How do you make your supporters feel welcome, Reader? The moment a supporter opts into your email list is the warmest they'll be throughout most of their donor journey. How you greet them (or don't) matters for your mission. I've broken down why an email welcome sequence is one of the most important components of your nonprofit marketing strategy. Read the blog post here! Stay kind, -Amanda Last chance for 25% Kit! I've mentioned this the past couple of weeks, but if you're using Mailchimp...

We'll invest in marketing when we have a few extra dollars. Sound familiar, Reader? Somewhere along the way, there became a narrative within the nonprofit sector that you can't take up space. That nonprofits "don't have" or "don't deserve" the same digital presence as for-profit businesses. That you somehow have to "prove" your worth as an organization before posting or sending or hiring. Throw that BS mindset away. People won't know about your mission unless you tell them. That means taking...

Reader, I have major rainwater run-off issues that started creating foundational problems with my home. After many calls to the water department over the years, my husband and I have been left to our own devices to redirect the rainwater. We've tried many solutions that failed. Or worked at first, then miserably fell apart. So last weekend, my dad helped me create a dry river bed that runs along my driveway, waters the pollinator garden, and trickles down the hill - the runoff's forged path....

Raise your hand if you've ever said something like, "I don't want to add call-to-actions to my emails because I don't want to sound salesy." You know I won't judge you - but I will guide you to a better way to use your CTAs as a relationship builder. While you're probably not selling goods to your supporters, you do need to provide them with a way to immediately support you. That's the entire point of having a nonprofit, right?! That doesn't mean you have to ask for a donation at the end of...

You've enacted strategies to grow your email list, now what? I'll argue that the hardest part of your email list isn't the growth phase - it's keeping your audience engaged. Too often, email can feel like a "check" in the box, making your messaging generic or emotionless. When supporters read your emails, we want them to feel connected. That means you have to get them to open your emails in the first place. An email subject line that sparks curiosity can be the difference between a click to...

Hey Reader, In my email last week, I recounted conversations I had with other nonprofit leaders at one of Tennessee Nonprofit Network's events. These conversations were SO GOOD, I want to give you more insight from them. Last week, I mentioned what is working for other nonprofits and gave you some actionable tips. This week, let's jump into some data that can help guide your communications and fundraising for the rest of this year. ↓ The CEO of TNN and Kelly Walberg provided interesting...

Hey Reader, This week, I had the honor of leading one of the table discussions at the Tennessee Nonprofit Network's Immersion Series! I was invited to lead a discussion on Storytelling to Donors in Newsletters and Other Outreach Materials. I prepared an outline and discussion points, but the actual conversations with nonprofit leaders at each table were OFF the charts! 📈🔥 There were so many incredible people in one space, focused on sharpening their skills so they can apply what they learned...

False spring has struck Nashville! I’ve spent the last 2 days on my front porch, starting seeds and planting the garlic I stratified this winter. Even with more cold temperatures to come, I’m excited about the growth my garden will have over the next few months. Your email list is like a garden, Reader. (I love a good garden analogy 😆) Over the past 2 months, I’ve talked to you about re-engaging lapsed donors, improving your call-to-actions, and your overall email marketing strategy. Now...

We had a wildly successful EOY fundraiser, but I'm not sure what to do right now. How do I keep donors engaged, and what do I say to lapsed donors? 👆 A friend asked me this question recently. She just became a director in a nonprofit that is growing EXTREMELY fast, but she felt stuck. Her background is in corporate America, and she struggled to transfer her knowledge and skills into the nonprofit space. She knew what made good customers - but donors and volunteers? She started to panic. So we...