Fundraiser Ideas and Events » Writing Fundraising Letters

How to Write A Donation Request Letter For An After School Program

FundraisingIP.com — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:12:35 +0000

An important consideration for a donation request letter to members of your community for an after school program is to keep its audience in mind: Not everyone who receives your letter has children and not everyone who receives your letters is going to understand the need for after school programs.

Whether your program is teaching kids about growing vegetables in a school garden, playing sports, or art for the purpose of emotional healing, the challenge is the same: to make potential donors understand the importance of your program, even if they don’t have children or don’t feel it’s important.

(More about donation request letters, including free to copy sample donation request letters.)

Helping your potential donor understand

Because not everyone understands the purpose of after schools programs you will have to explain. Launching directly into talking about your programs may make the topic too impersonal and distant from the reader’s experience. It may be better to start out with a specific personal story, or a detail about your program that many may not have thought of.

Because personal stories that talk about specific individuals who have benefited from such programs make the subject of after school programs more real, they take the reader from thinking about donating to a ‘program’ to donating to ‘individuals in need.’ Taking this a step further, give examples about how after school programs can ‘help the whole community’ and not just individuals. For example, after school programs may help kids stay in school, give them inspiration to achieve more and thus become highly productive members of the community.

Grab your reader’s attention

But before trying to get your message across, get your readers attention with a catchy opening. If someone takes the time to open your letter and take a look, he or she may not make it past the first few lines if there is nothing interesting or novel for them to read. A heartfelt or otherwise intriguing opening may just hold their attention for a few more lines. Make your letter worth their time.

Provide general details

Once the reader has a more personal involvement in the need for after school programs then you can give a brief but thorough general overview of what your after school programs do and who they are for. Relay this information only after you have tried to make your potential donors understand the importance of your after school programs. Do give enough details to show that you are running your group in a professional manner and that any potential donors can trust you will use their donations wisely.

Tell your potential supporters what their donation will do

Just as you made after school programs personal with individual stories, make it real again by telling the reader what their donations will do. You want your donors to know exactly what their money will be spent on. If they can imagine their money helping people in need then they will give it.

Keep asking for what you want

You do not want to overdo your requests for donations but do not be afraid to ask more than once. In fact, your requests should be spread throughout your letter so that the thought of giving stays in your readers’ minds. Ask from the beginning and ask after you make points about why these donations are so important. You need to find that delicate balance where you do not ask too often but you ask enough that your reader never forgets why they are learning how essential after school programs are.

A donation request letter for an after school program is an exercise in helping people understand. Not everyone knows why these programs are so important. You have to help them see just how much a donation to your after school program can help not just individuals, but also your community as a whole.

Year End Fundraising Appeal

FundraisingIP.com — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:30:27 +0000

Waiting till the end of the year to send a fundraising appeal isn’t always procrastination – it can actually help you raise more money! That is due to the fact that about half of all donations and about 40% of online donations come in at year end.

Why? Many individuals and companies wait till year end to take advantage of tax breaks and other tax advantages. By year end they know where they stand financially, how much they can afford to donate and how a donation could actually help them save money in other areas of their finances.

Not every donation incurs tax advantages though, because each individual’s and business’ tax situation is different. Also, if your group is not a registered non-profit, donations to your group are most likely not tax deductible. Take care to not make promises for tax advantages in your appeal.

We have lots of free-to-copy-and-paste fundraising letters posted on our site. To help put together your final fundraising appeal for year end that you can send out per mail, print in a newsletter, or other communications, consider the following resources:

Thank your supporters and add a request for a final donation for the year:

Specific fundraising requests:

Help for writing your fundraising letter:

Regardless if your appeal is sent via mail, newsletter, or Twitter, don’t forget to include clear and detailed information on how and where to make a donation. This is also important, if you send your supporters to your website to make a donation: A 2008 donorCentrics Internet Giving Benchmarking Analysis stated that on 17% of the fundraising sites tested, users couldn’t find where to make a donation! If your supporters can’t easily find where and how to make a donation, they may not make one at all.

How To Write A Donation Request Letter For Youth Arts And Sports Programs

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:39:41 +0000

Writing a donation request letter for youth arts and sports programs can be a tricky endeavor: Other causes that benefit kids and also schools often send out request letters as well, so your potential donors have probably seen letters just like yours many times before. So how do you get them to sit up, take notice, and donate? You have to make your letter different.

(More about donation request letters, including free to copy sample donation request letters.)

Use a personal writing style

It may be tempting to make your donation letter sound like an official school mailing but this may be the wrong way to go. You do not want your letter asking for donations for youth sports and arts programs to sound like an institution issuing a form letter to the unnamed masses but more like a personal letter from one friend to another, living in the same community.

Include the reader

A part of using a personal style in a letter such as this is including the reader. While it is the school or other organization that runs the arts and sports programs, the donor is an integral part and it’s important he or she feels important and needed. You can achieve this by addressing the letter to the donor by name. However, in this day and age of trying to protect one’s personal information, it may be a good option to not use a person’s name. To test this for yourself, send your letter with the name to half your mailing list and a version of your letter without a personal name to the other half of your mailing list. Then measure your results. (This is also called A/B or split testing.)

It is important to be personal however, if you use a name or not. Use the word “you” often to indicate that you are in fact talking directly to the reader. The best donation letters use this technique. To write and sign the letter, consider choosing a person who regularly deals with the public and whose name may be familiar to your potential donors.

Make it an emotional cause

People respond when you bring their emotions into the matter. In the case of asking for donations for youth arts and sports programs this means talking about the students who will benefit from these programs. But don’t stop there.

Include personal stories of individual students or graduates of the program. If you want to get your readers’ emotions involved then you have to make the cause real. Talking about students as a whole is fine but a bit abstract. Adding some specific examples takes your ‘general good cause for kids’ to one that supports real students whose lives have been bettered by these programs. (If you’re planning on using names make sure you get proper permissions and releases.)

Show that your program also serves the community as a whole

Let your supporters know how their donations will not only help make the lives of students in their neighborhood better, but how their donations will also help and affect the community as whole: when students are inspired, they will stay in school longer and receive a diploma, go on to receive a higher education and in the end will be able to contribute to your community in positive ways. At this point, adding statistics from your program will not only be helpful, but are a must to support your point.

Detail the problem and offer hope

Tell you reader what will happen without sufficient donations. Explain any problems that will result or that are already manifesting. Show what will happen if you do not receive their support.

