Arts Rescue Mission -Aid For Aging Artists
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Using Retired Email Lists For Community Benefit
RETEIRED EMAIL LISTS:
One of the most overlooked assets in community-based crowdfunding is the collection of retired email lists particularly those from arts organizations, galleries, theaters, restaurants, car mechanics, or any local business’ that developed a following. These lists are now in the hands of those that, while no longer actively engaged in their trade, have developed good feelings and trust from those on their list. Haven’t you ever missed a restaurant when it closed? A dry cleaner? A movie theater? Those entities still care about their former patrons that made them a success long after they close-up shop, and vice versa. By reactivating these lists they can tap into a rich pool of individuals who have a history of service and a demonstrated interest in their happiness. It’s easy to get the ball rolling to do any good deed you can think of if this is your starting point.
Crowd Source Funding doesn’t have to start from scratch. In fact, it’s often more successful when it doesn’t. When you tap into an existing list—even one that hasn’t been used in years, you’re working with people who already understand what it means to show up for something or someone. And the reach of those lists often goes far beyond a single town or zip code. Friends from college now living in another state, snowbirds who once supported your cause and now split their time between coasts, or former patrons who’ve moved but still feel a sense of loyalty. These people may not be local anymore, but they still care. A compelling, human-centered crowdfunding message, especially one sent from a familiar or once-trusted name, can cross geography and time to reawaken old networks in powerful new ways.
Crowd funded campaigns benefit from this kind of targeted outreach because they allow people to act quickly on causes they care about. When these former patrons receive a well-framed request, especially one that tells them their support can directly help an artist recover from illness, complete a project, or stay housed, it’s often enough to rekindle a sense of responsibility and pride. These lists can be used not just for one-time appeals, but for sustained engagement: updates, thank you notes, and even invitations to share the campaign with their own networks. In the right hands, a retired list isn’t outdated, it’s gold.
JOIN US OR START YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN:
The Arts Rescue Mission list originates from a retired email list of a commercial fine art gallery in Houston, Texas. If your list is still active and you’d like to crowdfund or even allow one of your subscribers to crowdfund we suggest a simple way to distinguish between your usual business and your philanthropic interests. Use an emoji at the beginning of your subject line. This not only signals to your regular business subscribers that the message may not be directly for them, but it also lets everyone know of your goodwill and your desire, every once in a while, to give back to those who have supported your enterprise over the years.
WE KNOW IT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN:
“But think about it — when you send out an email, you can mark it with an emoji to show it’s outside the normal routine. Your friends and clients will know right away whether to skip it or take a look, just by glancing at the emoji. The ARM email list is officially retired, but we still use the emoji system to keep subscribers in the loop. We’re not running a business anymore, yet every now and then we like to highlight something we enjoy and want to share with you.”
Red Heart = Emergency fundraising call
Use this when you're raising money for an artist in crisis.
Urgent, universal, and instantly recognizable.
Green Heart = Voting and making a suggestions on who gets the money from the ARMON Awards Night, and the Halloween theme October costume party benefiting our PRESERVE dance. Who decides? You do.
Yellow Heart = Voting Results for our spring fundraising with ARMON Awards in the Spring & October Dinner & A Dance benefiting our PROVIDE program. Who decides? You do
Blue Heart = When when asking for ideas or help in supporting the artist beyond just money—emotional, logistical, or creative aid a General question for our group.
Purple Heart = Who is having an exhibition, concert or performance, send the news down the line of 2741 subscribers. Especially if they're going to have some good food or good booze.
ARM four hands logo. Restore / Shelter / Provide / Preserve
You could also use this same system to conduct a voluntary opinion poll, share the results with your subscribers, ask for their ideas, and celebrate their generosity—all without interrupting your normal business correspondence and relationships. It might even be a good idea to have clients see your reaching out to do some good in the world. Never know they might want to join in. This is the system we use. Join us, or start your own.
We hope this idea spreads and becomes as common as carrying an umbrella when it rains.