Why Monthly Giving?

One-time donations are great, but monthly giving creates sustainable, predictable revenue for your organization. And the best part? Asking for a monthly gift takes the same effort as asking for a one-time donation!

The Benefits of Monthly Giving:

✅ Provides a stable, recurring revenue stream.
✅ Reduces the need to chase down annual donations.
✅ Frees up time to focus on growing donor relationships.
✅ Builds long-term donor loyalty—on average, monthly donors give for 3-5 years!

Monthly Donor Value

💰 A $10 monthly donor contributes more over time than a $100 one-time donor.
🔁 One-time donors are more likely to give again if engaged properly.
📅 Small monthly gifts add up—many donors continue giving for 5+ years!

How to Convert More Donors to Monthly Giving

Encouraging donors to commit to a monthly gift requires a compelling reason.

For First-Time Donors:

New donors need more education and engagement before committing. Think of it like researching a product before making a big purchase.

They want to know:

What problem does your nonprofit solve?
How does your organization create impact?
Why is their support critical?
How are you financially responsible?
What sets you apart from other nonprofits?

For Current Donors:

Existing donors already trust your organization, but they need a reason to upgrade to monthly giving.

They want to know:

How does a monthly gift increase their impact?
What perks or benefits come with monthly giving?
Can they pause or cancel without hassle?

What Makes a Monthly Giving Program Successful?

To retain monthly donors, they need to feel valued and see their impact.

What Do Recurring Donors Value?

✅ Impact – They want to see the difference their monthly support makes.
✅ Recognition – They want to be treated as valued insiders.

How to Show Impact

Link monthly gifts to a specific initiative (e.g., child sponsorship, food relief).
Communicate how gifts fund essential operations (e.g., “Without YOU, we couldn’t do what we do!”).
Share success stories with donors to make them feel connected.

How to Recognize Monthly Donors

🎉 Exclusive Membership – Invite them to an insider circle of top supporters.
📢 Early Access – Provide behind-the-scenes updates and VIP invitations.
🎁 Swag & Perks – Offer branded T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags.
🎟 Giveaways – Enter them into exclusive donor raffles or experiences.

Harness Monthly Giving Features

Monthly Giving Front & Center

Harness makes monthly giving a priority by featuring it prominently on fundraising pages.

Round-Ups: A Creative Giving Option

Younger donors and those with smaller budgets can round up their purchases to donate spare change automatically.

Monthly Giving Prompts

One-time donors are automatically encouraged to switch to a recurring donation, helping increase long-term retention.

Monthly Giving FAQs

Q. When does a donor’s monthly gift get withdrawn?

A. The first monthly gift is processed on the date the donor sets up their recurring donation. Future gifts will be withdrawn on that same date each month.

Example: If a donor signs up on the 15th, their first donation processes immediately, and all future donations will be withdrawn on the 15th of each month.

Q. Can a donor schedule their first donation for a future date or change their withdrawal date later?

A. The first donation is processed immediately upon sign-up. However, donors can change their withdrawal date for future gifts.

To change the donation date, donors should:

Log into their Donor Dashboard.
Navigate to Recurring Donations.
Select Edit and choose a new withdrawal date.

Q. How can a donor change the amount of their monthly gift?

A. Donors can update their donation amount by:

Logging into their Donor Dashboard through any Harness fundraising page.
Following the step-by-step instructions in this guide.

Q. How can a donor cancel their monthly gift? Can admins cancel it for them?

A. Donors can cancel their monthly gift by:

Logging into their Donor Dashboard through any Harness fundraising page.
Following the instructions in this guide.

Admins can also cancel a donor’s recurring gift by:

Navigating to Reports > Monthly in the Harness Dashboard.
Identifying the donor’s gift.
Clicking on the three stacked dots next to the gift.
Selecting Cancel Gift.

Q. Does Harness offer other giving frequency options, such as annual or quarterly donations?

A. Currently, Harness only offers monthly giving, as research shows monthly donors give for an average of 5+ years, making it the most sustainable option.