But always keep your requests hopeful. People do not want to be fighting a losing battle. They want to help save the day and to be on the winning team. Stay upbeat and let them know that their donations can and will improve lives.

Asking for donations for youth arts and sports programs is easy when you remember that your letter needs to focus on its audience as much as the cause that inspired it. Remember that people want to help. All you have to do is give them a reason.

A Sample Donation Request Letter To Current Supporter

FundraisingIP.com — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:15:20 +0000

Below is an example of a typical donation request letter from an organization to a current supporter (rather than a solicitation for new supporters). Feel free to copy it and modify it for your fundraising needs. For any other use, please contact us. (More fundraising letters and templates…)

Dear Mr.___,

First of all, I wanted to thank you for your faithful support. Over the years, [your group's name] has helped many people, but that doesn’t mean we ever forget anyone who has helped make that possible. You are one of those people. It doesn’t matter whether you have given $5 or $5,000 in the past—it takes all kinds of thread to make a quilt.

A quilt—a patchwork of material sewn together into a blanket—what an apt comparison to what we do here at [your group's name]. People whose lives have been ripped apart by cancer, made whole again through the generosity of people like you. People like Edward, diagnosed last year with a rare cancer.

But [your group's name] heard about his predicament, and we were able to help. Through cash and in-kind donations, we were able to raise the money needed for his last-ditch operation. As of this date in 2009, Edward is doing fine, back home with his wife and daughter, by all appearances a recovering cancer survivor. But it wouldn’t have been possible without folks like you.

Which brings me to the main point of this letter. We’ve recently been selected as the non-profit organization of the month by _______. That means that for every dollar that’s donated in May, ______ will match it with a dollar of their own. Obviously, we’re excited about this wonderful opportunity to have the chance to help twice as many people as we normally do!

But, like an unopened gift, if no one takes advantage of it, it is worthless.

Would you be able to help this month with a little extra? We’ve enclosed a special response card with all the necessary information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, so that all you need to do is write a check and drop it in the mail (we know you’re busy).

Or, if you’re online, you can go to our website [your group's website] and click on “Donate to the May Fundraiser” to make sure your donation counts toward the double impact.

Once again, thank you for your continued support, and know that Edward, and many others like him, may not be alive today were it not for you.

Sincerely,

__________

P.S. Please accept my personal invitation to join us for the annual [your group's name] Banquet in _________ on _________ from 6:00-8:00 PM. I’d love to see you there!

————

The response card should have information about who to make checks out to as well as suggested amounts for donation. Break it down for potential donors: “$25 buys 4 turkey dinners/$50 buys 10 turkey dinners/$100 buys 25 turkey dinners”.

The SASE (Self-address stamped envelope) is always a good idea if your organization can afford it, because it’s one less step for people to have to do themselves. Consider pre-printed envelopes so that you’re only charged for the mailing if people use the envelope, rather than wasting a stamp in each mailing.

Sample Fundraising Letter For An Event

FundraisingIP.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:27:19 +0000

The following is a sample donation request letter to a corporation for an event (a carnival-type festival). Feel free to copy it and modify it for your fundraising needs. (More fundraising letters and templates…)

Event Fundraising Committee

Dear …,

Do you remember going to the … Festival when you were a kid? I know I do. It was the first time I tasted cotton candy; the first time I rode the Ferris Wheel; even the first (real) date I ever went on! In fact, the … Festival has been creating memories for people, young and old, for more than 40 years.

This year’s … Festival is going to be bigger and better than ever, with a whole theme park devoted to rides, guests from all over the world at the Grandstand Tent, and of course, lots and lots of wonderful food.

But our … Festival wouldn’t be possible without corporate sponsors. It is only through partnerships with local companies that we are able to provide such high-quality entertainment at such a low price. In return, the Festival is able to offer high-profile advertisement to corporations on a variety of levels.

This year’s Festival will have three levels of corporate sponsorship available to partners this year. Each level will have increasing amounts of exposure and free advertisement included as part of the sponsorship package.

• Silver—$1,000. Your company name/logo to be featured in all printed advertisements for the … Festival and on all banners at the … Festival grounds.
• Gold—$5,000. Same as above, plus a free 30-second television spot to be shown during … Festival week, plus a free booth for your company to use during the Festival.
• Platinum—$10,000. All of the above included, plus exclusive rights to be listed as the primary sponsor for … Festival in all publications, advertisements, and media.

Would your company be interested in participating as a partner at one of the above sponsorship levels?

I know that together, we can make this year’s … Festival the best yet, and make wonderful memories for a generation to come at the same time.

Yours truly,

…
Chairman

P.S. Thank you for supporting us in the past. We couldn’t do it without you.

———————

Writing a fundraising letter to a corporation is only the beginning. Call about a week later, but no more than two. As you go along, be sure to update the potential sponsor on the progress of the scheduled event. If they end up becoming a sponsor, be sure to send them a thank you letter as soon as you receive the money. If they call, make it a point to call back within 24 hours. You need to “court” your sponsors, and that means pay attention when they call.

After the event, when you’re exhausted from all the hard work that’s finally come to fruition: you’re not done yet! Send out a final letter updating them on how the event went, how much money was finally raised, etc. Be sure to include pictures, if possible pictures with their company name in it. Cultivate your sponsor relationships, and keep asking yourself: how would you like to be treated if you gave a donation to a cause? Treat others how you’d like to be treated and you’ll find that next time you need to raise money, it will be that much easier.

Template For A Donation Request Letter

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:40:16 +0000

If you need some help with a donation request letter for your group, feel free to use the following template to create your own letter.

(>> More donation request letters and thank you letters.)

[date]

Dear [potential donor],

Thank you for your generous support in the past. I don’t take lightly the fact that you have set aside some of your hard earned money—even harder in times like these—to support [your cause].
>> Comment: Start by thanking the donor, if it’s someone who has given before. <<

Do you love stories? I know I do. And I want to share with you a story of how your support, and the support of others across this great nation of ours, has helped to [include a personal story here of how their donation has made a difference to your cause].
>> Hook the potential donor with an opening line that grabs their attention. Including a personal testimony or story is always a good idea.<<

In fact, it was this story that motivated us at [your cause] to clarify our goals as an organization so that we can be most effective at what we do. Keeping [your story] in mind, we came up with these three issues that we feel are really at the heart of what we do at [your organization].

