Overview
All externally-delivered bulk email messages, including eNewsletters, action alerts and event announcements, should be based on reusable email templates. Such templates are beneficial because they:
- Streamline and standardize communications over time
- Convey organizational identity and brand
- Manifest best practices for email communication
- Increase deliverability
- Provide hooks for recipients to manage profiles and delivery preferences
It is important to note that one of the most essential benefits of a mature email template is that it renders correctly in the broadest range of email clients. Desktop clients such as Thunderbird, Apple Mail and Outlook all handle and display HTML content differently, and web mail clients such as GMail, Yahoo Mail, and HotMail manifest even greater variations.
Resources
The HTML eNewsletter template provided here is optimized for the Vertical Response platform, which is one of a category of bulk email tools available for nonprofit use. Aspiration has no financial relationship with Vertical Response, but we do use the free product for our eNewsletter.
- Download Aspiration's HTML eNewsletter template
- For a better understanding of the best practices that inform and underlie email template design, see Aspiration's training materials on Email Best Practices
Usage and Feedback
The Aspiration eNewsletter Template is by no means appropriate for all nonprofit organizations, but is provided as a resource and starting point for organizations who want to improve and standardize the look and feel of their email communications. We welcome feedback and questions!