Donor stewardship is a fundraising practice that is essential to relationship building. By thanking and educating donors about their impact, we can help them see how their gift was valuable and (hopefully) retain them for years to come. When it comes to putting together effective donor stewardship materials, high-quality content is essential. And one of the best types of content to use is stories. Stories have a natural way of showing donors the real-life impacts of their support in an ... continue reading...
Learn From This Fundraising Story Example
Nothing kicks up the power of a fundraising appeal quite like a great story. A story has the power to emotionally connect with your audience and illustrate impact in action. It naturally builds a strong case for support in the process. And one of the best ways to grow your skills as a writer and a storyteller is to look at fundraising story examples and learn from them.One of the fundraising stories that I’ve written that is a personal favorite of mine is an email I wrote for the YMCA of ... continue reading...
4 Elements of a Great Email Fundraising Campaign
The landscape of email fundraising is ever-evolving, but the elements that make for a great campaign remain steadfast. In analyzing dozens of email fundraising campaigns we’ve run for clients, there are clear throughlines that contributed to the campaigns’ successes. One campaign that we ran for BC Women’s Health Foundation demonstrates the power of careful planning and strategic execution. The campaign, which aimed to raise $10,000, not only met but exceeded its goal, showcasing the ... continue reading...
How User-Reported Spam Rates Impact Email Deliverability for Non-Profit Fundraising
As of June 1, 2024, Google is implementing new regulations that significantly impact bulk email senders. These changes are designed to enhance user experience by reducing spam and improving email security. One of the critical aspects of these changes is the emphasis on maintaining low user-reported spam rates. Specifically, senders should keep their spam rate below 0.1% and should prevent spam rates from ever reaching 0.3% or higher. Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant and why ... continue reading...
Using A Personalized, Segmented Approach To Storytelling To Raise More Money
When non-profits undertake fundraising campaigns, segmentation is often involved for the gift array in the ask. But further customizations based on the segmentation are often little to none. It made me curious about whether we could help a client see a lift in giving by segmenting storytelling content in email appeals.In most cases, non-profits approach storytelling as a one-size-fits-all approach. Meaning, a story is developed and then it’s shared as broadly as possible with audiences. The case ... continue reading...