From a Christmas gift to monthly giving: keep your donors

How to offer monthly giving to a Christmas donor: choice on the donation page, the right moment, thank you email, promises you can keep and the tax receipt.

In short A Christmas gift is a burst of generosity, not yet a commitment. To turn it into a monthly donor, offer a choice between one-off and monthly giving on your donation page, follow up within 48 hours with a sincere thank you, and promise only what your charity can deliver. The tax receipt is your association's responsibility.

this article describes the rules in France.

Every winter, people give to a charity for the first time, moved by a Christmas story. Many never come back, simply because nobody invited them to carry on.

Why offer monthly giving at Christmas

A monthly gift of €10 adds up to €120 over a year, more than many one-off year-end gifts. Above all, it lets you plan: you know what you can commit to next month.

Christmas is a good moment to offer it, because the donor is already in a positive frame of mind. But don't rush them: a first gift of €30 says nothing about what someone can give every month. Your role is to open the door, not to force it.

On the donation page: a clear choice between one-off and monthly

The most natural moment to offer regular giving is when the person is already giving. Put the choice at the top of the page: "Just once" and "Every month", two options side by side, with no guilt-inducing preselection.

Give each option its own amounts. A one-off gift of €50 and a monthly gift of €8 are not comparable, and a monthly amount that is too high puts people off. Add a concrete sentence to each amount: "€8 a month is a hot meal every week" (adapt it if the sum is accurate for your charity).

  • Two or three monthly amounts are enough, including a small one.
  • Keep the one-off or monthly choice visible, never hidden in a menu.
  • Don't remove the one-off option: it reassures people.

When to offer monthly giving, and when to hold back

There are three useful moments: at the time of the gift, in the thank you email, and a few weeks later, when you report on what the campaign made possible. One message per moment is enough.

On the other hand, avoid asking again on the same day, right after someone has given, or piling up reminders in December. An invitation in January, with real news about the campaign, often carries more weight than a third request before Christmas.

The thank you email that opens the next step

The thank you must arrive within 48 hours. Its first job is to say thanks, not to ask. State the amount received and what it makes possible, and only then add a gentle invitation to continue.

Hello [first name],
Thank you: your gift of [amount] will make it possible to [real use]. If you like, you can also support us every month, from [amount]. It is a modest gesture that helps us prepare the year. You stay free at any time: [explain how to stop or change it].

A single button is enough, for example "I give every month". If the donor already chose monthly giving on the donation page, thank them twice over and describe what happens next: on which date, for what amount, and who to contact with questions.

What you can promise, and what to avoid

Promise only what you can verify and deliver. "Your monthly gift funds one workshop a week" is a good sentence only if it is accurate. Otherwise, talk about what you do with all the gifts together.

Here are a few simple guidelines for staying honest:

  • Spell out the amount, the frequency and how to stop.
  • Don't guarantee a numerical result that you don't control.
  • No pressure: monthly giving is a choice, not a moral debt.
  • Share news regularly, at least twice a year, with real facts.

Tax relief and the reçu fiscal: what is confirmed

According to service-public.gouv.fr and impots.gouv.fr, the standard tax reduction is 66% of the gift, up to 20% of taxable income. A rate of 75% exists only for organisations that help people in difficulty, with a ceiling of €2,000 since 14 October 2025.

Your association issues the reçu fiscal (the French tax receipt), and only if it is an organisme d'intérêt général (a general interest body) under article 200 of the CGI (Code général des impôts, the French tax code). What WeGlow.world does or does not do for receipts in France, we do not promise here. For monthly gifts (one receipt per gift or a summary receipt?), we have no confirmed official source: ask the tax authority before promising a donor anything.

If you offer something in return (a calendar, chocolate), its value must not exceed a quarter of the gift, with a maximum of €65 a year, otherwise the tax reduction is not possible.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

The WeGlow.world donation page is completed in three steps: amount, personal details, summary. It offers one-off or monthly giving, with its own amounts for each option and a label for each amount, and it displays well on a phone.

If you have written a thank you text, it goes out automatically after every gift: the ideal place for your monthly invitation. Your supporters can also start their own campaign page and invite their network, which brings in new donors to convert. To create your page, open an account to get started for free.

Four Christmas experiences are in preparation, for example the Glow Room, a 3D living room where every gift becomes a decoration on the tree, or the Starry Sky, where every gift becomes a star. They are concepts until the official launch. Find it all on the WeGlow.world Christmas page.

To read more, see our Christmas campaign ideas, our Christmas email templates and our guide to the reçu fiscal.

Frequently asked questions

What monthly amount should I suggest?

Suggest two or three amounts, including a small one, for example €5, €10 and €20. Adapt them to your audience and test over a few weeks which ones people choose.

Should I remove the one-off gift?

No. The one-off gift reassures people and remains the first way in. Show both options side by side and let the person choose freely.

When should I send the invitation to give monthly?

In the thank you email, sent within 48 hours, then once in January with real news about the campaign. Avoid multiple reminders in December.

What tax reduction applies to a monthly gift?

The confirmed rates are the 66% and 75% described above, depending on your organisation. For how to document several gifts in a year, ask the tax authority before promising anything.

What should I promise a monthly donor?

The amount, the frequency, how to stop and regular news. Promise a specific result only if your charity is sure it can deliver.

Sources

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