Emergency/Urgent Appeal
Crisis response or urgent need fundraising message
The Prompt
The Prompt
Create a rapid-turn, donor-ready emergency fundraising appeal for a genuine, time-bound need at [ORGANIZATION NAME].
The emergency appeal email should:
- Be written for [AUDIENCE SEGMENT: ALL DONORS/MAJOR DONORS/MONTHLY DONORS/NEW DONORS] in [TONE: FORMAL (measured, data-forward), WARM (compassionate, community-centered), DIRECT (plain, calm-urgent)] aligned with [BRAND VOICE NOTES].
- Include: 3 subject lines, 1 preheader, salutation, body (250–350 words), clear CTA with [DONATION LINK]/[PHONE], P.S. restating deadline and impact, and sign-off from [SIGNER NAME/TITLE] (add [BOARD CHAIR NAME/TITLE] if appropriate).
- Open with what happened [EMERGENCY TYPE/WHAT HAPPENED], who is affected [WHO IS AFFECTED], and where [GEOGRAPHY]—specific, witnessed details; avoid sensationalism.
- State a precise, time-bound goal: “We must raise [SPECIFIC DOLLAR GOAL] by [DEADLINE DATE/TIME] to [PURPOSE].” Include the consequence of missing the deadline.
- Provide a credible plan: 3–4 bullets on how funds will be used immediately (e.g., staffing, supplies, direct aid, logistics), with expected timeline.
- Demonstrate readiness: 1–2 sentences on track record/partnerships [CREDIBILITY POINTS].
- Include an impact ladder tied to giving: “$[AMOUNT 1] = [IMPACT]; $[AMOUNT 2] = [IMPACT]; $[AMOUNT 3] = [IMPACT].” Use real, verifiable numbers [IMPACT PER $].
- If applicable, integrate [MATCH DETAILS] with clear terms and cutoff; otherwise omit.
- Offer alternate ways to give (1 line): check/DAF/stock/[ALTERNATIVE GIVING METHODS].
- Maintain dignity-first language for people served; write at ~8th-grade level; avoid clichés (“now more than ever,” “unprecedented”) unless accurate; no guilt or fear tactics.
- Add a 40–60 word “Board Fast-Track Justification” summarizing urgency, goal, deadline, and risk of inaction for quick approval.
- End with a commitment to report back within 72 hours on initial impact and within 30 days on outcomes.
Quality matters: authenticity + specificity build trust. Use concrete details, plain language, and verifiable figures. Keep the ask clear and immediate, not manipulative. If any bracketed detail is unknown, insert a plausible placeholder and tag [VERIFY] so staff can confirm quickly.How to Customize
- Replace all [BRACKETED] fields with your specific information
- Adjust tone and length as needed for your audience
- Review and personalize before using
Pro Tips
- Test this prompt with your preferred AI tool before using in production
- Always review AI output for accuracy and appropriateness
- Customize outputs to match your organization’s voice and brand
Related Prompts
(See other prompts in the fundraising category)
Example Outputs
Compare scenarios: We tested this prompt with 3 different nonprofit contexts. Each scenario shows outputs from GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini. Select a model above each scenario to compare.
Small Community Org
Neighborhood food pantry in Dayton, OH responding to an apartment fire displacing families; grassroots base, local partners.
View scenario details
Subject line options: - Urgent: Help 48 families displaced by Maple Court fire by Nov 8 - Match Alert: Double your impact for neighbors after Maple Court fire - 48 families need 7-day groceries—deadline Nov 8, 5 p.m. ET
Preheader: A 3-alarm fire at Maple Court Apartments in Westwood/Wolf Creek displaced 48 families. Help raise $18,500 by Nov 8, 5 p.m. ET for food, gift cards, hygiene, and delivery.
Dear Neighbor,
A 3-alarm fire at Maple Court Apartments on Lakeview Ave, in the Westwood and Wolf Creek neighborhoods of Dayton, destroyed two buildings and forced an immediate evacuation. Forty-eight families—63 children and 19 seniors—left in minutes. Many are our pantry clients and their neighbors, now with relatives, in hotels, or at Red Cross shelters.
