HomeFinanceFundraising:  Letters are a Great Way to Start Fundraising!

Fundraising is Easy with Good Letters!

If you are new to fundraising or simply do not have the time or energy to create huge projects, fundraising letters could work very well for you. Fundraising letters are simple, inexpensive, and require little face-to-face contact with people.

Once you've decided that you want to give fundraising letters a chance, however, you might begin to feel overwhelmed. What should you say in your letter? How long should the letter be? To whom should you send a letter? What should you do if you receive a donation as a result of you letter? What if you don't receive one?

Fundraising Letters Made Easy

Rather than spend a great deal of time on your project, you are probably looking for fundraising letters made easy. There are many books out there that give you tips on how to write a successful fundraising letter, but the process is actually not that complicated.

There are several important guidelines to follow when you are writing a fundraising letter. First of all, it's a good idea to try to keep your letter to a page or less; the attention span of most people starts to wander by the beginning of the second page. Additionally, do not try to hide the fact that you are asking for money, especially if it is for a non-profit charity or other good cause. Thirdly, if the donation is tax-deductible, make sure you mention that somewhere in the letter.

When you write your letter, tell your reader what you are collecting money for and what your goal is. If possible, try to mention what percentage of each dollar goes directly to the cause; most people like to know that their hard-earned money is not going into some corporation's pocket.

About three weeks after your initial letter, take a few moments to send thank you notes (and, if applicable, receipts) to those who have sent you donations thus far. It's also a good idea to send a small reminder to those who have not yet responded in case they simply lost the initial letter in the shuffle on their desks. Don't hassle these people, however. If one reminder does not bring in a check, that person simply does not wish to donate.

While fundraising letters may seem an overly simplistic approach, many non-profit organizations receive a great deal of their support from this method. With only a little time, effort, and expense, you may see the results of your letters, too!

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