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The Monthly Giving Moves to Make Before the Year Ends |
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October has a way of sneaking up on us, doesn’t it? 🍁
If you’ve been thinking about starting a monthly giving program, this is your moment. It’s simpler than you might think!
I loooove monthly giving for fundraising.
Monthly donors give consistently, which means you're not starting from zero every January. You get to plan and spend more energy on the mission you love.
You just need a few simple moves, starting right now.
In this week's Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, we’re talking about how to launch or grow your monthly giving program before the year ends, with 3 practical tips you can start using this week.
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Changemaker Mondays is brought to you by:
Strong donor relationships are the backbone of your nonprofit’s success - but keeping supporters engaged takes ongoing effort. That’s where our sponsor, Click & Pledge, comes in. Their platform makes it simple to cultivate donors and encourage giving online, all at a price point built for nonprofits.
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Best of all, every feature is included—no contracts, no hidden add-on fees. And unlike other platforms, Click & Pledge’s pricing stays the same whether you have 10 donors or 10,000.
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1. Focus on the First Invitation, Not the Perfect Program
Don’t wait for the perfect program. Sometimes I hear from folks: “I want to launch a monthly giving program, but I’m not ready yet.”
My friend, you don’t need perfect. 😁 You just need a first invitation.
Here’s all you really need to get started:
- A clear goal: “We’re looking for our first 25 monthly donors.”
- A clear reason: “Monthly support helps us plan so we can focus on the mission.”
- A simple giving range: $10, $25, or $50 a month.
- A donation page where monthly giving is easy to select as an option.
- A plan to thank people promptly and regularly, and share what their steady support makes possible.
That’s truly it. You can grow and improve as you go. Right now, just focus on making that first invitation.
💡Tip: If your donation page doesn’t have a recurring giving option yet, check with your platform provider. You’ve got this! 2. Your Best First Donors Are Already in Your Network
Ask your warm supporters before the noise begins. October is a hidden gem for this kind of outreach. Your supporters aren’t being flooded with year-end donation requests quite yet, which means your message actually has room to land.
Make a list of 25-50 warm supporters and personally invite them to become your first monthly donors. These are the people already rooting for you:
- Past one-time donors
- Volunteers
- Board members
- Event attendees
- Community partners
- Friends of the organization
- Anyone who has ever said, “How can I help?”
A personal ask, even a short one, will always outperform a mass email. These folks already believe in your work. You’re just giving them an easy way to show up for it consistently.
💡Tip: Block 30 minutes this week just to build your list. Don’t overthink it, just write down names. You can craft your messages later. The list is the first step. 3. Not Sure What to Say? Use This Script.
What should I actually say? I’ve got you. Feel free to adapt this for your needs. It’s warm, honest, and genuinely low-pressure.
“Hi [Name], I wanted to personally share something we’re working on before the year-end giving season begins. We’re looking for our first 25 monthly donors who are willing to give a small amount each month to help make this work more sustainable as we head into the new year. Even $10 or $25 a month helps us plan instead of starting from zero each month. No pressure at all, but I thought of you because you’ve been so supportive of this work. Would you consider becoming one of our founding monthly donors?”
Send it as a text, a personal email, or a Direct Message (DM). It doesn't need to be formal. It just needs to feel like you.
Go Deeper (I’ve got a Video for this!)
Want a deeper walkthrough on building and growing your monthly giving program? I’ve got a video on exactly this. Check it out here!
Try it this week 🚀
Set a 20-minute timer and write down 10 to 25 warm supporters you could personally reach out to this month. Then pick just the first three names. That’s it. Three personal asks this week: a monthly giving program in motion, and that’s something to be really proud of.
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- Last Call: The JD Finish Line Foundation’s Louder Than Words awards to causes in communities where Finish Line stores and corporate offices exist. Three grant cycles support causes that focus on supporting the health, wellness, workforce development, and safety of diverse communities. The average award is around up to $10k. Its Safe Communities grant cycle will close on October 15!
- By October 31: The Lawrence Foundation is offering a hard-to-miss opportunity for unrestricted funding to support a project, program, or general operating costs. Awardees must support one of three buckets: the environment, human services, or disaster relief. Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000. Fortunately, this opportunity may also cover "reasonable indirect costs," with a recommendation of 50% or less.
- Register by November 15: While The Nora Roberts Foundation does prioritize retain northeast areas for awards, they do also support national efforts supporting literacy, children, the arts, and more. Awards can be for projects or operations. New users must register by November 15, and apply by 6 p.m. on November 30 for early February 2027 awards. Applications are accepted quarterly!
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Keep an eye out for future workshops and events open to the public! In the mean time, need an event speaker or workshop trainer? Learn more about my workshops and other services. |
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Enjoy this week's newsletter? You might find this video helpful, too.
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3 more ways I can help you
- I have lots of free content for you! Check out my library of 450+ educational videos on nonprofits, social entrepreneurship, fundraising, and more on my YouTube channel. If you like what I'm trying to do, help me reach more people like you by subscribing to the channel and sharing it with a changemaker friend! 😁
- Need extra support to build or grow a nonprofit or social enterprise? Check out my Changemaker Accelerator membership or my Zero to $100,000 Fundraising Starter Toolkit.
- Need a speaker or training workshop for your social impact event? I'm currently booking 2026-2027 speaking engagements -- check out my speaking and workshop opportunities to learn how I can help you make your event inspiring and actionable!
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Hey, Changemaker!
I'm Amber, writer of the Changemaker Mondays newsletter! I'm a nonprofit founder, speaker, and social entrepreneur on a mission to equip you with the tools you need to create positive change where ever you live -- whether you're starting a nonprofit or socially-conscious business, looking for a social impact job, or leading a volunteer project in your city. Don't hesitate to connect (socials below), or reply to this email if you ever have any feedback on how we can make Changemaker Mondays the best newsletter for supporting changemakers in the world!
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