We must raise $18,500 by November 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET to provide 7-day emergency groceries, grocery gift cards, hygiene kits, and refrigerated delivery for all 48 displaced families. If we miss this deadline, we will have to reduce kits and delay deliveries—meaning families go without fresh food and basics this week.
Your gift will be put to work immediately: - Assemble and deliver 48 seven-day grocery and hygiene kits within 24–36 hours. - Provide $150 grocery gift cards so families can choose culturally appropriate foods and items they prefer. - Rent a refrigerated truck for 2 days to deliver milk, produce, and protein to shelters and hotels. - Add driver and evening shifts to reach neighbors where they are; coordinate with Red Cross for lists and locations.
Riverbend has served 2,100 households monthly for 12 years. We are a partner agency of The Foodbank, Inc.; we activated during the 2019 tornado response; and we have an MOU with Montgomery County EMA for emergency food distribution.
What your gift can do: - $35 = one 7-day emergency grocery kit for a household of two - $150 = a grocery gift card for a displaced family to choose their own food - $500 = one day of refrigerated truck rental and fuel to deliver perishables And $1 = 1.8 lbs of food delivered (based on The Foodbank, Inc. invoices, Q2–Q3 2025).
Matching opportunity: Kroger Dayton Division will match gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 through November 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET. New gifts only; no pledges.
Please give now at https://riverbendpantry.org/fire-relief/ or call (937) 555-0142. Bilingual support available (English/Español).
Prefer another way to give? Mail checks to 822 Linden Ave, Dayton, OH 45410; recommend a DAF gift via DAFdirect on our site; or give stock at stock@riverbendpantry.org.
We will report back within 72 hours on initial impact and within 30 days on outcomes for every family we serve.
With gratitude,
Marisol Vega Executive Director
Andre Collins Board Chair
P.S. Deadline: November 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET. Your matched gift today helps reach $18,500 so 48 families receive 7 days of groceries, gift cards for choice, hygiene kits, and refrigerated delivery. If we fall short, we will cut kits and delay fresh-food deliveries—please act now.
Board Fast-Track Justification (for approval): A 3-alarm fire displaced 48 families at Maple Court (Westwood/Wolf Creek). We must raise $18,500 by Nov 8, 2025, 5 p.m. ET to fund 7-day groceries, gift cards, hygiene kits, and refrigerated delivery. Kroger match up to $10,000 doubles new gifts. If we miss the deadline, kits and fresh deliveries will be reduced or delayed.
AI Evaluation Details (Score: 8.8/10)
This is a highly competent emergency appeal that fulfills nearly all prompt requirements with appropriate warmth and specificity. The tone is compassionate without being manipulative, details are concrete and verifiable, and the structure is donor-ready. Minor weaknesses include slight wordiness in places and a few phrases that could be more distinctive to avoid sounding template-driven.
- • Excellent adherence to dignity-first language—'neighbors,' 'families,' no poverty porn or sensationalism
- • Concrete, verifiable details throughout (specific addresses, numbers, timelines, cost breakdowns)
- • Clear consequence of inaction stated without guilt tactics ('reduce kits and delay deliveries')
- • Strong credibility markers (12 years, partner relationships, prior emergency response)
- • Impact ladder is specific and realistic with verifiable math ($1 = 1.8 lbs)
- • Match details clearly stated with all terms (new gifts only, no pledges, deadline)
- • Board justification is concise and approval-ready
- • Bilingual note aligns with brand voice; alternative giving methods included
- • Subject lines are specific and action-oriented without clickbait
- • Commitment to report back within specific timeframes builds accountability
- • Body is 340 words—at the high end of 250-350 range; could trim 20-30 words for punchier delivery (e.g., 'Riverbend has served' paragraph could be tighter)
- • Phrase 'put to work immediately' is slightly generic; could be more distinctive
- • The P.S. repeats some body content verbatim—could reframe for variety while maintaining urgency
- • Minor: 'With gratitude' sign-off is common but safe; a more personal closing might strengthen authenticity given the warm tone requested
Mid-Size Professional Org
Mobile health nonprofit serving rural eastern New Mexico; responding to drinking water contamination impacting high-risk households.
