Donor lists age quickly; re-engagement and sunset policies protect reputation.
What lead email verification is#
Lead verification confirms that a prospect's address exists and accepts mail before it enters a sequence, using syntax checks, MX lookups, SMTP probing, and catch-all detection. Enrichment adds firmographic and role data used for personalization.
Why it matters#
Bounce rate is the fastest way to burn an outbound domain. Unverified purchased lists routinely bounce 10 to 30 percent.
Implementation plan for nonprofits#
- Verify every address through an API before it enters a sequence.
- Segregate catch-all domains and send to them at lower volume.
- Refresh verification for any lead older than 90 days.
- Enrich with 3 to 5 data points that drive the opening line.
Priorities specific to nonprofits#
Donor lists age quickly; re-engagement and sunset policies protect reputation. Weight your effort toward the steps above that address this constraint first, and measure with metrics that match how nonprofits generate value from email.
Common mistakes#
- Trusting a vendor's 'verified' label from months ago.
- Treating catch-all as valid.
Frequently asked questions#
What bounce rate is safe for cold email?
Under 2 percent. Above 5 percent, pause and re-verify the list before continuing.