1. Goal # 1 >>List specific goal(s) no more than three current goals.<<
2. Goal # 2
3. Goal # 3

In a perfect world, you could read this letter and give again when you had the extra cash. But that's not the world we live in, is it? Rarely does an opportunity to do good come along when we're well-prepared for it. There is some good news, though. Right now, [name of company] has offered to match, dollar-for-dollar, every donation that is given to [your organization]. That means that with your gift of $50, you have the chance to make a $100 impact!
>>A sense of urgency is important.<<

And cliché though it may be, the truth is that opportunities like this don't last long. We have only [period of time - give a specific deadline.] to make the most of this chance.

So the question for you today, [donor name], is: Can you give again? [Comment: Ask directly for the donation.] The need is great, the cause is worthy, and the battle is raging. I could tell you about the free duffel bag you'll receive for a gift of more than $25, or about the [special privileges] our Partners receive…but you and I know that most people don't give for that reason. People give because they value the cause given to.

And our cause here at [your organization] has not changed. We are more focused than ever. The need is greater than ever, and the chance to make an impact even greater still.

We've done all we can to make it easy for you. Just put your donation in the enclosed pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope, and drop it in the mail.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

[your name]
[your organization]

P.S. For the price of a meal out, $25, you can [list something significant that can be done with that amount of money].
>> Always include a P.S.—in this case suggesting an amount. <<

How To Write A Donation Request Letter For An Animal Charity

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:28:54 +0000

Sending out a donation request letter to members of the community for an animal charity can be a daunting task. Letters asking for donations are sent out all the time by various animal charities and groups, so how do you make yours stand out? How do you make yours successful? Just remember that the importance lies not only in the words that you use but in the meaning behind them. (For more writing tips and sample fundraising letters, click here.)

Begin With The Details

Before people even think about donating money, they like to know where their money is going. Larger charities can rest on their famous names while smaller and newer ones cannot. Your best bet is to clearly spell out what any donated money will be spent on. In the case of your animal charity, be specific: mention how this money will be used to help keep strays off the streets, how it will be used to rescue dumped puppies and so on. Explain how this money will be spent to help animals live better lives.

You may not have a monetary goal in mind and instead just be trying to raise as much as possible, but having a tangible figure for how much you want to raise helps to make your need more real for potential donors. You’ve heard it before: unfocused goals tend to yield unfocused results. Having a specific amount of money that you are trying to raise will not only motivate donors but will motivate you and all those who work with you to try harder to reach it.

Give Those Details Meaning

Giving the readers of your letter the details right off the bat lets them know exactly why you are sending out a letter. Once they know what you are asking for, you can begin to explain why you are asking for it. Now is a good time to describe the plight of animals who do not receive your help.

Talk about the strays and the dumped puppies, the dark reality, the reason why your group was created. Don’t be overly dramatic – just be honest. These animals are looking at rough and possibly short lives without organizations such as yours. Give your readers honest insight into this situation.

Now you can again talk about what you can do. This may be a good place to list the accomplishments of your organization thus far while stating your commitment to expand your efforts to help as many animals as possible. Talk briefly but clearly about any special programs that donations will help fund or how donations will provide a boost to your existing programs and activities.

The Closing

In the closing be direct, be honest, and be sincere. Nothing is more appealing than a genuine appeal to help those in need. Convey that you care and that you need help to carry on your work. Tell your readers exactly what they can do to help you to make the lives of animals in your area better.

Sending out letters to ask for donations for your animal charity is an action that needs to come from the heart. People have seen many letters from charities before. Make yours unique by being completely honest about what you want, why you want it, and how many animals will be spared difficult lives and cruel fates because of your efforts.

Thank You For Donation Letter – To Parents

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:47:08 +0000

Following is a sample thank you for donation letter to be sent to parents; feel free to copy and customize this thank you letter with your own group’s specific information as needed. It may cost time, money and extra effort to produce a ‘thank you’ for donation letter, but it is important to thank your supporters! Don’t miss the opportunity to thank your supporters by direct mail, e-mail, on your website, or through your newsletter.
(More fundraising letters…)

More “free-to-copy” sample thank you for donation letters to follow!

Dear Parent,

I know that sometimes it can seem the requests for donations never stop, but this letter is for a different purpose:

To say, “Thank you!”

I wrote to you previously to thank you for all your support of OurHighSchool, and to illustrate to you the budget shortfall we were facing.

Today, I am happy to report that although not all of the parents were able to give the suggested $50.00, others were able to give more than that, and we were able to meet the budget for most of the main programs we greatly value and depend on here at OurHighSchool! Music programs were able to carry on, art projects were followed through, and field trips were taken to educate students outside the four walls of the classroom.

So, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, and to let you know that through your generosity, the lives of our students here at OurHighSchool have been so very positively impacted!

I’d also like to invite you to an informal exhibit at our school:

Please stop by at the art department at our school on [date] to visit an exhibit organized by our students, that includes photos, videos and art of all the projects your donations have supported this year. Our students will be available to guide you through the exhibit and answer questions about the works displayed. Don’t miss this great opportunity to see what your generous donations have made possible this year! (Please RSVP at…)

Your latest gift of $100 to OurHighSchool may be tax deductible; please retain this letter as your receipt. If you have any questions about taxes concerning your gift to OurHighSchool, please consult your tax professional.

Once again, I want to say, thank you so much for your generous donation! I hope to see you at the exhibit and be able to shake your hand and thank you personally! Until then,

Yours truly,

[Volunteer Leader, Principal]

Thank You Letter For Donation – Community

FundraisingIP.com — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:32:55 +0000

Following is a sample ‘thank you’ letter for donation to be sent to a community.

Feel free to copy and customize this thank you letter for donations with your group’s specific information as needed.

(Are you looking for a different kind of fundraising letter?)

Dear neighbor, (citizen, parent)

Do you remember receiving a letter from us a few months ago, asking for your help in sending a group of students to the Grand Canyon?

Well, I am writing today for a different reason: to say thank you.

We were able to raise enough money for our trip to the Grand Canyon and it was a great success. Every single student that was able to go on the field trip was so grateful, and so excited, that no words I can express can even come close. However, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I have enclosed a copy of the group picture we took while we were there. Looking at the faces in this picture—the joy that is seen there is priceless. That joy is what you and your kind donation have accomplished here at OurMiddleSchool.

