Ready-to-Use Templates
Copy these templates and customize them for your needs. Each includes HTML and plain text versions.
Thank you, {{firstName}} — your {{donationAmount}} gift is making a difference
Your donation has been received. Here's your receipt and a look at the impact you're making.
{{firstName}}, here's what your support accomplished this {{quarter}}
Because of donors like you, here's what we achieved. Real numbers, real stories, real impact.
We need your help — {{volunteerCount}} volunteers needed for {{eventName}}
Make a hands-on difference. Here's how you can volunteer and what to expect.
Double your impact before December 31 — {{matchMultiplier}} matching gift
Every dollar you give before midnight December 31 will be matched. Here's how your gift multiplies.
Best Practices
Send donation receipts immediately — donors need them for tax records and it confirms their gift was received
Share specific, quantifiable impact (e.g., '847 meals served') rather than vague statements
Include a personal story in every impact update to connect donors emotionally to your mission
Use matching gift challenges during year-end campaigns to double the urgency and incentive
Always provide alternative ways to help (volunteer, share, donate) in every email
Common Mistakes
Only emailing donors when you need money, creating a transactional rather than relational dynamic
Sending impact updates with vague language like 'we helped many people' instead of specific numbers
Forgetting to include tax-deductible information in donation receipts
Starting year-end campaigns too late — begin in early November, not mid-December
Sending the same generic appeal to first-time donors and long-term supporters
Subject Line Examples
Timing & Performance
Personalization Tips
Nonprofit email marketing succeeds when it focuses on connection, not asks. Donors who feel connected to your mission through regular impact updates give more, give longer, and recruit others. The organizations that communicate consistently between donation requests build the kind of donor loyalty that sustains programs for years.
Tax receipts and impact updates serve double duty: they fulfill a legal requirement while building an emotional connection. When a donor receives an immediate receipt followed by a quarterly update showing exactly what their money accomplished, they feel confident their contribution matters.
Year-end giving represents nearly a third of annual nonprofit revenue, and email is the primary driver. A well-crafted sequence starting in November with matching gift challenges, specific impact examples, and a clear deadline creates the urgency and motivation that turns supporters into donors before the calendar turns.
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