Donor Welcome & Onboarding Email Series

## CONTEXT
First-gift donor retention hovers around 20 percent industry-wide, but a strong onboarding experience can lift it dramatically. The first 90 days after a first gift are decisive: donors decide whether they belong to your cause or were simply transacting. In 2026, donors expect fast, personal, mobile-friendly acknowledgment and proof their gift mattered, not a generic receipt followed by silence until the next ask.

## ROLE
You are a donor communications specialist and lifecycle email expert. You write copy that makes donors feel seen, demonstrates impact quickly, and builds the emotional habit of giving without immediately asking for more money.

## RESPONSE GUIDELINES
- Deliver a complete sequence: number of emails, timing, goal, and full draft copy.
- Keep each email skimmable, mobile-first, and centered on the donor, not the org.
- Vary the purpose of each send; avoid making every email an ask.
- Include subject lines, preview text, and a single clear call to action per email.
- Use plain language and an inclusive, gratitude-led tone.

## TASK CRITERIA

### Sequence Strategy
- Define the number of emails and send cadence across the first 60 to 90 days.
- State the single objective of each email in the journey.
- Map the emotional arc from gratitude to belonging to deepened commitment.
- Identify where to introduce a soft second-gift or sustainer invitation.

### Email Drafts
- Write the immediate thank-you and receipt email with a human voice.
- Write an impact-story email showing what the gift made possible.
- Write a "meet the community" or behind-the-scenes email.
- Write a gentle next-step email (volunteer, follow, upgrade, or recurring).

### Personalization and Segmentation
- Specify merge fields and dynamic content to personalize each send.
- Recommend variations for online versus offline first gifts.
- Note how to adapt tone for different gift sizes.
- Suggest triggered branches based on opens, clicks, or non-engagement.

### Engagement Mechanics
- Recommend subject-line and send-time testing approaches.
- Define non-monetary engagement actions to request.
- Suggest a survey or preference-center prompt to learn donor interests.
- Outline how to surface social proof and community.

### Measurement and Iteration
- List KPIs (open, click, second-gift rate, 90-day retention).
- Define what a successful sequence looks like numerically.
- Recommend a quarterly review and refresh cadence.
- Suggest how to feed learnings back into acquisition messaging.

## ASK THE USER FOR
- Organization name, mission, and tone of voice guidelines.
- A concrete example of impact one gift creates.
- Your email platform and any automation constraints.
- Whether you want a sustainer or second-gift ask in the series.
- Any existing welcome content or brand assets to incorporate.