But don’t hear it only from me. The parents at our school are grateful also—so grateful, in fact, that they have organized a special evening for the citizens of our community that were able to give towards this trip. Please find enclosed an invitation card for this special event on Friday, November 22nd, for you and a guest.

Come and meet some of the people whose lives you have impacted. See the smiling faces for yourself, and shake the hands of students who will never forget your generosity!

As a special ‘thank you’ to you, our students have put together a collection of pictures and videos from the trip for you to view and are also displaying their science projects related to this trip. It’ll sure be an educational and entertaining evening and we hope that you’ll agree with us that your donation was put to good use!

If you can’t come to this special evening, know that we deeply appreciate your giving, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

By the way, as I mentioned in the donation request letter, your gift to OurMiddleSchool may be fully tax-deductible. This letter should be sufficient as a receipt for your gift of $100, but please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

We would like this to be the beginning of a continuing relationship, and so let me extend an invitation to you: if you would like to come visit the school here, the door is always open. Just stop by the school office and obtain a visitor permit, and it will be our privilege to show you around the school and introduce you to the great things that are happening here at OurMiddleSchool.

Thank you again, and I hope to see you on Friday the 22 at our school!

Leader of Parent Organization, OurMiddleSchool

Note: Adding a ‘PS’ here about an upcoming fundraiser, or other giving opportunity might be effective.

Find more ‘free-to-copy’ fundraising letters and resources here…

Let It Be Known… Recognizing Charitable Donors

FundraisingIP.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:35:45 +0000

There is no worse feeling for a donor than to feel unappreciated for the money or in-kind donations they have generously donated to a fundraising organization. At the very least, a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ letter is in order. No doubt, however, that your organization can do even better. And you should. Because a little appreciation can go a very long way toward building a lasting relationship and ongoing fundraising support. Not to mention, it’s just the right thing to do.

Tangible Donor Recognition

A personal thank you letter, not a blanket form letter, should be the very first thing you do to thank your donors. And while this is elemental and necessary, it may be not enough for significant donor support. One good turn deserving another, make sure to let everyone else know how generous and caring your donors were – unless of course they’d like to remain anonymous.

There are some very good and lasting ways to publicly recognize donors, some of which may be built right into your fundraising campaign. Popular donor recognition methods include:

Donor Recognition Plaques

You can either present a personalized and engraved plaque to the donor, or have a plaque made which lists all donors, perhaps at different levels of donation such as ‘Silver Donor’, ‘Gold Donor’, and ‘Platinum Donor’. Make sure group donor plaques are prominently displayed so that the public is aware of the donor’s support.

Donor Walls

Each donor can be represented on a donor wall by having their names printed or engraved into a tile that is set as part of a large, lasting commemorative. You can also give donors the option of having a quotation or phrase engraved with their names.

Brick Fundraising Campaigns

Brick fundraisers take care of donor recognition within the fundraiser. During a brick fundraiser, individual bricks are sold for a set amount to donors. The donor’s name is engraved on the brick or on a plate set into the brick. The bricks are then used to build a lasting structure such as a garden wall, walkway, path, or section of a building.

Donor Gifts

For high-figure fundraising campaigns, donors can be presented with a gift of some sort which shows your appreciation. To make it even better, make the presentation public so that all can appreciate their good deed.

Hosting Donors

A good way to appreciate a lot of donors at once is to host a donor appreciation night or party of some sort. This way, you have a semi-public opportunity to show your thanks, and donors can co-mingle.

Great Donor PR

Good publicity is often the impetus behind charitable donations. Businesses and citizens want to be known as philanthropic and generous souls and organizations. They will happily give to boost their good name, but they want to reap the benefits. In the case of a business, the benefit is increased patronage. Send out news releases and ask local papers to write up an article detailing the generosity of your most avid supporters.

Donor recognition may at first be the last thing on your organization’s fundraising mind, but it is an absolute necessity. Appreciating donors puts a great face on your organization and ensures continued support in the future.

Words: The Least Effective Communicator?

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:50:50 +0000

The following is a guest post by Lori L. Jacobwith who has been a fundraising coach for over 20 years. Thanks for your insights Lori!

Words

We read them and hear them all day long. On the radio, TV, websites, Tweets via Twitter, in newspapers, at meetings, in the hallway, on the elevator, from our children, spouse, friends, staff, co-workers. It’s endless. Words are used to convey what we are thinking and what our organization needs or wants.

Words are utterances that stand for feelings, thoughts and experiences.

The reality is words can be one of the least effective ways to communicate because it’s so easy to misinterpret them, ignore them or if not chosen carefully, cause us to simply not care.

vs. Feelings

When you want people to get sense of what you are conveying, use as many forms of communication as possible: music, silence, photos, a drawing from a child; anything that will cause the other person to feel something.

I’ve heard Lenore, one of my clients in Minneapolis, talk about her organization many times and how the need for more shelter space for homeless families is growing. Then just last week she shared with me an audio tape of the sounds of phone calls that her organization received on their voice mail. Lenore prefaced the audio by sharing the fact that they now receive an average of 300 phone calls a month which is an increase of 250 a month in the last year.

Then I heard the calls. The sounds of babies crying in the background. Fathers or mothers sounding embarrassed and pausing in fear or fatigue during the message. The silences and the noises combined with the words caused me to feel uncomfortable and even guilty that I was leaving to go home to my own warm, safe house with lots of space in it.

I have carried around that feeling with me for days and ever since I’ve been working to send help to that organization. The words alone didn’t cause me to carry that uncomfortable feeling around. It was the sounds, and the urgency of the voices and the silences that did.

Feeling is one of the ultimate tools of knowing. By causing your donors and volunteers to feel something, they WILL take action. Just be sure you have been clear about what action you want them to take. Is it to make a contribution? Then ask for one, with a specific amount that will make a difference. Do you want them to volunteer? Tell them where to sign up and give them a specific task to volunteer for.

Get people into action with short, clear, bold communication that inspires and causes them to feel your work.

“Feeling is the language of the soul.” – Neale Donald Walsch

About Lori:
With more than 20 years of public speaking, professional fundraising, coaching and training experience, Lori L. Jacobwith helps people identify, understand and overcome their challenges around fulfilling their fundraising goals. Lori has helped hundreds of organizations collectively raise more than $80 million from individuals…and counting.

Lori recently launched an annual membership at LoriJacobwith.com that provides development professionals with access to Lori’s coaching and training through web-based applications. In spring 2009 Lori’s tips booklet “Nine Tips for Successful Individual Donor Campaigns” will be published.

