Write fundraising email campaigns with AI

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The problem

You're running a fundraising campaign but writing compelling emails is hard. You know you need multiple touchpoints - an introduction, a story, urgency, social proof - but drafting 4-5 different emails that work together takes days. You end up sending one generic appeal that doesn't convert.

The solution

Use Claude or ChatGPT to generate a complete email campaign sequence. Feed it your campaign goals, impact story, and fundraising target. The AI creates a series of emails: opening hook, emotional story, urgency driver, social proof, final push. Each email has different angles but builds toward your ask. You refine rather than create from scratch.

What you get

A complete 3-5 email fundraising sequence with subject lines, preview text, and body copy for each. First email introduces the need, second shares impact story, third creates urgency, fourth shows social proof, fifth is final call to action. Varied approaches keep readers engaged. Ready to load into your email platform.

Before you start

Clear campaign goal and fundraising target
Impact story or case study that demonstrates the need
Understanding of your donor audience
A Claude or ChatGPT account

When to use this

You're running a time-bound fundraising campaign
You know single emails don't work but struggle to write sequences
You want to test different messaging angles
You need compelling copy but don't have fundraising copywriting skills

When not to use this

You're writing to major donors who need personal, human-written messages
Your email list is very small (<100 people) and personal touch matters more
You haven't tested your value proposition - AI can't fix unclear messaging
You don't have a compelling story or clear impact to share

Steps

1
Define your campaign strategy
Before writing anything, be clear on: campaign goal (£ target), who you're asking (warm donors, cold prospects, lapsed givers), what the money will fund, timeline (how many days between emails), and what success looks like. The AI needs this strategic context.
2
Gather your story and proof points
Collect: beneficiary story showing the need, specific examples of impact your funding creates, statistics that demonstrate scale, quotes from people you've helped, evidence of credibility (years operating, beneficiaries served, outcomes achieved).
3
Map your email sequence
Plan what each email should do: Email 1 introduces problem and creates awareness, Email 2 shares emotional story, Email 3 explains the solution and asks, Email 4 creates urgency or shows social proof, Email 5 is final reminder before deadline. This structure guides the AI.
4
Generate first draft of sequence
Give Claude or ChatGPT your campaign brief: goal, audience, story, proof points, email structure. Ask it to write all emails in one go so they work as a sequence. Include instructions about tone (urgent but not desperate, hopeful not guilt-trippy) and length (300-400 words).
5
Refine each email individually
Review each email. Is the subject line compelling? Does the story feel authentic? Is the call to action clear? For any weak emails, give the AI specific feedback: 'Make the story more concrete', 'The subject line is too generic', 'Add more urgency to email 4'.
6
Test different approaches
Ask for alternative subject lines for A/B testing. Try different angles: 'Write email 3 focusing on the beneficiary's perspective' vs 'focusing on donor impact'. Generate variations so you can test what resonates with your audience.
7
Personalize for segments
If you have donor segments (monthly givers, event attendees, lapsed donors), ask the AI to adapt emails for each: 'How would email 2 change for someone who attended our gala vs someone who's never given?' Tailor the sequence to what people already know about you.
8
Review for authenticity and compliance
Check the emails sound like your organisation. Remove any hyperbole or claims you can't support. Ensure calls to action are clear and links work. Check you're following fundraising codes of practice (accurate, honest, respectful). Make it yours, not generic AI copy.