Email marketing for non-profits: Raising awareness and funds

Non-profit organizations face a unique challenge: making a meaningful impact on a limited budget. While your mission might be priceless, your marketing resources likely are not. That’s where email marketing comes in—an accessible, measurable, and cost-effective way to stay connected with supporters and drive your cause forward.

At DailyStory, we work with a wide range of mission-driven organizations to help them build powerful, results-driven campaigns. Whether you’re trying to reach new donors, inspire existing supporters, or boost attendance for an upcoming event, email marketing is a strategic cornerstone for any non-profit marketing plan.

In the following, we’ll break down how non-profits can use email marketing to raise awareness, engage donors, and increase fundraising—plus how DailyStory makes it easier and more effective.

Why email marketing works for non-profits

Email marketing continues to deliver one of the highest returns on investment across all industries, and that includes the non-profit sector. According to industry reports, for every $1 spent on email marketing, organizations can expect an average return of $36.

Why is email so effective?

Direct and personal: You’re reaching people where they already spend time: their inbox.
Cost-efficient: No printing costs, postage fees, or expensive media buys.
Highly measurable: Real-time reporting lets you optimize for better engagement.
Great for storytelling: Emails are the perfect canvas for compelling narratives that inspire action.

Whether you’re a grassroots nonprofit or an established foundation, email marketing helps you build lasting relationships with donors, volunteers, and advocates.

Types of non-profit emails that make an impact

To truly connect with your audience, it’s important to send the right message at the right time. Here are some high-performing email types that non-profits can build into their strategy:

Welcome series

First impressions matter. A welcome email series sets the tone for your relationship with new supporters. Use it to:

Introduce your mission
Share how donors make a difference
Offer easy ways to get involved (such as volunteering or recurring donations)

Impact updates

Regular updates keep your supporters engaged and informed. These could include:

Milestones you’ve achieved
Stories from the people or communities you serve
Before-and-after results from past campaigns

Donors want to see their contributions in action—impact emails give them that visibility.

Fundraising appeals

Clear, emotionally resonant appeals can drive action. A successful fundraising email includes:

A strong, specific ask
A sense of urgency (such as a matching gift deadline)
A frictionless donation experience (mobile-friendly forms, suggested gift amounts)

Event invitations

Planning a gala, community cleanup, or virtual town hall? Email is a direct line to your most invested audience.

With DailyStory, you can easily automate RSVPs, reminders, and follow-ups.

Thank you messages

Gratitude builds loyalty. Send prompt, personalized thank-you emails after every donation, event, or volunteer sign-up.

Bonus: Use personalized fields to address donors by name and reference their specific gift or action.

How to build an effective non-profit email marketing strategy

Define your audience segments

Not all supporters are the same—so why send everyone the same message? Segmenting your audience ensures each recipient gets emails tailored to their interests, behaviors, or giving history.

Some examples include:

First-time vs. recurring donors
Volunteers vs. donors
Past event attendees
Lapsed donors

With DailyStory, segmentation is intuitive and scalable, letting you target with precision.

Craft compelling content

Good email marketing for non-profits strikes a balance between heart and clarity. Focus on:

Storytelling: Feature real people, real impact.
Clarity: Make the ask simple and direct.
Visuals: Include images or video clips that humanize your mission.
CTA: Include a clear, prominent call to action (such as “Donate Now,” “Read Their Story”).

Personalize where possible

Personalization goes beyond “Hi [First Name].” DailyStory allows you to:

Reference past gifts or participation
Recommend future actions based on behavior
Celebrate anniversaries or birthdays

This makes your emails feel less like a broadcast and more like a conversation.

Optimize for mobile

A majority of your emails will be opened on a mobile device. Ensure your email templates are responsive and that buttons are easy to click.

DailyStory’s drag-and-drop builder includes mobile previews, so you never have to guess.

Track, test, and improve

Use A/B testing to experiment with:

Subject lines
Send times
Image placements
Button text

With DailyStory’s real-time analytics, you can monitor open rates, click-throughs, conversions, and unsubscribes—all in one dashboard.

Leveraging DailyStory for non-profit success

DailyStory’s marketing automation platform is designed to help non-profits do more with less.

Here’s how we help organizations succeed:

Built-in automation: Send personalized welcome journeys, thank-you sequences, and donation follow-ups automatically—saving you time and improving consistency.
Segmentation made simple: Target supporters by behavior, location, donation history, or engagement level with just a few clicks.
Integrations that work: DailyStory integrates with CRM systems, donor databases, and event platforms to streamline your workflow. No coding required.
Branded, mobile-optimized templates: Our customizable email templates ensure your organization looks professional on any device—without the need for design expertise.
Real-time analytics: Understand what’s working and what’s not. See who opens your emails, which calls to action perform best, and which campaigns drive real donations.