You can also follow Lori on Twitter.

Five Tips For Grant Writing Success!

FundraisingIP.com — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:05:28 +0000

The following is a guest post by Miranda Ash who is a Grants Fundraiser for Music In Hospitals. Thank you for the tips Miranda!

As the economic downturn begins to bite charities and NGOs, the need to approach trusts and foundations for support is increasing. Grants fundraising takes persistence, determination, imagination and creativity! Here are my top five tips to writing successful grant proposals:

1. Do your homework

These days most Grants research is conducted online and you can’t always be sure that the information is correct. Check several sources for the most up to date contact information. There are a number of online databases available e.g. Guidestar.org, or Trustfunding.org.uk in the UK, where you match your criteria against a list of funders. Whilst these databases don’t hold information for every trust or foundation, they offer a great place to start. The databases are usually paid subscription services and the costs are not always appropriate for smaller charities with limited funds. If this is the case, contact your local Community Foundation who will be happy to run a search for you.

All too often charities miss out on funds because the grant writer failed to read the funder guidelines carefully – so make sure you read and re-read guidelines to ascertain eligibility.

2. Pick up the Phone

Take the plunge and pick up the phone! A huge part of grants fundraising is about nurturing relationships with your funders and this begins with making contact. A friendly conversation to establish whether or not your project is of interest begins the relationship and starts the application process off on the right foot. And, if you find out you’re not eligible then the phone call has saved you time! Be wary because some funders do not welcome phone calls and may prefer correspondence by post instead.

3. It’s all in the cover letter!

The cover letter is probably the most important part of the proposal as it’s the first bit of paper the funder will glance at when they open your envelope. The letter should introduce your charity, summarize your background, the project, how much funding you are requesting and provide compelling reasons for support. No more than one page.

4. Word crafting

Grants proposal documents come in all shapes and sizes, but following the ‘less is more’ principle means that you shouldn’t use more than 3 to 4 pages of printed text. Add a cover sheet which includes the project title and perhaps a photo or two illustrating your work. Make it look thoroughly professional!

The document should reiterate the charity background, beneficiaries of your work, monitoring and evaluation tools, research, details about how your charity is funded, specific project details (including a budget) and show your contingency plans. Use sub-headings and format the page appropriately. Include feedback quotes from recent projects as these will add credibility to your proposal.

Craft your words carefully. Much of your ability as a grants writer is about word crafting – painting a picture without waffle!

Above all, keep your proposal SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-based.

5. Check, check, and check again

Once you’ve finished writing, print the document and read it through several times checking grammar, spelling and content. It’s always helpful to ask another person to review the document as a fresh pair of eyes will often spot gremlins!

Whilst these tips are by no means exhaustive, they will help start you on the road to grants fundraising success. Happy writing!

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About Music in Hospitals
Music in Hospitals is a charity which was established in 1948 and our mission is to improve the quality of life for adults and children with all kinds of illness and disability through the joy and therapeutic benefits of professionally performed live music in hospitals, hospices, day care centres, special needs schools, nursing and residential homes throughout the UK. In 2008 we celebrated our 60th Anniversary.

All concerts are given by small groups of professional musicians who are selected by audition for their high standard of musicianship, communication skills and breadth of repertoire enabling them to relate to each member of the audience, whatever their age, illness or disability. Our musicians’ sensitive approach and wide repertoire enables them to respond to individual needs and to encourage audience participation, making everyone feel the music is especially for them.

Music in Hospitals has received the CLASSIC f M’s Red ƒ award in recognition for its outstanding contribution to music.

For further information, please contact
Miranda Ash
Grants Fundraiser
Miranda@music-in-hospitals.org.uk
Tel. +44 (0)1932 260810

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To Use Or Not To Use: Grant Writers

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:39:57 +0000

In the world of grant-writing, there are good reasons and not-so-good reasons to hire a professional grant-writer. Take some time to evaluate whether or not it makes sense for you to hire one.

Teach Your People How To Fish

The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is also a good way to approach grant-writing proposals. Unless you anticipate receiving a grant that will sustain your organization for the remainder of its lifetime (not likely), grant-writing will be needed again and again.

If you’re just starting out, hiring a grant-writer is not a bad idea because you need someone to teach the basics, like how to put together a budget and frame your organization’s needs in a way that will appeal to foundations. What’s important, however, is that you have at least one member of your organization (two or three would be better) to walk alongside the professional grant writer, watching everything they do and preparing to do it themselves one day. That way, at some point, you can tell the professional his services are no longer needed, and the staff of your organization can take over the responsibilities of writing regular grant proposals.

Get To Know The People That Know The People

Although its true that foundations fund causes and organizations that are in line with their stated purposes, it’s also true that many organizations receive grant applications do so solely on a recommendation-only basis, or at least that recommended applicants stand a much better chance.

Say, for example, a foundation receives 800 applications for a grant of 2 million dollars, all of which are in line with the foundation’s mission. Joanne in pre-screening needs to reduce that list to 15 organizations for the board to consider. How does she do it? One way is to look at groups that have come to the foundation from sources she trusts – like recommendations.

Once your organization has gotten on a few of those shortlists, you can actually continue reapplying on your own, without the help of the professional grant writer, because he has already given his recommendation. Don’t be confused by professional grant writers that promise millions of dollars through esoteric “connections.” Chances are the more free money is promised, the less likely that connections only are required (at least legally) and that you are about to get taken for a ride.

Are You Having One Of Those Weeks?

Sure, you should have seen this coming. Yes, you could have planned better. But nevertheless, there are four grant proposals due this week and all of them are half-finished. Better to hire somebody to help than to miss a valuable opportunity at earning some cash, and let all the work done so far go to waste. Just remember next time to set your goals more realistically when it comes to completing tasks for the grant applications, and don’t be afraid to involve co-workers.

Asking for money is a major part of what non-profit and educational organizations do, and even to a lesser degree, small businesses. Accept it, and learn to do it well.
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Write: Thank You For Donation Letter

FundraisingIP.com — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:07:20 +0000

A little thanks can go a long way towards making people feel appreciated and needed. When your organization relies on donations from others, a thank you letter can accomplish just that.

Fundraising does not stop when the drive is over, or when you’ve reached your donation goal. No good fundraiser is ever over until you’ve said your heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to all of those who made your objective a reality with their donations.

