Email collection strategies for nonprofits
The writing is on the wall; what's your plan?
🚨 The digital shift is here. Ignore it at your own risk. 🚨
Meta is rolling back DEI efforts. TikTok might get banned. Twitter (sorry, X) is in right-wing chaos.
The writing is on the wall.
Social media is becoming a less reliable tool for nonprofits.
For years, we built communities on platforms we don’t own. But these platforms were never designed for us. They were built to serve algorithms.
I don’t think your ability to reach your community should be at the mercy of a billionaire’s algorithm.
So..... what’s the solution? Easy: Own your audience.
That means actively collecting contact information—emails and phone numbers—so you can engage with your community without relying on social media.
10 ways to get started (today, not tomorrow)
Online petitions – Require an email or phone number to sign.
Service user follow-ups – When appropriate, invite those you serve to become engaged supporters.
Email signatures – Every email from your team should include a sign-up link.
Post-service surveys – Collect feedback and contact info at the same time.
Run an online 50/50 raffle – Incentivize sign-ups with a win-win fundraiser.
QR codes everywhere – Make it easy for people to opt in at events, in print, and even on social (but make it make sense, don’t share QR codes on Instagram – people are on their phone and can’t use their phone to scan the code).
Interactive website features – Use quizzes, assessments, or gated resources. Here is an example.
Leverage social while you can – Drive followers to exclusive content via email.
Event & workshop sign-ups – Collect emails and phone numbers before they attend. Collect them for each attendee, not just those that buy tables.
Text-to-join campaigns – “Text JOIN to 55555” is simple, effective, and fast.
The list goes on, but the point is simple:
If you’re relying too much on social media, you’re playing a dangerous game.
Start building your list—before it’s too late.
