How to Write a Letter to Get Donations
If you are serious about inquiring with an organization about getting donations for a particular cause, you must by all means take the business of writing the letter very seriously. The letter you compose may be your only chance to convince the organization that your cause is worth supporting, and you certainly don't want your own administrative shortcomings to thwart your fundraising efforts. So here are some points to keep in mind when writing a donation request letter.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Do whatever you have to do in order to get a specific person to whom you can direct your letter. Browse the website, peruse the organization's promotional literature or even make a cold call to the secretary and ask who is in charge of funds distribution. Your letter has a much better chance of making it into the hands of the decision makers when you take the time to find out just who the decision makers are.
-
2
Research the organization before you sit down to compose your letter. Some organizations have strict guidelines regarding the parties to whom they donate funds. Others are much less conservative and more diverse in their distribution. If the organization is in keeping with the former, you'll need to use your letter to prove that you are a good match. If it is the latter, you'll want to highlight the uniqueness of your cause.
-
-
3
Have a good understanding of the cause you are petitioning for. If you are going so far as to ask for money in support of a particular charity or cause, it is expected that you will have a thorough understanding of the charity or cause. At the very least, you'll need to have a working understanding of the budget and how any possible donations will be spent.
-
4
Make an outline before you compose a letter to ask for donations. A three-part structure is a good approach in letters such as this. Begin by providing the background for your charity or cause. Explain what it is and why it is important. Give a few specific examples of the good the charity does to flesh out the relevancy of the cause. Move into a discussion of why money is needed and what it will be used for. Close by explaining why you feel the organization is a good match for supporting the cause. Finally, ask them to consider donating.
-
5
Do not mail the letter until you have carefully studied it for any errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and style.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is wise to have at least one other person review your letter before you send it.
