How to Get Donations From People
Even the most bold and outspoken people turn shy and nervous when they must ask others for donations of time, money, or belongings to a worthy cause. Some people worry about imposing on others with their request. Most people, however, even those who eventually decide not to donate, do no mind being asked to assist with a good cause as long as they are approached in a respectful manner.
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Instructions
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Write a fund-raising letter. Fund-raising letters are a good way to reach a lot of people very quickly, and if they are well-written, they can be very effective. The first element of a good fund-raising letter is a touching opening story. Once the reader is engaged, make a simple statement of the need for money, time, or belongings in the second paragraph. ("Every $100 donation allows the daycare center to provide services to a low-income senior citizen for an entire week.") (See Reference 1)Once the subject of a donation has been brought up, ask once or twice more. This can be a soft sell ("Your annual contribution will help.") or a hard sell ("Donate today, before one more person goes without services.") When sending a fund-raising letter, always include a self-addressed stamped envelope so that potential donors can reply easily.
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Speak to the potential donor face-to-face. This technique is good if you are approaching a small number of donors or if you have an existing relationship with the prospective donor in question. The face-to-face approach allows you to tell your story in the way that will make it most meaningful to the donor. ("Remember how upset you were when your grandmother had to go to a nursing home? They have lots of services to keep senior citizens in the community today, but funding is running low.). The face-to-face meeting also gives you the opportunity to try for a "smaller yes." Suppose you've asked your friend for $100, and she's decided she can't afford it. Rather than just accepting the refusal, try asking something like, "Would you be willing to give $25, then?" or "I understand that money is tight, but do you think you might be able to donate some home-baked cookies a couple of times a month?" People will often say yes to a small request when they've just refused a larger one.
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Follow up and provide further donation opportunities. People who donate like to know how their money has been spent. It's usually most time-efficient to follow up by letter, letting them know how the fund-raising effort is going and how the funds are impacting the population you're working with. Close the letter with a thank you, a note that their contribution is tax deductible (if that's the case) and a statement about how the next round of donations will be used. Put a self-addressed stamped envelope and a donation form in your thank you letter in case the donor is inspired by your letter and wants to give more immediately.
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References
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