FAQ
Calendar fundraiser FAQ: how MonthFund works
MonthFund is people-powered fundraising through shared calendars. In the organization-led model (what most teams use), an organizer recruits community fundraisers. Each fundraiser shares their own personal month calendar. Donors claim open days — Day 7 is $7 or more, Day 22 is $22 or more — and those personal calendars roll up into one campaign total.
This FAQ answers how the model works, what face-value planning numbers mean (including the correct 30-day = $465 triangular sum), how fee models differ across platforms, who does what, and how to get started. For live plan numbers, always check Pricing. To model outcomes with your own participant count and fill rate, use the Calculator. Comparing tools? See Compare and Best calendar fundraiser platforms 2026.
- Face value (31-day)
- $496
- Face value (30-day)
- $465
- Shorter months
- $435 / $406
- Fees (verify)
- 3% / 2% / 0%
What is a MonthFund calendar fundraiser?
MonthFund is calendar software for people-powered fundraising. Organizations invite community fundraisers to each share their own personal month calendar. Donors claim open days on a fundraiser's calendar (Day N = $N or more). Many personal calendars combine into one campaign total. A fully claimed 31-day calendar has a face value of $496 (sum of 1 through 31); a 30-day calendar has a face value of $465. Those are planning baselines, not guaranteed raises. Also called a pick-a-date, pick-a-day, or donate-a-day calendar fundraiser. Individuals can also run one personal calendar for a personal purpose.
Calendar face-value formula
For an n-day month at Day N = $N, face value = n(n+1)/2. So 31 → $496, 30 → $465, 29 → $435, 28 → $406. Some guides list $466 for 30 days; that is incorrect — the triangular sum is $465. Treat face value as a planning baseline; model fill rate on the Calculator.
Model & Definitions
9 questionsMonthFund is free-to-launch calendar fundraiser software for people-powered fundraising. The same idea is often searched as a pick-a-date, pick-a-day, donate-a-day, or calendar fundraiser. In the organization-led model, an organizer launches a campaign and invites community fundraisers. Each fundraiser gets and shares their own personal month calendar. Donors claim open days on that fundraiser's calendar (Day 7 = $7 or more, Day 22 = $22 or more). Personal calendars combine into one campaign total. Progress is visible so empty days stay obvious. Individuals can also run a single personal calendar without an organization.
Three roles: (1) Organizer sets up the campaign, invites fundraisers, and monitors roll-up progress; (2) Community fundraisers each own a full personal month calendar and share their personal link; (3) Donors claim open days and give the day's amount or more. It is not one shared calendar everyone edits, and it is not "each participant claims one day" as the whole model. Many personal calendars → one campaign total.
No. Paper templates (printed grids, photo shares, clipboard sign-ups) are a classic starting point, but they stall when photos go stale, two donors "take" the same day in different threads, or Venmo reconciliation lives in one spreadsheet. MonthFund is digital multi-fundraiser calendar software: each fundraiser has a live personal calendar, donors claim days when payment clears, and the organization sees a combined campaign total. You can still print a per-fundraiser grid for a transition week — then move confirmed gifts to the digital calendar the same day. For ops detail, see Paper vs digital pick-a-date. For the full model, see the pillar.
Catalog and product sales usually need inventory, shipping, and vendor splits. A calendar fundraiser is digital: fundraisers share personal calendar links; donors claim days online. There is no unsold inventory and no door-to-door product logistics. For format comparisons, see how calendar fundraisers compare to other formats.
MonthFund is built to complement events, not replace them. Galas concentrate energy on one night; a calendar campaign spreads participation across weeks and can warm up a community before event day. Many teams run a MonthFund month leading into a 5K, walkathon, or gala.
Typical peer-to-peer often uses a generic donation link and a soft personal goal. MonthFund adds structured personal calendars: each fundraiser owns a full month grid with day-numbered asks, and donors claim specific days. Visibility of open days makes mid-campaign nudges clearer for volunteer-led teams.
A calendar is a visual scoreboard. Empty days and gaps are easy to see. Each day is a discrete ask (Day N ≈ $N), which is often easier for donors than an open-ended "give what you can" button. The structure also repeats month to month.
Yes. A personal account gives one person their own calendar page: pick a month and goal, connect Stripe, and share the link. Donors claim days; payouts go to that person's connected account. Personal accounts have no monthly subscription and a flat 5% platform fee per donation (verify on Pricing and For Individuals). You can convert to an organization workspace later and keep campaign history.
