Because you may only have a short time to get in touch with potential supporters, email or social media may be a tremendous tool to utilize for communication. In addition to writing letters, send out emails or Facebook notes or messages. Here are some suggestions for utilizing email and social media effectively. (See samples in Appendix 6.)
- Use Email and Social Media to Update Your Supporters. Try to send a generic message to all your supporters immediately before you leave the program, once during the program (if permitted by your director), and immediately after you return. When sending the mass email, try to hide the address list (use “bcc”).
- Use Email and Social Media to Follow-Up Your Presentations. Send an email or a message to follow up with individuals from your presentations to large groups of people (i.e. churches). Often, they may remember your presentation, but just forgot to send in a financial gift.
- Use Email and Social Media to Set Up Face-to-Face appointments. Email or message small groups of prospective supporters together to set-up a group meal or a group presentation. Be up front in your message about the purpose of the meeting. If you’re going to ask for financial support, say so.
- Use Email and Social Media to Get the Word Out. Personalize a short email or Facebook message to the individual, and then attach or copy and paste your detailed prayer letter (a PDF is preferable). Save deeper level conversations for face-to-face meetings, phone calls, or future emails or messages.
- Email Needs to be Organized. Keep your address list updated. Copy yourself on all fundraising-related messages. Create an email folder titled “Fundraising” to hold messages from supporters and your own messages.
- Email and Social Media communication should be efficient for the reader. Keep messages short. Personal messages should fit on one screen. Mass emails or messages should be at most, one printed page.
