Tapping into these Recurring Revenue strategies yet?



Tapping into these
Recurring Revenue strategies yet?

Read time: 5 Minutes

The dream:

Bring in consistent funding every month for your social impact organization – so you can focus on strategizing ways to make the biggest impact possible.

Recurring revenue can provide a safety net, letting you budget and plan programming with confidence -- but in my experience, many organizations aren’t taking full advantage of it.

Yes, it takes some work to set up and grow. It’s not magic (or easy).

But once established, it can provide some predictability in our uncertain work.

(By the way; we discuss fundraising strategies like this and others in the Changemaker Accelerator membership – if you haven’t joined my list to get your discount code, you can do that here before enrollment closes!)

In this issue of Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, let’s talk about 4 types of recurring revenue nonprofits can tap into (plus one more advanced bonus opportunityt)!

Changemaker Mondays is brought to you by:

Most fundraising platforms take some percent of the donations raised – But, Zeffy is the only 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits.

So far, over 25,000 nonprofits are using Zeffy to raise money across North America! (with a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Capterra reviews, it's no wonder).

You can use Zeffy for:

  • Regular donations (one time or recurring)
  • Event ticketing
  • Auctions and Raffles
  • And more!

Let’s jump right in, shall we?

1. Monthly Giving Programs

This might seem obvious, but too many nonprofits aren’t fully tapping into monthly giving programs.

Think about it: instead of asking your supporters for a one-time donation, what if they signed up to give a small, automatic donation every month? It’s predictable, steady income that allows you to plan for the future.

And - some recurring donors still make one-time gifts or major gifts, too (so it’s not always a zero sum game).

Take St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, for example. Their Partners in Hope program encourages donors to give monthly, and in return, they receive updates on the impact of their donations. Plus, they might get access to exclusive content that keeps them engaged and feeling appreciated. (study how they message it, here.)

How to Start: Set up your donation software to allow for recurring gifts (if you’re using Zeffy, they have this feature). Then, craft a compelling campaign explaining how their monthly contribution will create stability for your organization, allowing you to scale your impact.

Potential Income: With a mailing list of 1,000, if just 5-10% of your audience commits to a $25 monthly gift, that’s $1,250-$2,500 per month, or up to $30,000 annually!

2. Membership or Subscription-Based Programs

A slight variation of the monthly giving program is offering a membership or subscription service.

Subscribers could receive special benefits, such as exclusive educational content, discounts on events, or insider updates on your nonprofit’s work.

One organization doing this well is the National Audubon Society, where members receive a magazine and access to special birding resources. The key is to offer something that furthers your mission while adding value for the donor. (study it here.)

Tip: Be careful how you structure these programs to avoid unrelated business income taxes or confusion over what "membership" means legally. Depending on what perks members receive, their monthly membership might not count as a fully tax deductible donation.

Potential Income: With a mailing list of 1,000 people, a 3-7% conversion rate could bring in $300-$3,500 per month, or $3,000-$40,000 per year (for an average $10-$50 / month membership).

3. Fees for Services or Programs

If your nonprofit offers valuable services, like trainings, workshops, or educational resources, you can charge fees to help cover your operating costs. The American Red Cross, for example, charges a fee for their CPR trainings, which is aligned well with their mission and creates some steady revenue. (analyze their model here.)

How to Start: Assess your organization's strengths and consider what services or programs you offer that could be monetized. You want to ensure that those paying for services can afford them, while still benefiting those who may need financial assistance.

Tip: If you’re serving a vulnerable or financially challenged population, take care to structure any paid programming in a way that keeps it accessible or free for them, allowing those who can afford the programming to subsidize the costs with their fees.

Potential Income: If you charge $100-$500 per client and just 2-5% of your audience signs up (again, assuming a mailing list of 1,000), you could generate anywhere from $2,000-$25,000 annually.

4. Recurring, Repeatable Fundraising Events

While large, one-time events can be a heavy lift, recurring smaller events can be a sustainable revenue source. Think simple: monthly networking dinners, webinars, or virtual game nights that bring your supporters together. I know of nonprofits who hold small scale Bingo games or trivia nights every month, for example. This won’t be a strategy to exponentially scale your budget, but if you’re just starting out, easy micro-events could be possible for a small team.

How to Start: Choose a format that fits your team’s capacity and is easy to execute, and specifically, easy to repeat quickly and smoothly. Keep it small and manageable, like a networking gathering where attendees pay $10 at the door. Delegate leading them to an excited volunteer so you can focus on longer-term strategy!

Potential Income: With a 5-10% attendance rate from your mailing list (of 1,000), you could potentially bring in a few thousand dollars per event, adding up to $12,000-$25,000 annually.

Bonus Strategy: Investment Income

This is an advanced strategy, but if your nonprofit has some savings, you could invest it to generate interest or create an endowment. Over time, the returns from these investments could provide a consistent, low-effort revenue stream.

How to Start: Work with a financial advisor to create an investment policy that aligns with your nonprofit’s goals.

Potential Income: With a small endowment of $50,000-$100,000, you could earn $2,000-$7,000 in interest annually, depending on the market.

Have you tried any of these strategies? Hit reply and let me know - I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

Are you working on starting or growing your nonprofit?

My new Changemaker Accelerator Membership can give you a boost!

We’ll tap into the strategies I shared in this newsletter, and a lot more. And we’ll do it alongside fellow changemakers sharing other lessons learned and cheering each other on along the way.

You'll get a ton of value for just $15 / month, and those who click above to join the founding member's list get an extra discount to join sent immediately to their inbox. 🥰

Don't wait too long! We’ll have limited enrollment (and it ends soon!), so I can focus on providing a great experience to our new members.

Resource Roundup

💲

Funding Opportunities

  • ICYMI: Due by October 31: The Lawrence Foundation provides grants (ranging $5,000-$10,000) to nonprofits tackling environmental issues, human services, and other issues.
  • Due by November 14: The EJ4Climate Grant Program provides funding (up to $200,000) to community-based organizations addressing environmental justice in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
  • Due by November 29: The Centene Charitable Foundation provides funding (ranging $300-$500,000) to nonprofits tackling healthcare access, social services, and education in communities where the company operates.

📅

Events & Programs

  • THIS WEEK: October 24 (12 PM ET | 9 AM PT): How to Create a Donation Page that Converts
    Did you know? Nonprofit donation pages are abandoned by potential supporters up to 70% of the time!
    In this webinar and Q&A, we’ll tackle questions like:
    Current trends in online giving and why they matter to your nonprofit
    The traits of top-performing nonprofit donation pages
    How to create a user experience that increases a donor’s likelihood of making a gift
    REGISTER HERE

Enjoy this week's newsletter? You might find this video helpful, too.

3 more ways I can help you

  1. I have lots of free content for you! Check out my library of 250+ 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 - who want to make an impact - by subscribing to the channel and sharing it with a changemaker friend! 😁
  2. Need extra support to build or grow a nonprofit or social enterprise? Enrollment is now open for a limited time for my Changemaker Accelerator membership!
  3. Need a speaker or training workshop for your social impact event? I'm currently booking 2025 speaking engagements -- check out my speaking and workshop opportunities to learn how I can help you make your event inspiring and actionable!

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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Amber Melanie Smith

I am on a mission to equip nonprofit and social impact changemakers with the tools and resources to grow their impacts. Join me and over 65,000 changemakers on my social impact-focused YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ambermelaniesmith!

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