Monthly Giving
Monthly Giving is a fundraising approach where donors commit to making regular, automated donations each month rather than one-time gifts. It's like a subscription model for charities, providing them with steady, predictable income. Organizations value this method because it helps with budget planning and creates lasting relationships with donors. Other common names for this include "recurring giving," "sustainer programs," or "regular giving." This approach has become increasingly important for nonprofits as it typically results in higher donor retention and more stable funding for their programs.
Examples in Resumes
Grew Monthly Giving program from 200 to 1,500 donors in 18 months
Launched successful Recurring Giving campaign resulting in $50,000 annual increase
Managed Sustainer Program communications and retention strategies
Developed digital marketing strategy to promote Monthly Giving and Regular Giving opportunities
Typical job title: "Monthly Giving Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Monthly Giving Managers
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Online Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop a strategy to upgrade one-time donors to monthly donors?
Expected Answer: Should discuss multi-channel approach, donor segmentation, timing strategies, compelling messaging, and testing different approaches. Should mention specific examples of successful campaigns and metrics for measuring success.
Q: How do you handle monthly giving program retention and reducing donor attrition?
Expected Answer: Should explain donor communication strategies, credit card updater programs, recognition programs, impact reporting, and proactive handling of declined payments. Should discuss ways to measure and improve retention rates.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What strategies would you use to reactivate lapsed monthly donors?
Expected Answer: Should discuss personalized outreach methods, understanding why donors lapsed, special win-back campaigns, and how to time reactivation efforts effectively.
Q: How do you measure the success of a monthly giving program?
Expected Answer: Should mention key metrics like retention rate, average gift size, lifetime value, upgrade rates, and attrition rates. Should understand how to track and report on these metrics.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the benefits of monthly giving for a nonprofit organization?
Expected Answer: Should mention reliable revenue stream, higher donor retention, easier budget planning, lower administrative costs, and stronger donor relationships.
Q: How would you thank and communicate with monthly donors differently than one-time donors?
Expected Answer: Should discuss ongoing engagement strategies, special recognition, impact updates, and the importance of not over-soliciting monthly donors.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic donor communications
- Database management
- Thank you processes
- Social media fundraising
Mid (2-5 years)
- Donor retention strategies
- Campaign management
- Data analysis
- Multi-channel fundraising
Senior (5+ years)
- Program strategy development
- Staff management
- Budget oversight
- Major donor cultivation
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with donor databases or CRM systems
- Poor understanding of donor retention principles
- Lack of experience with digital fundraising tools
- No knowledge of fundraising regulations and best practices
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