As you reflect on strategies for your 2026 fundraising, we encourage you to offer or enhance a monthly donor program. Monthly giving, which is also referred to as recurring giving or sustainer giving, offers a proven path to achieve both predictable revenue and deeper donor relationships. By transforming one-time donors into consistent, engaged supporters, your organization can create stability, plan strategically, and expand impact through a strong recurring donation strategy.
The Hodge Group views monthly giving as a cornerstone of our trademarked methodology of Hyperphilanthropy™, because it addresses each of the four pillars:
Strategy: Predictable revenue allows organizations to plan with confidence.
Culture: Donor-centric programs foster generosity as a shared value.
Behavioral Economics: Frictionless enrollment and recognition encourage sustained participation.
Communication: Storytelling and personalized engagement deepen connection and loyalty.
Why Monthly Giving Matters:
1. Predictable Revenue
Recurring giving provides financial stability. Unlike aggregate donations, monthly gifts help your organization forecast cash flow, budget effectively, and plan programs confidently. Stability reduces crisis-driven fundraising and allows leaders to invest in innovation rather than only short-term survival—one of the most meaningful benefits tied to the impact of recurring donations on long-term sustainability.
2. Stronger Donor Relationships
Monthly giving can move donations from transactional to relational. Sustainer programs keep donors engaged year-round, creating multiple touchpoints for stewardship, recognition, and impact reporting. Donors who give consistently are more likely to deepen their engagement over time, including increased one-time gifts, event participation, and advocacy. This supports a thoughtful donor loyalty program rooted in ongoing connection rather than one-time interactions.
3. Lower Fundraising Costs
Once a donor is enrolled in a monthly giving program, the ongoing cost of securing gifts drops significantly. Automated processing, consistent communication, and streamlined recognition create efficiency, freeing staff to focus on meaningful relationship-building instead of constant acquisition.
4. Lifetime Supporter Potential
A monthly giving program transforms the donor journey. Instead of a single interaction, donors become long-term partners in your mission. Data consistently shows that recurring donors give more cumulatively over time and are more likely to include your organization in legacy or planned giving—further reinforcing the impact of recurring donations on long-term sustainability.
How to Build a Successful Monthly Giving Program:
1. Make Giving Simple and Accessible
Offer multiple giving levels to match donor capacity.
Use intuitive online platforms with simple recurring options.
Highlight impact clearly: “$25/month provides meals for 10 children.”
2. Emphasize the Relationship, Not the Transaction
Send welcome messages that show appreciation immediately.
Share stories and outcomes regularly and demonstrate how sustained giving drives real impact.
Encourage two-way engagement: surveys, volunteer opportunities, and updates that let donors see their role in the mission. These donor engagement strategies help strengthen personal involvement.
3. Recognize and Celebrate Donors
Highlight milestone anniversaries of giving.
Feature sustainers in newsletters or social media (with permission).
Offer exclusive updates or behind-the-scenes content to reinforce their partnership.
4. Leverage Behavioral Insights
Use social proof: show how many others are joining the program.
Create compelling narratives around impact: recurring donors are “foundational partners.”
Offer options for upgrades and one-time “boosts” to strengthen connection without pressure.
5. Integrate these gifts into the Larger Fundraising Strategy
Monthly giving should complement major gifts, events, and campaigns and even pave a pathway toward them.
Use data from sustainers to identify prospective major donors or volunteers.
Make stewardship part of the program, reinforcing mission alignment, transparency, and gratitude—as part of a longer-term donor loyalty program and broader donor engagement strategies.
Building a monthly giving program is not just a fundraising tactic—it’s an investment in mission sustainability and donor relationships. Every recurring donor represents an opportunity to create a predictable, strategic revenue stream while cultivating a community of supporters who believe in your vision for the long haul.
By weaving these elements together, organizations create a donor experience that builds trust, inspires giving, and converts casual supporters into lifetime partners within a thriving monthly donor program driven by a thoughtful recurring donation strategy.