Happy To-Be-Alive Monday,

I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU to something powerful. It's called reciprocity, and when it's done genuinely, it opens doors with your donors that'll get them to open their wallets for you.

Reciprocity is simple. When someone does something kind for us, where we naturally want to do right by them in return. Sometimes that looks like a thank-you. Sometimes it looks like a donation. 😉🤷🏾‍♂️

Now, to be clear, I'm all for going above and beyond for anyone, no strings attached. My business is literally called Exist To Serve (Hence, this email). But if you want to put a little strategy behind your kindness, who am I to stop you? A good deed is a good deed.

Colorado Gives Day is December 8th, and early giving opens November 1st. That gives you about two weeks to show up for your donors before you ever ask them for anything.

Okay, OK OK, I know what you're thinking...

You: But Regis, I don't have any money to buy gifts for donors.

Regis: Ahh, reciprocity can be free. Fun fact, a religious group just handed nice neat flowers they picked up from the trash to travelers at an airport. Once people accepted the flower, they felt intrigued to stop and listen. As long as you add real value, it counts.

You: But what value do I have to give? I gost nothin' Regis. (As you show your empty pockets and only lint, that floss pick you were looking for last week, and a dead fly falls out.)

Regis: Your network! One introduction to the right person can be worth a million bucks to the right donor, or simply land as a genuinely kind gesture. Find someone your donor would love to meet, and connect them.

You: Ugh, Regis. I don't even have time to make introductions for people I actually do like. (Joking. I know you like your donors. 😅)

Regis: That's why I have an AI prompt that does it ALL for you. It goes through your email and finds the right people to connect them to ..

You: ...Ahhh...

Regis: ...But wait, there's more.... It also drafts all the emails for you too.

Regis: And while you're at it, have AI draft an email introducing yourself to me. I'd love to connect and share other ways I can sincerely support you.

Here are the steps.

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Be the connector your donors remembers

Step 1: Connect your email to Claude or ChatGPT (look for Connectors or Apps in settings).

Step 2: Paste this prompt:
"I'm the [TITLE] of [NONPROFIT]. Here is one of my top donors and what I know about him/her/them: [NAME, WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT].
Go through my email from the last 6 months and, for that donor, suggest 3 high-value people I've actually emailed with who they would genuinely benefit from meeting. Explain why in one sentence.
Then draft a short, genuine, and warm email introducing the two. Keep each email under 150 words, in my voice, with no ask for money. Do not include any private details from my emails. Keep it simple."

Step 3: Always edit the email to your voice and words, and then send.

Step 4: Email me thanking me for this and then rinse and repeat for the next major donor. 😉

Example use cases:
• Connecting a business-owner donor with a potential client in your network
• Introducing a retired donor to a board member that needs their expertise
• Linking two donors who share a passion and should know each other

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The best relationships are built in the moments when you weren't asking for anything. Show up for your donors now, and when Colorado Gives comes around, they'll remember who showed up for them first 🙏🏾

#ExistToServe

My faith says give ten percent back.

Giving ten percent of your money is hard. Giving ten percent of your time is harder. That's exactly why I HAVE TO GET to do it.

So four hours a week are yours. Tell me the task that's eating you, the question you've been sitting on, or the AI thing you're curious about, but haven't had time to figure out. I solve it on the call. Free.

Not a pitch. Not a demo. Just my tithe.

BOOK YOUR FREE HOUR HERE

Regis Arzu (he/him/his)
[email protected]
ETS AI Consulting | CEO
347.748.5078

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Mondays are rough. It's scary times for Nonprofits. Your time is scarce. That’s why I created the Monday Motivational Minute. Each week, I’ll send you one high-impact, actionable idea to help you leverage AI and save time. It will always be a 1-minute-ish read. If it adds value, great. If not, unsubscribe, but I’m betting you’ll want to stay. (Challenge Accepted ☺️)