How to Write a Direct Mail Fundraising Letter (Four Tips)

1.
Address your reader as a friend, not as “Friend.”When was the last time you received a letter from someone dear to you, addressing you as “Dear Friend?” Never, right? The days of the Dear Friend le... 1.
Address your reader as a friend, not as “Friend.”When was the last time you received a letter from someone dear to you, addressing you as “Dear Friend?” Never, right? The days of the Dear Friend letter are dead. I heard recently of a chairman of the board of a national charity who has given his charity millions of dollars and hundreds of hours of his time, yet he still receives fundraising appeals from this charity addressing him as “Dear Friend.” Ouch.
2. Arrest attention with an opening that resonates with your donors.
Assume your reader is standing over a trash can with a stack of today’s mail, reading the opening sentence of each letter before deciding its fate. You have only a few seconds to grab the reader’s interest.
So make it a zinger. Here are two openings for the same non-profit.
Which one grabs your attention and makes you want to read on? Opening 1: “I am writing to you to ask if you would like to support a low-income housing building project in your neighbourhood.” Opening 2: “If I invited you to walk over to your neighbour’s house with a bundle of roof shingles under your arm as a gift, what would you do?” 3. Put flesh and bones on your need.One truth in fundraising is that people give to people to help people.
So always describe your need in terms of people, not programs, not ministry, not money. INSTEAD OF SAYING .
. .
We operate three vans.SAY . .
. The three vans that we use for emergency medical relief play a vital role in saving lives throughout the year.
INSTEAD OF SAYING . .
. Essential medicines in many countries are not affordable.
SAY . .
. Phillip Mbago is dying from a treatable disease for no other reason than this—he can’t afford his cure.
4. Ask for funds by painting a picture.Don’t just ask for a donation.
Show your readers how their donations will make a difference. Instead of saying, “Send a gift today,” say, “Your gift to Habitat for Humanity today means that another family will soon move into a simple, decent, affordable home—thanks to you.” © 2005 Sharpe Copy Inc.
You may reprint this article online and in print provided the links remain live and the content remains unaltered (including the "About the author" message). Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com .

Top blog stories

A review of Idmobile.com

Idmobile.com offers both pay-as-you-go and contract plans. Pay-as-you-go plans are ideal for customers who don't want to be tied down to a long-term contract, and they can purchase bundles of data, minutes, and texts as and when they need them.

see post

A review of Idmobile.com

Idmobile.com offers both pay-as-you-go and contract plans. Pay-as-you-go plans are ideal for customers who don't want to be tied down to a long-term contract, and they can purchase bundles of data, minutes, and texts as and when they need them.

see post

AO.co: Online Shopping Made Simple

AO.co is a trusted expert in TVs, washing machines, clothes dryers and other household appliances. AO.com is one of the largest retailers in the UK and it specializes in electronics, clothes and home furniture.

see post

For our people.

At Three, we believe phones are good. They just make life better. Easier. And more fun. But we all need to find a balance that works for us. Our mission is to help our customers use their phones to live their best lives.

see post

We make your life easier

We make your life easier Since 1992, we’ve been helping customers get the best deal on their dream phone. We firmly believe in giving you the highest quality, for the lowest price. That’s why we work with three of the UK’s leading networks to do all the haggling for you,...

see post

FOUR BRANDS BECOME ONE. CURRYS.

Currys PLC is a leading omnichannel retailer of technology products and services, operating through 800+ stores and 16 websites in seven countries.

see post

Halfords - Quicker, Easier, and Convenient.

At Halfords, we're all about the journey. With more than 700 stores with over 10,000 colleagues, we're the UK's leading retailer of automotive and cycling products. We are also the leading operator in MOT, tyres, car servicing and car repairs - pleasing more than 750,000 customers every year.

see post

FOUR BRANDS BECOME ONE. CURRYS.

Currys PLC is a leading omnichannel retailer of technology products and services, operating through 800+ stores and 16 websites in seven countries.

see post

Sky - Epic. Endless. Entertainment.

