Subscription Philanthropy: A Shift in Fundraising

Now that you understand how the national trend is moving away from traditional one-time donation appeals at special events toward Subscription Philanthropy (smaller, recurring monthly donations) and modern stewardship (text messaging and digital engagement), the next question is:

"What does this mean for OUR organization?"

Why It Matters

You work tirelessly every day juggling an endless to-do list:

🔥 Putting out fires
📌 Keeping your Board, staff, and donors happy
💡 Harnessing your limited resources to raise all types of support—one-time gifts, monthly donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and more
📣 Managing multiple fundraising channels—direct mail, special events, peer-to-peer campaigns, social media, email appeals, and beyond
📊 Manually tracking donations and reports across various spreadsheets and systems
🎁 Ensuring EVERY donor has an exceptional giving and stewardship experience

We get it. The hustle is REAL.

You already know that a $10 monthly donor is more valuable in the long run than a $100 one-time donor. But who has time to personally steward both groups in a way that ensures long-term engagement?

There are big ideas inside of you and your team—creative, game-changing solutions that are waiting to be implemented. But you're stretched thin, balancing daily operations while trying to make your $5 donors feel just as special as your $5,000 donors. Unless you have a 50-person Development team (and if you do, tell your CEO we said high-five! ✋), you need a trusted partner to help you scale, automate, and sustain donor engagement.

Enter Harness!

We’re here to free your time, enhance your fundraising strategy, and create a seamless giving and stewardship experience for every donor.

What You Need to Decide

Before diving in, take time for a strategic assessment. Ask yourself:

❓ How does Subscription Philanthropy (a recurring giving program) fit into our organization's Development strategy?

❓ How will this affect our current fundraising initiatives?

❓ Do we already have (or have we had) a recurring giving program? If so, what worked? What didn’t?

❓ What adjustments do we need to make to successfully grow and prioritize a sustainable recurring giving program?

❓ Are we committed to making this a long-term strategy?

The Practical Next Steps

So, you’ve done the soul-searching and you’re ready to commit—congratulations! 🎉 Here’s how to bring your recurring giving initiative to life:

1️⃣ Choose a Name

Give your recurring giving program an identity! (Example: Hope Builders)

2️⃣ Decide on Your Recurring Giving Model

Will you offer:

A flexible model where donors choose any amount they want to give monthly?
A subscription-style model where donors pick from set giving levels with unique benefits?