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Rachel Ayotte

Nonprofit Content Writer

Bio

Rachel is a versatile writer with experience spanning journalism, publishing, marketing, copywriting, and nonprofit storytelling. She uses her experience across industries and audiences to empower changemakers and nonprofits to communicate with clarity and impact. If she's not writing or editing (or reading!), you can find her baking chocolate chip cookies, running, or throwing pottery.

Expertise

Articles by

Rachel Ayotte

Graphic of Mr Butter sending an annual appeal letter by mail

Nonprofit annual appeal letter examples & free templates

Annual appeal letters inspire giving. Learn how to write one that connects, converts, and drives impact—with free templates.

Nonprofit annual appeal letter examples & free templates
Year-end giving statistics graphic

Year-end giving statistics & what they mean for your nonprofit

Year-end fundraising isn’t 2 big days. It’s a month-long campaign. Here’s what the latest data reveals about December giving and how your nonprofit can plan for all of it.

Year-end giving statistics & what they mean for your nonprofit
Butter character pointing to annual report

The best nonprofit annual report template & examples

Learn how to craft a high-impact nonprofit annual report with best practices and top nonprofit annual report examples to help inspire your own.

The best nonprofit annual report template & examples
Butter character behind December calendar

Year-end giving timeline & free checklist for nonprofits

Year-end giving is a nonprofit’s highest-impact season. This guide delivers tactics that work, plus a practical campaign timeline any organization can use.

Year-end giving timeline & free checklist for nonprofits
Mr Butter recording a nonprofit video storytelling

Nonprofit video storytelling: Real stories, lasting impact

Learn how to find stories worth telling, help beneficiaries feel comfortable on camera, and share content with authenticity and care.

Nonprofit video storytelling: Real stories, lasting impact
Butter character recording a fundraising video

How to create a fundraising video (with examples!)

Learn how to create fundraising videos with 15 video ideas, real nonprofit examples, and an eight-step process for creating videos that drive impact.

How to create a fundraising video (with examples!)
Mr.Butter holding a thank you letter

How to write a donation thank-you letter with examples & templates

Free donation thank-you letter templates, timing tips, and tools to help small nonprofits build a donor acknowledgment system that feels personal.

How to write a donation thank-you letter with examples & templates
Mr Butter organizing a food drive

How to organize a food drive from start to finish

Learn how to organize a food drive that brings your community together, fills local food bank shelves with the items they need most, and gives everyone a meaningful way to help—whether they donate food or give online.

How to organize a food drive from start to finish
Butter character pointing to chart with pie graphs and icons

Master nonprofit grant management in 5 steps (& best practices!)

Winning a grant is only the beginning. Learn how to track restricted funds, meet reporting deadlines, stay compliant, and manage every award with confidence.

Master nonprofit grant management in 5 steps (& best practices!)
Mr Butter in a phonathon fundraiser

How to plan a successful phonathon fundraiser (with free scripts!)

Learn how to build targeted call lists, prepare confident callers, personalize donor conversations, and turn phonathon pledges into lasting support.

How to plan a successful phonathon fundraiser (with free scripts!)
Butter character driving mail truck with letters coming out the back

Nonprofit direct mail fundraising: 6 steps to a stronger campaign

Learn how to plan a nonprofit direct mail fundraising campaign, write stronger appeals, connect print and digital giving, and measure results with confidence.

Nonprofit direct mail fundraising: 6 steps to a stronger campaign
Mr Butter leading a telethon fundraiser

How to run a telethon fundraiser: A step-by-step guide for nonprofits

A modern telethon fundraiser turns a simple livestream into a shared giving moment. Learn how to plan yours, engage supporters in real time, and raise more—without a TV studio or production-sized budget.

How to run a telethon fundraiser: A step-by-step guide for nonprofits
Butter character playing charity golf

How to plan a golf tournament fundraiser in 8 steps (& free checklist)

Learn how to plan a charity golf tournament fundraiser in eight steps, with pricing benchmarks and practical tips for sponsorships, registration, add-ons, and event-day logistics. Then, use the free checklist to keep every detail on track.

How to plan a golf tournament fundraiser in 8 steps (& free checklist)
Mr Butter comparing best email marketing platforms

4 best email marketing platforms for nonprofits in 2026

Find the best email marketing platform for your nonprofit’s budget, team, and goals. See how four leading options compare across pricing, usability, donor management, and more.

4 best email marketing platforms for nonprofits in 2026
Mr Butter on his desktop working on nonprofit email marketing

Nonprofit email marketing: 3 strategic levels that drive real results

Transform casual followers into committed donors with simple, proven strategies that feel authentic—no complex systems or expensive tools required.

Nonprofit email marketing: 3 strategic levels that drive real results
Mr Butter learning about Gen Z philanthropy

Gen Z philanthropy: 4 ways to engage younger donors

Gen Z is giving more often than you might think—here’s how fundraising experts recommend reaching them.

Gen Z philanthropy: 4 ways to engage younger donors
Mr Butter sending giving tuesday text message

Giving Tuesday text messages: 7 templates + timing guide

Ready-to-use Giving Tuesday text message templates for every stage of your campaign, from save-the-date to thank-you, plus tips for creating and sending them for free.

Giving Tuesday text messages: 7 templates + timing guide
Mr Butter explaining content marketing for nonprofits

Content marketing for nonprofits: How to build a strategy that works

Learn how to turn scattered posts, emails, and campaign updates into a nonprofit content marketing strategy your team can maintain with confidence.

Content marketing for nonprofits: How to build a strategy that works
Butter character holding cell phone with heart icons

Text-to-give vs. text-to-donate: Which is better for your nonprofit?

Compare carrier-billed and link-based mobile giving to see how each method handles payments, donor data, and payouts—and which option is better for your nonprofit.

Text-to-give vs. text-to-donate: Which is better for your nonprofit?
Mr Butter holding a purple giving tuesday heart

How to secure Giving Tuesday matching donations in 2026

Double your impact this Giving Tuesday. Discover how to find, pitch, and promote matching donations that help your nonprofit raise more.

How to secure Giving Tuesday matching donations in 2026
Mr butter with a purple giving Tuesday heart

What is Giving Tuesday? The complete guide for nonprofits (2026)

Learn everything you need to know about Giving Tuesday, including when it started, why it matters, and how to make the most of this global day of generosity.

What is Giving Tuesday? The complete guide for nonprofits (2026)