Is Your Community Organisation Unknowingly Losing Mail List Subscribers?
Communications Officer • February 6, 2024
Preventing Unintended Unsubscriptions for Community Organisations
Some Outlook users have reported an unusual challenge – automatic unsubscriptions from emails that find their way into the Junk folder. This means the subscription lists of many community organizations are being unintendedly shrunk. In this blog, we explore the issue and what you can do to ensure your newsletter and community emails are reaching the people you need them to be.
If you're fortunate to have access to tech support, why not invite them for a cup of tea while you navigate this issue? Alternatively, reach out to us directly for assistance!
1. Check Your Lists & Understand Your Filtering Systems:
- Go into your email marketing software provider and see if unusual amounts of subscribers have unsubscribed (in your analytics section)– if they have, you might be experiencing a specific Outlook issue.
- Check if you're using any third-party email filtering services or security software alongside Outlook. Sometimes, these services might be automatically unsubscribing you from emails they tag as spam. Adjust the settings accordingly.
2. Investigate Outlook Rules:
- Navigate to your Outlook settings and inspect any rules you've set up. Rules can dictate actions like moving emails to the Junk folder or even unsubscribing from certain senders. Ensure your rules align with your preferences.
3. Embrace Outlook's Sweeping Features:
- The 'Sweep' feature in Outlook allows you to automate actions on emails based on specific criteria. Review your sweeping rules to ensure they are not unintentionally causing Outlook to unsubscribe you from important communications.
4. Scrutinise Security Settings:
- Outlook prioritises your security, and sometimes it might automatically take action against potentially harmful emails. Check your security settings and tweak them if necessary, ensuring they don't interfere with your desired subscriptions.
5. Mark Legitimate Emails:
- If genuine emails end up in your Junk folder, mark them as "Not Junk" or move them to your inbox. This helps Outlook learn and adapt, reducing the chances of legitimate emails being treated as spam in the future.
6. Seek Professional Assistance:
- If the issue persists, reaching out to Microsoft Support can provide tailored guidance for your specific account and configuration. They can offer insights and solutions to keep your Outlook experience seamless.
Our organisation has also been suffering from this challenge. If you received an email confirming that you have been unsubscribed from the Community Networks Aotearoa mailing list, please resubscribe here! https://www.communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz/ (go to the footer and enter details). If you don’t see an email but want to double check, you can resubscribe, and we’ll add you back if you’ve been removed.
Suffering from other issues? Reach out and let us know!
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Early last week Paddy and I stumbled down to popular venue for Non-Profits, the Loaves and Fishes Hall next to St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral for the 7am release of the Salvation Army’s annual report on the State of the Nation 2026.
Kia ora koutou, Running a not-for-profit in Aotearoa New Zealand isn’t for the faint-hearted. Funding pressures, rising compliance demands, volunteer burnout and changing community needs can make it feel like you’re spinning a dozen plates at once. But here’s the good news: you’re not alone. One of the clearest signs of that strength is CNA’s Tick for Governance course, which has now reached a major milestone — over 1,000 users have either completed the course or are actively working through it. That’s 1,000 trustees, board members and leaders investing in good governance and better outcomes for their communities. 🎉 Tick for Governance is special because it’s the only truly Kiwi governance course of its kind. It’s written by Kiwis, for Kiwis, grounded in the realities of how not-for-profits operate in Aotearoa. It’s also proudly supported by Charity Services and the Institute of Directors, giving organisations confidence that the learning is practical, credible and relevant. But CNA doesn’t stop at courses. We’re here to help build capacity and ease workloads through a growing suite of courses, apps and practical resources designed for the real world not-for-profits operate in. A standout example is our collaboration with WiseComply, a smart compliance app that takes a huge weight off governance and management teams. Just like Tick for Governance, WiseComply updates your legislative and compliance requirements as they happen, so you don’t have to constantly chase changes or worry about missing something critical. Less stress, more confidence, better governance, more casual cups of tea. We’re also expanding our highly successful Sharp Strategies series. These aren’t your average sit-and-listen presentations. Sharp Strategies go deeper, offering real-time answers from experts on the issues that actually keep you awake at night, especially with the impending re-registration of Incorporated Societies, the General Election and more. Practical, interactive and immediately useful. Together, these initiatives reflect what CNA is all about: creating meaningful building blocks that strengthen individual organisations, lift the sector as a whole, and ultimately contribute to a stronger, more resilient Aotearoa New Zealand society. Five ways your organisation can get involved: Enrol your board in Tick for Governance to build confident, capable governance. Use WiseComply to simplify and stay on top of compliance obligations. Attend Sharp Strategies sessions to get direct, expert guidance on tough issues. Share CNA resources with staff and volunteers to build capability across your organisation. Make CNA learning part of your ongoing planning, not just a one-off fix. As we head into 2026, now is the perfect time to invest in your people, your governance and your future. Engage with CNA, use the tools on offer, and let’s keep building a stronger not-for-profit sector — together. In the words of a wise, wise man – “To Infinity, And Beyond!”
Patrick reflects on CNA’s 2025 highlights, including the 50th anniversary, membership growth, and ways members can strengthen advocacy in 2026.
