Monthly Giving Hindsight Is Always 20/20
As I’m getting ready for my second cataract surgery this week, it has started to dawn on me the tremendous eye-opening results I’ve already experienced from the first one. For me, going to the beach and swimming in the ocean was never an option, because I wouldn’t be able to find my spot unless there […]
You Can Make Recurring Gifts From Your Donor-Advised Fund
Donor-advised funds — a lot has been written about it. Especially with the changes in tax laws, more and more donors have “flocked” to it. Just a few quick facts about donor-advised funds (DAFs): You don’t need to be super rich to start one — $5,000 is all it takes. A DAF is easy to […]
Someone Just Called to Say They Cared…
This post is a bit more personal than you may be used to, but this is a very interesting time. I’m very nearsighted, and I’ve had glasses since I was a little girl. Yes, I was one of those kids with jelly jars, and I sure got teased a lot. But that changed last week […]
When and How Do You Record Monthly Gifts Financially?
This question also came up at the recent sustainer workshop, and I know it’s something people struggle with, especially when you talk with your treasurers or finance folks. Monthly gifts are different from the major gift pledges most organizations are used to. Those pledges are typically set up for a specific purpose with an end […]
4 Things to Consider When Setting a Monthly Donor Goal
At the recent Bridge pre-conference sustainer workshop I co-hosted, one of the attendees asked this question: “What is a realistic goal for monthly donor percentage as a percent of active donors?” Let me explain why there’s no one good answer to this other than that the current typical nonprofit has between 5% to 30% of […]
Why it Pays for Nonprofits to Encourage ACH/EFT Donations
This article was written by Michael W. Kahn and posted by Nacha on July 18, 2019. It’s a nonprofit no-brainer: Encourage recurring donations through ACH/EFT. “Those organizations that have been doing this, that started with EFT early on, they get it,” said Erica Waasdorp, founder and president of the fundraising consulting firm A Direct […]
Three Real-Life Examples of Monthly Donor Lifetime Value
At a recent client meeting in Richmond, VA., we were discussing ways to grow the organization’s monthly donor program. I asked the question: “Do you know the lifetime value of one of your first monthly donors?” Her answer was astounding: $10,000! Can you just imagine? A small donor who has been giving so much on […]
Sustainers Are Growing Like Hot Cakes
I just got back from the 14th Bridge Conference, energized by new ideas, case studies and proven fundraising “old” basics that still work and will continue to work as long as donors are human beings. I was privileged to co-present a first sustainer, full day, pre-conference workshop with the “Sustainer Brains:” Charlotte Davidoff, Save the […]
Why ACH/EFT Increases Your Monthly Giving Retention
As I’m putting the finishing touches on the presentations and inputs for the Sustainer Workshop at the Bridge Conference, a colleague sent me this. It was part of the membership renewal she just received on her phone. Can it be any easier? Why are more and more nonprofits focusing on ACH/EFT (also called direct debits, eChecks)—automatic […]
How to set up your nonprofit’s site for monthly giving
What Was A Monthly Giving Program Like Before Computers And The Internet? It existed but it was a lot harder! The channels used were mail, phone and in-person. When I first started managing a monthly giving program, now many (26+) years ago, nonprofits’ websites didn’t exist! Emails were just used for internal communication and even that was […]
