How to recruit more monthly pledge donors

You’ve heard by now that one of the most useful things you can do to help your fundraising program is get as many of your donors as possible enrolled in a monthly giving program. That’s easier said than done, but here are some tips from the Bloomerang blog, at 5 Practical Tips to Start Growing Monthly Giving:

1. Commit to making sustainer giving part of your fundraising plan and then actually execute the plan!
   
2. Start online and then move to offline media. (Do your learning and discovery on the less costly channel.)
   
3. Start with the end in mind. (Figure out how everything works — what the donors get when the join, give, fall behind, or give extra.)
   
4. Do not stop communicating with these sustainers.
   
5. Think long-term and make sure everybody in your organization does too.
   

There are two distinct categories of pledge program:

1. The kind that offers less involvement, emphasizing convenience and ease, allowing donors to support the cause without having to think about it much.
   
2. The kind that offers more involvement, creating a stronger connection — often something like sponsorship of a child or an animal.
   

Which kind you should offer depends on your donors and your brand. It’s possible you can offer both kinds of programs and sign up both types of donor.