Showing, saying, and putting your thanks in the form of a letter is good public relations for you and for your generous donors. It shows donors you appreciate their gift, and that your organization is thoughtful enough to be appreciative. That in itself may be the very thing that keeps you on the list of worthwhile charities in the next fundraising cycle.

Assuming a donor knows you appreciate their donation is never enough. They might not feel appreciated, and might feel taken advantage of, if the ‘thank you’ isn’t timely and obvious. Sending a prompt, personal thank you letter for a donation is essential to maintaining a good reputation as an organization, and to procuring funds in the future.

Whenever possible, a hand-written thank you is far better than a typewritten letter, and form letters should only be used if strictly necessary (to a large number of donors for example). Following are the best things you can include in your thank you letters for donations to show donors and patrons you really care.

Be warm and personal. Form letters, templates, and stuffy, formal responses show little real appreciation. All they achieve is the formality of the required ‘thanks’; they may even make donors feel belittled. Just think ‘How would you feel?’

Make the letter more about your donor than yourself. This is about their compassion and generous donation, not about your well-run fundraiser.

Tell the donor about the good their donation did. Be as specific as possible to show the donor they had a real-world, tangible impact on the lives of others.

Use a conversational tone. Let the recipient feel as if you are face to face proclaiming your appreciation (which also means not overdoing it).

Offering reciprocal support. As a ‘thank you’ gesture, consider offering volunteers or facilities if appropriate.

Make the donor feel great about what they have just done for others.

End the letter with thanks again. Make sure your appreciation is what stays in the reader’s head.

It will help as well to keep one final thought in mind—no donor has to give you money. They do so because you have reached them in some way, and giving makes them feel better about themselves. Make sure your campaign reinforces that emotion, and you will put a great face on your organization, while building public relations and a future fundraising base.

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Sample Donation Request Letter To A Company

FundraisingIP.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:03:18 +0000

Following is a sample donation request letter to be sent to a company. Before you send your letter, make sure you call the company and find out exactly who to address this donation request to. It might be the owner, someone in the public relations department, community outreach office or other contact. It’ll be different for each company. (More donation request letters.)

Feel free to copy and customize this letter with your fundraising group’s specific information as needed.

(For any other use, please contact us first.)

Dear ____,

As someone who is in a leadership position at YourCompany, I know that you’re pressed for time. But please, could you give me your full attention for the next 30 seconds as you read this letter?

You see, the children at OurSchool would like to have a science fair this year. But you know how it is: government budget cuts, on top of too-small budgets in the first place, have combined to make it impossible for them to be able to do so.

Unless someone steps in to help them. And that’s where you come in.

The benefits of science fairs at schools are priceless: teaching children about the wonders of science and motivating them to learn about their world is one of the best ways they can learn about themselves and develop their interests, leading to future careers in engineering, biology, chemistry, and hundreds of other fields.

By helping the children at OurSchool to be able to have a science fair, you are not just helping them, but you’re also investing in the long-term future health of your community and even your company. A healthy, well-trained workforce is the most valuable asset at any company, and by helping our children to have the science fair they so desperately desire, you will be planting seeds for future employees loyal to your company.

Not only that, by contributing you will also be receiving free advertising and positive public relations in the community. That’s because we will post your name in the program for the science fair, as well as on any materials produced promoting the science fair. To top it all off, we will have a “Partner Wall,” bearing the names of all the contributors to the science fair, which will be prominently displayed at the science fair itself.

By contributing towards the science fair at your local school you can help our children immeasurably, receive free advertising and promotion for your company and feel good about it all!

Would you please help? We’re planning on holding the science fair in January inside the school gymnasium. By then we need to raise a total of $_____, which will cover equipment rentals, presentation tables and chair rentals, printed materials like entry forms and flyers and ______.

Any amount you’re willing to donate will be greatly appreciated!

Please contact ______ at ______ to find out how we can work together to give our children the best science fair possible while giving your company the exposure it deserves for helping us out.

Hope to hear from you and thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

PTO President at OurSchool (and/or Principal signature)

PS: In lieu of a financial donation, we’d be happy to accept any donation in form of donated items or services. Please contact _____ to find out what items or services will be needed for the fair.

Please note: Our PTO has obtained 501(c)(3) non-profit status, which means that donations are fully tax-deductible (depending on your individual tax situation).

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Find more ‘free-to-copy’ sample donation request letters and resources here…
Shop for top-rated fundraising books, incl. books with sample fundraising letters…

Fundraising Books

FundraisingIP.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:33:57 +0000

Over the years we’ve come upon lots of useful fundraising information that we’ve been sharing with you through our website. We’ve also come across some great books on different aspects of raising funds and have decided to start compiling a list of our favorite fundraising books and share it with you! You’ll find books with in-depth information on writing fundraising letters, running your non-profit and of course a fundraising book from the popular “Dummies” series.

Do you know of a great fundraising book that has been of immense help to you? Please tell us! If we publish your recommendation we’ll add your name and your organization’s URL to our site which will help you get more visitors to your site.

The books that made it onto our list are some of the most popular fundraising books and also have the highest customer reviews on Amazon.com:

Excerpt from this book:

"It’s downright unnatural. Your fundraising letter must persuade the recipient to take an action that much of humanity thinks peculiar: to give money away.

…Forget your organization’s needs. Instead focus on the needs, the desires, and the concerns of the people you’re writing to. Your job is to motivate them."

Includes: "Sixty Successful Outer Envelope Teasers, Fifty-four Strong Leads For Fundraising Letters…" and many more tips for writing a perfect fundraising letter.

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Excerpt from this book:

" ‘But I don’t have time to read a book on fundraising!’ If that phrase could have come from your lips, you’re not alone. I’ve worked in some of the hardest-to-fund nonprofits around, and fully appreciate that you may be reading this while simultaneously gulping down lunch and photocopying a grant proposal. But you probably know in your heart…"

Includes: "Developing Your Fundraising Plan, Attracting Individual Supporters, How to Keep the Givers Giving…" and much more to make your fundraising efforts a success!

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Excerpt from this book:

"The mission of your organization isn’t merely important – it’s everything. It describes your noble objectives and the way you touch lives of those you serve – in a way unlike any other organization.

Your mission fuels motivation and ignites the passion. It provides the why that inspires every how. It is the roadmap, the signpost of your organizatio’s direction and destination."

Includes: "It Starts with Integrity, Mission is everything, Why People Give, Wear Your Business Hat…" to make your board as effective as it can be.

