Is It Better To Start Asking People To Register For A Charity Event Very Early Or Should You Wait

Sending out fundraising letters might seem similar an onetime-fashioned way to ask for donations, but they can be extremely effective when written correctly!

If you've been looking for fundraising messages, await no further! Nosotros've got 6 of the most common fundraising messages that nonprofits should be sending out to their donors.

Hither'south what we'll be going over:

Donation Asking Messages
Church building Fundraising Letters
Private Fundraising Letters
Matching Gift Fundraising Letters
Sponsorship Letters
Donor Thank-You Letters

Tools we mention to support fundraising letter campaigns:

GivingMail
DonateKindly
Fundly
Double the Donation
Fundraising Letters

The power of directly mail service fundraising is ofttimes underestimated. Notwithstanding, with the right tools and tips, physical fundraising messages can be extremely effective for bringing in increased revenue. Allow'south jump correct in!

1. Donation Request Letters

Fundraising Letters - donation request letters

What are donation request letters?

Donation request messages are nonprofit fundraising letters that charitable organizations send out to private donors and/or prospects.

They can be sent on their own or included in a welcome packet that contains pamphlets, booklets, and boosted data. Typically, an effective donation request letter of the alphabet will include a summary of the issue you're addressing with the donations along with a specific call to action. This style, recipients can better understand the urgency behind the donation request and, hopefully, choose to partake in the entrada.

When should you use them?

Your nonprofit can use donation asking letters at whatsoever fourth dimension of the year! Nonetheless, they are particularly effective toward the cease of the calendar year when donors are determining their pre-tax season finances. People likewise tend to be more charitable in November and December, which means that your donation request letter has a better risk of encouraging a donation.

You can transport out donation asking letters to whatsoever of your donors, but these types of communications are amend received by older generations. While millennials respond to digital donation appeals, the baby boomer generation overwhelmingly prefers directly mail.

Bonus: We suggest giving donors the option to answer to your letters by mailing a traditional bank check or directing them to requite through your organization'due south website.

Case letter

Date

Your Proper name
Your System'south Name
Street
City, State ZIP

Dear [Donor'southward Name],

[Begin with an emotional appeal. A success story or a narrative that tugs on your donors' heartstrings hooks your readers. Continue it brusque, though!]

Our community/nation/world is facing [problem(s) your organization is trying to gear up]. While we are actively [insert current solutions your organization is attempting], we need your assist to make our efforts become fifty-fifty farther!

You lot can help us [solve the trouble yous're trying to set]. Your support is crucial to our efforts to [solve the problem].
If y'all're able, we'd dear it if you could make a donation of [amount] to help usa achieve our mission and [solve problem].

Thanks in accelerate for your contribution. Your donation will get toward [insert effort, accomplishment, or project].

Here are the ways you tin make a donation:

— Brand a donation online at [URL to donation page or crowdfunding campaign page]
— Call us at [phone number]
— Send a check in the pre-stamped envelope nosotros've included (no cash, please!)
— Text [keyword] to [text-to-give telephone number]

Thanks again!
Sincerely,

[Signature of an organizational leader]
[Typed name of organizational leader]

P.South. [Stop with an update about an upcoming result, volunteer opportunity, or other information]

2. Church Fundraising Messages

Fundraising Letters - church fundraising letters

What are church fundraising letters?

Church fundraising letters can accept many forms. They can exist used to ask for general church building-related contributions, but they can also exist used for specific fundraising efforts such equally:

Charity auction item requests.
Fundraising result donations.
Sponsorship requests.
Mission trip funding.
Church building funds.
Missionary support.

It'southward mutual for churches to send out fundraising messages to notify congregants when church events or other fundraising initiatives are occurring. These types of fundraising letters can be used to share the details—date, fourth dimension, location, etc.—of the outcome besides as encourage those who can't nourish to give in advance.

For our purposes, we'll be talking about a generic church building fundraising letter that you tin can apply to ask for full general contributions.

You can send church fundraising messages to members of your congregation or to community members, depending on your fundraising need.

When should you employ them?

You can transport out church letters whenever yous have a fundraising need! Churches rely on the generosity of their congregants to keep the doors open up and the lights on.

Of course, y'all shouldn't ship outalsomany church fundraising letters. Limit your letters to a few per year and rely on in-person appeals during a church service for the majority of your fundraising efforts.

Sample letter

Date

Your Name
Your Church'southward Name
Street
City, Land ZIP

Dear [Church Member'south Preferred Name],

Greetings! Nosotros hope this letter finds you lot well and that yous've had a relaxing, blessed holiday season. Considering you're an of import part of our church building family unit, we thought you'd want to know about our big plans for this new yr.

