Dear [First Name],<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope this letter finds you well. I am reaching out today on behalf of [Organization’s Name], a nonprofit dedicated to [nonprofit’s mission]. We believe that everyone deserves [nonprofit’s core values].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, we can\u2019t do this work alone. We rely on the generosity of donors such as yourself to fund our programs and make a positive impact in our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your donation will directly support [the specific programs or initiatives that the donor’s gift will support]. Whether it’s [a few specific examples of the impact that the donor’s gift will make], your gift will help us make a real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every dollar counts. Even a small gift of [suggested donation amount] can make a world of difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for considering making a gift to [Organization’s Name]. Together, we can positively change lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donate today [link to donate].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Name]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Title]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Nonprofit Organization’s Name]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You have to accomplish a lot in your appeal: explain your cause, demonstrate why it\u2019s important, and prove to your readers that their money will be best spent with you – all in a digestible, succinct way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Different Kinds of Fundraising Letters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s different kinds of fundraising letters; when you use them depends on what you\u2019re raising money for. Below, we\u2019ll discuss some of the most common types of fundraising letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Standard Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
First off, a standard fundraising letter is a type of fundraising letter sent out by charitable organizations to ask for donations. Generally, an effective donation letter will include an overview of your organization\u2019s work, a brief summary of what you\u2019re fundraising for (the issue), a heartwarming story, and a call to action that encourages your readers to give. They can be sent out at any time during the year as a standalone letter but you might also see them included in welcome packets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s an excellent idea to have a generic template on hand, they should still be personalized, donor-centric, and concise. Since you wouldn\u2019t communicate with a first time donor the same way you\u2019d communicate with a major donor, it\u2019s imperative to tweak the language depending on who the donor is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro Tip<\/strong>: Adding a P.S. is a simple but effective way to enhance the impact of your fundraising appeal and encourage readers to take action. Usually, it\u2019s the first thing that donors see, which can be especially helpful if they\u2019re skimming the letter. A P.S. is also a way to personalize the message and create a sense of urgency particularly when used to reinforce a deadline for donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising letters aren\u2019t only limited to nonprofits. Sometimes individuals find a need to fundraise whether it\u2019s for a life event or a personal cause that\u2019s near and dear to them. You\u2019ll likely encounter individual fundraising letters on crowdfunding campaigns that involve soliciting donations from a large number of individuals, often through social media and other online platforms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For compelling individual appeals that\u2019ll drive donations, spell out what you\u2019re fundraising for and why it\u2019s important to you. Since these letters are intended for other individuals (friends, family, coworkers, and strangers), you don\u2019t want to sound overly formal. Instead, make the tone of your letter friendly and relatable so that your reader gets excited about donating to your cause! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip: <\/strong>Include a photo to grab your reader\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volunteers are essential to any organization and many would not be able to move their mission forward without the help of dedicated individuals. To that end, nonprofits use volunteer request letters<\/a> to recruit more manpower and expand their capacity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A volunteer request letter should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip: <\/strong>If you\u2019re writing a letter to someone that has a history of volunteering with your organization, reference their previous involvement by thanking them for their service and asking if they’d be interested in volunteering again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corporate philanthropy<\/a> is a big thing. Many companies want to do good in their communities and you\u2019ve likely noticed that many big names out there have a dedicated corporate philanthropic arm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Corporate sponsorship<\/a> letters are used for soliciting companies to help raise funds for an event, project, or initiative. To be effective, corporate sponsorship letters must be personalized and tailored to the interests and values of the business being solicited. The letter should demonstrate a clear understanding of the business’s goals and objectives, and how supporting your organization can align with those goals. Moreover, you should include information about your organization, sponsorship rewards and incentives (AKA what sponsors will receive in exchange for their support) such as promotional items, advertising, or free tickets to the event. If you\u2019re approaching a company who has sponsored you in the past, definitely reference that in your letter and thank them for their past involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip: <\/strong>Emphasize how the partnership will be mutually beneficial for you and the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peer-to-peer fundraising<\/a> campaigns are one of the most effective ways for your nonprofit to raise money and spread the word about your mission online. Your supporters create personal or team campaign pages to fundraise on behalf of your cause by reaching out to their friends, family, and coworkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peer-to-peer fundraising letters<\/a> are used by your peer-to-peer fundraisers to raise funds. The letter should include the name of the fundraiser, why they\u2019re raising money, what the funds will be used for, the anticipated impact, and an ask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all of your supporters are aware that their employers offer matching gifts<\/a>, which is why it\u2019s important to encourage donors to take advantage of their employer\u2019s matching gift programs with a matching gift fundraising letter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These letters can outline how a donor can check for eligibility and send in a matching gift request. Highlight the fact that submitting this request will not be an additional expense on their part. Instead, let your donor know that it\u2019s an easy and free way for them to maximize the impact of their original gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To determine which of your donors qualify for a matching gift, refer to a matching gift database like Double the Donation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A school fundraising letter is a type of letter sent out by a school or other educational institution to solicit donations from parents, alumni, and other community members. The goal of this letter is to raise funds to support school-related programs, such as extracurricular activities, school supplies, and classroom technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When crafting a school fundraising letter, include a brief description of the school\u2019s mission and values, details about the specific programs and initiatives the funds will be used for, the impact a donation will have on the school and its students, and a strong call to action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faith-based organizations run on fellowship, faith, and funds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Church fundraising<\/a> letters are used to raise money on behalf of a congregation. They can be used to ask for general contributions or to fundraise for a specific initiative<\/a> (mission trip funding, charity item requests, church renovations, etc.). Depending on the need, church