How to Write a Successful Fundraising Letter
How to write a great fundraising application letter
Here’s some hints and tips on how to write a good fundraising application to a grant-making trust:-
DO
- keep it to one or two sides of A4 paper
- address it to the right person – find out their name
- be clear and concise
- explain the benefits of your project
- mention other groups that you are working with locally
- talk about what you have already done – maybe include a newspaper cutting
- get someone to proof-read your application and make suggestions
DON’T
- send hundreds of identical fundraising letters or applications out
- beg – instead focus on the unique benefits of your project
- ask for more than the Trust or Foundation say are their guideline figures
- get someone else to sign the application just because you’re in a hurry
This sample fundraising letter gives an idea of how you might lay out the letter accompanying your fundraising application:
SIMPLE TOWN YOUTH CLUB PROJECT
Here you need to summarise the project in a few lines.
I am writing to ask for your support in setting up a youth club in a disused workshop in Simple Town. Introduce yourselves – who you are, what you do, how long you’ve been established. What is the project for – what need does it meet.
Local youth groups have met with the police and youth workers and identified that there are no evening activities for young people, this has been supported by the local community plan. What difference will you make? How will you do it? How much money you need and how much are you asking for from your donor? How the rest of the funding will be obtained
Yours faithfully,
Name
Thanks for visiting our hints and tips on writing fundraising applications.
For further hints and tips on fundraising, visit Simple Fundraising Ideas
This article was submitted by Jennifer Carter, author of How to start your own internet business
