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What is a monthly giving program?

By Team BetterWorld on July 2, 2026

For many nonprofits, fundraising can feel like starting from zero every month. One campaign ends, and the next begins. While one-time donations are valuable, relying on them alone can make it difficult to plan ahead, invest in new programs, or respond when unexpected needs arise.

That is why more organizations are looking for ways to build steady, predictable support from the people who already believe in their mission.

A dependable source of recurring revenue gives nonprofits greater financial stability, stronger donor relationships, and more confidence to focus on long-term impact instead of short-term fundraising goals.

So, what is a monthly giving program, how does it work, and why are nonprofits of every size making it a core part of their fundraising strategy? Let's break it down.

What is a monthly giving program?

A monthly giving program is an ongoing fundraising program where donors make automatic gifts on a regular schedule, typically once a month.

Instead of making a one-time gift, donors choose a fixed amount that is automatically processed through a secure online donation page or another payment method.

Question	Answer
What is a monthly giving program?	An ongoing donation plan in which supporters automatically contribute each month to provide nonprofits with a steady stream of support.
Who should have one?	Any nonprofit, large or small, new or established, can benefit from a monthly giving program.
Why does it matter?	It creates predictable revenue, strengthens donor relationships, and helps nonprofits plan with greater confidence.

How does a monthly giving program work?

Monthly giving is designed to be simple for both donors and nonprofits. Here's how it typically works:

Donor signs up: Supporters choose a monthly donation amount, enter their payment details, and enroll online.
Automatic donations: The selected amount is charged automatically each month, with no additional action required from the donor.
Receipts and tracking: Donors receive confirmation, automatic receipts, and annual giving summaries, while the nonprofit tracks every recurring gift.
Easy donor management: Donors can update payment details, change their monthly gift, pause, or cancel at any time.
Ongoing engagement: Nonprofits keep supporters connected through impact updates, thank-you messages, and regular communication that shows how their monthly gifts are making a difference.

Why have monthly giving programs become so popular?

Monthly giving has become one of the fastest-growing fundraising strategies because it benefits both nonprofits and donors. Online recurring donations have grown in recent years, and they now account for about one-quarter to one-third of all online donations.

Here are the main reasons more nonprofits are investing in monthly giving programs:

More predictable revenue: As one-time donations become less consistent, recurring gifts provide a steady source of funding.
Lower fundraising costs: Retaining existing donors costs less than finding new ones, which helps nonprofits spend less on constant fundraising campaigns.
Greater convenience for donors: Giving $10 a month instead of $120 at once is often easier for donors. Automatic payments also make giving simple and hassle-free.
Stronger donor relationships: Monthly supporters stay connected year-round, often leading to higher lifetime giving and long-term engagement.
Better donor loyalty: Regular communication strengthens donor relationships and builds a dependable community that can support the organization for years.

What are the biggest benefits of a monthly giving program?

Monthly giving creates long-term value for both nonprofits and donors. Here is how each benefits.

Benefits for nonprofits	Benefits for donors
A steady stream of monthly donations makes budgeting, cash flow, and long-term planning easier.	One sign-up is all it takes. Future donations are processed automatically without re-entering payment details.
Monthly donors often give about $288 per year, compared with $126 from one-time donors. They also stay engaged for around 7–8 years.	Smaller monthly gifts, such as $5–$20, fit more easily into most budgets. A $50 monthly gift can feel more manageable than a $600 one-time donation.
Recurring donors often become strong candidates for major gifts, legacy giving, or other long-term support.	Many nonprofits treat monthly donors like members by sharing exclusive updates, stories, and other benefits throughout the year.
Automatic recurring gifts reduce the need for constant donor acquisition. Staff can spend more time on donor stewardship instead of repeated fundraising appeals.	Donors can increase, decrease, pause, or cancel their monthly gift whenever they choose.

Is a monthly giving program right for every nonprofit?

Yes. A monthly giving program can work for nonprofits of any size.

Small nonprofits can use monthly giving to cover everyday operating costs. Growing organizations can build a more predictable revenue stream by converting one-time supporters into recurring donors. Larger nonprofits often use monthly giving to strengthen donor relationships and improve long-term financial planning.

The model also works well for schools, universities, faith-based organizations, animal rescues, environmental groups, food banks, and other community nonprofits.

The number of monthly donors is not what matters most. A small group of committed supporters can provide a steady income and help build a stronger financial foundation over time.

What makes a monthly giving program successful?

You do not need a perfect program from day one. However, the strongest monthly giving programs share a few key elements.

Element	Why it matters
Clear value proposition	Show donors exactly what their monthly gift can achieve. Explain the impact of $10, $25, or $50 per month in simple terms.
Consistent communication	Stay connected through email, social media, newsletters, and impact stories so donors see how their support is making a difference.
Simple sign-up process	Make the monthly giving option easy to find with a clear monthly toggle, mobile-friendly forms, and suggested donation amounts.
Reliable fundraising software	Choose a platform that automates recurring payments, sends receipts, lets donors update their information, and tracks gift trends, retention, and revenue forecasts.
Automated stewardship	Send an immediate thank-you after sign-up. Follow up with welcome emails, milestone messages, or birthday greetings to keep donors engaged.
Exclusive engagement	Treat monthly donors like valued members by offering early updates, impact reports, member-only events, or personal thank-you notes.
Goals and reporting	Track metrics such as the number of monthly donors, total recurring revenue, retention rate, and average gift. Review results regularly and adjust your strategy as the program grows.

Common myths about monthly giving

Several misconceptions stop nonprofits from launching a monthly giving program. Here are the facts.