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Excerpt from this book:

"Fundraising folks have an old saying: "People don’t give to causes. People give to people with causes." This saying means that, in essence, you’re the important part. Your inspiration, your perspiration, your passion. So that brings us to the Big Question…

What are you passionate about?"

Includes: "Finding – and Winning Over – Donors, Assembling Your Fundraising Toolkit, Leveraging The Internet, On the Fundraising Campaign Trail, Ten Great Opening Lines…" Another great guide by the publisher of the ‘Dummies’ series!

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Excerpt from this book:

"Which would you rather have, if you could only choose from these two options:Someone who reads your stuff but never responds? Or someone who doesn’t read your stuff but sends you a gift? Obviously you’d choose the latter, as would anyone with a dollar goal to make. It’s not ideal, but it pays the bills. I bring up the distinction between reading and acting for an important reason having to do with your workload: to release you from the burden of worrying so much about writing newsletter articles, white papers, and other longer prose pieces."

Includes: "Why your fundraising communications fail to get the results you want; On the delicate subject of committee &board approvals…" This guide gets into the nitty gritty about anything communications related. Not just great for fundraising letters, but also for refining your group’s mission.

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Excerpt from this book:

"The word philantrophy comes from two Greek words meaning "love of people." In modern times this goodwill, or humanitarianism, is often expressed in donations of property, money, or volunteer time to worthy causes. Similarily, the word charity comes from a Latin word meaning "love" in the sense of uncoditional loving, kindness, compassion, and seeking to do good. The roots of these words remind us of the fundamental reasons for the work of most nonprofit organizations."

Includes: "Matching Fundraising Strategies With Financial Needs, When Everyone is a Volunteer, Launching Major Gift Campaigns…" This is a comprehensive guide that covers all aspects fundraising. Worth every penny!

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Excerpt from this book:

"Many organizations are finding it more difficult than ever to get excellent board members…

Therefore, a board should establish a Board Development Committee as a standing board committee. This committee would assume all the roles played by the Nominating Committee. It would have as its responsibility not only obtaining quality board members, but also keeping them."

Includes: "Writing Grants and Getting them Funded, Managing Grants Once You Get Them, Establishing an Outstanging Volunteer Program…" All the basics you need to know about keeping your nonprofit running smoothly.

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Excerpt from this book:

"Designing and producing an event – whether it be a meeting, corporate event, fund-raising gala, conference, convention, incentive or other special event – has been compared to directing a movie but is actually more like a live stage production. It is a high-wire act without the safety nects. Once your event starts there are no second chances. it’s done in one take and there are no dress rehearsals. You can’t yell "cut" and reshoot the scene. You are simply not able to predict the putcome – as you can from a movie script – of how your guests and suppliers will interact and react…"

Includes: "The First Steps: Initial Planning & Budgeting, Organization and Timing, Location Location Location…" Excellent advice on every aspect of planning and running an event.

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Excerpt from this book:

"Grant writing is one of those topics that seems very technical and esoteric, yet you probably already know more about it than you think you do. But before I go any further, let’s be clear about just what grant writing is and isn’t. Grant writing is the skill or practice of asking for money in the form of a grant from a foundation, corporation, or government agency by crafting a well-considered document (the proposal) that outlines how the money will be used, what receiving the money will accomplish and…"

Includes: "The Practice of Grant Writing, ABCs of Grants, Foundation Primer, Corporation Primer, Government Primer, Individual Donor Primer…" The ins and outs of what a grant is and how to write one to get it funded.

For the most up to date list, click over to our highest rated fundraising books page.

Fundraising Donation Request Letters – A Writing Guide

FundraisingIP.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:56:29 +0000

Donation request letters can be used as just one part of a fundraising campaign, or they can be the fundraising campaign in its entirety. Many organizations prefer to go the route of fundraising entirely through donation request letters because they

require few volunteers, but reach a large number of potential donors

directly target interested donors and supporters

are easily managed

involve little (monetary) investment

are a way to run a relatively quick fundraising campaign, while providing a means for continued financial support as well

However, there is somewhat of a downside to running a fundraising campaign through donation requests. The biggest drawback is that people today are inundated with mail and emails, and have little time to read it all. Even when they do open an unsolicited letter, they will often only skim it to find out if it is something they are interested in reading in-depth.

These hurdles can hinder your efforts some, but there are also ways to overcome them. Your best bet is to take your time to carefully craft your donation request letter. By being clear, concise and informative in your donation request letter, you’re setting yourself up for the best response to your fundraising campaign:

1. Identify yourself and make it obvious.
If readers don’t see a name or organization right away, they might write your letter off as just more junk mail. (Consider adding info like a short mission statement.)

2. Start with some good news, and keep focused on benefits, while still communicating your need.
For example, you might start off with how far your organization has come, or how much good you were able to do with the funds raised last year, or coming in ‘under budget’ on a successful fundraising campaign.

Continue to talk about how much more you could do, how many people could be helped, how much education could be improved etc. if you just had the financial resources to do so. Any quotes from previous donors, or beneficiaries can be very powerful and should be added as well.

3. Be specific with your needs.
State a dollar-figure goal for your campaign. You might even say how far away from that goal you are. You might also suggest donation amounts, (such as $5, $10, $50, $100, etc.); always state that any donation will be accepted and appreciated.

4. Outline a plan of action.
Tell donors specifically what you plan to do with their money.

5. Remind donors that they are your only income source.
They might be your only income source for your whole campaign, or for a specific phase of it.

6. Repeat yourself.
Ask for donations at least three times in your letter. These should come at the beginning, middle, and end of your letter so that people who are just skimming will catch on somewhere.

7. Be conversational.
You are a human asking another human for money. Make the donor feel that they are being talked to personally, not that they are an unknown money bag. Include personal quotations from people who have benefited from your fundraising in some way, or people who are in need and will be served by your efforts.

8. Make your donation request letter easy to read.
Edit, edit and edit again for typos, spelling errors and clarity. Break up too long sentences and too long paragraphs into easier to read bites. Use subheads, bullets and make use of white space.

9. Create urgency.
Tie in your request with a deadline, like an upcoming holiday, or a tournament for an athletic event.

10. Make it easy to donate.
Include a tear-off coupon and a stamped return envelope with your donation request. Make sure it ties in with your donation request letter and other materials included. If possible, also offer online donation possibilities and/or a phone number.