As y'all may know, our congregation is growing. Simply like any family, the more members you have, the more room you need. We're pleased to invite you to exist an important part of this exciting process!

This Sunday afternoon, [your church's name] is hosting a special issue to raise money for the brand new sanctuary and bell belfry. How blessed are we to have so many members like yourself that nosotros need to build an entirely new structure?

It'south our greatest hope that you lot'll be able to bring together u.s.a. at [date and time] for a family fun funfair! Snacks and drinks will be provided for a small price. The only thing y'all demand to bring is your sense of fun and take a chance!

Admission is costless, but of course, willing contributions of any size are e'er accepted.

If you take whatever questions most the event or the new sanctuary or bell tower, please experience free to reach out to our special projects coordinator, [proper noun] at [phone number] or electronic mail her at [email address].

As ever, take a blessed day. Nosotros hope to see you Dominicus!

His Clay,

[Pastor'south Signature]

[Pastor's Name]

3. Individual Fundraising Letters

Fundraising Letters - individual fundraising letters

What are individual fundraising messages?

Nonprofits aren't the simply ones who have fundraising needs! Sometimes individuals need to raise money for a cause, project, or life event.

If that's the instance, you can utilise individual fundraising messages to send out donation requests to members of your community and local businesses.

Whatever yous're raising money for, an individual fundraising alphabetic character tin help you generate funds for your cause, project, or event!

When should you use them?

You can apply an individual fundraising letter whenever y'all need to heighten money for a cause or project that means a lot to you lot. Of course, you shouldn'tmerelyrely on fundraising letters to raise money.

You can gear up up a crowdfunding entrada to supplement your fundraising efforts. Y'all can too apply your fundraising letter to directly people to your crowdfunding folio to requite them an easy mode to brand a donation.

Letter template

Date

Your Name
Street
City, State Zilch

Beloved [Donor's Name],

My proper name is [your proper noun] and I am [depict your position/situation/groundwork]. I am looking to raise [amount of money] to help me pay for [project/expense/cause/etc.].

[Include information about why the crusade or project is important to you and how it could potentially impact the reader or those you lot serve].

I'1000 writing to inquire you to support me and my [crusade/project/etc.]. Just a small donation of [amount] can help me [accomplish task/attain a goal/etc.]

Your donation will become toward [depict exactly what the contribution volition exist used for].

[When possible, add together a personal connectedness to necktie the donor to the cause. For example, if you're raising money to help build a schoolhouse in a developing country and you're writing to a teacher, emphasize the fact that everyone deserves a quality pedagogy].

Thank yous in accelerate for your contribution. You have no thought how much information technology means to me to have your back up.

Here are the ways you can make a donation:

— Make a donation online at [URL of your crowdfunding campaign]
— Send a check in the pre-stamped envelope I've included (no cash, please!)
— Come to my fundraising event on [appointment] at [location] [when applicable]

Thank you over again!
Sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your typed proper noun]

4. Matching Gift Fundraising Emails or Messages

Fundraising Letters - matching gift fundraising letters

What are matching gift fundraising letters?

Matching souvenir fundraising letters are tangible letters (or emails) that nonprofits send out to donors to remind them to submit matching gift requests.

For those who don't know, matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program.Subsequently an employee has made a charitable donation to an eligible nonprofit, they can submit paperwork to their company's Hr department. If the donation and the nonprofit see the company's requirements, the business volition make a contribution to the nonprofit for the same amount.

Notwithstanding, many donors simply don't know that their employer offers a matching gift program.

That's where a matching gift fundraising letter comes in!

Your nonprofit should send out communications to remind donors that their contributions might exist eligible to be doubled (and sometimes, even tripled!).

When should you utilize them?

The best time to promote matching gifts (likewise during the donation process itself) is direct later a donation has been made.

Your nonprofit is still fresh in donors' minds, and they'll be more likely to submit a matching gift request.

Every bit soon as a donor has made a contribution (regardless ofhowthe donation was made), your nonprofit should send out an automatic email that:

Cheers them for their donation, and
Encourages them to submit a matching gift asking.

Y'all can also follow up a few days subsequently with a matching gift fundraising letter if the donor hasn't already submitted a matching gift asking.

Example letter

Here is an example of a matching gift fundraising email:

Matching gift fundraising letters

This is an excellent example of a direct post letter/postcard that promotes matching gifts:

Matching gift fundraising letters

Use these messages and emails in conjunction with ane another to maximize your nonprofit'due south matching gift potential!

5. Sponsorship Letters

Fundraising Letters - sponsorship letters

What are sponsorship letters?

Sponsorship letters are used by nonprofits that are looking to receive corporate sponsorship donations for a specific projection or event.

