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Helping nonprofits succeed online. March 2007
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NEW! Online Fundraising Database Tips

Due to the high interest in our new Salesforce Training Series, we're beginning an email service that regularly delivers tips and tricks for implementing and managing online fundraising right to your inbox.

If you would like to receive these tips and tricks, please sign up today.

Tips for SPAM-free Email Campaigns
Email is a wonderful way to develop relationships with supporters and send updates on the latest happenings from within your organization. Gathering email addresses and effective messaging in your campaign is only part of the picture when sending mass communications. Laws regarding SPAM and privacy have made it more challenging for marketing professionals to reach their intended audience. The following are some essential tips to ensure that your emails reach as many supporters as possible and keep you "white-listed".
  • Send email only to those who have given you permission (affirmative consent)
    Your safest bet in reaching a large audience is to have a double-opt in: ask and then re-ask for their desire to be added to your list by sending them a confirmation email. Document the opt-in, especially off-line requests.

  • Be rigorous about unsubscribing (opt-out)
    Give email subscribers the option to unsubscribe in every email - and make this process easy. CAN-SPAM compliance laws require that unsubscribers be removed within 10 days of an unsubscribe request.

  • Always include your postal address in your email footer (a CAN-SPAM law)

  • Remind the recipient of your relationship to them
    Keep the content of your messaging relevant to the subject matter that they are interested in. Be sure to include your organization's information and branding on such pages.

  • Do not rent email address lists or harvest email addresses
    Purchasing lists is only going to result in a large batch of unwanted subscribers. A good bet in handling such lists is to again - ask permission to receive emails from your organization.

  • Data Hygiene: Clean and Organize Your Lists
    Keeping a clean list helps minimize confusion and managing of opt-outs. Match your email list to your donor database list. Be sure to include a database field that indicates "Do not Email" that you can associate with your supporters. Get rid of bounced emails from database list and eliminate 'role-based emails' as they trigger bounces and SPAM accusations (i.e. info@nonprofit.org).

  • Create an email address privacy policy
    For an example you can check out Groundspring's privacy policy.

  • Do not email excessively.
    Let your subscribers know the frequency of your newsletters before they register.

  • Use succinct "Subject Lines"
    Avoid excessive punctuation or capitalization. Steer clear of leading questions or sensational language

  • Use Descriptive "From" so that receiver is confident about the identity of the email sender.

  • Ask subscribers to put your "From" email address in their address books (AOL, Earthlink).

  • Check that your email vendor has a strict spam policy and a good reputation with ISPs
Resources on anti-SPAM Laws and effective email campaigns
Six Steps to Better Email Outreach
Excerpt from "Raising Thousands of Dollars with Email"
Marketing Sherpa
Click Z - Permission & Privacy
SPAM Laws
10 Reasons to Attend the Nonprofit Technology Conference
Join the Network for Good team for the annual Nonprofit Technology Conference held April 4-6 in Washington, DC.

Networking & Fun: More than 1,000 people will come together at this year's Nonprofit Technology Conference to connect with colleagues, learn about the issues, share their knowledge with others, and, of course, have fun.

Breakout Sessions: We have more than 70 breakout sessions planned on the most important technology issues today. Topics are segmented for communications, fundraising, program, leadership and IT staff members.

Science Fair: The Science Fair is an opportunity for companies and organizations that provide technology services to the nonprofit sector to show off their latest and greatest offerings to everyone attending the Nonprofit Technology Conference. This marketplace of ideas is filled with simultaneous presentations and hands-on demos you won't want to miss. Stop by the Network for Good booth to demo our Custom DonateNow integration with Salesforce.

Movie Night: The evening starts by showing the finalist entries in the NTC Video Contest followed with a screening of Hacking Democracy, a documentary that looks at electronic voting and the future of democracy in the United States. After the movie you can join in for a Q&A session about the movie and the issue of electronic voting.

Day of Service: Local nonprofits with a technology project that can be addressed in a single day are matched with teams of nonprofit techies who possess the appropriate skill sets.

Speakers & Presentations: Listen to plenary speakers - David Weinberger and Melissa Flournoy, PhD. Attend presentations with experts across the sector, including Network for Good's Bill Strathmann and Katya Andresen.

Geek Out: GeekOut sessions will bring together the hard core-techies who are looking to build new nonprofit tools, and make old tools better. So if you've been looking to integrate RSS feeds and Drupal, or want to build a new application for your Salesforce database, these sessions are for you.

Innovation Plaza: On Thursday and Friday the best projects, tools, and services from across the sector will be showcased in the Innovation Plaza.

Affinity Groups: Join a group of like-minded individuals who share a common interest or identity. An Affinity Group could be for nonprofit webmasters, people who work with the homeless, or people who are interested in blogging.

Salesforce.com Foundation After Party: Make the most of your time in DC with a special outing to a Capitol landmark. Live entertainment, food and drink will keep you entertained. Attendance is limited, so be sure to buy your ticket early!

Visit the NTEN website to Register Today!

Featured Customer: YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati seeks to be the partner of choice for children, adults, families, and communities in the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area to achieve abundantly healthy lives. One of largest YMCAs in America, Cincinnati YMCAs serve over 125,000 members. Seeking cost-effective ways to communicate with members and process online donations, the YMCA chose EmailNow and DonateNow.

"Deploying EmailNow for our new YMail strategy was painless for our multiple branch system," said Rebecca Kelley, Executive Director for Community Services. "Members sign up for a variety of YMail options or read the archive at our myy.org website. We've learned from detailed YMail reports that many members click on our employment link and the upcoming events page, which enabled us to enhance our messaging in places we didn't necessarily expect." A client since 2004, the YMCA's members and partners frequently express their appreciation for the regular pattern of communication via EmailNow.

Incorporating Charity Badges Into Your Website
Haven't created a charity badge for your organization yet? See an example of how you can incorporate both a badge and Custom DonateNow link into your charity's giving page. http://www.craigslistfoundation.org/index.php?page=Donate

Encourage your supporters to help you generate more donations by using your badge or creating their own featuring your organization. The top 6 charity badges generating the most donations through March 31st are eligible to win a matching grant worth up to $10,000 from Kevin Bacon!

To sign up for your Charity Badge, go to:
https://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/PcaLandingPage.aspx