When you keep in mind the lives, desires, needs and concerns of your busy donors, and keep your ‘eye on the prize’, you will easily be able to craft a hard-hitting, productive donation request letter. By using these suggestions as your guide, your letter will be personal, informative, compassionate, and it will produce results, netting you big returns for your investment in time and energy.

Visit our Fundraising Letters category for information about donation request letters.

Need more help? Visit our fundraising books page with short reviews on popular books about writing fundraising letters and more.

The Power Of A Press Release

FundraisingIP.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:18:04 +0000

A fundraising press release can be a powerful, and possibly free marketing tool that can gain your group or organization big exposure.

The purpose of a fundraising press release is to alert appropriate media that a fundraising event is upcoming. Often, local newspapers and TV stations will include the information on a community services page. This is a key way to let your community know that a fundraising campaign is ongoing, and how they can support your organization.

In addition to advertisement, press releases are meant to intrigue the local media and gain coverage of your event. This helps your community learn about your group, its function and needs, and is especially helpful if the event is continuing or a second fundraiser will be held of which the writer can make mention.

The problem with press releases is that media do not always have space or time available to cover every fundraising event that is submitted to them. You can improve your chances for coverage by writing a good press release for your fundraiser.

Writing A Fundraising Press Release

Many editors will tell you that in order to gain a full-article write-up, you have to leave them a little something to learn. Your fundraising press release needs to give the essential specifics, but it should be short and sweet, and leave questions for a reporter to ask. Without the need for questions, there is not much reason for a reporter to attend the event or call to ask more, and a bigger opportunity will be lost.

Before writing, it is worth calling the editorial department of the target media to find out if they have guidelines for press releases. Generally though, there is a fairly standard format for press releases, and if you follow it, your chances of having it published and gaining fundraiser coverage will greatly improve:

Print the release on company or organization letterhead
Include contact information at the top of the page; organization name, address, phone number, and email
Center the words PRESS RELEASE, in bold caps, at the top of the page
Below, include the name and contact number for the press release contact person
Include a release date, or the words IMMEDIATE RELEASE in capital letters above the title of the release
Write a title in bold caps
Write the body of the press release; remember, short and to the point, and leave some interest factor, but include the essentials (who, what, when, where, why); begin the body with the city/town and date of the event; your headline and first paragraph should clarify your news; create a ‘call to action’ within the release to let supporters know their action is needed, and appeal to their sense of responsibility
Write a second paragraph elaborating briefly on the first, and add a human interest factor for supporters and media personnel to grab their interest
Be sure to write the press release in a professional and objective tone. Edit and proofread it until it is absolutely to the point and error free.
End the release by paragraph three; summarize the release, and include organization contact information here. Signal the end of the release with three ‘pound’ signs (###) centered below the last line
Timing; especially larger publications plan months ahead. Be sure to contact your target publications at least 6 months ahead of time to learn about deadlines for submitting your information

If your group has wide appeal and a website that allows you to collect donations, you should consider having your press release distributed through an online service like PRWeb or PR.com. The general rules for writing a press release are the same, but there are important details that need to be considered and differ among the different online press release services. Tip: Start reading press releases from other organization. You’ll quickly learn what will or will not work for your own group.

Advantages of online press releases are that you can include links to different pages on your group’s website and your release will be visible across the web, according to what kind of distribution plan you choose.

The disadvantage is that for a professional online service you’ll have to pay a fee. Tip: Sign up for the newsletter, or create a free account right away with one or two of the online services. You might get a discount offer just in time for your next press release.

Press releases are invaluable fundraising marketing tools. A well written press release creates great potential for outreach. Ensuring that one volunteer each year becomes skilled at writing press releases will gain lasting exposure for your fundraising group.

For more information on getting the most out of your press release, visit Increase Your Fundraising Campaign’s Media Coverage.

For more fundraiser marketing tips, browse through our “Marketing Your Fundraiser” category.

Sample Donation Request Letter To Parents

FundraisingIP.com — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:44:47 +0000

Following is a sample donation request letter to be sent to parents; feel free to copy and customize this letter with your school specific information as needed. (>> More donation request letters. For any other use, please contact us first.)

More “free-to-copy” sample donation request letters to follow!

Dear Parent,

First of all, let me say: Thank you. Thank you for your tireless support of your child in OurSchool. Through fundraisers, parent-teacher meetings, school sports, after-school activities, and everything else that happens in the course of a school year, you have shown your commitment to giving your child the best possible education. As we partner with you here at OurSchool for the education of your child, I want you to know, that your commitment does not go unnoticed.

It is partly because of the busy lives we all lead that I am writing. As you know, OurSchool customarily has a fundraiser in the first part of the school year to pay for things that are not fully covered by the school budget: art and music classes, field trips, science fairs, and so on. We also understand that parents are tired of having their kids sell fundraising products door-to-door and have come to question the status quo of such standards as candy fundraisers and car washes.

When discussing several alternative fundraising options at our school board meeting, one person proposed that we simply write to the parents and let them know the amount of our budget shortfall. We could ask each parent to contribute a little bit towards that amount, so that we can continue to offer the wonderful programs and extracurricular activities that OurSchool the highly respected school that it is.

And that brings me to you.

I wish I could tell you that we are raising money for a new program, or a special event. The reality is that we are raising money to simply continue the great programs we have been able to offer in the past: namely art and music classes, field trips and our annual science fair.

And partly out of consideration for you, one of our esteemed parents, and your valuable time, we have decided to ask if each parent could contribute $60 over the course of the next 3 months to help make up for where the state budget has fallen short.

Like I said, we’ve considered many options, but in the end, we felt that the parents at OurSchool have all given so much of their time already, the easiest and most convenient way to raise the needed money would be to just lay it at the parents’ feet and ask if we can all work together to share this burden.

“Many hands make light work,” so the saying goes. If each of the parents in the school can give an extra $60, we will have enough for all programs and extracurricular activities to carry on through the year.

I want to end this letter by thanking you again. Thank you for taking the time to read it, and whether you are able to give or not, know we deeply appreciate your dedication to your child and our school.

Sincerely,

Your Principal
Principal at OurSchool

Note: Include personal quotations from people who have benefited from your fundraising in some way, or people who are in need and will be served by your efforts. Place these quotes at the top, the bottom or in the side margins of the letter – maybe even in a different color – for maximum impact.

Find more ‘free-to-copy’ sample donation request letters and resources here…
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