No. 501(c)(3) status is not required. Schools and PTAs, faith communities, sports teams, grassroots groups, mutual aid networks, cultural institutions, and advocacy groups use the same model when they have people willing to share personal calendars.
Math & Outcomes
6 questionsA fully claimed 31-day personal calendar has a face value of $496 (the sum of 1 through 31, or n(n+1)/2 with n = 31). That is a planning baseline / face-value scenario, not a guaranteed raise. Donors may give more than the day amount (upside, not in the base model). Shorter months: 30-day $465, 29-day $435, 28-day $406 face value. Note: some guides list $466 for a 30-day calendar; the correct triangular sum of 1 through 30 is $465. Actual totals depend on which days are funded, extras, fees, refunds, and participation. Model your scenario on the Calculator.
A simple planning formula is: estimate ≈ faceValue × number of fundraiser calendars × fill rate. Example (modeled, not promised): 25 fundraisers × $496 × 80% fill ≈ $9,920. Over-gifts above day face amounts are excluded from this base. Always treat the result as a modeled estimate. Use the Calculator to adjust inputs.
Yes. MonthFund configures the grid to the selected month's length. Face-value planning baselines: 28-day $406, 29-day $435, 30-day $465, 31-day $496. Many organizations prefer 31-day months for the higher face-value unit, but the structure works the same.
Scale by recruiting more fundraisers (each adds another personal calendar — Multi-Calendar Stacking), adding a verified sponsor match with written terms, and treating gifts above day face amounts as optional upside. See How to scale a calendar fundraiser and model stacks on the Calculator.
Donations already collected still process and disburse according to your collection path. A partially filled calendar still contributes whatever days were funded. Organizers can see who is behind in real time. Plans include automated onboarding reminders to help fundraisers stay on track. Many campaigns land in a ~70–85% fill-rate range in practice — that is why estimates use a fill-rate assumption rather than perfect fill.
Yes. Organizations can run a recurring calendar pattern where a donor who claims the 15th may commit to giving $15 each month. A fully claimed recurring face-value calendar modeled across twelve completed billing cycles is $5,952 annual face value per fundraiser calendar before fees, failed payments, pauses, cancellations, or refunds — a modeled scenario, not a guarantee. See your recurring calendar guide if live.
Roles & Participation
4 questionsCommunity fundraisers are volunteers, members, students, parents, or neighbors recruited by the organizer. Each person: (1) accepts an invite, (2) receives their own personal month calendar, (3) shares their personal link with friends and family, and (4) tracks progress in a mobile-friendly dashboard. Donors — not the fundraiser alone — claim open days on that calendar.
No. Fundraisers recruit donors from their networks. Whether a fundraiser also gives personally is optional and depends on your culture. The model works either way.
For a first campaign, many teams aim for about 15–30 active fundraisers. Below ~15, momentum can feel thin; above ~30 on a first run, coordination gets heavier before you have rhythm. Experienced teams often run 30–50. Each additional fundraiser adds another personal calendar with up to $496 face value at full claim — a planning unit, not a promise.
No. Donors use a public campaign or fundraiser page and can give without registering. Only organizers and fundraisers need accounts.
Fees, Collection & Plans
8 questionsMonthFund is free to launch on Community. A transparent infrastructure fee is added at checkout: 3% Community, 2% Professional ($49/mo), 0% Network ($199/mo). Donors can cover it in one click so the organization can receive the intended gift. Stripe processing is separate (commonly ~2.9% + $0.30, or ~2.2% + $0.30 for many nonprofits). Personal accounts: no monthly subscription, 5% platform fee. Verify live numbers on Pricing.
Fee stories in this category usually fall into a few patterns (always verify on each vendor's site — numbers change): (1) Transparent infrastructure % (MonthFund) — published plan fees; donors can cover the fee; path to lower % on Professional/Network; Stripe separate. See Pricing. (2) Optional tip / "0% platform fee" models — the platform may rely on donor tips; confirm what is optional vs required. (3) Subscription or capacity tiers + donor service fee — organizer may keep 100% of calendar-day dollars while donors pay a checkout service fee and/or the organizer pays for higher calendar capacity; confirm current tiers and Terms. (4) Higher add-on % on a digital calendar product — some youth-sports or add-on tools publish a higher platform cut; confirm on their pricing page. There is no single "best" for every team. If you want side-by-side framing, use Compare and Best calendar fundraiser platforms 2026. MonthFund's fit is purpose-built multi-fundraiser calendars with published fees you can explain to a board.
