From Earth Day to every day: how environmental nonprofits can grow recurring giving
Earth Day is one of the most powerful days for environmental advocacy, raising awareness about conservation, and the urgent need for action. And it's also one of the biggest fundraising opportunities for environmental nonprofits.
There's no question that Earth Day brings together supporters who care about our planet, but how do you build on this momentum and create engagement that goes beyond one day?Ā
The answer: invest in sustainable fundraising strategies.Ā
Environmental nonprofits can turn Earth Day supporters into long-term donors by focusing on recurring giving. It can start with Earth Day, but a strong recurring giving strategy can ensure that your mission is supported every day of the year.
Recurring giving ā an answer to sustainable fundraising
2025 has changed the conversation around fundraising, especially for environmental nonprofits. As public funding for environmental initiatives fluctuates and policies shift, finding new, creative ways to secure reliable funding has become top-of-mind.
And these uncertainties highlight the critical role recurring giving plays in sustainable fundraising. Ongoing support from your most dedicated donors ensures a reliable stream of donations and can foster overall program resilience.
Earth Day can help get the conversation started with your donors. It's the perfect opportunity to introduce Earth-conscious donors to the concept of making a more sustainable impact on the environment.
Features to grow your recurring giving strategy
As you think about your Earth Day campaign's messaging and calls to action, consider your fundraising technology. If you ask supporters to make a recurring contribution this Earth Day, is it easy for them to say yes?Ā
AI-driven tools like Fundraise Up can easily convert one-time supporters into recurring donors with features specifically designed to convert, upgrade, and nurture. Here's how we recommend using technology as part of your recurring giving strategy.
Intelligent prompts are the way to grow
Most one-time donors don't start planning to give monthly, but they are much more likely to convert with the right timing and messaging. Fundraise Upās AI-driven Upsell feature at checkout encourages one-time donors to become recurring supporters through intelligent prompts. The feature considers the timing, messaging, and likelihood of conversion when suggesting the option for recurring giving.
This optimized upgrade feature is proven to increase the number of recurring donors, reduce the number of lapsed donors, and boost the average dollar amount of recurring gifts for nonprofit organizations. For example, Akashinga, an organization dedicated to sustainable conservation, earned an average of 145 recurring monthly donors the year they partnered with Fundraise Up.
Recurring donations need to be the number one priority. We needed to build for the long-term community. Fundraise Up has given us the ability to realize that strategy, and itās working really well.ā
ā Erin Mullikin, Director of Brand & Marketing, Akashinga
Flexible giving = sustained giving
Whether they've made one or one hundred gifts, donors crave flexibility and personalization in their giving experience. It's the key to converting donors, but it's also the key to sustaining donors. By leveraging technology that offers donors more control over their contributions, nonprofits can enhance donor engagement and retention.
Localized payment options
Imagine donating to a cause you care about, but the payment methods don't align with what's common in your country. You might abandon support if your preferred options aren't offered to you.
Giving donors localized payment options is an easy way for environmental nonprofits with a global mission to offer donors flexibility and ultimately increase recurring giving numbers. For instance, Rainforest Trust, dedicated to preserving critical habitats worldwide, saw a 25% increase in donors giving in international currencies and a 6% growth in recurring donations every month when they upgraded to Fundraise Up.
Empower existing recurring donors
Your existing recurring donors are your environmental nonprofit's most prominent advocates and strongest supporters. By empowering your existing recurring donors with the option to change their gift, you can open the opportunity to save a canceled donation or even upgrade donations.
According to our platform's data, around 10% of recurring donors about to cancel their gift will choose to modify their gift instead of canceling when given the option. Fundraise Up's Donor Portal allows donors to change their giving amount, the preferred payment method, and the frequency of giving.
Engaging existing recurring donors with the opportunity to increase their gifts is another way to drive meaningful growth in recurring revenue. Nonprofits that leverage Fundraise Up's Upgrade Links see about 20-60% of recurring donors increase their gifts by 75-120%, which underscores the potential of empowering donors with easy and flexible opportunities to deepen their support.
Plant the seed with more personalized donor stewardship
A strong, sustainable fundraising strategy starts with donor trust. And donor trust is earned with transparency and intentional donor stewardship. Generic thank-yous no longer cut it, but that doesn't mean some personalized touch points can't be automated.
Fundraise Up's advanced email features send campaign-specific thank-yous, updates, action items, and fully customizable tax-compliant receipts. Fundraise Up integrates with many popular CRMs to take your donor stewardship strategies to the next level.
Take the next step in sustainable fundraising
Earth Day is a powerful moment for fundraising, but it's also an opportunity to engage with your supporters to make a more significant impact through recurring giving. Set up your environmental nonprofit for success this year by making it easy for Earth Day supporters to say yes to recurring giving.
Ready to launch your Earth Day campaign? Download our Earth Day Guide for more tips on strengthening your fundraising strategy.