View scenario details
Segment: ALL DONORS | Tone: DIRECT, clinician-led, evidence-based, rural-respectful | Bilingual English/Spanish
Subject lines: - Urgent: Do Not Drink advisory in Clovis & Portales—help deliver safe water in 72 hours - $1 = 1.1 gallons delivered. 350 rural households need safe water now. - Deadline Nov 12, 8 p.m. MT: fund water deliveries + in-home filters
Preheader: Help raise $62,000 by Nov 12, 8 p.m. MT to deliver safe water in 72 hours and install filters for highest-risk homes.
Dear [First Name],
State officials issued a Do Not Drink advisory after nitrate levels spiked in municipal wells. Pregnant people, infants, and medically fragile adults in 350 low-income rural households are affected in Curry and Roosevelt Counties—Clovis, Portales, and surrounding colonias. Our clinicians were on doorsteps east of Clovis today and saw empty jugs; a Portales mom asked if yesterday’s formula was safe.
We must raise $62,000 by November 12, 2025, 8:00 p.m. MT to deliver safe drinking water within 72 hours and install point-of-use filtration for the highest-risk households. If we miss this deadline, deliveries and installs will slip days and families may turn back to unsafe taps.
Your gift moves now: - Stage bulk water and deliver to 350 homes via two mobile routes within 72 hours. - Purchase and install 75 countertop RO units for pregnant/infant households within 5–7 days. - Add drivers, fuel, dispatch, and nurse follow-ups with nitrate test strips; coordinate with NM DOH and local fire districts.
High Plains Health Collective has 15 years of mobile care across six counties, a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and formal partnerships; we delivered 1,200 HEPA units during the 2023 smoke crisis.
Every $1 = 1.1 gallons delivered. $45 = one week of delivered drinking water for a family of four. $185 = one countertop RO unit for a pregnant/infant household. $500 = fuel and driver shifts to run one mobile route to 25 homes.
Monthly donors: increase any amount and an anonymous family foundation will match your increase 1:1 (up to $15,000 total) through Nov 12, 2025, 8:00 p.m. MT; match applies to the next three months.
En español: Autoridades emitieron “No Beber” por nitratos en pozos municipales. 350 hogares rurales (Clovis, Portales y colonias) con embarazadas, bebés y adultos frágiles están en riesgo. Necesitamos $62,000 para el 12 de noviembre de 2025, 8:00 p.m. MT para entregar agua segura en 72 horas e instalar filtros en los hogares de mayor riesgo.
Give now: https://highplainshealth.org/water-safe/ or call (575) 555-2294. Alternate ways to give: Checks: PO Box 1182, Clovis, NM 88102; DAF via EIN 81-4579021; ACH/wire or stock: giving@highplainshealth.org.
With respect and urgency,
Dr. Liza Romero Medical Director
Thomas Begay Board Chair
P.S. Deadline: Nov 12, 2025, 8:00 p.m. MT. Your gift today delivers safe water within 72 hours and installs filters for the highest-risk homes. We will report back within 72 hours on initial impact and within 30 days on outcomes.
Board Fast-Track Justification: State “Do Not Drink” advisory for nitrates is affecting 350 low-income rural households in Curry and Roosevelt Counties. Goal: $62,000 by Nov 12, 2025, 8:00 p.m. MT. Funds enable 72-hour water delivery and rapid in-home filtration. If we miss the deadline, routes and installs slip days, increasing exposure risk for pregnant people, infants, and fragile adults.
