Turn One-Time Donors into Regular Givers with Recurring Donation Upsell

We know the power of a single donation and the impact it has on a nonprofit organization, but what if you could turn those one-time donors into regular supporters? With Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell, you can.

Written by: Nicole Human
Turn One-Time Donors into Regular Givers with Recurring Donation Upsell
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Did you know that donors who set up recurring donations give 42% more annually, compared to one-time donations?

While many organizations rely on tools like memberships, recurring donation drives, or reward programs to drive monthly donations, most overlook the power of recurring upselling. That’s where Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell feature comes in. 


Why Recurring Upsell? Because Recurring Donations Matter

Recurring giving is a popular choice, with 57% of donors enrolled in a giving plan. In 2024, total giving increased by just 3.5%, while monthly giving increased by 5%

And we know these donors bring ongoing value through mission-fueling support and higher retention rates. In short, recurring donations provide the best access to stable fundraising income.


Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell Feature 

Maintaining a steady and sustainable stream of donations doesn’t have to be difficult, and with Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell feature, it isn’t. Donorbox Premium users can now seamlessly convert one-time supporters into regular givers. The feature is also available to Donorbox Standard and Pro users as an additional annual add-on.

With Recurring Donation Upsell, enable your donation form to prompt supporters to become monthly donors. This optional feature can help you easily turn one-time donors into frequent supporters, and boost donations to your cause.

And we’ve seen this feature work for organizations of all sizes. A message that asks a donor to upgrade their one-time gift results in a 64% increase in recurring donations. And 9 out of 10 donors who upgrade using Recurring Donation Upsell stick around long enough to surpass their original one-time gift amount.

Contact Sales to Upgrade to Premium


But how does it work?

Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell feature is designed to help you increase  vital recurring monthly donations and build sustainable revenue for your organization. Here’s how: 


The Recurring Donation Upsell is activated when:

  • Your organization is a Donorbox Premium user (or a Standard or Pro user with an annual add-on)
  • Your campaign has a monthly interval option
  • The one-time donation is $200 or less

When your one-time donor decides to donate an amount equal to or less than $200 on the first step of your donation form and clicks “Next,” they’ll be presented with a new option to upgrade to a monthly gift at a lower donation amount:

The amount of the recurring upsell is calculated automatically, based on the original amount your supporter chose to donate. Donors can choose the new recurring donation amount or move forward with their original donation with one click.

The upgrade prompt title and body of text can also be personalized to appeal to your donors’ emotions with sincere messaging. You can also include variables like the original and monthly donation values.

By showing them the values up front, supporters will appreciate the transparency and be more inclined to give to your cause.

Image of Donorbox's Recurring Upsell feature

These unique touches help you communicate the impact donors can have on your cause when they upgrade to a monthly giving program.


Now, let’s activate it

Activating Recurring Donation Upsell couldn’t be easier! Simply navigate to any of your existing campaigns, locate the “Amounts” area, and toggle the “Upsell Donations” option. 

Donorbox's Recurring Upsell feature

Here, you’ll be prompted to customize your messaging to donors. Hit “Save Changes” at the top right of your screen when you’re done customizing.

That’s it!


Bonus Resource

This video offers great tips and insights on how to turn more one-time donors into recurring givers: 


Over to you

There are multiple ways your organization can use upselling to boost your fundraising efforts. Donorbox’s Recurring Donation Upsell feature streamlines the process – all you need to do is check a box, sit back, and watch those recurring donations grow.

This feature is available on our Donorbox Premium plan and as an annual add-on for Standard and Pro plans. Donorbox Premium is an all-in-one fundraising solution that brings you an expert support team and additional advanced tools to help maximize your donations, build successful fundraising campaigns, and double down on what matters most – your mission.

For fundraising tips and tools, check out our Nonprofit Blog and YouTube channel. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the best of the blog in your inbox every month. 

Avatar photo

Nicole’s professional background is rooted in the nonprofit sector, where she’s honed her skills in communications, marketing, and fundraising. She has extensive experience in various fields, such as social media, content strategy, public relations, and more. Nicole has a deep passion for writing, editing, and gaining knowledge about the many causes that tirelessly advocate for essential societal change.

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