Community is free with no time limit and no credit card required to start. Typical limits include 2 active campaigns, up to 50 active participants, 2 org admins, public campaign page, live progress, full campaign report, donation CSV, bulk/segment email, automated reminders, and campaign templates. Professional and Network unlock lower infrastructure fees, higher limits, and more reporting. Confirm details on Pricing.
With Stripe Connect connected, donations charge on your Stripe account and pay out on Stripe's schedule. Eligible organization workspaces may use an interim collection path (MonthFund as limited payment agent) before Connect is finished; those gifts stay held until Connect and payouts are ready. Personal fundraisers connect their own Stripe account before accepting gifts. See Help Center for current collection options.
Converting moves pricing from the personal 5% platform fee toward the organization plan's infrastructure fee (Community 3% at verify date). Campaign history, donor records, and connected Stripe remain linked. Confirm current fees on Pricing.
There is no formal nonprofit pricing program stated on the pricing page today. Contact MonthFund directly; early-cohort and qualifying organizers are sometimes worked with case by case.
Your data remains yours to export while you have access. Community can export standard donation CSV; accounting layouts are on paid plans. After cancellation, expect a read-only window before deletion — export what you need while active. MonthFund does not sell your data to third parties.
Yes. Community (free) includes two active campaigns at a time, so you can overlap a wrap-up month with your next launch. Professional and Network remove the ceiling entirely — run as many live campaigns as you need across different programs, teams, or months, each with its own calendar grid and participant roster. See Pricing for a full plan comparison.
Setup & Sharing
4 questionsCreate an organization workspace, review month/goal/title/story/cover, then invite community fundraisers by name and email. Each person gets a personal setup link and their own calendar. You can prepare and share while Stripe Connect is unfinished. To accept gifts, use connected Stripe or an eligible interim collection option in Settings if shown. Step-by-step: How It Works.
Each fundraiser's dashboard includes a Share Toolkit: personal link, one-tap share, QR code, copy-paste message templates, and social graphics. They can thank donors from the dashboard. No separate design tools required for a basic ask.
No. MonthFund is browser-based on phone, tablet, or desktop. Invitations arrive by email with a direct dashboard link.
Organizations can add name, logo, and cover on the public hub. Professional and Network support custom domains and unlimited concurrent campaigns (Community: 2 active). Paid plans add cross-campaign reporting and org units for chapters/classrooms. See Pricing.
Who It's For & Getting Started
5 questionsThe model scales from a first campaign with roughly 15 engaged fundraisers to large institutions running many concurrent campaigns. The practical floor is enough people to share personal calendars and make real asks — not a hard product limit. Self-serve launch on Community means you do not wait on a done-for-you agency timeline to start.
Use a tiered approach: classrooms, teams, or chapters each run stacks of personal calendars under the org. Example modeled face-value scenario (not a promise): 30 classrooms × $465 (30-day) face value at full claim ≈ $13,950 before fill rate, fees, and extras. Professional/Network support unlimited simultaneous campaigns. Model on the Calculator.
Match the tool to how you actually run the campaign: (1) Do you need many personal calendars rolling into one org total, or a single shared grid? (2) Do you want published infrastructure fees you can explain to a board, an optional-tip model, or a donor service-fee / capacity-tier story? (3) Do you prefer self-serve software or a done-for-you agency? (4) Do you need a live calculator and repeatable monthly campaigns? MonthFund is built for multi-fundraiser calendar software with free Community launch and transparent fees — verify details on Pricing. For honest side-by-sides, see Compare and Best calendar fundraiser platforms 2026. Always verify competitor fees and features on their sites.
Organization path: start free — no credit card required to begin. Solo path: start a personal page (For Individuals). Prefer a setup conversation? Contact MonthFund. For product how-tos, use the Help Center.
MonthFund is an established digital fundraising platform built to scale the proven calendar fundraising model. By replacing paper calendar kits with real-time digital tracking, automated donor receipts, and mobile payment processing, we help organizations run reliable, modern campaigns. The math is straightforward: $1 through $31 sums to $496 per participant. The platform makes that model repeatable, trackable, and scalable. Contact us if you have questions before getting started.
Need a clear next step?
Start free with no credit card required, visit the Help Center for product how-tos, or compare calendar fundraiser platforms side-by-side.