Good resource for learning how to write a kick ass fundraising letter?

Post a sample letter or first draft here (if that’s allowed), and maybe the collective can edit it for you, or at least give you suggestions. There are many writers in the group.

If you’re looking for books, Fundraising for Dummies is an accessible resource. If you decide you really want to do it for a living, you might want to get Tom Ahern’s How to Write Fundraising Materials That Raise More Money: The Art, the Science, the Secrets. You might think beyond letters and develop full blown proposals, $200,000 is a lot.

There are also books at the public library that describe the foundations and other organizations that you can apply to. They are broken down geographically and by their areas of interest as well as the nuts and bolts of their application process.

The best source is OJT. I took a temporary job with an dance organization while I was in school. I started off wordprocessing the proposals, then began to make suggestions and eventually writing the grant proposals from the artistic director’s notes. I carried that skill into my job in education where there have been lots of opportunities to use it.

Here is a resource to get you started.

Excerpt:
“Get Ready to Write Your Fundraising Letter

1. Decide who your audience is for your letter. Are they current supporters or new donors? How familiar are they with your cause? This will effect your tone and the material you choose to write about.

Tip: If you are doing a walk for charity, you will primarily be writing to people who already know you: your friends and family.

2. Anticipate the reader’s questions and answer them. When someone receives a fundraising letter, many questions arise, even if subconsciously. They will wonder…Who is this group? Are they reputable? Will the donation go to the cause or administrative . . .”