Would it be different if you knew it can increase your donor retention rates by 30% or even more?
I continue to be stunned. The more I speak to organizations about monthly giving, be them small or large, the more I find that it’s definitely not something people seem comfortable with (yet). It’s almost like they’re afraid of it!
It’s ‘funny’. Fundraisers can spend days, weeks, sometimes months working on their communication strategies. Come up with newsletters, email appeals and annual fund direct mail appeals. Think about their branding. Organize events that take months (sometimes even years) to plan. Work towards getting that lunch with that big donor they’ve been courting for months. Write grant upon grant and hope for the big money to come in the door to support their mission.
And next year, they start all over again. All of these things take a lot of time and resources. Granted, all of these are necessary! And if you’re like the average small to mid-size nonprofit, there are never enough hours in the day to get it all done!
But somehow, when it comes to starting or focusing on Monthly Giving (or recurring giving or sustainers as they’re often called), there seems to be dead silence.
Did you know that even a small program could help you generate basic annual fund revenue that keeps on coming and that you can count on!
Did you know that a monthly giving program can help you retain your donors at much higher rates? It can help increase their retention rates from the average 60% to 90% to even 98%!!!
Yes, I hear you. There are many reasons to not get started and to keep doing what you’re doing:
- “It’s too difficult.
- “I don’t know how to get started.
- “We don’t have the staff.
- “I don’t have the technical knowledge.
- “Our donors are too old.
- “Our donors are too young… “
Here’s a great quote for you. I absolutely love it because it totally applies to Monthly Giving.
It’s by Mark Victor Hansen, the publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
“Don’t wait till everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. “
I wanted to let you know that there is HELP out there. Sometimes all you have to do is ASK. I’m starting a special Monthly Giving Help Line very soon, so if you’re interested in hearing more, or if you have specific questions right now, just send me an email or give me a call at (508) 428-4753.
I hope you’ll make Monthly Giving part of your New Year’s resolutions. Happy Holidays!
