24. Fundraising - Emails and More

Emails/Internet and your fundraising

Email and Internet communication is becoming more common every day it seems. It is quite possible that donors and supporting companies and groups will contact your non-profit organization via email (assuming you advertise the email address of your non-profit group) in order to ask you questions about your fundraising efforts and to find out more about your group.

In general, email communication is similar to letter writing.  You will want to begin with a salutation, add a body of text, and close off with your name or a sign off of some sort.  However, online communication tends to be more casual and shorter.  A lot of people only skim their emails, so make sure your email contains the necessary information.  A simple "thank you" or "best wishes," is often adequate to close your email.  

Do remember that email and online communication is not completely safe.  You never know exactly who you are speaking to online or who else may be monitoring your transmission.  For this reason, you should not share personal information over online channels and never allow donors to pass on their credit card numbers, banking information, or other personal data in an email or instant message.  It is best to keep online communication general.  Offer the donor or person you are "chatting" with online some basic information and provide contact information (such as a telephone) for further contact of a more personal nature.

Now. computers are not just useful for emails, although it is a good way to keep all your volunteers in touch with your organization's plans ( it's much quicker to copy updates to all volunteers, than to have to phone everyone, even if you have a phone tree in place. ( A phone tree is where one person contacts say 5 others, and they in turn relay the information to another 5 people etc.) Computers can be used for so much more and their use in fundraising is covered in a later chapter in a lot more depth. You may choose to go there now to chapter 29 Fundraising - With Computers.

Next page: 25. Fundraising - Person to Person

Practical Fundraising Ebook - Table Of Contents

1. Fundraising - The Basics 
2. Fundraising - Terminology 
3. Fundraising - Money 
4. Fundraising - Where to Find Donors and How to Reach Them 
5. Fundraising - Targeting Your Donors 
6. Fundraising - Research 
7. Fundraising - Your Donors' Needs 
8. Fundraising - Ideas 
9. Fundraising - Donated Products 
10. Fundraising - Bought Products 
11. Fundraising - Marathons 
12. Fundraising - Lotteries, raffles and more 
13. Fundraising - Fairs, Auctions and Bazaars 
14. Fundraising - Fun Events 
15. Fundraising - Drives  
16. Fundraising - Services 
17. Fundraising - Tips for Choosing a Fundraising Idea 
18. Fundraising - Your Plan 
19. Fundraising - Your Team 
20. Fundraising - Staying Organized 
21. Fundraising - Communicating With Your Donors 
22. Fundraising - Advertising 
23. Fundraising - Letters 
24. Fundraising - Emails and more 
25. Fundraising - Person to Person 
26. Fundraising - Thank You Notes 
27. Fundraising - Grant Proposals 
28. Fundraising - Press Releases 
29. Fundraising - With Computers 
30. Fundraising - Secrets to Success 
31. Fundraising - Problems 
32. Fundraising - Conclusions