Why it matters
Recurring gifts give you steady, predictable income, and the donors who set them up tend to stay much longer than one-time donors. Over a year, a modest monthly gift often adds up to more than the donor would give in a single appeal.
The main risk is not donors changing their minds. It is cards that expire or fail. Watch failed payments closely and reach out quickly and personally when one happens.
How Steward shows it
Steward shows recurring gifts under Fundraising and on the Recurring dashboard in Reports. Home has a section for monthly gifts that need you, and a Today tile for monthly givers whose card failed this week. Staff can propose a new recurring gift, and nothing changes until the donor accepts it.
Related terms
- Sustainer A sustainer is a donor who gives through a recurring gift, usually every month, rather than in one-time gifts. Many organizations give their sustainers a program name.
- Donor lifetime value Donor lifetime value is the total amount a donor is likely to give over the whole time they support you. You estimate it from their average gift, how often they give and how long they stay.
- Pledge A pledge is a donor's promise to give a set amount in the future, paid all at once or in installments over an agreed schedule.
The free Lost & Found audit reads a giving export in your browser and shows your lapsing donors and what they used to give. Nothing is uploaded. Then bring the same file to a 20-minute demo.