1. Leadership Class How to Write a Donation Letter

2. How do you get donations?
Getting a donation from an organization, a company or an individual can be a tricky undertaking. There are many charities out there vying for donations and you need to be able to convince possible donors that your cause is the most worthy of their time and money. Follow these steps to create a strategic and persuasive donation letter that will help you raise the funds you need.

3. Step 1 Consider the recipients of your letter.
Write only to those whom you think are in a position to help you and who will understand the purpose of what you are doing.
If someone is in no position to help your cause, then writing to them is a waste of time.

4. Step 2 Personalize you introduction
If at all possible, figure out a specific person you can target with your donation letter.
“To Whom it May Concern” doesn’t force your reader into a personal connection with you and your cause.
Address your letter in an official manner, using “Mr.” or “Mrs.” before your recipient’s last name.
For example: Dear Mrs. Jameson

5. Step 3 Grab the attention of your reader.
Start your letter by including an anecdote or a question that relates directly to your cause. Try to highlight the importance of your cause right from the beginning of the letter, so that your reader gets invested in it as quickly as possible and wants to continue reading.

6. Step 3 Example:
While the BBB has been effective in our local school district, we know the problem of after school nutrition runs wider than just our small community. A recent survey revealed that over 40% of students in 250-mile radius go home to an empty dinner table.

7. Step 4 Explain the project you are trying to complete.
Make it clear how this project will improve a situation or the lives of others.
This project needs to be one that seems feasible. While ending world hunger, for instance, is a noble goal, it is not necessarily a feasible goal for your individual project. Ending hunger in your neighborhood would be more realistic goal that your reader could imagine being an important part of.

8. Step 5
Be very specific about how you think that the people/organization can help you
Tell prospective donor exactly what their money or donation will go towards and the impact it will make on your project overall.

9. Step 6 Tell the recipient what will happen if they don’t contribute.
This is where you may need to use a bit of guilt to make your reader donate. There will be real consequences if they don’t donate, tell them what they are. However, be sure to reassure the reader that with a simple donation, these negative outcomes will be easily avoided.

10. Step 7 Thank the donor in advance.
Here you need to walk the delicate line between not being too presumptuous but also assuming that your cause is so important that the recipient will obviously want to give.

11. Step 8 Reiterate why their donation is so important.
Be sure to reinforce why you think it is worth your time as well as the time and money of the person you are writing to.

12. Step 9 Conclude with an appropriate salutation
End your donation letter with a business-like salutation and your name. It is also a good idea to include a title below your name that describes your position in the school or organization you are representing.
Be sure to type out your name but also sign it by hand. This shows your reader that the letter is a personal request, not an automated letter.

13. Dear Mrs. Jameson We’re aiming to help every child at Simon Technology High School seniors have an opportunity to go to the high school prom. This is a tangible goal with the help of companies like you. Simon Technology is a school that is in the heart of Watts and has 90% population of free or reduced lunch. In spite of the economic deficiencies, the school is a community strong school that works hard to ensure that every student has the opportunity to go to college after graduation. Simon Technology is having the annual fundraiser on March 6, 2015 after school from 3:30 – 4:30. The money raised from this fundraiser will help support high school prom as well as other programs helping students at this school not covered by the school budget. These include activities or improvements that this year's fundraiser will support. We are looking for donations of goods to use in gift baskets, baked goods for the bake sale and monetary donations. We hope that you will be able to help us out this year by donating gift cards to purchase items or a donation of baked goods. Without this donation, the bake sale will be over budget and the event will not make the required amount to allow students to reach their $500 goal to help make prom attainable for all students at Simon Technology. Donations can be sent to Contact person at address. If you have any questions, please feel free to call phone number. Thank you in advance for your support! Sincerely, Handwritten Signature Name Title