AI Evaluation Details (Score: 8.4/10)
This is a strong, deployment-ready emergency appeal that hits nearly all requirements with appropriate urgency and specificity. The direct, clinician-led tone is well-executed with short sentences and concrete details. Minor weaknesses include body length exceeding the 250-350 word target and the Spanish section feeling slightly tacked-on rather than fully integrated.
- • Excellent adherence to direct, calm-urgent tone with clinician voice—'Our clinicians were on doorsteps' and 'saw empty jugs' provide witnessed, specific detail without sensationalism
- • Strong specificity throughout: verifiable impact metrics ($1 = 1.1 gallons), concrete timeline (72 hours, 5-7 days), exact household count (350), and clear consequence of missing deadline
- • Complete structural compliance: all required elements present including 3 subject lines, preheader, impact ladder, match details with clear terms, credibility points, alternative giving methods, board justification, and 72-hour/30-day reporting commitment
- • Effective match integration for monthly donor segment with clear mechanics (increase any amount, 1:1, $15k cap, applies to next 3 months)
- • Dignity-first language maintained—'medically fragile adults' rather than 'vulnerable,' 'low-income rural households' stated factually
- • Strong subject lines that lead with urgency, geography, and concrete metrics rather than emotional manipulation
- • Board fast-track justification is crisp and decision-ready
- • Body copy runs approximately 380-400 words (English portion alone ~320 words), exceeding the 250-350 word target—could tighten the credibility section and bullet points
- • Spanish section feels appended rather than organically bilingual; prompt requested 'bilingual English/Spanish' but this reads as English-primary with summary translation—a truly bilingual approach might integrate Spanish throughout or offer a complete parallel version
- • The phrase 'Your gift moves now:' before bullets is slightly awkward phrasing—'How funds will be used immediately:' or 'Your dollars at work:' would be clearer
- • Minor readability concern: the match terms are dense and could confuse some monthly donors—'increase your monthly gift by any amount and we'll match it 1:1 for the next three months' might be clearer than the current construction
Large Established Org
Major homelessness services nonprofit in San Francisco scaling up emergency storm shelter capacity at city request.
View scenario details
Audience Segment: ALL DONORS Tone: DIRECT (plain, calm-urgent)
Subject line options: - Level 4 storm: Help open 150 emergency beds in 72 hours - Urgent: Raise $250,000 by Nov 6 to shelter neighbors from the Atmospheric River - 150 beds, 10 nights: Your gift keeps people safe this week
Preheader: City asked us to add 150 overflow beds in 72 hours; $96 funds one storm bed-night; gifts $5,000+ matched 1:1 through Nov 6, 6 p.m. PT.
Dear [First Name],
What happened: The National Weather Service issued a Level 4/4 Atmospheric River warning. The City has asked BayBridge to add 150 overflow beds within 72 hours.
Who and where: Neighbors living outdoors in SoMa, the Tenderloin, and the Mission; seniors in RVs; and SRO residents at risk of flooding and power loss in San Francisco. This afternoon our SoMa team reported tents on 13th St. already soaked through; SRO managers on Turk and Capp confirmed water creeping into ground floors and flickering power; seniors in RVs near Showplace Square told us their batteries are failing.
We must raise $250,000 by November 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. PT to open and staff 150 emergency storm beds for 10 nights, with meals, onsite nursing, and transportation. If we miss the deadline, we will have to reduce the number of beds and nights—meaning people will sleep outside during the heaviest rain.
Your gift will be used immediately: - 0–24 hours: Hire/onboard 40 on‑call shelter, nursing, and security staff; purchase 150 cots, blankets, and hygiene kits. - 24–48 hours: Set up Civic Center Community Center (375 Grove St.) and partner sites in SoMa and the Mission; stock meals and water. - 48–72 hours: Begin transportation and intake from SoMa, the Tenderloin, and the Mission; onsite nursing and casework nightly. - Storm window: Hot meals, power for device charging, and morning transit back to services.
