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Example Email Journeys for DIY Campaigns

Example email journey structure for DIY fundraising campaigns, including common triggers and content ideas.

Harry Gardner avatar
Written by Harry Gardner
Updated this week

Learn how to structure your automated emails for DIY campaigns.

These examples show how you can build a journey that motivates supporters from registration to celebration, using a mix of time based and amount raised triggers.

Coming Soon 👀

New triggers for DIY are on the way - including the ability to email supporters based on their fundraising target and percentage raised.

Why create a DIY email journey

DIY fundraisers start and finish their activities on their own timeline - whether it’s a run, bake sale, skydive, or stream.

Using DIY email, you can keep your supporters inspired without the need for manual follow ups.

With DIY Email Journeys, you can easily:

  • Welcome and thank supporters as soon as they register

  • Nudge unclaimed fundraisers to activate their page

  • Encourage first donations

  • Celebrate milestones and achievements

  • Keep momentum going after the event ends

Each message can use GivePanel’s triggers and conditions - for example:
“7 days after registration” or “amount raised is more than £100.”

Example DIY Email Journey

Below is an example sequence you can adapt for your own campaign.


1. Welcome and Get Started

Trigger: 1 day after registration
Condition: None

Purpose: Welcome the supporter and help them take their first steps.
Ideas to include:

  • Thank them for joining and explain their impact

  • Link to your fundraising guide or toolkit

  • Encourage them to personalise their fundraising page (photo, story, first post)

  • Share key contact details or how to get help


2. Claim or Activate Your Fundraiser

Trigger: 1 day after registration
Condition: Fundraiser claim status = Not Claimed

Purpose: Remind them to connect or activate their fundraising page.
Ideas to include:

  • Explain how to connect their JustGiving or Facebook page

  • Re send their personal claim link

  • Highlight how activating their page lets them personalise their fundraising page


3. No Donations Yet

Trigger: 7 days after registration
Condition: Amount raised = £0

Purpose: Encourage that first donation and spark activity.
Ideas to include:

  • Suggest making a small self donation (“kick-start your page”)

  • Remind them to share their page on social media

  • Offer two or three quick fundraising tips


4. First Milestone – Fundraising Off the Mark

Trigger: 7 days after registration
Condition: Amount raised > £1

Purpose: Celebrate their first donation.
Ideas to include:

  • Thank them and recognise their progress

  • Encourage them to share an update or photo

  • Remind them how every donation helps


5. Mid-Journey Check-In

Trigger: 14 days after registration
Condition: Amount raised = £0

Purpose: Re-engage fundraisers who haven’t yet received donations.
Ideas to include:

  • Offer help or fundraising materials

  • Share stories or examples from other supporters

  • Re-share their fundraiser link and social handles


6. Good Luck Message

Trigger: 1 day before the supporter’s event start date
Condition: Amount raised > £1

Purpose: Send a warm, motivational note before their big day.
Ideas to include:

  • Thank them and remind them of their impact

  • Encourage last minute sharing for final donations

  • Add a friendly, personal tone - “We’re cheering you on!”


7. Post-Event Thank You

Trigger: 1 day after the supporter’s event end date
Condition: Amount raised > £1

Purpose: Celebrate and thank them for completing their fundraiser.
Ideas to include:

  • Ask how it went - invite photos or stories

  • Share next steps for handling donations

  • Reiterate the difference they’ve made


8. Post-Event (No Donations)

Trigger: 1 day after the supporter’s event end date
Condition: Amount raised = £0

Purpose: Gently check in and offer next steps.
Ideas to include:

  • Ask if they received cash donations offline

  • Share instructions for adding offline amounts or donating directly

  • Thank them for their effort regardless of total raised


9. Milestone Celebrations (Optional)

Use amount-raised triggers to recognise key moments, such as:

  • £50 raised - “You’re off to a great start!”

  • £100 raised - “That’s enough to fund X…”

  • £300 raised - “You’ve helped make a huge impact!”

Keep these messages short, upbeat, and impact-focused - they’re great opportunities to surprise and delight supporters mid-journey.


Tips for building your journey

  • Start simple - 5 - 10 emails are enough to launch (you can come back and add more at a later date)

  • Blend timed and amount based triggers

  • Use merge tags for names, events, and fundraising links

  • Keep language warm, positive, and concise

  • Review open and click rates to refine future campaigns


Learn more

For setup instructions and trigger options, see:
Creating Your Email Journey for DIY Campaigns

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