund

Great for disaster relief, healthcare, or crisis response nonprofits.

Emergencies don’t wait for fundraising campaigns. A nonprofit monthly giving program focused on emergency response ensures that funds are always available when disaster strikes. Instead of scrambling for donations during a crisis, nonprofits can act immediately, providing food, medical aid, shelter, or other urgent support.

Donors commit to giving a set amount each month, which builds a reserve fund over time. When a natural disaster, public health crisis, or humanitarian emergency occurs, the nonprofit can immediately step in. 

This approach reassures supporters that their contributions are being used effectively, even without an immediate crisis.

Transparency is key. Regular updates on how reserve funds are spent, or stories about past emergency responses help keep donors engaged. Some organizations also allow donors to opt into alerts, showing them how their support makes a real difference when it’s needed most.

6. Faith-Based Monthly Giving

Best suited for churches, missions, and faith-focused community outreach programs.

For many faith-based organizations, consistent giving is a key part of their mission. A monthly giving program designed around tithing or mission-based support helps ensure steady funding for church programs, missionary work, or community outreach efforts.

Churches can set up automated monthly giving options, making it easier for members to contribute without needing to remember each week. Some programs allow donors to support specific causes, like feeding families, funding youth programs, or helping with building maintenance.

Mission-driven nonprofits can also use this model to sustain long-term projects. Whether supporting missionaries, funding humanitarian aid, or expanding outreach programs, a structured monthly giving option keeps donors engaged and connected to their faith-based mission. 

Regular updates, testimonies, or special donor acknowledgments can strengthen relationships and encourage continued support.

7. Green Giving Programs

Perfect for environmental and conservation-focused nonprofits.

Sustaining the planet takes ongoing effort, and monthly donors can play a big role. A monthly giving program example like this allows supporters to fund tree planting, carbon offset projects, wildlife protection, or clean-water initiatives on a recurring basis. 

Instead of a one-time gift, donors provide steady support, helping nonprofits plan long-term projects.

Some organizations offer flexible giving options, letting donors choose where their funds go. Whether it’s planting a set number of trees each month, protecting endangered species, or reducing plastic waste, donors can support the cause that matters most to them.

Keeping engagement high is important. Updates through emails, videos, or interactive progress trackers can show donors how their contributions add up. 

Some nonprofits even offer small incentives, like planting a tree in a donor’s name or providing a digital certificate, to strengthen the connection.

8. Scholarship or Education Support

Ideal for educational nonprofits, mentorship programs, or youth-focused charities.

Education changes lives, but many students need financial support to succeed. A monthly giving program for nonprofits focused on education ensures that funding is available for scholarships, school supplies, and mentorship programs.

Instead of relying on one-time donations, nonprofits can provide ongoing support that helps students stay in school and reach their goals.

Donors can choose a giving level that directly impacts a student’s journey. Some might cover the cost of books, while others may contribute toward tuition or mentorship sessions. 

Organizations can build a strong connection with donors by sharing student stories, progress updates, or even handwritten thank-you notes from recipients.

Regular updates showing the impact of their contributions—like graduation success stories or student achievements—keep them engaged and committed to the cause.

9. Pet and Animal Welfare Sponsorships

Ideal for animal shelters, rescue centers, and wildlife nonprofits.

Animal shelters, rescue centers, and wildlife nonprofits rely on steady support to provide food, medical care, and safe housing for animals in need. One way to sustain these efforts is through monthly giving programs for nonprofits that allow donors to sponsor an animal.

Supporters can choose to fund the care of a specific shelter pet, an injured wildlife rescue, or even an entire habitat for endangered species. Their monthly donations help cover essential needs, from daily meals to veterinary treatments. 

In return, many nonprofits keep sponsors engaged with regular updates, photos, or even a chance to visit or virtually check in on the animal.

This type of giving creates a deeper connection between donors and the cause. Seeing an animal recover, grow, or get adopted makes sponsorship feel more personal, increasing donor retention and strengthening long-term support for animal welfare efforts.

10. Matching Gift Challenges

Suitable for all nonprofits aiming to attract more monthly donors.

Getting donors to commit to a monthly gift is easier when they know their impact will be doubled. Matching gift challenges involve corporate sponsors or major donors who pledge to match all monthly contributions, making each donation go twice as far.

For example, if a donor gives $25 a month, a sponsor might match that amount, turning it into $50 in support. Some companies even offer tiered matches, increasing their contributions if more donors sign up. 

This approach encourages new supporters to commit and motivates existing donors to increase their monthly gifts.

To keep the momentum going, nonprofits can share updates showing how the matching funds are being used. Highlighting stories of beneficiaries and progress toward fundraising goals helps build trust and encourages long-term participation.

How BetterWorld Helps Manage Monthly Giving Programs

Running monthly giving programs for nonprofits doesn’t have to be complicated. However, tracking donations, sending receipts, and ensuring funds reach the right place takes time—unless you have the right tools.

BetterWorld’s Online Donation Platform makes it simple by automating the entire process. Everything runs seamlessly from collecting payments to generating tax receipts so that nonprofits can focus on their mission instead of managing transactions. 

Unlike other platforms, BetterWorld lets organizations keep 100% of the money they raise, ensuring every dollar goes toward making an impact.

With Free Fundraising Tools for Nonprofits and customizable Donation Forms that encourage recurring giving, BetterWorld helps nonprofits grow their monthly donor base without extra effort. 

Make your monthly giving program easier, more effective, and cost-free. 

Sign up for free today and start building lasting donor support!