Big List of Donor Level Names
If you’re involved in nonprofit fundraising, at some point you will inevitably need to come up with donor giving-level names. In the past, nonprofits mainly did this for an event or capital campaign.
But nonprofit organizations need and want more financial security and consistency in their revenue streams. By encouraging donors to give monthly, you not only build loyalty, familiarity, and commitment, but you can also plan your revenue better.
With monthly sustainer programs on the rise, organizations may need even more names for different donation levels.
To help make fundraisers’ jobs easier, in this article we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of actual giving-level names, including ideas for monthly sustainer programs, annual sustainer programs, and more. Thanks to PIR Blog, Mission Scatola Blog, NonProfitPRO Blog, Donor Perfect Blog for rounding up portions of this list.
But first, let’s take a minute to talk about those monthly sustainer programs that many nonprofits are looking to start (and come up with names for).
What is a Monthly Sustainer Program?
More and more nonprofits are investing in monthly sustainer programs and you should too. A sustainer program is all about encouraging donors to give monthly. This is usually done automatically through credit card contributions on your online fundraising platform. Most donation platforms offer donors the opportunity to check a box that says: “Make my donation monthly!”
You can even run an experiment to A/B test two different donation pages - one that defaults people to monthly giving and one that defaults to annual. After 1-3 months, see which helped you more.
Nonprofits aren’t alone in thinking about securing monthly contributions. Right now, it seems like the whole world is moving toward monthly subscriptions–and the data says it actually is. Whether it’s Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Spotify, more and more companies are moving toward a subscription model because of predictable income, smaller sticker shock, and clients who forget to cancel, even when they aren’t using the service.
Nonprofits can gain these same benefits with a monthly sustainer program. I think of sustaining donors as those in it for the long run. It’s a donation marathon not a sprint.
One of the first things many nonprofits do when creating a sustainer program is coming up with a name, which is where this list can help.
Monthly Sustainers Programs Giving Level Names
Your giving level names should emphasize how monthly donors are the bedrock of your fundraising program. No matter the donation amount, these donors are a part of your team. They’re your biggest fans and supporters. And you want them to feel that way. There is evidence from the social sciences that when people feel part of a group that shares their social identity, they may be more motivated to participate.
Names that make donors part of the team
#InThisTogether Crew
$100 Club
Ally
Ambassador
Angel
Associate / Associate Founder / Associate in Caring / Associate Member
Charter Member
Citizens
Colleagues
Companions
Compassionate Champions
Compassionate Leaders
Circle of Friends
Central Life Force
Humanitarian
Hundred Club
Leader
Leadership Associates
Leadership Member
Order of Excellence
Order of Nourishment
Participating Member
Partner
Partners (and then combinations like “Impact Partners”)
Partners In Excellence
Partners in Hope
Partners In Success
Society of Friends
Sustainer Circle
Sustainer(s)
Sustaining Member
Supporting Member
The Spring
Names that emphasize shared goals and values
Builder
Celebrators
Friend(s) of…
GEMs (Give Every Month)
Going the Social Distance
Good Samaritan / Samaritan
Guardian/s
Implementers
Innovator
Pacesetter
Pioneer
Promoters
Protector
Provider
Substantiators
Trailblazer
Visionary
Vitality Guild
Names that focus on donors’ long-term impact
Achiever
Advocate / Advocates In Caring
Central Life Force
Centurion
Century Associates
Champion(s)
Circle of Honor
Connectors
Cornerstone Member
Defender
Developer
Growth Society
Heritage Club
Honor Roll Society
Hope Builders
Innkeepers
Keepers of the Flame
Marathon club (in it for the long run)
Perpetuators
Quarter Century Club
Restoration Society
Second Century Club
Star Patron
Star Society
Superstar Patron
Superstar Sponsor
Steward
Torch Society
Tower Club
Tower Society
Names that add pomp and flash
Accord of Excellence
Benevolent Friends
Bronze Millionaire’s Club
Bronze Patron
Bronze Society or Club
Bronze Sponsor
Century Club
Chairman’s Council
Chancellor
Circle of Excellence
Dean’s Club
Dean’s Counselor
Diamond Century Club
Diamond Society or Club
Director
Distinguished Associates
Distinguished Fellow
Giving Elite
Gold Century Club
Gold Medalist
Gold Millionaire’s Club
Gold Patron
Gold Society or Club
Gold Sponsor
Hall of Fame
Illuminators
Medallist
Million Dollar Club
Millionaire’s Club
Multi-Million Dollar Club
Philanthropist
Pinnacle Club
President’s Associates
President’s Cabinet Member
President’s Circle
President’s Club
President’s Scholar
President’s Society
Silver Century Club
Silver Millionaire’s Club
Silver Patron
Silver Society or Club
Silver Sponsor
Two Million Dollar Club
(Try to add your own flashy ideas to have fun)
Annual Sustainer Donor Level Names
Your major individual donors may be more inclined to make larger gifts on an annual or quarterly basis. Often fundraisers talk about these donations in the context of their annual fund, including activities like year-end asks and appeals.