It's important to us that everyone gets great customer service and can enjoy our products, no matter their level of sight. So, if you're blind, partially sighted or struggle to see or read the screen, we’ve a range of features to help you get the most from our products and...

see post

Nasty Gal - We exist for the “girl in progress”.

Look iconic, without the hassle— using Nasty Gal discount codes, you can shop your favorite pieces for way less by simply entering one of our promotional codes (of your choice) at the checkout. From delivery offers, to promo deals, we keep ‘em coming, so you always have the offer you...

see post

Digital Publishing From Past to Now

The Covid-19 has caused the school and universities to shut down around the world creating a major issue in Learning and Education. As this virus spreads through the interaction and if social distanci... The Covid-19 has caused the school and universities to shut down around the world creating a major...

see post

Why it’s Important to Manage Your Holiday Calendars?

A printable calendar 2021 is a prominent online platform where you download printable calendars of your choice. These calendars can be customized as per our client requirement with photo, text, logo, or any other image. If you are thinking of planning a dream vacation tour with family and kids but...

see post

How to choose the perfect Designer Bridesmaid Dress

Choosing a designer bridesmaid dress is one of the most daunting but enjoyable days of your life. That’s why Stanwells have sourced a collection of beautiful dresses for wedding guests, bridesmaids, a... Choosing a designer bridesmaid dress is one of the most daunting but enjoyable days of your life. That’s...

Amazing T Shirts for You

Some of the finest tees are the most proper ones. Other t shirts are the ones that make the eyes pop right open. The art of t shirts is to create it effectively so it can impress the typical customer.... Article Tags: Amazing Tees Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Do You Have The Right Personality To Share A Flat?

Sharing a flat can be a fantastic way of finding suitable accommodation in a world of ever increasing rents, rates and utility bills. Sharing is a very natural thing for many of us to do, especially as students or for those in their early twenties who are just out of...

Using T-Shirts for Big Laughs

We all need to laugh more, that is a fact. The world is such a serious place. If we can do something to make ourselves laugh more, that is a good thing. We all need to laugh more, that is a fact. The world is such a serious place. If...

What To Know Before Filing Bankruptcy

Before filing for bankruptcy there are some things you can do to make the whole process go a lot smoother. These tips will also help you find a good bankruptcy attorney you can trust. Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Know What You Can Keep When You File For Bankruptcy In Arizona

This article discusses the Arizona bankruptcy exemption laws and what is protected from liquidation by law. This is very important information to know, make sure your bankruptcy lawyer is up to date on the bankruptcy code revisions. Often when people are faced with the prospect of having to file for...

Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy - What is the Difference?

Before filing for bankruptcy, its a good idea to know what your getting into. This article discusses the two main types of bankruptcy available to consumers, chapter 7 and chapter 13.  The Arizona Republic reported that Phoenix AZ bankruptcy rates are up 82% over 2008. Chapter 7 filings account for...

Questions to Ask Your Arizona Bankruptcy Lawyer

Bankruptcy in Arizona, as well as any state, is a difficult process. Make things easier on yourself by hiring a competent Arizona bankruptcy lawyer. This article outlines some questions that will help you decide on the attorney that will work best for you.  Arizona has been one of the hardest...

How To Get Rid Of Crows Feet

Are you starting to notice tiny wrinkles and fine lines around your eye area? This is quite common and the skin around the eyes is the first to experience wrinkles. Every woman of the age 40 is in need of treatments that can remove crow's feet. The honest-to-goodness cure to...

Dealing With Dry Skin In The Summer

Dry skin is not just a cause during the harsh winter months but also during the summer when the heat from the sun can take away much needed moisture. In looking for the best moisturizer for very dry skin, what sort of ingredients do we need to look for? Hot...

Search topic

Dealing With Dry Skin In The Summer

Dry skin is not just a cause during the harsh winter months but also during the summer when the heat from the sun can take away much needed moisture. In looking for the best moisturizer for very dry skin, what sort of ingredients do we need to look for? Hot...

Learn more