Enable Recurring Donations in Forms & Surveys for Steady Revenue

charity donation hands
charity donation hands

Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash

Why recurring donations matter

Getting people to donate for the first time is the hardest step. Once someone gives, making it simple for them to give again is what keeps revenue predictable.

Recurring donations automate future payments. That reduces manual follow up and lowers reengagement costs. It also cuts donor churn and keeps cash flow steady. At Pinnacle, we build features that make recurring giving easy to set up and manage.

How enabling recurring donations works

Here’s a clear, practical process to add recurring donations to any form or survey. It only takes a few clicks.

Choose the frequencies to include and save.Select weekly, monthly, yearly, or any combination that fits your campaign. Then save your form.

Form settings with Recurring Payments enabled and frequency options checked: Once, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly.

Turn on the Recurring Donation option in the Payments fields.Toggling this enables repeat billing for donors who opt in.

Payment Fields settings with the Recurring Payments toggle enabled and billing frequency checkboxes visible.

Add the Collect Payment element and open its settings.This element is where you configure amounts and the payment behavior.

Form builder with 'Collect Payment' element highlighted in the form elements panel and payment fields shown on the form preview

Open the form or Survey Builder.Navigate to the form you want to collect donations from.

Surveys dashboard with the Forms/Surveys menu and 'Builder' option highlighted

Benefits at a glance

  • Consistent revenue: Automated payments create predictable income streams.
  • Lower churn and costs: Donors stay engaged without repeated outreach, cutting reengagement expenses.
  • Better control: You choose amounts and frequencies that match donor preferences.
  • Simpler donor experience: Fewer clicks and no repeated data entry improves conversion.

Tips for success

  • Offer a few clear frequency options. Too many choices slow decision making.
  • Provide suggested donation amounts and an open field for custom amounts.
  • Make it easy to manage recurring gifts from a donor portal or support channel.
  • Communicate impact regularly so donors feel their recurring gift matters.

Common questions

How does the recurring donation toggle work?

Turning on the recurring donation option adds repeat billing to the payment element. Donors can opt into a schedule you choose, such as weekly, monthly, or yearly.

Can donors pick their own frequency and amount?

Yes. You can include multiple frequency choices and allow donors to enter a custom amount or pick suggested amounts. That flexibility improves conversion.

Will recurring donations reduce donor churn?

They help. Automating payments removes friction and reduces the need for repeated outreach, which lowers churn and reengagement costs.

How do we manage recurring payments after setup?

Recurring payments are managed through the payments dashboard and the donor records in the system. You can update frequencies, pause or cancel subscriptions, and view payment history.

Does this work with our existing payment processor?

The recurring feature integrates with supported payment processors. Verify processor compatibility in your account settings before launching.

Final thoughts

Recurring donations make revenue more reliable. They simplify the donor experience and reduce administrative overhead. Setting this up in forms and surveys is quick and gives organizations more control over income streams.

At Pinnacle, we design features to help small businesses and agencies scale without complexity. Enabling recurring donations is a simple step that creates lasting impact.

This article was created from the video Enable Recurring Donations in Forms & Surveys for Steady Revenue

Read more