Building a Non-Profit Email List

How are you supposed to send emails if you don’t have anyone to send emails to? Building a strong and engaged email list is crucial for the success of non-profits. There are a multitude of methods to gain your members’ emails from social media to sign-up forms to in-person attendance. It does not have to be overly intricate or detailed; a simple space to write a name and email address is all it takes in the grand scheme of things. Don’t be intimidated or shy away from asking people for their information, but make sure to do it correctly.

Enticing Users

While there will be some people who are more than eager to give you all of their information and firstborn child, there will always be those that scowl when they see a fill-in-your-information section on a website. Gaining your members’ attention is the first step to building your email list. Promoting your newsletters and emails will expose your members and introduce the information to them if they had not been aware prior. Offering incentives such as exclusive content, early access to updates, or special event invitations in your emails can make people more interested in signing-up. It’s all about creating a want. Your members should want to sign-up to your email subscription.

Strategies

• Ensure that strategies are mobile friendly
• Social media
• Website sign-up forms
• Sign-ups at in-person events
• Referrals from current subscribers
• Requirement for donors/volunteers/members
• Google ads

Keep An Eye Out

Mass communication in organizations has changed drastically in the past decades due to the rise of the internet, and user safety regulations have risen, too. Remember to always obtain explicit consent, comply with data protection regulations, and clearly communicate how often subscribers can expect to hear from you. Make sure to include an opt-out unsubscribe option and inform subscribers about potential spam or scam emails to avoid.

 

Building a high-quality, engaged email list takes time, but the relationships you form will be valuable for the long-term success of your non-profit.