If you’re working in a non-profit, you’re probably hell-bent on crafting your fundraising letters. Are you possibly looking for in-kind donations for any special projects, events, or other initiatives? Maybe something related to finding in-kind sponsorships? Or maybe as simple as finding sponsors to host your next grand dinner?
In any of the above cases, we’ve got you covered. To help make your efforts a success; a worthwhile letter may provide you with the perfect chance to share your story, making donors realize the difference they are making.
But how do you make your letter different?
Everything from your target audience to your fundraising letter format matters, if you are looking for that overwhelmingly ideal piece of letter. Whether it may be a fundraising letter needed for an event, campaign, or support system, they all follow the same criteria and strategy.
Identify your goals
Firstly, the aim of your fundraising letter should match your objective. For this, you will have to view the requirements of your non-profit. Before you invest your time to compose a donation request, review your mission and vision statement. It is necessary that you know well and good, your aims and objectives regarding your success, and have your expectations on your fingertips.
Your audience matters
The goal here is to make your letters sound more persuasive. Thus, making sure that the right target audience is being reached. To unlock this with your key, you should segregate your donors. This will help you keep track of them. Knowing where your donor stands in his journey will allow you to maintain your persuasive expressions while constructing your letter. It is also considered beneficial if you’re completely aware of your audience, you can know this by judging their surroundings, or visiting the society or the population they belong to.
Tell a story
Captivating your reader is the main gameplay here.
Refrain from writing your letter all about your organization. Make it about your cause. Don’t puff your organization. Instead, make the recipients feel like they’re the important ones. Everybody loves attention, and what better way is there then to express your gratitude and sound confident in your success.
Keep it donor-centric
Make your donor inclusive and owned because that is what will strengthen your organization. To achieve this, you will have to gain your donor’s trust.
Keep it short and sweet
Writing the letter should make your reader give donations genuinely instead of making them give out of guilt or pressure. Your letter should sound personal and conversational and additionally mention what it means to you for their kind gesture.
Make it comprehendible
A key to do this is by not assuming what they are looking for. Consider your donors, toddlers, who are reading your letter for the first time, in hopes of being fascinated by your works. The use of simple vocabulary that is perfect to be understood by anybody an everybody is what you’d want to go for. Keep it short and crisp, and make sure you don’t bore the reader out by keeping it engaging. It’s good to skip the statistics because nobody likes math that much anyways. You don’t want to waste your word count in explaining something people usually pay little attention to, instead focus on the details of the outcome.
Let them know it’s urgent!
You’re sending this letter to bring in donations, so reinforce that message. To the end of your letter, you must write a clear, direct call to action, emphasizing the urgency and ensuring the donor understands the importance. Make sure to outline what you require from your donor.
Thank and sign
It is important to portray your kind gesture towards the end of the letter. Make sure to pay your thanks to the reader as a sentiment of personal connection with the donors.
Review and enhance
Making use of somebody’s help regarding your letter is always beneficial. Rather, it makes it even more ideal to have your letter improved once again, to make sure the effort doesn’t go in vain.
