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. 

Where should we send your free worksheet?

Board Fundraising Worksheet Nonprofitfixer.com

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.



    Sean Kosofsky

    Sean Kosofsky is The Nonprofit Fixer. He is a coach, consultant and course creator and served in nonprofit leadership roles for 28+ years.

    https://www.NonprofitFixer.com
    Previous
    Previous

    Use “Double-Loop Learning” for Better Board and Staff Meetings

    Next
    Next

    When and Why Should Nonprofits Merge?