But if you’ve ever gone over a major donor list at year-end, you know the stress the lack of long-term donor commitments can cause. You might spend hours (or days) trying to guess which donors will renew their gifts and which won’t.
You may use the monthly sustainer program as a way to talk about options during major donor meetings.
But with an annual sustainer program, it’s possible to transition these annual gifts into more reliable income. Keep in mind that, unlike a small monthly credit card contribution, each gift may require some level of personal outreach. And of course, you still want to engage and cultivate your donors year-round.
If you’re thinking about a sustainer program with an annual giving element, here are some creative names you might consider:
10,000 Club
100% Club
50,000 Club
Anniversary Club
Clockwork Group (they support the organization like clockwork)
Enrichment Society
Founder
Founder’s Associates
Founder’s Club
Founding…
Grand Patron
Grand Sponsor
Honorary Benefactor
Honorary…
Investor
Major Benefactor
Patron
Patron Member
Regent
Trustee
Victory Society
Business Giving Level Names
If you have strong connections in your community, you may also want to create donation levels for local businesses to become part of your sustainer program. Some business-focused names include:
Blue Chip Club
Business Affiliate
Corporate Member
Corporate Million Dollar Club
Distinguished Benefactor
Gold Business Affiliate
President’s Council
Silver Business Affiliate
Sponsor Associates
Sponsors
Star Sponsor
Planned Giving Society Names
Sustainer programs are designed to build long-term relationships between nonprofits and donors. One benefit is the ability to encourage these donors to also become part of your planned giving program. So, if you’re thinking about increasing planned gifts and bequests, here are some planned giving program name ideas to get you started.
Advanced Gifts
Affiliate Life Benefactor
Benefactor
Benefactors in Caring
Benefactors of Distinction
Benefactors of Highest
Benefactors of Honor
Benefactors of Merit
Conservator
Continuity League
Distinguished Life Associates
Eminent Benefactor
Eminent Gifts
Gold Benefactor
Life Member
Life Partner
Scholar’s Society
Scholars
Scroll Society
Trustee’s Society
Program-Focused Donor Level Names
Finally, some organizations come up with creative names that are directly tied to the work they do. For example:
Boston Children’s Hospital – Dream Makers
CALL (Child Advocates for Literacy and Learning)
Charity: Water – The Spring
Children of…
Clean the Oceans Club
Daisy Club
Doctors without Borders – Field Partners
Dress for Success – Little Black Dress Club
Every Dog Has His Stay
FLASH (Fellowship of Leaders for the Arts in School and Home)
Food Bank – Hunger’s Hope
Formula for Success
Friends of Heifer – Heifer International
Heroes Giving Hope
Hope Sustainer – Feed my Starving Children
Making Meals for Many
Meal of the Month – Food Bank
More Cooks in the Soup Kitchen
No Place Like Home Program
One Cup at a time Club
PAW (Protecting Animal Welfare)
PAWs Partners in Animal Welfare
Peacekeeper
Plant a Million Trees Program
Playful Paws Program
PPEP (People Protecting Endangered Primates)
Priority One Fellowship
Save Our Open Space Society
SEAT (Stopping Elder Abuse Together)
STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics advocacy, education and programs)
Supporting First Responders Union
Team Rubicon – Support Squad
The Adventure Program – The Collective
United Way – Women United
University Club
University Society
WAGE (Working for Age and Gender Equality)
Water Guardians
Watsi – Universal Fund
WishMaker Club - Make Wish Foundation
Conclusion
While coming up with giving-level names can be fun, it’s important to remember that it’s not the name that will convince donors to sign up. It’s the work your organization does. As you create your sustainer program, start planning how you’re going to make sure your donors know about all the great work their contributions are supporting.
