Missions to Movements How Houston Food Bank Grew 5,200 Monthly Donors - The Importance of a Sustainer Role
Monthly Giving Week is here! So how do you grow a recurring donor program from a trickle to over 5,200 committed supporters?
In this powerful episode, Ashlyn Jones, the force behind Houston Food Bank’s “Faithful Friends” program, shares how the organization invested in a full-time sustainer role.
AND, why having someone solely focused on nurturing monthly givers has been a game changer for retention and revenue.
Ashlyn walks us through how emergencies, storytelling, and strategic touchpoints helped build long-term donor loyalty. She dives into the campaigns and platforms they’ve used, including paid social ads, telefunding, and stewardship emails - and how simple things like phone calls and handwritten notes have moved the needle on retention.
One of the most inspiring takeaways? Ashlyn’s approach to storytelling and writing in a way that donors feel their impact immediately, leading to an increase in their monthly gifts. This episode is jam-packed with actionable advice for nonprofits ready to build a loyal base of recurring donors.
Resources & Links
Connect with Ashlyn on LinkedIn and learn more about the Houston Food Bank on their website.
Bloomerang is the proud presenter of Missions to Movements.
Bloomerang is the trusted, all-in-one giving platform that connects your data, streamlines your systems, and helps your mission go further. Learn more at bloomerang.com.
If you’re building a movement, join Bloomerang’s GiveCon in St. Louis May 15-17 to learn what’s working in donor retention, AI, major gifts, recurring revenue, and community-driven campaigns. Register now and use code M2M to save $200!
The Monthly Giving Builder: Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish.
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