We live in a subscription-based economy. We pay for Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime without a second thought. Giving to a cause we care about should be just as effortless and instant. But how do we encourage that and create tech platforms that are just as user-friendly?
When I wrote The Monthly Giving Mastermind, one of the biggest lessons I learned was that monthly giving isn’t just about getting recurring donors, it’s about creating a seamless experience for both the donor and your internal team.
If you’re wondering why monthly giving is more valuable than other types of fundraising, my answer is that it’s the most reliable and sustainable revenue stream for nonprofits. Monthly giving allows donors to build generosity into their budgets, turning passive supporters into long-term champions of your mission.
The data proves it:
- Monthly donor retention rates average 80%-90%.
- The average monthly donor gives more over time than a one-time donor, because smaller, automatic payments feel more manageable.
- Nonprofits with strong recurring programs can weather economic shifts better than those relying on major gifts and event-based fundraising.
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Integrate Your Donor Tool With Your CRM
User-friendly platforms matter. They make it easier for the donors to access your platforms and for your internal team to measure those metrics. That’s why it’s crucial that any donation platform should sync with the organization’s customer relationship management (CRM) system.
I’ve had countless conversations with nonprofits who are eager to launch (or grow) their monthly giving programs. They have the passion, the messaging and the donor interest. But dig into the back end of their tech stack, and too often there are disconnects in systems.
I met with one organization that was gearing up to launch a new monthly giving program with a strong campaign, but when I asked how its donation platform synced with its CRM, the staff realized the organization’s donation tool wasn’t automatically connected to its CRM. That meant every new monthly donor would have to be manually uploaded into their system, every month.
That’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a disaster for donor management. It creates extra work for an already overloaded team, increases the risk of errors and prevents donor stewardship because engagement history isn’t tracked automatically.
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Build a Tech Stack That Is Interconnected
To ensure that your monthly giving program is set up for success, think about your tech stack as an ecosystem rather than a set of disconnected tools. If your donation platform, CRM, email tool and messaging system don’t talk to one another, retaining and growing monthly donors is going to be an uphill battle.
Take these scenarios, for example: 1) A donor signs up for your monthly giving program, but your donation tool doesn’t sync with your CRM, so their gift history is missing. 2) You want to send a welcome email series to new monthly donors, but your email system isn’t connected to your CRM, so you have to manually add them. 3) You decide to start texting your donors with impact updates, but you realize your messaging platform doesn’t integrate with your CRM, so you can’t segment the right audience.
Every time a nonprofit has to rely on manual exports, spreadsheet uploads or work-arounds, it slows down momentum and increases donor attrition. Instead, integrate your tech stack so it works for you, not against you.
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Finding the Right Donor Tools for Your Tech Stack
Donor tools are the front door to your monthly giving program. I’ve spent years testing countless tools that are optimized for recurring gifts and sync with your CRM. Here are my recommendations.
- Givebutter: Great for fundraising, peer-to-peer and events, this platform integrates with Salesforce, DonorPerfect and Zapier. It’s also free to use, though processing fees apply.
- Fundraise Up: This artificial intelligence-powered donation form boosts conversions and integrates with Salesforce, DonorPerfect, Virtuous, Bonterra, HubSpot and Raiser’s Edge NXT.
- Classy: Built for large-scale campaigns, this platform integrates with Salesforce, DonorPerfect, Mailchimp, Zapier and has custom pricing.
- Donorbox: This platform is easy to set up and has embeddable forms. It integrates with Salesforce, Mailchimp, Zapier and HubSpot. Users can choose paid or free versions.
- iDonate: This mobile-first giving platform integrates with Salesforce and Raiser’s Edge and has custom pricing.
A Solid CRM Sustains Monthly Giving
Your CRM should automate donor tracking, segment audiences and integrate with your fundraising tools. Here are some of my favorite CRM tools:
- Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack: This is ideal for high-growth organizations needing full customization. It integrates with Fundraise Up, Givebutter, Classy, Donorbox and iDonate, and a discount is available for nonprofits.
- DonorPerfect: This is a user-friendly, flexible CRM that integrates with Fundraise Up, Givebutter, Mailchimp and QuickBooks. Pricing starts at $99 per month.
- Virtuous: This tool is best for automation-driven fundraising. It integrates with Fundraise Up, Classy, Bloomerang, Donorbox and Salesforce. Pricing starts at $350 per month.
- Bloomerang: This one is best for donor retention and engagement insights. It integrates with Fundraise Up, Virtuous, Donorbox, Classy, Zapier. Pricing starts at $125/month.
- HubSpot for Nonprofits: This one is great for marketing automation and donor engagement tracking. It integrates with Fundraise Up, Donorbox, Salesforce and Mailchimp. A 40% discount is available for nonprofits.
- Neon One: This is an all-in-one CRM that integrates with Givebutter, Classy, Mailchimp and Zapier. Recurring donations from Fundraise Up do not sync automatically, but there a 40% discount is available for nonprofits.
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Use Email and SMS to Nurture Donors at Scale
Your monthly donors should feel like VIPs. To build that relationship, communicate with them consistently through automated emails and messaging updates. Here are some tools I recommend:
- Flodesk: This program creates beautiful email campaigns. It connects via Zapier to Fundraise Up, DonorPerfect, Salesforce, Givebutter and HubSpot. It is priced at $38 per month, with a 14-day free trial, plus 50% off the first year.
- Tatango: Ideal for high-impact nonprofit messaging. It connects via Zapier to CRMs and donation tools and includes custom pricing.
For any nonprofit looking to launch or grow a monthly giving program, I’d say take the time to map out your tech stack. Next, make sure your donation tools, CRM, email and messaging systems all integrate. And remember, by avoiding manual work you can reallocate that time to scale your mission and keep donors engaged for the long haul.
