365 Days of Monthly Giving

By Erica Waasdorp

Every year in February, my husband and I escape from the cold (and usually snow) and go to Phoenix for some sunshine, a little bit of golf and pickleball, and a drive-in movie.

My husband is a private pilot, and he absolutely loves to fly. He is on cloud nine every time he goes for a flight.

And every time we go on our trip, he realizes how people in some parts of the country are so lucky. They can fly 365 days a year and maybe miss just a few days because of bad weather.

That means, too, that they don’t have to plan around bad days or worry about snow ploughs and extra time needed to get to airports or meetings because weather is never a factor.

Other parts of the country are not so lucky… they must always plan. They always must make sure the snow blower is ready, gas for the generator is available and the generator is tested and ready to go when needed.

Well, monthly giving can be like that for some. Organizations that raise a lot of money from major gifts may not need to worry so much about having the money needed to keep the operation going.

UNTIL something happens: Funding gets cut, leadership at organizations changes, boards of funders change (and they may want to support other types of organizations or focus on other priorities).

Now what? Here you thought you could cruise by 365 days of the year, and suddenly, the weather changes and you’re not prepared for it.

That’s what a monthly donor program is trying to prevent. No matter what happens with the weather, with disasters, with public health scares, with other funders: Monthly gifts keep coming in. And your organization can keep going as if there’s not a cloud in the sky!

Wouldn’t you like to experience that soaring feeling?

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Monthly Giving

Erica Waasdorp Author's page

Erica Waasdorp is one of the leading experts on monthly giving. She is the president of A Direct Solution, a company serving nonprofit organizations with fundraising and direct marketing needs, with a focus on monthly giving and appeals. She authored "Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant" and "Monthly Giving Made Easy." She regularly blogs and presents on fundraising, appeals and monthly giving — in person and through webinars. She is happy to answer any questions you may have about this great way of improving retention rates for your donors.

Erica has over 30 years of experience in nonprofits and direct response. She helped the nonprofits she works with raise millions of dollars through monthly giving programs. She is also very actively supports organizations with annual fund planning and execution, ranging from copywriting, creative, lists, print and mail execution.

When she’s not working or writing, Erica can be found on the golf course (she’s a straight shooter) or quietly reading a book. And if there’s an event with a live band, she and her husband, Patrick, can be found on the dance floor. She also loves watching British drama on PBS. Erica and Patrick have two step sons and a cat, Mientje.