Sponsorship letter packages include:

A sponsorship proposal cover letter.
A sponsorship levels document.
A sponsorship acknowledgement letter.

The proposal letter is the formal request for a sponsorship donation. It explains the nonprofit'south fundraising need and details how the funds will be used.

The sponsorship levels document is how companies decide how much they would similar to requite. This certificate lists out a few dissimilar sponsorship levels and the perks that come with each level. The higher the donation, the more perks the company receives.

The sponsorship acknowledgement letter is a give thanks-you to the company later on they have made a donation. Your nonprofit can send out an acknowledgement immediately after a donation has been madeandafter the issue has ended.

When should you utilize them?

Sponsorship messages should be sent out well in advance of your event or projection. You want to give the company enough time to consider and answer to your donation asking.

Sample letter

Date

Your Proper name
Your Organization's Name
Street
City, Country ZIP

Dear [CEO/CSR Director/Business Possessor/etc.],

[Open up with a clarification of your organization. Give some brief background including your mission, vision, and how you serve your customs.]

We are hosting our [event name] on [engagement] at [location]. Concluding year's effect was such a huge success that we decided to host the event again!

In the past, this event has raised [amount] and has [listing out specific accomplishments using statistics and figures].

This year we're hoping to heighten fifty-fifty more! Our goal is [amount], and we were hoping that yous could help us achieve that goal.

By becoming one of our corporate sponsors, you'll be able to [list out projects that corporate donations could help achieve].
Nosotros've also listed out some of the incentives and perks that your visitor tin can enjoy should you decide to go ane of our corporate sponsors (run into attached Sponsorship Levels Document). Regardless of the amount you choose to give, your company name will be included in our event program and you'll exist included in the press release that we'll publish on our website.

We're accepting cash donations too equally in-kind donations of goods or services. Feel gratuitous to make a contribution that you're comfy with.

See the attached Sponsorship Levels Document to find the giving level that's correct for your company. If you're gear up to brand a donation, please tear off the perforated section of the following document and send it dorsum to us in the self-addressed envelope we've enclosed.

I'd like to thank you in advance for your generosity. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly at [phone number] or [email] if you have any questions.

Sincerely/All the all-time/etc.,

[Your printed name]
[Your title]

[Your signature]

half-dozen. Donor Thank-You Messages

Fundraising Letters - donor thank you letters

What are donor thank-you messages?

Donor thank-you alphabetic character are pretty self-explanatory.

These letters (or emails!) are meant to exist used subsequently a donor has made a contributionof whatsoever kind, including:

Monetary contributions.
In-kind donations.
Volunteer time.
A matching gift from an employer.
And more!

When should you use them?

Your donor thank-y'all messages should be sent outas shortly asyou receive a contribution. Donors should receive an acknowledgement within 2 days of making a donation.

Feel free to transport out an acknowledgement email every bit well as a direct post letter. You can never be too appreciative of your donors!

Letter of the alphabet template

Date

Your Name
Your Organization'southward Name
Street
City, Land Zippo

Dear [Donor's Preferred Proper name],

I tin can't tell yous how much all of usa at [nonprofit name] capeesh your contribution to our cause. Thanks to your donation of [amount], we'll exist able to [listing out specific goals, objectives, etc.].

I also wanted to allow you know that nosotros'll exist [hosting volunteer event, opening upwards our nonprofit's doors for tours, holding a fundraising issue, etc.]. We'd love to extend an invitation to you to participate in this opportunity! Our electric current donors have all enjoyed developing a stronger partnership with our system, and I'grand hoping you'll do the same.

Thank y'all again!

[Your printed proper noun]
[Your title]

[Your signature]

Bonus: How to Send Your Letters

Once you've finalized the content of your messages, you'll need a way to get them into the easily of supporters. Be sure to invest in a direct mail platform to get your compelling fundraising letters sent out quickly and without hassle.

Platforms like GivingMail allow organizations to upload their pre-drafted text along with whatever descriptive graphics and images. They'll even handle the press and sending, meaning all you accept to practice is look for the responses and donations to come in!

We hope that these six fundraising letter templates have given y'all some insight into how to write an amazing fundraising appeal. Which ones have you lot used in the past? Which letters have you lot had the about success with?

If yous want to learn more valuable fundraising tips, check out these boosted resources:

Must-Know Nonprofit Software:Every nonprofit needs fundraising software if they desire to raise money online. Learn about the top vendors providing nonprofits with top-notch tools to aid you heighten more than donations.
Online Fundraising Guide:Looking for more means you can raise money online. You're in luck! This all-encompassing guide will lead you through everything you lot need to know most raising money online.