Giving Tuesday Secrets, Giving an “F,” and More Nonprofit Email Program Tips with Kim Abuelhaj
January 15, 2026
Pushing a product? Easy. Pushing a cause? A whole other ballgame.
Pushing a product? Easy. Pushing a cause? A whole other ballgame.
In this episode of Email After Hours, hosts Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant sit down with Kim Abuelhaj, Senior Director of Annual Giving and Membership at GLAAD, to explore the unique challenges of nonprofit email programs—where emotional resonance and mission advocacy replace transactional sales, and where deliverability directly impacts fundraising outcomes.
What you'll learn:
What you'll learn:
- How to balance long-form storytelling with transactional email design
- Why list hygiene and quarterly validation are non-negotiable for nonprofit sender reputation
- How to leverage multi-channel donor engagement for increased lifetime value
- How putting the “f” in frankness and mission-first messaging outperformed traditional matching-gift campaigns
…and so much more!
About the Guest(s)
Kim Abuelhaj is Senior Director of Annual Giving and Membership at GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization. With extensive expertise in nonprofit email marketing strategy, donor retention, and multi-channel fundraising campaigns, Kim brings deep insights into the unique challenges of mission-driven email programs. Her work focuses on balancing compelling storytelling with conversion strategy, managing donor relationships during economic volatility, and leveraging both digital and direct mail channels to maximize lifetime donor value.
Kim Abuelhaj is Senior Director of Annual Giving and Membership at GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization. With extensive expertise in nonprofit email marketing strategy, donor retention, and multi-channel fundraising campaigns, Kim brings deep insights into the unique challenges of mission-driven email programs. Her work focuses on balancing compelling storytelling with conversion strategy, managing donor relationships during economic volatility, and leveraging both digital and direct mail channels to maximize lifetime donor value.
In this episode, Kim shares actionable strategies on nonprofit email best practices, deliverability optimization, and donor psychology—essential insights for email professionals working with mission-driven organizations. Her frank, data-driven approach to overcoming fundraising challenges without traditional marketing incentives offers valuable lessons for any marketer seeking to deepen subscriber engagement and build lasting relationships.
Hosts at a Glance:
Danielle Gallant - Danielle is a Senior Email Strategist at Validity. She has over seven years of experience working with global brands to craft strategies that amplify email performance. She is a self-professed email nerd, dog lover, and podcast fanatic.
Guy Hanson - Guy is Vice President of Customer Engagement at Validity. He has led global consulting teams working with clients to improve email deliverability, subscriber engagement, and revenue. He believes in giving back to his community and is a regular speaker at flagship events, providing training and producing fresh and insightful thought leadership.
Guy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guyhanson/
If you enjoyed this episode then please either:
- Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts
- Follow ‘Email After Hours’ on Spotify
- Hit like and subscribe on YouTube
Email After Hours: The Podcast for Email Senders is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Rethinking Customer Loyalty Programs: The Good, The Bad, and The Free Coffee
- The One Email Metric You’re Not Tracking (& Other Secrets to Killer Email Content) with MarketingProfs’ Ann Handley
- New Consumer Email Trends & Tips to Become a BFF Brand with the Data & Marketing Association (DMA)