The Importance of a Monthly Sustaining Giving Program
There’s one difficulty all non-profits face, which is that you must secure the necessary funds to sustain your work and keep making an impact. While your organization may rely on large grants or campaigns for fundraising, these are often one-time deals. Meanwhile, you still have bills to pay and you can only do so much without the grassroots financial support.
Therefore, one of the most sustainable solutions for having enough financial resources lies in cultivating a dedicated base of monthly donors. Implementing a well-designed monthly giving program, which will generate reliable revenue, is the single greatest action a non-profit can take to secure its future
What is a Monthly Giving Program?
A monthly giving program—sometimes referred to as a sustaining or recurring donor program—is an opportunity for supporters to donate a fixed amount each month, automatically charged to their card.
For a non‑profit, this system transforms what might feel like a large, one‑time ask into a manageable, budget‑friendly contribution for the donor. For example, requesting a $1,000 annual contribution can seem like a considerable demand. However, breaking it down into $83 per month as a recurring gift—automatically withdrawn from the donor’s account without the hassle of manual transfers—makes it a much easier “yes.” That ongoing commitment turns a casual supporter into a dedicated partner in your mission.
Benefits of having a Monthly Giving Program
Introducing a monthly giving program brings benefits that go far beyond boosting revenue. In this post we’ve listed two powerful reasons why having a Monthly Giving Program is important for your organization’s long-term growth:
1. Financial Stability and Planning
The most significant benefit of an effective monthly giving program is the financial security it provides. When supporters choose to donate on a recurring basis, these consistent contributions create a steady stream of reliable revenue throughout the year.
This stability helps your organization move beyond the uncertainty of sporadic gifts and grants, allowing you to plan with confidence. It gives you the assurance needed to create accurate budgets, cover essential long‑term expenses such as staff and facilities, and even launch new programs, without relying on major, unpredictable fundraising events.
2. Superior Monthly Donor Retention: The Key to Long-Term Growth
The most challenging part of fundraising is keeping donors, which is why monthly donors are so vital. The numbers clearly illustrate the problem: Data from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) Quarterly Report for Q2 2025 shows that only 11.0% of first-time givers returned for a second gift.
In stark contrast, donors who gave seven or more times this year—the statistical benchmark for a frequent, recurring donor—had an exceptional retention rate of 86.2%. This level of commitment is the foundation of monthly giving. By cultivating this loyal base, you transform a one-time transaction into years of reliable support, dramatically increasing the lifetime value of every supporter.
Build Your Monthly Sustaining Giving Program with Donor Wrangler
Now that we understand how important having a monthly sustaining giving program is, it’s only natural to ask yourself how to build a monthly giving program for your organization. And the answer is simple: you can build a monthly giving program right within Donor Wrangler.
Our powerful donation form builder is designed to seamlessly integrate the option for recurring gifts. You can quickly create secure, mobile-friendly forms that highlight the benefits of becoming a monthly sustainer, making the transition from one-time giver to loyal monthly donor simple and effective.