Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

7 Strategies for Writing Fundraising Letters


Writing fundraising letters can be an effective way to request donations to a charitable cause. Letters are used for a variety of purposes and can be sent to a large number of people or a select few. The results of a writing a fundraising letter can vary greatly depending on the purpose of the letter, the way the letter is written, and the audience that receives the letter.

Here are 7 strategies to use when writing fundraising letters so they are more interesting, compelling and responsive.

1. Write to ONE person - When you start writing the fundraising letter, imagine you are writing to only one person, not a group of people. This will help you get into the best frame of mind to write the letter. It also will help your letter sound more personable.

Use singular word forms, not plural - avoid words and phrases like "some of you" when addressing the reader. Instead use the personal, singular form "you." This mirrors the way that the letter will be read by the recipient.

2. Be Specific - When writing fundraising letters the more specific you can be, the better your message will be understood and the greater the response rate. Ask your reader to make a specific response, such as a donation of money, goods or services. You can offer several specific dollar amounts include a specific date that you need the response by.

If your appeal will benefit a specific project, mission or program, say so. Describe how the donations will help with this particular project. Include a few brief details about where the donation will be used and the positive results it will bring.

3. Stay Focused - When writing a fundraising letter stay focused on the outcome you would like to see. Make one request and communicate this message clearly. Avoid discussing topics that are not directly related to your appeal or that do not support the message of your letter.

4. Descriptive Phrases - Use the most descriptive adjectives and adverbs in your letter to clarify your message. However, when writing fundraising letters be especially careful not to over embellish or exaggerate.

5. Keep it Simple - It's important to include information about your organization and why you're writing. However, a fundraising letter is not the place to include lengthy official mission statements or a long description of your future plans.

When writing fundraising letters don't go overboard with extremely detailed numbers and jargon that the reader may not be familiar with. Remember to focus on information that is relevant and compelling to the potential reader.

6. Personalization - If you are writing a fundraising letter to a specific donor, include specific information related to them. If it's a repeat donor, discuss ways that his or her previous contributions have made a difference in your organization.

7. Narratives & Success Stories - One of the most successful ways that you can get your message across is to describe a story of a specific person or situation that your organization has helped.

If your group has made some major achievements and successes these can also be of use. When writing a fundraising letter remember to include stories that will engage the reader, not just show off accomplishments.

About the Author: Sandra Sims has been fundraising for various charities for over 10 years. Visit her website, StepByStepFundraising.com for more information about writing fundraising letters.


MORE RESOURCES:

Sales - Google News

What Nintendo's 2011 sales mean for Wii U, third parties - Gamasutra


Gamasutra

What Nintendo's 2011 sales mean for Wii U, third parties
Gamasutra
Regrettably, we have no good idea for the scale of retail sales compared to the online distribution. As the Nintendo DS begins its final descent into obsolescence, the company's new handheld – the 3DS – is just getting started. Its top-selling software ...
Report: Xbox 360 Best Selling Console of 2011TechnoBuffalo

all 15 news articles »

Orchids Paper Products Company Reports Record Quarterly Converted Product ... - Sacramento Bee


Orchids Paper Products Company Reports Record Quarterly Converted Product ...
Sacramento Bee
The increase in converted product sales resulted from a 46% increase in converted product tonnage shipped and a 2% decrease in net selling price per ton. The increase in shipments was due to a combination of new product sales which were primarily in ...

and more »

Apotex pays Bristol, Sanofi damages over Plavix - Wall Street Journal


Apotex pays Bristol, Sanofi damages over Plavix
Wall Street Journal
Apotex Corp., Canada's biggest drugmaker, has paid Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Sanofi SA, the two brand-name drugmakers that jointly sell Plavix, $442.2 million in damages ordered over its improper sales of a generic version of Plavix in 2006.

and more »

Beer sales could be boon for Arizona's universities - AZ Central.com


Beer sales could be boon for Arizona's universities
AZ Central.com
Several Arizona representatives have proposed a bill that would open the door to selling beer and wine to the general public at state university sporting events. My gut reaction was "never" as I envisioned stadium students sections turning into a ...

and more »

Fed Sells $6.2 Billion of Bonds From AIG Rescue to Goldman - San Francisco Chronicle


Bloomberg

Fed Sells $6.2 Billion of Bonds From AIG Rescue to Goldman
San Francisco Chronicle
The New York Fed in June ended its earlier plan to sell Maiden Lane II assets through regular auctions, following sales of about $10 billion. The face value of the assets had dwindled to about $21 billion when the auctions were halted.
Goldman in $6.2bn toxic asset dealFinancial Times

all 40 news articles »

iPhone on Sprint: Great for sales, terrible for profits - Christian Science Monitor


Christian Science Monitor

iPhone on Sprint: Great for sales, terrible for profits
Christian Science Monitor
The Apple iPhone was the top-selling smartphone of the last quarter, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation – the king of a smartphone market that has expanded by as much as 55 percent over the past year.
Sprint's iPhone sales can't stem lossesSan Francisco Chronicle
Sprint's First iPhone Sales Add to Wider LossWall Street Journal
You can lose money selling iPhone, just ask SprintBetaNews
Slate Magazine (blog) -Fox News -Seeking Alpha
all 548 news articles »

Wells Fargo's Carroll eyes cross-selling by brokers - Reuters


Wells Fargo's Carroll eyes cross-selling by brokers
Reuters
Wells Fargo is known to carefully track sales of credit cards, insurance and other products to its bank customers. And executives have embraced the idea of cross-selling. The firm does not have any mandatory cross-selling sales goals for its brokers, ...

and more »

Las Vegas Still Selling More Homes in January, Yet Prices Still Declining - World Property Channel


Las Vegas Still Selling More Homes in January, Yet Prices Still Declining
World Property Channel
The local housing market began 2012 in much the same way it ended 2011, local home sales increased compared to the same month last year while prices dipped. "We continue to sell existing homes at a record pace and at bargain prices," said greater Los ...

and more »

Newsstand Report: Sales Down Across the Board, Elle Plumets 18%, and ... - Fashionista


Globe and Mail

Newsstand Report: Sales Down Across the Board, <em>Elle</em> Plumets 18%, and ...
Fashionista
Glamour was at the industry average, selling an average of 469544 copies. Marie Claire wasn't far behind, falling 8.9 percent to 231054 and W's newsstand was down 7.4 percent to 20426. Harper's Bazaar's single-copy sales fell 7.3 percent to 147194.
Canadian magazine sales slip in 2nd half of 2011Globe and Mail
Newsstand magazine sales down 10% in USChina Post

all 106 news articles »

Average Salespeople “Fly By The Seat Of Their Pants” - Utah Pulse


Average Salespeople “Fly By The Seat Of Their Pants”
Utah Pulse
If you feel that selling isn't hard work you probably aren't as successful as you could be. 2. Salespeople don't think through the sale as they should. If you don't know the who, what, where, when, why and how of the sales opportunity, you are missing ...
The Forum Corporation: New Survey Finds That Traditional Relationship Selling ...MarketWatch (press release)

all 5 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

List4Sale Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.List4Sale.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker