TeamRaiser Sustainer Gifts

Jordan Winka

Hi Everyone,

I am looking into the pros and cons of allowing TR recurring gifts.  It seems that most organizations, that use this, put a duration on the gift.  Are there any other helpful tips, stories, or ideas for using recurring TR donations? 

Also, I haven't found any documentation on how the different types (Flexible Sustainer, Flexible Designated, and Installment) interact with Team Raiser.


Thank you in advance!

Philip Nawrocki

Hi Jordan,


What would be a con of allowing a recurring gift? :-) 


It is proven that recurring gifts generate more lifetime giving.


We have recurring giving on all our TRs. We do not set a duration. We just set the donation as recurring and let it go until the donor requests to stop it or their credit card fails. Then we use BBMS' credit card updater feature to keep the recurring gift going.


Thanks,


Phil

Jordan Winka

Hi Phil,


Thank you for the reply! I guess our main concern is with crediting participants TR pages.  All of our events are yearly so if a donor makes a recurring gift on a 2019 event the recipient, most likely, would want the gift to be credited to the 2020 event once it opens.  From what I can tell, there is no way to change an event once the recurring gift has been created.  


Have you encountered anything similar in your experience?  


Thanks again!

Jordan

Philip Nawrocki

Hey Jordan,


So are these DIY TRs? Can you tell me a little more about what 'yearly' means? Is the TR 'up-all-year' or the event is every year in March?


Thanks,


Phil

Jordan Winka

Hi Phil,


These are 5k run/walks that are based in cities and year to year.  For example, we had a 2019 Los Angeles PurpleStride Run and we will have the same event in 2020.  Each event will get a brand new TR page year to year.


We have a lot of repeat fundraisers and if someone makes a recurring gift to their 2019 page, I imagine they would want that gift to credit their 2020 page once it is available.  I did some research and it doesn't appear that you can move a recurring gift from one event to another.  The only solution I have found would be to cancel the gift and have the fundraiser ask for a new one. 


I found a few other fundraisers that have similar events and it seems they only allow the recurring gift to run until the event is closed out.  


Thanks again for your help!


Jordan

Philip Nawrocki

Got it, just like us.


We consider each event as 'new' so previous fundraising wouldn't carry over to the new year event. That would also be a nightmare to monitor. What if that participant doesn't come back? What if they come back the day of the race?


That would be a lot of extra work and monitoring.


I think most people understand its a new event and wouldn't be looking for credit from a previous event.


Thanks,


Phil

Jordan Winka

Gotcha.  Do you just keep the recurring gift open as long as the event is open?


Thanks again!

Philip Nawrocki

We just let it go. It does not end when the event ends.