Myth	Reality
Only large nonprofits can succeed.	Organizations of every size can build a successful program. Many start with just a handful of monthly donors and grow over time.
People will not commit to monthly donations.	Many donors prefer monthly giving because it is convenient and easier to budget. Often, they simply have not been asked.
Small monthly gifts are not worth it.	Monthly donors often deliver about twice the lifetime value of one-time donors.
Recurring giving is difficult to manage.	Modern fundraising platforms automate payments, receipts, and donor management. Once set up, recurring gifts require very little manual work.
You need thousands of monthly donors.	Even a few dozen recurring donors can provide meaningful, dependable income. There is no minimum number needed to start.
Monthly giving only works for certain causes.	Schools, churches, animal rescues, community groups, and many other nonprofits use recurring giving successfully.
Monthly giving replaces one-time donations.	A monthly option usually complements one-time giving and can increase overall donor value instead of reducing it.
Monthly donors are less engaged.	In many cases, they are the most loyal supporters. They often stay involved longer, respond to updates, and give additional gifts during special campaigns or emergencies.

What are common monthly giving mistakes?

Here are frequent mistakes and how to avoid them:

Launching without a plan: Set clear goals, assign ownership, and create a promotion strategy before launching.
Not asking often enough: Only about 14% of nonprofits actively ask donors to make recurring gifts. Promote your monthly program through emails, events, and campaigns.
Overlooking existing donors: Current and past supporters are often the best candidates for monthly giving. Start with them before focusing on new donors.
Making sign-up difficult: Keep donation forms short, mobile-friendly, and make the monthly option easy to find.
Offering limited donation amounts: Include multiple giving levels, such as $10, $25, $50, plus a custom amount so donors can choose what fits their budget.
Poor donor communication: Stay in touch with regular updates, thank-you messages, and impact stories to keep donors engaged.
Not recognizing loyal donors: Celebrate milestones such as one year or five years of giving to strengthen long-term relationships.
Ignoring failed payments: Follow up quickly when a payment fails or a card expires. Many donors can be retained with a simple reminder.
Not tracking results: Monitor metrics such as donor retention, average monthly gift, and cancellations. Use the data to improve your program over time.

How to start a monthly giving program

Getting started can feel overwhelming, but it really comes down to a few key steps. Here’s a simple roadmap:

1. Set clear goals. Decide what success looks like before you launch. For example, you might aim to recruit 50 monthly donors in your first year. Assign someone on your team to manage the program and measure results.

2. Choose the right fundraising platform. Look for software that supports recurring donations, automates receipts, and provides reporting. A platform with low or no platform fees can also help you maximize donations.

3. Build a simple donation page. Make the monthly giving option easy to find. Offer suggested monthly amounts, a custom gift field, and a mobile-friendly donation experience.

4. Start with your existing supporters. Current and past donors are often the most likely to become recurring donors. Invite them through email, direct mail, events, and personal outreach. Show how monthly gifts create ongoing impact.

5. Promote your program consistently. Feature monthly giving on your website, social media, newsletters, and future fundraising campaigns. Use real examples to show what a monthly gift can accomplish.

6. Measure, thank, and improve. Thank every new monthly donor promptly. Share regular impact updates and monitor metrics such as monthly donors, retention rate, and recurring revenue. Review your results regularly and refine your approach as the program grows.

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How to choose the right monthly giving platform

Here are a few key points to consider when picking the right monthly giving platform.

Supports recurring payments, failed payment retries, and donor self-service.
Keeps donor records, communication, and giving history in one place.
Sends automatic receipts, thank-you emails, and year-end giving summaries.
Tracks recurring revenue, retention rates, average gift size, and growth.
Offers a simple, mobile-friendly donation experience.
Integrates with your CRM, email marketing, and accounting tools.
Has transparent pricing.
Provides PCI-compliant security and responsive customer support.

BetterWorld is built for recurring giving

BetterWorld’s zero-cost fundraising platform is designed with recurring giving in mind. It lets nonprofits quickly create donation pages where supporters can choose one-time, monthly, or annual gifts.

These pages include easy “monthly giving” toggles and recommended gift amounts, so donors see the option right away.

Behind the scenes, BetterWorld automates the entire process. Payments are collected securely, and tax receipts are sent automatically. Every donor and gift is tracked in the platform’s built-in donor management system, unifying all your fundraising tools in one place.

This means you can run events, campaigns, and monthly giving programs all under the same roof.

Importantly, BetterWorld charges no platform fee, so nonprofits can keep 100% of the money they raise. (The only fees are the usual credit-card processing fees.) In fact, over 95% of donors on BetterWorld choose to cover their own processing fees.

Ready to get started? Connect with BetterWorld to launch or expand your monthly giving program, and help your nonprofit grow sustainably.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the difference between monthly giving and recurring giving?

Recurring giving is any automatic donation made on a repeating schedule, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually. Monthly giving is simply a recurring donation made every month.

2. How do recurring donations work?

Donors authorize recurring payments through a donation form. Their credit card or bank account is charged automatically on the selected schedule. Both the donor and nonprofit receive receipts, and donations continue until the donor cancels.

3. Can donors cancel donations anytime?

Yes. Donors stay in full control of their gifts. They can pause, change, or cancel their monthly donation at any time through their donor portal or by contacting the nonprofit.

4. What is a monthly donor?

A monthly donor, also known as a sustaining donor, commits to making automatic monthly donations that provide nonprofits with reliable, ongoing support.

5. How much should a monthly donation be?

Many nonprofits recommend a starting monthly gift of about one-third of their average one-time donation. For example, if the average one-time gift is $30, you could suggest $10 per month. Always offer multiple options, such as $5, $15, $25, plus a custom amount. Some donors may also choose $50 or more.

6. Can small nonprofits build a recurring giving program?

Absolutely. Even 10–20 monthly donors can create a dependable source of income. Many nonprofits start with a simple donation page or an email to existing supporters, then grow their recurring giving program over time.