Dawn Franks

As I write, only a few days of February remain to meet my monthly giving goal. By the time you read this, I will be looking for the nonprofits I will support in March.

Over a long career in nonprofits and philanthropy, I’ve become certain that giving every month is critical to the survival of nonprofit organizations. The benefits go both ways—it’s as important for the donor as it is for the nonprofit.

Monthly giving by donors can have a sizeable impact on a nonprofit’s future. Nonprofit organizations do not survive on occasional giving. The key word here is to survive.

The lowest level of donor support is occasional giving. The next step up is annual giving, though the amounts may vary. A step higher is annual donors who give the same amount consistently. And at the top? Monthly donors—those who provide the most predictable and dependable support.

Strong nonprofits plan for both the short and long term. They anticipate increased client needs, shifts in foundation grants—whether private, state, or federal—and the development of new programs and services. A nonprofit’s ability to plan is one indicator of the strength and breadth of its donor base.

Predictable and dependable donors matter, and monthly donors matter even more. Their steady support allows boards and executive leaders to execute the mission in organized, planned and intentional ways.

How are monthly donors impacted? How does monthly giving impact our role as sustainers, supporters, and philanthropists?

Here’s a short list. First, it allows us to be more intentional with our giving. Then, if we pay closer attention to the organizations we support, our giving is more informed.

It makes us more efficient givers, spreading our giving across the year in smaller, manageable amounts. We enjoy knowing that our regular support helps nonprofits operate with stability.

Finally, we experience the joy of belonging to the donor group sustaining organizations we care about. Donor-giving joy comes in many different forms.

I was reminded of this during a recent Hope Haven of East Texas board meeting. They shared their goal of growing their monthly giving group, Circle of Hope. Later, I checked their website and saw familiar themes—consistency, stability, and impact.

Recognition is another benefit of monthly giving, whether public or anonymous. For some, acknowledgment is important for personal or business reasons; for others, the joy is in giving quietly. Either way, the impact remains the same.

Most nonprofits make monthly giving easy through their online donation portals. Consider turning a one-time $100 gift into $120 with just $10 monthly. Want to do more? Skip one latte per week and double your gift to $20 monthly.

Many on my list receive annual gifts, but giving monthly increases my overall support. I save up letters, event invitations, and newsletters to review, make decisions, and give.

Giving is often deeply personal. Sometimes, I donate to remember someone who cared about a particular cause or in honor of a birthday or celebration. Other times, I participate in larger fundraising events, such as East Texas Giving Day in April or Giving Tuesday in November.

In January, I honor my mother’s memory with gifts to the Tyler Museum of Art and Pave, East Texas—a tribute to her work as a writer, poet, and watercolor artist. February’s cold reminds me to support Pets Fur People and Sight.org, which brings sight and the gospel to rural African villages. And as war rages on, I plan a gift to the PHA Program for Humanitarian Aid, supporting Ukrainians in crisis.

Next month, my focus returns to East Texas, and I won’t miss the chance to support the East Texas Crisis Center’s Mustang Raffle. Raffles and nonprofit auctions can be fun, adding unexpected spice to giving.

As you can see, monthly giving is easy and impactful. Let’s forge ahead and embrace the habit of giving well every month.