12-month sponsorships: renewing or continuing monthly
A 12-month sponsorship is one payment that covers a year, and it never renews on its own. In the last 30 days, your card lets you renew for another year or continue monthly, and Creatures emails you a reminder.
Find your 12-month sponsorship
Go to Dashboard > Sponsorships > Animals I sponsor. A 12-month card reads 12 months · ends and the end date. A one-time payment you made as a supporter (someone who gives without taking a place in the circle) shows the same way. If someone gave you the sponsorship, it reads Gift from their name and the end date, and you can renew it yourself.
Renew or continue
Within 30 days of the end date, two buttons appear on the card:
- Renew for 12 months: one more payment covers another year. The year is added to your current end date, so you don't lose any days. Stewards, who hold a paid place in the animal's circle, pay the same price they pay now.
- Continue monthly: nothing is charged until your year ends. Then you pay each month at the same price and keep your place. This button shows only while at least 3 days are left.
Supporters see Give again instead of Renew for 12 months. The amount starts at what you gave last time, and you can change it.
To keep going:
- Select Continue monthly or Renew for 12 months on the card.
- The Keep sponsoring panel opens with your choice picked under Payment. You can switch it there.
- Read the service fee line under the choices.
- Select the blue button, such as Continue monthly · $50 a month from November 4, 2026, and finish on Stripe's secure checkout page.
Your name on the animal's profile stays as it is when you renew, so the panel doesn't ask for it. To change it, use Name on profile on your card.
The reminder email offers the same two choices. Each button opens this same panel with that choice already picked, so Continue monthly in the email opens with Continue monthly chosen.
What happens next
After you renew, the card shows your new end date.
After you choose Continue monthly, you'll see a message that you're set to continue monthly and nothing is charged until then. The card reads 12 months · continues monthly from the date. When the year ends, it becomes a regular monthly sponsorship, which you can stop any time. See Managing an animal you sponsor.
Change your mind about continuing
Select Cancel monthly continuation, then Stop it. Your 12 months still run to the end date, and nothing more is charged. Keep it closes the box with no change.
Leave early
Select Leave now on the card, then Leave now again to confirm. Select Stay to back out.
Leaving takes effect right away. A steward's place opens for someone else, and a planned monthly continuation is cancelled too. Your payment still goes to the animal's care, and nothing is refunded.
If you do nothing
The sponsorship ends on its end date, and you aren't charged again. Creatures emails you that your year is complete, with a button to sponsor the animal again if you like. The card moves to History.
Related information
Updated on: 29/10/2026
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