fundraising letters are typically sent to members of a congregation or community members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re hosting a silent, live, or in-person auction<\/a>, you\u2019re going to need to procure cool items for people to bid on. The elements of an effective auction item request letter includes a brief introduction to your nonprofit, key information about your event, why you\u2019re raising funds, what\u2019s in it for them, and a direct \u2018ask\u2019. Typically, auction item request letters will also include a donation form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep the doors open and the lights on, animal rescues rely on public generosity. Animal rescue fundraising letters focus on raising money to support abandoned or rescued animals. With a high saturation of animal-focused nonprofits out there, you\u2019ll need to make your fundraising letter unique and memorable. Similar to a standard appeal letter, include your specific fundraising goal and detail how the money will be used. For an animal rescue, the purpose could be to cover the costs of veterinarian bills or to replenish food and supplies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every donation counts, which is why thanking your donors<\/a> should be a top priority. An easy way to do that is to have a standardized fundraising thank you letter<\/a> that\u2019s sent to your donors after they\u2019ve given to your org. These letters should address your donor by name, highlight the impact of their gift, and let them know just how much you appreciate them. In addition to saying thanks, you want to be transparent by mentioning how your nonprofit is going to use the funds raised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to personalize your thank you letters so that your donors feel acknowledged; if this is a first-time donor, you want to retain them for a long time to come and a fundraising thank you letter is a great touchpoint to do that. For repeat donors, reference their previous contributions in your thank you letter. If there are other noteworthy details about their gift, include that too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> Send your thank you letter within 24-72 hours of receiving a donation. This lets your donors know that you\u2019ve received their donation and it makes them feel valued immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Persuasive writing convinces people to make donations<\/a>, plain and simple. If your fundraising appeal doesn\u2019t have a clear point of view, specific asks, and good storytelling, you are not going to convince people to donate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing good copy is hard. Here are eleven quick tips for crafting effective fundraising letters guaranteed to drive more donations<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t beat around the bush. If \u201cmoney\u201d is what you need, don\u2019t be timid about using that word in your fundraising letter. For example, \u201cyour support is crucial to helping us reach our goals\u201d sounds like a pretty vague statement. However, saying \u201cyour gift of $25 will help us provide 5 hours of individualized literacy tutoring\u201d is much more specific in communicating what you\u2019re actually asking for. Remember, if you don\u2019t ask clearly, you won\u2019t receive. Be direct about what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your audience, the tone of your letter matters. Generally, your donors should feel like you\u2019re both on friendly terms so use words like \u201cI,\u201d \u201cwe,\u201d and \u201cyou.\u201d To grab a reader\u2019s attention and make your message relevant to them, segment your audience. Include their preferred name and reference previous giving or engagement history. Not only will this improve your donor\u2019s overall experience when they\u2019re reading your letter but it increases the likelihood of them giving to you again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A fundraising letter shouldn\u2019t be a struggle to read. The first tip for readability is to mind your font. For print, it\u2019s recommended to stick with serif fonts and for email, use sans serif fonts. Double check that your fonts are sized appropriately. The larger the font, the easier it is to read and we recommend using at least 12 pt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, break up your text by leaving white space or by incorporating high-quality images. Large walls of text can put a strain on your reader\u2019s eyes, discouraging them from continuing to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, it\u2019s unlikely that your reader will read every word (it\u2019s true, I\u2019m guilty of skimming letters too). To make important things stand out, bold, underline, or italicize key phrases or sentences and use bulleted lists where appropriate. While it\u2019s not a hard and fast rule, it\u2019s generally good practice to limit your paragraphs to seven sentences or less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that there\u2019s an actual person reading your fundraising letter so you\u2019ll want to make it approachable. Ditch the big words and opt to keep your sentences concise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In case you didn\u2019t already know, Microsoft Word has a feature that will automatically calculate the readability and grade level of your fundraising letter. The Flesch reading ease score<\/a> measures how easy to read your text is. It\u2019s ideal to score between 70 to 80, which is equivalent to an 8th grade reading level. The higher the score, the easier your text is to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donors need to know why it is important for them to give now<\/em><\/a>. Demonstrate the immediate needs a donation will address. Include a deadline and any time-sensitive incentives (i.e. matching gift opportunity). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Connect the reader to your cause by telling the story<\/a> of a real person that their donation will help. Compelling stories are key to effective communication, drawing people in and allowing them to relate to the issue on a personal level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMeet Emma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When Emma was diagnosed with breast cancer, she felt overwhelmed and alone. She was struggling to navigate the healthcare system and didn’t know where to turn for support. That’s when she discovered the Cancer Support Network, a nonprofit that provides free counseling and support services to cancer patients and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Cancer Support Network, Emma was paired with a compassionate counselor who helped her to process her emotions and develop coping strategies. Moreover, she also attended support groups where she met others who understood what she was going through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to the Cancer Support Network, Emma found hope during a difficult time and was able to navigate her treatment with greater ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, Emma is cancer-free and regularly volunteers with the Cancer Support Network. Grateful for the support she received, she continues to provides comfort to others going through the same journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doesn\u2019t that just make your heart melt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/image-5.png\")
Individual Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Volunteer Request Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Corporate Sponsorship Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Matching Gift Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
School Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/image-1-1.png\")
Church Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Auction Item Request Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Animal Rescue Fundraising Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/image-2-1.png\")
Fundraising Thank You Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Write a Fundraising Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read our complete online guide here to learn how to write an effective and inspiring fundraising appeal.<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
More Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Be Direct<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Think About Your Audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Make it Easy to Read<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Use Approachable Language<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Emphasize Urgency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Tell an Engaging Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n