Running a grassroots email fundraising program that can fuel your work is a smart investment that anyone — even teams of one — can and should make. Litmus reports that 90% of people check their personal email at work, and almost one in four people peek at their inbox before they even get out of bed. Given these statistics, it’s not surprising that the vast majority of money raised online today comes from emails!
A small-dollar email program is a seriously impactful fundraising and organizing strategy. You can raise more money for the long term and deeply engage your supporters! Starting a people-powered program is straightforward, too. All you need are these five core parts.
![[Title] Five must-haves for beginners running an email fundraising program 1. The right tools Choose tools that let donors securely save their data and that your team finds easy to use! 2. An email list Invest early and often in building a list of supporters who want to be a part of your work. 3. Good emails Writing good emails is key. Show your supporters how their donations drive change with an urgent and timely ask, and follow up with non-fundraising emails to keep folks engaged! 4. A quick approval process Develop this formula for foolproof emails: 2 or 3 people who sign off at least 1 day before you hit send. 5. Eyes on long-term success Want to build a smarter budget, raise more money over time, and build better relationships? Ask for recurring donations early and often! [ActBlue logo] [ActBlue description] A nonprofit fundraising platform for small-dollar donors and the candidates and causes they support.](https://actblue-img.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/Blog/InfographicEmailBlog/3-AB-Infographic-Beginners+Guide+to+Email-unlinked-1.31.19.png)
Five must-haves for beginners running an email fundraising program
1. The right tools: Choose tools that let donors securely save their data and that your team finds easy to use!
2. An email list: Invest early and often in building a list of supporters who want to be a part of your work.
3. Good emails: Writing good emails is key. Show your supporters how their donations drive change with an urgent and timely ask, and follow up with non-fundraising emails to keep folks engaged!
4. A quick approval process: Develop this formula for foolproof emails: 2 or 3 people who sign off at least 1 day before you hit send.
5. Eyes on long-term success: Want to build a smarter budget, raise more money over time, and build better relationships? Ask for recurring donations early and often!
