A fundraising letter accomplishes three key tasks: it describes the need or cause, explains to the recipient how they may help, and extends gratitude to the donor for their anticipated support. Typically, fundraising letters are written to request funds or supplies, but they can also be used to recruit volunteers.
- It is never a good idea to leave the reader wondering what your organisation asks them.
- Indicate the precise donation amount as well as the specific purpose to which it will be applied.
Top Tips to Know When Writing a Persuasive Fundraising Letter
In this section, we will consider effective tips for writing a persuasive fundraising letter.
1. Share your nonprofit’s mission and its impact
To begin with, give a summary of the purpose and goals of your nonprofit organisation to the reader. To what purpose are you here? What impact are you having on the world? Provide further details regarding your nonprofit’s activities.
2. Leverage storytelling
Effective storytelling is essential for fundraising, particularly when crafting fundraising letters. Emotion is at the core of successful storytelling, so be sure you craft an emotionally charged narrative. As we all know, telling a story increases the likelihood that readers will connect with your letter on an emotional level and be compelled to donate.
In addition, incorporate compelling pictures of your beneficiaries into your letter. Your fundraising letters will become even more persuasive when they touch the emotions of your readers.
3. State the problem
Thirdly, clarify the problem you are trying to solve. Is it accessible to girl child education? threatened species? an effort to provide safe drinking water? Be precise and if possible, use numbers. Now that you’ve got your readers interested, you can provide them with the information. In this section, you should be as clear as possible. Also, while keeping it brief and straightforward, ensure you describe the bigger picture and the underlying issue.
4. Present your goal
It’s time to inform your readers of your campaign’s objectives after you’ve drawn them in and clarified the issue. By doing this, you can make it clearer to both present and future donors how and who will benefit from their contributions. To persuade supporters and potential donors to act immediately, ensure you emphasize the seriousness of the problem.
Additionally, let them know how the campaign is progressing and what your group has previously done to address the issue. If people are aware that a campaign is gaining traction, they are far more inclined to donate.
5. Ask for help
Following the dissemination of your campaign objectives, it’s time to ask. To begin with, be at ease with appearing assertive. The letter wasn’t written to skirt the problem but to solicit donations for charitable causes. Hence, make your call to action loud and clear. In addition to stating that any amount helps, it’s important to emphasise how the reader’s donation will improve lives. Reiterate that the situation cannot be solved without their assistance.
Also, indicate the precise amount of the donation as well as the specific purpose to which it will be applied. Sentences that convey the impact of your gift should come after, as people often contribute because it feels good!
6. Make donation payment as easy as possible
It is never a good idea to leave the reader wondering how to donate. You might need to include the call to action multiple times in your fundraising message. It becomes very evident what you’re requesting when you reiterate the question, which also instils a sense of urgency in the reader.
7. Appreciate your donors
Lastly, acknowledge the contribution made by your reader or donor. It’s crucial to express your gratitude as people frequently give back because it feels wonderful to do good. If donors have previously contributed, thank them sincerely for their ongoing support.
Conclusion
Crafting a strong fundraising letter is one of the finest strategies to raise funds for your nonprofit cause. Oftentimes, it requires careful consideration and a great deal of rewriting. However, if you succeed, you’ll open up more opportunities for your organisation to assist more individuals.
If this article resonates with you, we welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and questions.