At Gateway Region YMCA, community impact is driven by strong relationships — especially with donors, volunteers, members, and staff. Mackenzie Cunningham, a key figure in the Y’s philanthropic and communication strategy, plays a vital role in ensuring those relationships are nurtured through consistent, meaningful touchpoints. But without the right tools in place, staying connected at scale was a challenge.
The Challenge: Limited Visibility and Difficult Tools
Before implementing Daxko Engage, Gateway Region YMCA relied on Mailchimp to handle its email outreach. While it served basic needs, the platform lacked the depth and usability the team needed to evolve their donor communication strategy.
We hadn’t been tracking email performance before. Engage made that easy. We can actually see who’s opening, whether they’re members, staff, or donors.
Email campaigns went out, but there was little clarity on who engaged—or whether the messages reached the right people. The team found it difficult to measure return on investment or to train new staff effectively on the system. Creativity was also limited, restrained by a tool that didn’t cater to the specific needs of a mission-driven organization.
The Solution: Streamlined Communication with Daxko Engage
When Gateway Region YMCA adopted Daxko Engage, things changed—quickly. The team found themselves with a centralized, intuitive platform designed specifically for organizations like theirs. It immediately became their daily driver for donor communication.
We use Daxko Engage every day to communicate with donors, members, staff, volunteers, and campaigners… It’s a free touchpoint—and it really expands our audience… The switch from Mailchimp to Daxko Engage was super easy. I got in and started building layouts right away. My advice? Be creative. Use your resources and have fun with it. That’s how we create materials people want to engage with.
What used to feel like a heavy lift became a seamless part of the team’s daily routine. With Engage, they could craft email appeals, send campaign updates, and deliver personalized thank-yous—all while tracking performance in real time. Audience segmentation allowed messages to land with the right people, strengthening relationships and improving outcomes.
The shift also meant a more empowered staff. Team members who were previously intimidated by campaign-building now found it accessible and rewarding.
The Impact: Creative Freedom and Confident Teams
With the technical barriers removed, Gateway Region YMCA found new room to grow creatively. Mackenzie and her team were able to follow brand standards while experimenting with fresh, engaging designs that resonated with their community.
That spirit of creativity, backed by actionable data and a user-friendly platform, has elevated not just the Y’s fundraising efforts but the confidence and capabilities of its staff. Campaigns now carry a distinct voice and energy—one that reflects both the mission and the momentum of the Gateway Region YMCA.
Results: Better Engagement, Stronger Campaigns, Empowered Leaders
Since adopting Daxko Engage, Gateway Region YMCA has seen tangible improvements across the board:
- Higher engagement rates on email campaigns
- Streamlined communication workflows
- Greater visibility into donor and member interactions
- A confident team that’s excited to communicate
And for Mackenzie, the transformation is personal, too. With Daxko Engage, she’s not just managing campaigns — she’s leading innovation, mentoring teammates, and helping her Y thrive.
Bring Your Communication Strategy to Life
Gateway Region YMCA’s journey with Daxko Engage shows what’s possible when the right tools meet the right mission. Whether you’re looking to enhance your donor stewardship, improve team workflows, or simply make communication easier and more impactful, Daxko Engage delivers.
Ready to elevate your donor communication? Schedule a demo and discover what Daxko Engage can do for your Y.