What I Learned Running Nonprofit Outreach at Simpli
A behind-the-scenes look at the email process behind connecting corporate donors with nonprofits in need.
A behind-the-scenes look at the email process behind connecting corporate donors with nonprofits in need.
What is Simpli?
Simpli is an organization that partners with major corporate brands to reroute excess inventory — personal care products, hygiene essentials, beauty items, toys, and more — to nonprofits at no cost. The brands cover the program cost, Simpli handles fulfillment and delivery, and nonprofits receive goods they can put directly to use in their communities.
The Outreach Process
The job was straightforward in theory: find nonprofits that could benefit from free hygiene and personal care donations, reach out, answer their questions, and get them signed up on the portal. In practice, it involved a lot of pattern recognition, tone-matching, and knowing how to handle every kind of response.
The Standard Flow
Most conversations followed one of a few paths:
- Interested and ready → Direct them to sign up at the portal. Signing up automatically starts the approval process.
- Interested but want to talk first → Direct them to book a call through the for-charities page, and encourage them to sign up beforehand so the call is more productive.
- Already signed up → Confirm receipt and let them know we'll reach out when donations become available near their location.
- Not a fit right now → Thank them and leave the door open — they can sign up and request donations when the timing is right.
- Referring us to other orgs → Send warm outreach to those orgs, thank the referrer, and sometimes send a follow-up thanking them for thinking of their community.
Key Things Nonprofits Always Asked
Do you charge anything? No. The brands cover everything. It is completely free for nonprofits.
What products do you have? Mostly personal care and hygiene — shampoo, soap, deodorant, skincare, toothpaste — but inventory also includes beauty products, toys, and other essentials. It changes constantly based on what corporate donors contribute.
How often is inventory available? This depends entirely on whether a corporate donor has a warehouse near the nonprofit's location. There is no fixed schedule — but once onboarded, nonprofits are notified as soon as something becomes available near them.
What is the minimum order? One pallet. Nonprofits need to have space to receive and store at least one pallet.
Is there paperwork? Just a standard charity letter, the same as any normal donation. We also encourage (but don't require) photos of the donation for impact documentation.
Can they post about it on social media? Absolutely — we love it and are actively growing our own social presence.
Do you disclose which companies are donating? Not before the grant is finalized. Once confirmed, nonprofits learn exactly what they're receiving and which companies made it.
What I Learned About Tone
The biggest thing I picked up was reading the energy of each email and matching it. Someone who replies with "YES!!!" gets a different response than someone who sends a formal five-question vetting list. Both deserve a thorough, respectful reply — but the framing is completely different.
A few principles that worked well:
- Be concise. Nonprofits are busy. If they asked one question, answer one question and stop.
- Don't over-explain to people who are already sold. If someone says "we're in, what's next?" — just give them the link.
- Acknowledge their mission briefly. A single sentence showing you read their email goes a long way, especially for organizations doing meaningful work.
- Set expectations early. Inventory isn't always available. Donations come on pallets. These things matter operationally and it's better to say them upfront than have a partner feel surprised later.
Unexpected Learnings
Referrals are gold. Some of the best leads came from organizations that weren't a fit themselves but passed us along to others who were. Treating every "no" with warmth often turned into two or three new leads.
Mismatched outreach happens. One of the most memorable replies came from the Embroiderers' Guild of America — not exactly a hygiene products crowd — but their contact still took the time to refer us to three organizations in Louisville serving people in need. You never know.
Vetting is normal and healthy. Several organizations, especially larger or more established ones, asked detailed questions before committing — legal name, years in business, references, physical office location. Having clear, confident answers to these builds trust fast.
Warehouse logistics matter more than you'd think. Questions about pallets, forklifts, dock access, and storage space came up constantly. Understanding the physical reality of receiving a donation is just as important as the relationship side.
Final Thoughts
Nonprofit outreach is part sales, part customer service, and part community building. The goal isn't just to get a signup — it's to make sure the right organizations find out about a resource that could genuinely help the people they serve. Done right, a single email can set off a chain that puts hygiene products in the hands of hundreds of people who need them.
That's a pretty good reason to write a good email.