Make May Your Month: Creative Ways to Encourage New Monthly Donors

May isn’t just for flowers and graduations—it’s also the biggest month of the year for new monthly donor signups. That’s right! According to NeonOne, May sees more people commit to recurring giving than any other month.

Why? Maybe it’s the post-tax season calm, the inspiration of spring renewal, or simply great weather making people more generous. Whatever the reason, May is prime time to grow your monthly donor program.

May might feel far away, but if you want to use this natural high point of the year to encourage new monthly donors, now is the time to start planning.

Let’s dive into some creative ways to take advantage of this giving momentum and turn May into the month of recurring generosity for your Catholic nonprofit.

1. Launch a "May Monthly Challenge"

Give your monthly donor program its own spotlight with a special challenge just for May. Set a goal for how many new monthly donors you want to sign up, and make it a group effort by tracking progress publicly.

For example, a Catholic parish could aim to sign up 30 new monthly donors in 30 days. Promote the challenge on social media, during Mass announcements, and in emails. Add a fun visual, like a progress thermometer, to show how close you’re getting to your goal.

Encourage people to sign up with messaging like:
“Be part of the 30-day challenge! Your monthly gift of just $20 provides ongoing support for our youth ministry and parish outreach programs.”

2. Offer an Exclusive Thank-You Gift

Who doesn’t love a little incentive? Offering a small gift can give potential donors that extra nudge to commit.

For example, a Catholic school could send new monthly donors a school-branded flag or a handwritten thank-you card from students. A campus ministry could offer a special prayer card designed by students or a shout-out on social media.

Frame the gift as a way of welcoming them into a special community of supporters:
“Sign up as a monthly donor this May and receive a St. Mary’s Cardinals flag as a thank-you for your commitment to our mission!”

3. Highlight the Impact of Monthly Giving

Many donors hesitate to sign up for monthly giving because they don’t fully understand how their recurring gift makes a difference. Take May as an opportunity to show them exactly what their support accomplishes.

For example, a Catholic pro-life ministry could say:
“Your gift of $30/month provides diapers, formula, and counseling to a mother in need every single month.”

Or a vocations office might explain:
“With a $50 monthly gift, you’re helping to fund the education of future priests who will serve God’s people for decades to come.”

Clear, tangible examples make monthly giving feel impactful and essential.

4. Host a Monthly Donor Appreciation Event

Organize a special virtual or in-person event just for your recurring donors, with an added incentive for new signups in May.

If the event will be held in-person, the venue should be secured as soon as possible, and invites will need to start going out at least four weeks prior to the event.

For example, a Catholic campus ministry could host a “Coffee and Connection” Zoom chat, where donors hear directly from students about how their gifts are making a difference. Encourage signups during the event with live messaging like:
“Join our monthly donor community today, and you’ll receive exclusive invitations to events like this all year long!”

5. Create a Social Media Series

Dedicate your social media posts in May to promoting monthly giving, using testimonials, impact stories, and engaging visuals.

Highlight current monthly donors with posts like:
“Meet Sarah, one of our amazing monthly donors! Her $25/month gift helps fund retreats that bring students closer to Christ. Join her in making an ongoing impact today!”

Include clear calls to action in every post, linking to your recurring giving page.

6. Promote a Matching Gift Opportunity

Matching gifts are a powerful motivator for monthly donors. Find a generous supporter to match all new monthly gifts made in May and promote it widely.

The process of setting up a meeting with your prospect, making the ask, and giving them time consider the opportunity can take a while. Plus, it may take several asks to secure your entire challenge goal - so start this process immediately.

As an example of a matching gift opportunity, a Catholic retreat center could announce:
“Every new monthly gift made this May will be matched dollar-for-dollar for the first three months, thanks to the generosity of one of our benefactors. Double your impact and help us reach more people with life-changing retreats!”

The sense of urgency and amplified impact makes this a win-win for everyone involved.

7. Leverage Email Marketing

Email is one of the best tools for encouraging recurring donations. Create a series of May-themed emails that highlight the importance of monthly giving and make signing up as easy as possible.

• Email 1: Share a personal story of impact and invite donors to make a monthly commitment.
  
  
• Email 2: Announce your “May Monthly Challenge” or matching gift opportunity.
  
  
• Email 3: Send a progress update with testimonials from current monthly donors.
  
  
• Email 4 (Last Day): Make a final, urgent push for signups: “Today’s your last chance to join our monthly donor community and double your impact!”
  
  

8. Celebrate Your Donors Publicly

Take time in May to spotlight and celebrate your current monthly donors. This shows potential supporters the value of joining your recurring donor community.

For example, a Catholic parish might share this during Mass:
“We’re so grateful for our monthly donors who provide steady support for our parish ministries year-round. Join them in May to make a lasting difference for our community!”

You could also share donor spotlights on your website, in newsletters, or on social media.

Make May Your Month

May is the perfect time to grow your monthly donor program and build sustainable support for your Catholic nonprofit. With creative campaigns, clear impact messaging, and a touch of gratitude, you can inspire new supporters to join your mission.

Pick one or two of these ideas, tailor them to your organization, and watch your monthly donor numbers grow. Remember: Every recurring gift strengthens your foundation and helps you serve your mission year-round.

Make May your month to shine!

And, as a bonus, Petrus can help you successfully steward your monthly donors!   Would you like an annual checklist of ways to make sure your monthly donors remain engaged and informed?  If so, download Petrus Development's checklist of annual activities for monthly donors HERE.