Obtaining new email addresses

Natalie Bousquet

What is your favorite method for obtaining new email addresses for constituents? What have you found to be most reliable? TIA!

Chris Nungesser

Hi @Natalie Bousquet!

One thing we've done is create a monthly sustaining giving newsletter type program. So signing up for the program, the person creates a recurring/sustaining gift. They provide their email. Each month our communications/marketing team crafts an email newsletter with content specific to that program. It's not super long. Just a nice update or story about something going on in that program.

As a result, we have gotten a bunch of emails for people, but that was more of a side effect. This has been really successful beyond just creating a sustaining giving effort. The newsletters also tell stories each month of what is happening in that program. So donors are getting updates about the impact of their giving. And the stories are stories they would really want to hear. It's not fluff or trying to sell them anything. The newsletters keep the donors close and really act as a stewarding tool (we even use the newsletters to steward some of our major donors).

And this has been a great gateway tool into giving for many people who may just starting their philanthropic journey. It's slightly transactional because they're getting something in return. And the stories build the value for our work. Many of these folks become some of our most loyal supporters and can be great prospects for bigger asks (like planned gifts).

Chris ?

Natalie Bousquet

Great idea! I can see how that would be a good gateway