We are ready to act. BayBridge has operated 600 nightly shelter beds for 35 years under a formal contract with SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. Audited financials. Last winter, we served 1,842 individuals during storms at 92% nightly capacity.
Impact per gift: - $96 funds 1 storm bed‑night (staffing $58; meals $13; security/site $17; supplies/transit $8). - $1,000 = 10 safe bed‑nights with hot meals and transit. - $10,000 = 100 bed‑nights plus two overnight social worker shifts. - $50,000 = one week of overnight staffing and security at the Civic Center site.
Matching opportunity: The Narayanan Family Foundation will match gifts of $5,000+ 1:1, up to $125,000 total, through November 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. PT (cash and stock eligible).
Please give now at https://baybridgehs.org/storm-shelter/ or call (415) 555-7610.
Other ways to give: check/DAF/stock/wire—development@baybridgehs.org; DAF via EIN 94-2876503; checks: 1400 Mission St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103.
We will report back within 72 hours on initial impact and within 30 days on outcomes.
With gratitude,
Jordan Lee Chief Executive Officer
Priya Narayanan Board Chair
P.S. Deadline: November 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. PT. Every $96 funds one storm bed‑night. Meeting the $250,000 goal opens 150 beds for 10 nights; falling short means fewer beds and shorter hours during the peak of the storm.
Board Fast-Track Justification (for approval): Level 4/4 Atmospheric River; City requested 150 overflow beds within 72 hours. Goal: $250,000 by Nov 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. PT to operate 150 beds for 10 nights with meals, nursing, and transport. Risk if unmet: fewer beds/nights and increased exposure for unsheltered neighbors during the heaviest rain. Matching gifts $5,000+ double up to $125,000.
AI Evaluation Details (Score: 6.8/10)
The output is structurally complete and includes strong concrete details, but it critically fails the tone requirement. The prompt specified MAJOR DONORS with FORMAL (measured, data-forward) tone, but the output is labeled 'ALL DONORS' with 'DIRECT (plain, calm-urgent)' tone. This mismatch significantly undermines usefulness for the intended audience.
- • Excellent specificity and concrete details (e.g., '13th St. tents soaked through,' 'SRO managers on Turk and Capp,' 'RVs near Showplace Square')—these witnessed details build credibility without sensationalism
- • Strong cost transparency with detailed breakdown ($96 per bed-night itemized by category) that aligns with data-forward approach major donors expect
- • Clear timeline and operational plan (0-24 hours, 24-48 hours structure) demonstrates organizational readiness
- • Impact ladder is concrete and verifiable, tied to real operational costs
- • Dignity-first language maintained throughout (e.g., 'neighbors living outdoors' rather than 'homeless people')
- • Board Fast-Track Justification is concise and decision-ready
- • All structural elements present: subject lines, preheader, body, CTA, P.S., alternative giving methods, reporting commitment
- • CRITICAL ERROR: Wrong audience segment and tone—output says 'ALL DONORS' and 'DIRECT' but scenario requires 'MAJOR DONORS' and 'FORMAL (measured, data-forward).' Major donors expect more sophisticated framing, less granular operational detail in opening, and strategic context
- • Salutation uses '[First Name]' merge tag, which is appropriate for all-donor emails but major donor appeals typically use personal salutations or are individually customized—this signals the wrong tier
- • Opening paragraph structure is too blunt for major donors—'What happened:' and 'Who and where:' as headers feels like an internal brief rather than a formal appeal to high-capacity philanthropists
- • Word count appears to exceed 350-word guideline for body (approximately 380-400 words before signatures), making it dense for email
- • Match details could be positioned more prominently for major donors—currently buried in middle rather than highlighted as strategic leverage opportunity
- • Minor: 'This afternoon our SoMa team reported...' creates false immediacy if email is sent over multiple days; should be 'Our SoMa team reports' or dated specifically
Test Summary: Generated Nov 2, 2025 • 3 scenarios • 9 total outputs • Average quality score: 8.02/10 • Total validation cost: $0.2983