At Donor360, we want to help your organization build a better future through its impactful, long-term projects and programs. Putting a focus on acquiring sustainers, dedicated donors that commit to giving on a regular basis can help your charity achieve more, consistently. Sustainers provide a sustainable source of funding that can drive long-term projects. On Donor360’s platform, organizations can create and nurture long-term relationships with long-term donors through eCommerce fundraisers and subscription services. 

How Long-Term Donors Make A Difference

Long-term donors are worth up to 5.4 times more than one-time donors over the course of their lifetime. While one-time donations are important, recurring or long-term donations provide the stability to make steady progress towards a goal. Although monthly donations may be individually smaller than one large donation, donor retention rates are much better for donors on monthly giving or subscription programs, which leads to more sustained funds. While new donor retention rates are around 23% on average, monthly giving programs can garner retention rates around 80% after just one year. 

Long-term donors offer a much more sustainable source of income compared to new donor acquisition campaigns or running fundraisers. Sustainers boost donor retention rates, which means more money can go directly to a charity’s programs instead of back into donor acquisition. Long-lasting relationships with donors allow them to witness what a charity was able to do through their support, which can open doors for advocacy, volunteering, and continued support. 

Connect with Lifetime Donors on Donor360

With Donor360, charities can create their own eShops to raise funds and connect with new donors. A charity’s eShop lives on its website, so supporters are able to shop and donate 24/7. We offer a curated catalog of ethical, eco-friendly products that organizations can vend through a fundraiser or eShop. These products are unique, high-quality goods that come from Fair Trade and organic brands. 

How Sustainers Can Support through Subscriptions

From Fresh Market and Bark Box to Birch Box and SnackNation, subscription product boxes offer a simple shopping experience for consumers at a predetermined, recurring price. The Covid pandemic is taking subscription popularity to new heights, and it is projected that 75% of direct-to-consumer brands will offer some kind of subscription service by 2023. Nonprofits can take advantage of this trend by offering monthly product subscriptions that support their cause. 

Providing a product subscription option to your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy not only provides a more stable income, but it’s also better for your donors. Studies have shown that over 60% of donors prefer to give smaller, monthly donations to giving a large one-time donation. Subscriptions are simple and automatic and don’t require an organization to constantly prompt supporters for new donations. 

With a Donor360 eShop, your supporters will be able to easily donate to your cause while experiencing new sustainable brands and products. Donors can choose a subscription option to receive the products they love on a monthly basis; like coffee, chocolates, pet supplies, and makeup, providing a steady stream of income to the nonprofit. Supporters can also begin their own fundraisers on a charity’s behalf, providing a completely new stream of funds without any effort from the charity itself. 

A Strategy for the Long Run

Charities or nonprofits that want to make a big difference have to learn to use their resources wisely. Since donations are not always stable, it can be hard to make steady progress with current programs or plan for future ones. Building long-term relationships with loyal, reliable supporters can bring new life to projects and programs. Fundraising through products like coffee or chocolates that donors can enjoy on a monthly basis promotes subscription-based giving. This means steady, predictable income for charities, and simple, manageable giving for supporters. Donors can always choose to add additional cash donations to their monthly subscription as well. 

Create a Donor360 eShop for your charity or nonprofit today and begin building your network of long-term donors. To get started, sign up here. Or chat with our fundraising synergist and storyteller at:

kristen@donorthreesixty.com