Smarter Recurring Giving: Using AI to Boost Donor Retention

Recurring giving is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s essential. In this episode of The Nonprofit Show, we welcome back Nick Miller, Director of Experience at Fundraise Up, to talk about how AI-driven technology is transforming donor engagement.

Nick shares data-backed insights into why recurring donors give more, how smart upsells during the donation flow can boost retention, and what nonprofit leaders should know about managing recurring gifts without adding staff burden. From donor self-service portals to handling credit card failures, this episode covers it all—plus actionable advice on stewardship and donor segmentation.

Learn why millennials are leading the charge in recurring giving, how to think like a subscription-based business, and what tactics actually work to convert and retain donors long-term. Whether you're already running a monthly giving program or just starting to build one, this episode will change how you approach donor strategy.

00:00:00 Welcome Nick Miller of Fundraise Up
00:02:29 What Fundraise Up Does and Why AI Matters
00:05:00 How Recurring Giving Has Evolved
00:07:17 Q4 Giving Trends and Recurring Gift Benefits
00:09:49 Turning One-Time Gifts into Recurring Donations
00:13:52 Stewardship and Donor Retention Strategies
00:16:03 Donor Portal: Giving Donors Control
00:18:55 Learning from For-Profit Subscription Models
00:20:49 Solving Credit Card Expiration and Payment Failures
00:22:40 What Percentage of Donors Should Be Recurring?
00:25:05 Upsell Tactics on the Thank-You Page
00:27:22 Future Ideas: Stewardship Series and Impact Measurement


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