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At this year’s 2025 Monthly Giving Summit, I challenged attendees to rethink how they’re showing up for recurring donors. I’ve seen it time and time again: the “Make it Monthly” button is hidden in the footer, donation forms default to one-time gifts, and campaigns barely mention what could be your most reliable and game-changing revenue stream.

If you’re serious about growing sustainable revenue, and reducing burnout from the never-ending campaign cycle, then monthly giving can’t be an afterthought. 

It has to be the ask.

Here’s What I Shared in My Session:

1. Lead With It – Every Time

One-time gifts still get most of the spotlight. But if we want to shift donor behavior, we have to change our own. That means leading with your monthly giving program – on your website, in emails, in appeals, and across every channel. 

Make it the most obvious, exciting, and valuable option from the start.

2. Talk About It Like It Matters – Because It Does

When you consistently highlight the impact of recurring gifts and how easy they are to set up, donors respond. I shared real examples of nonprofits making monthly giving their default option and watching retention and engagement skyrocket as a result.

3. It’s a Team Sport

This can’t be a one-person crusade. If your dev team, marketing crew, and leadership aren’t aligned, you’ll never build the momentum you need. Creating a culture of action around monthly giving means weaving it into everything you do, internally and externally.

If we want donors to stick around, we need to show them why it matters. Make it easy for them to say yes. Let’s stop treating monthly giving like a backup plan and start making it the star of the show.

Are you in?

 

Thank You to Our Partners

The Monthly Giving Summit is made possible by our incredible partners:

• Givebutter
• Fundraise Up
• MissionWired
• Tatango
• iDonate
• DonorPerfect

About the Monthly Giving Summit

The 2025 Monthly Giving Summit gathered 4,700 nonprofits from 58 countries in a powerful virtual event dedicated to scaling monthly giving programs. Featuring expert speakers, actionable strategies, and a vibrant community of nonprofit leaders, the summit provides the insights and tools needed to increase donor retention and maximize recurring revenue.

🔗 Learn more at MonthlyGivingSummit.com