4 ways to build a resilient recurring giving program for long-term nonprofit stability

One-time gifts are helpful, but they don’t keep your programs running year-round. That’s where recurring donations come in.

A strong monthly giving program creates reliable support and helps your nonprofit grow sustainably. With a thoughtful plan, you can spend less time worrying about funding and more time serving your mission.

In this post, we’ll share four simple ways to strengthen your recurring giving program, no big budget or large team required. Let’s dive in!

1. Optimize the donor experience

A strong recurring giving program begins with a simple and seamless donation process. If giving feels confusing or clunky, donors are more likely to abandon it halfway. However, if the experience is smooth, they’re more likely to sign up and stay.

Start with your donation form. Keep it short and focused: typically, a name, email, and payment information are all you need. You can collect additional details later.

Make sure your form is mobile-friendly. More and more donors give via their phones, and if your form doesn’t load well or takes too long, you risk losing potential monthly supporters.

Finally, offer flexible payment options. Some donors prefer credit cards, while others use ACH or digital wallets, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. The more choices you provide, the easier it is for people to complete their gift and keep it going month after month.

2. Make it easy for visitors to donate

Your donation page is where people decide whether or not to give, but most don’t. Only about 21 out of every 100 visitors complete a donation, meaning 79 leave without giving, even after reaching your giving page.

One common reason? A cluttered layout or confusing call-to-action.

Keep your page clean and focused. Use a short headline that clearly explains the impact of a monthly gift, followed by a clear call-to-action like “Give monthly,” “Start your gift,” or “Join as a monthly donor.”

Make sure your site runs smoothly. Slow load times or broken links can drive donors away—nearly 40% of visitors will leave if a page takes more than three seconds to load.

Test your donation page on phones, tablets, and desktops to catch any issues. A fast, easy experience builds trust, and trust is key to turning visitors into recurring donors.

3. Let donors stay in control

Many people hesitate to sign up for monthly giving because they worry it’ll be hard to cancel. That’s why it’s so important to give donors full control over their recurring gifts.

Set up a simple donor dashboard or account page where they can manage their donations. Donors should be able to update payment methods, adjust the amount, pause a gift, or cancel it at any time, without requiring emails or delays.

When giving is easy to manage, donors feel respected and are more likely to stick around.

You can also use the dashboard to share short updates or thank-you messages. Even a brief note, such as “Your gift helped fund five meals this week,” helps donors feel connected and reinforces the impact of their ongoing support.

4. Prioritize the user experience

Everything from your form layout to payment options should be designed with the donor in mind. If the process feels like it’s built around your needs—not theirs—donors may walk away.

It’s tempting to collect extra info or prompt more sign-ups, but too many steps can derail a gift. Avoid forcing account creation, asking for unnecessary details, or cluttering the page with distractions.

Instead, create a smooth, intuitive experience. When giving feels easy and worthwhile, donors are more likely to give again and stick with you over time.

Where BetterWorld fits in

The truth is, one-time gifts won’t carry you through the slow months. If you want to grow without constantly chasing funding, it’s time to rethink your donation strategy.

Every missed recurring gift is a missed chance to build lasting impact. The longer you wait, the harder it is to turn those moments of generosity into steady, reliable support.

With BetterWorld, you can turn one-time donors into monthly givers—no hidden fees, no hassle. Start for free today and build the consistent support your mission deserves.

Start for free today and build steady support for your mission.