--- title: "Email 101: Getting Started with Fundraising Emails" description: Learn how to send the most effective fundraising emails to your donors on ActBlue. --- [Skip to content](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/articles/16870091766807-email-101-getting-started-with-fundraising-emails#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations ![ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hubfs/1-B-AB-HorizontalLockupLogo-FullColor-RGB.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) [Contact us](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [ActBlue Support Documentation](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us) 2. [Core ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue) 3. [Fundraising Strategy in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#fundraising-strategy-in-core) # Email 101: Getting Started with Fundraising Emails ### **Before you begin** An effective fundraising email tells a compelling story and drives readers to act. There are many rules of thumb – use a one-word subject line, add a big button, or keep your email short. However, the best digital programs write great emails to build relationships with their donors. ### **Structure: anatomy of an email** Every email is an opportunity to connect with supporters. Here’s a tried and true template to help your content resonate with donors in a competitive inbox.  1. **Subject Line:** captures the copy’s tone and emotion. If you have writer’s block (we’ve all been there), finish your email's body first. 2. **Hook:** introduces your moment – or the “why” of your email. A great hook is compelling and encourages your supporters to continue reading. 3. **Explainer:** a paragraph or two explaining why this moment is significant and how your supporter’s contribution can make a difference. 4. **Ask:** Ask your supporters to be part of the solution. Learn about horizontal messaging and treating your donors as peers to build meaningful relationships. You can even test different ask amounts to boost conversions. Utilize ActBlue Express Lane to make donating quick and seamless! 5. **Second Explainer and Ask:** Explain again from a slightly different angle how donor support is critical right now. Doing so allows you to speak more fully to your unique audience. 6. **Thank You:** Never forget to thank your supporters. They are what keep your campaign or organization running! 7. **Additional calls to action:** Give supporters who aren’t ready to donate just yet other opportunities to contribute by following your campaign or organization online, signing up for SMS, volunteering, or attending an event. Don’t forget mobile! In the 2022 election cycle, over 50% of contributions on ActBlue were made via a mobile device, so think mobile-first and test all emails on various mobile devices before sending. Shorter paragraphs lead to higher mobile conversion rates. Long paragraphs of text reduce email readability, especially on a mobile device. ### **Sending an email step-by-step** 1. **Messaging:** Designate at least one person to write fundraising drafts, and don’t forget to test. You may see a significant difference in donation rates between one email pitch and another. 2. **Audience:** There are many ways to segment audiences, including engagement, location, or donation history. Most email tools will have instructions on how to segment users based on your program’s goals. 3. **Testing:** Run full content or subject line tests and see what resonates with your audience. Read more about testing in Email 201. 4. **Proofing:** You should always proof before deploying. Design a proofing process with multiple checkpoints. 5. **Send:** When you feel confident, hit the send button and watch the donations come in on your ActBlue Dashboard! 6. **Rapid response:** Work out your rapid response plan in advance with a smaller sign-off team. Getting emails out the door quickly will allow you to capitalize on the moment. - [Donors & Grassroots Fundraisers](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#main-content) - [Donor Guides](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#donor-guides) - [Contributions](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#contributions) - [ActBlue Express Accounts](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#actblue-express-accounts) - [Raising Money for Campaigns and Organizations](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#raising-money-for-campaigns-and-organizations) - [About ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#about-actblue) - [Other](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/donors-grassroots-fundraisers#other) - [Core ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#main-content) - [Getting Started with Your Core Dashboard](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#getting-started-with-your-core-dashboard) - [Managing & Granting Access to Your Core Dashboard](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#managing-granting-access-to-your-core-dashboard) - [Creating & Managing Core Contribution Forms](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#creating-managing-core-contribution-forms) - [Managing Grassroots Fundraising for Core Donors](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#managing-grassroots-fundraising-for-core-donors) - [Working with Core Contribution Forms](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#working-with-core-contribution-forms) - [Core Contribution Form Features](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#core-contribution-form-features) - [Selling Tickets & Merchandise with Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#selling-tickets-merchandise-with-core) - [Refunding & Managing Core Contributions](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#refunding-managing-core-contributions) - [Reporting & Accessing Your Core Fundraising Data](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#reporting-accessing-your-core-fundraising-data) - [Signing In & Using 2FA in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#signing-in-using-2fa-in-core) - [Managing Your Merchant Account in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#managing-your-merchant-account-in-core) - [Activating & Managing Express Lane in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#activating-managing-express-lane-in-core) - [Fundraising Strategy in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#fundraising-strategy-in-core) - [Integrations & Analytics in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#integrations-analytics-in-core) - [Using Call Time in Core](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#using-call-time-in-core) - [Other Core FAQ](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/core-actblue#other-core-faq) - [Raise by ActBlue](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#main-content) - [Getting Started with Your Raise Dashboard](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#getting-started-with-your-raise-dashboard) - [Managing & Granting Access to Your Raise Dashboard](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#managing-granting-access-to-your-raise-dashboard) - [Creating & Managing Raise Fundraising Pages](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#creating-managing-raise-fundraising-pages) - [Reporting & Accessing Your Raise Fundraising Data](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#reporting-accessing-your-raise-fundraising-data) - [Managing Your Merchant Account in Raise](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#managing-your-merchant-account-in-raise) - [Managing Your Conduit Account In Raise](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#managing-your-conduit-account-in-raise) - [Raise FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/raise-by-actblue#raise-faqs) - [ActBlue Field Tools (formerly Impactive by ActBlue)](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#main-content) - [Getting Started](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#getting-started) - [Contacts](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#contacts) - [Users](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#users) - [Data and Integrations](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#data-and-integrations) - [Training Volunteers](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#training-volunteers) - [Texting (Peer-to-Peer, Broadcast, and Automated)](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#texting-peer-to-peer-broadcast-and-automated) - [Phone Banking](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#phone-banking) - [Friends and Family Messaging (Relational)](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#friends-and-family-messaging-relational) - [Canvassing](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#canvassing) - [Voter Registration](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#voter-registration) - [Forms](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#forms) - [Other Actions (Social Sharing, Open Webpage)](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#other-actions-social-sharing-open-webpage) - [Best Practices & Ideas](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#best-practices-ideas) - [Billing & Account Management FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#billing-account-management-faqs) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-field-tools-formerly-impactive-by-actblue#frequently-asked-questions) - [ActBlue Website Builder (formerly Hey Victor)](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/actblue-website-builder-formerly-hey-victor) - [Other FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs#main-content) - [Applying for a New Account FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs#applying-for-a-new-account-faqs) - [Sign In & 2FA FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs#sign-in-2fa-faqs) - [Post-Election FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs#post-election-faqs) - [ActBlue FAQs](https://help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/other-faqs#actblue-faqs) [![1-AB-TaglineLockup-Horizontal-Brand-5.20.25-02](https://help.actblue.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ActBlue%20Logos/1-AB-TaglineLockup-Horizontal-Brand-5.20.25-02.png?width=410&height=40&name=1-AB-TaglineLockup-Horizontal-Brand-5.20.25-02.png "1-AB-TaglineLockup-Horizontal-Brand-5.20.25-02")](https://secure.actblue.com/) Copyright © 2025, ActBlue