How to Write a Great Fundraising Letter

Obtaining a donation from an organization, company or individual can be a delicate task. There are many charities looking for donations and you must be able to convince potential donors that your goal is most worthy of their time and money.

Learn how to put together a strategic and convincing fundraising letter that will help you raise the funds you need.

1 – Write your introduction

Carefully study the recipients of your letter. 

Write only to those you think will be in a good position to help you and who understand the purpose of what you are doing. If someone is really not in a good position to contribute to your cause, then writing to them would be a waste of your time as well as theirs.

Personalize your introduction. 

If possible, choose a specific person to whom you can address your letter of donation. While To Anyone Interested is a good introduction, it does not require your reader to make a personal commitment to you and your cause. That being said, address your letter in an official manner, writing the recipient’s first name preceded by Mr. or Miss.

In addition to addressing your email to a specific person, demonstrate in your introduction that you know the work they do. The most effective way to do this is to explain the link between what you need and why you are writing specifically to them. For example,

Grab the attention of your player. 

Begin your letter with an anecdote or question directly related to your cause. Try to emphasize the importance of your cause at the beginning of the letter, so that your reader will want to read on as soon as possible. 

2 – Apply for funding

 Explain the project you want to carry out. 

Explain how this project could improve a situation or the living conditions of others.

This project must be feasible. Although ending world hunger, for example, is a noble vision, it is not necessarily a feasible vision for your personal project. Ending the famine in your neighborhood would be a more realistic vision for the realization of which your reader could imagine playing an important role.

Be very specific about how you think the people or organization you are writing to could help you. Tell the potential donor exactly what his or her money or donation could be used for and the impact it could have on your project as a whole.

Opinions differ on whether you should specify the amount they should donate. Some experts believe that you should not define the amount they should donate unless you have in mind a specific item or service for which you know the cost with certainty. 1] Others think that you should define several different amounts to choose from, with the lowest amount generally being offered. This makes it easier for the donor, since he or she no longer has to think about or debate the amount to donate.

Tell the recipient what could happen if he or she does not contribute. 

This is where you will need to show some guilt in order to get your reader to donate. There will be real consequences if they don’t donate, so tell them what those consequences are. However, be sure to reassure the reader that with a simple donation, these negative repercussions could easily be avoided. 

3 – Writing the closing remarks

 Thank the donor in advance. 

Here you must be careful not to be overly presumptuous while assuming that your cause is important so that the recipient will be more likely to make a donation.

    If you want to use a small touch of light, thank your reader for the moment of attention he or she has given you. It shows them that you understand that their time is precious and that you are thoughtful.

 Reiterate why their donation is important. 

You’re using your time and energy to work on your cause, so be sure to explain why you think it’s worth investing your time and the other person’s time and money. This is where you can really say why you personally feel it is important for your potential donor to contribute to your cause. 

Conclude with an appropriate greeting. 

Close your letter of application for funding with a professional greeting followed by your name. It would also be a good idea to insert a title under your name describing your place in the charity or, in the organization you represent, so your reader knows you have the authority to solicit donations.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Funding Requests

In case you are sending your letter by email, be sure to type your name, but also write it by hand. As with all crowdfunding and fundraising efforts, you need to make sure you have what it takes to stand out from the crowd, make making sure your business model makes sense.

This proves to your reader that the letter is a personal request and not just a standard letter.