As I'm recording this, there’s a pandemic going on. Still. It’s Good Friday – Easter weekend is here, and a few weeks ago, I thought, OH FOR SURE we are going to be in church on Easter Sunday – everything is going to be open up again, and this whole social distancing thing will be over.  Well, it’s not. There is not a single Mass or church service scheduled at one single church in our town this weekend. Everything is still closed. It’s not safe yet to be in big crowds. Things aren’t back to normal.  So how, when our normal way of life is ANYTHING BUT NORMAL – how are we supposed to do things like run a nonprofit organization that can’t serve in a normal way? Whether your nonprofit is open and you’re wearing a facemask, gloves and PPE every day, or your organization is closed for the time being, there is still a very important thing you can, and must be doing right now. Something that will help you now, and it will give you a MAJOR advantage for the future. What is it? Email. Email your donors, supporters and board members. Yes, send out an email to these people once a week. Maybe you’re thinking - LAUREN, I don’t know what to write in an email – I hate it, that’s why I only do it once a quarter…or once a year!  Or maybe you’re thinking… I don’t know what to say to these people IN PERSON, much less what to say in an email. Or maybe you’re thinking… I only send out emails when we’re about to have a fundraiser or an end of the year appeal. Or maybe you’re thinking… I only have email addresses for 5 people. I can’t start with that. I’m telling you, START. The email I’m talking about is not the same as writing a quarterly newsletter sent by US Mail… It’s not a two-page letter. It’s not an overview of everything you’re doing. Your email is simply saying, “We’re still here and serving!” You’re not sitting down for a long visit and a cup of coffee. You’re just checking in with a high five. Here’s the thing. If you want to have a robust group of donors – people who support you financially – you have to have a relationship with them. A relationship built over time and consistently. Consistency means you email them REGULARLY. Think of your emails as a really long breadcrumb trail to your next fundraiser. If you’re at home right now because of COVID-19, you can begin to reach out every week to your donors by email. Add to the email list any people who support and love your organization but haven’t given money – YET – and add your board members too. Use this time to your advantage! You might not be serving in your normal capacity, or your normal way. Maybe you’ve had to shut down operations all together – but that doesn’t mean you have to stop growing your nonprofit.  Even if you haven’t sent emails before on a regular basis, start now. They will help you build relationships. You CAN keep reminding your donors that your organization is STILL HERE. You can tell them how you’re finding new ways to serve, that you’re using this time wisely, and that their support means everything to you and the people you serve. So – here’s the game plan. Are you ready? This is my challenge to you. Send an email to your donors and supporters once a week – start this week! Here’s how to do it: First, use a free email hosting system like Mailchimp or Constant Contact  It will allow you to build a professional-looking email It will keep track of your email list in an organized way They are both super easy and user friendly. Either one you choose is easy to set up. Set up a free account today so you can send that email this week. Second, what goes in the email? Every email needs: Your logo, or at least a picture of something that represents your organization. Put it in the header and also link the logo to your website or Facebook page. A short letter of 3-5 sentences talking to your donors. Tell a story, describe something that happened. Don’t get too lengthy – keep your entire email to less than 200 words or 20 lines. And remember what everyone thinks: “What’