Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Tips on Writing Fundraising Letters for Successful Fundraising Campaigns

What could be the key to a successful fundraising campaign? That would be being able to write a very good and effective fundraising letter. Fundraising letters aren't just letters. They are letters that have the attributes of sales letters.

You know that a fundraising letter was effective if it was able to catch the attention of your readers and was able to convince them to give help at the very moment they read the letter. Would you like to write effective fundraising letters? Check out the following tips.

1. When starting your fundraising letter, determine first the type of people who will be reading your letter. You need to be specific with your readers. This will help you identify the kind of approach that you will do for the letter.

2. Time is valuable to many people. They sometimes don't have time to read long fundraising letters. You need to make sure that the letter is short so that the readers will be able to remember everything that has been written in the letter.

3. When writing a fundraising letter. You need to be as personal as possible. However, make sure that the letter also sounds professional so that readers will be convinced of the intentions of the campaign.

4. You may start the letter with some good news. You may include updates about the organization, recent accomplishments and future projects. This is also your chance to address all your plans for the organization and how you plan to achieve those goals.

5. And then, you can include the reason why you started the fundraising campaign. You need to inform your readers about what you want to improve, why you want to do the project, how you will do it and the results they can expect from it.

6. You may also include the suggested amount that will help in the campaign. This will help them decide how much they can give for the fundraising campaign.

7. Don't forget to thank your donors. Thanking your readers will give them the motivation to give more for the campaign.

Make sure to include all the listed tips to help you create a convincing fundraising letter. Creating a very good fundraising letter will surely give overwhelming results. Once you are able to create an effective fundraising letter, you can be assured of a successful campaign, donors and donations.

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Monday, January 14, 2008

Finding an Opportunity to Raise Funds for a Worthy Cause

When the you walk or drive around the neighborhood, life is great as you know it. This is very different in other parts of the country or the world that have been hit by a natural calamity as seen on television.

This could have an impact on the viewers which gives you two options. The first is to do nothing and hope that someone will help alleviate the suffering. The second which is the right thing to do would be to step up and help those in the cause.

You don't have to wait till something bad happens in the world. The old school in town may need some remodeling and if the institution can't pay for it, perhaps a fund raising event could be the trick.

There are two things that are accomplished by doing this. The first is that the school will look good as new which is conducive for learning. The other is that it gets the community involved and brings individuals together like one big happy family.

You can write letters and have them distributed throughout the neighborhood. They should contain the purpose of the campaign and how much is needed to make the repairs on the school. Some people may give money or help out on the day of the remodeling.

There is a chance that the money given will exceed the amount that is needed. You should get help from volunteers and plan the budget for this project. Some will be used to buy the wood, brick, concrete, nails and paint.

A certain portion will be used as snacks for those helping out in the construction. Some of the proceeds can be given to the school for books and other supplies to help children learn.

The end of the event will be the reopening of the school. Part of the money can be used to throw a party to thank everyone who helped out to make this possible.

Fund raising events big or small are all worthy causes. Finishing this until the end makes the person feel fulfilled and makes those who got the help and support happy and thankful for what has been given.

There are many opportunities for fund raisers to happen. All you have to do is look around and see if there are certain things that need improvement.

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Friday, January 11, 2008

Items Used for Fund Raising

silicone braceletsThere are many ways to raise money. It doesn’t matter if it's done on a small or large scale since what is important is that the money goes to those who need it.

If the you can’t get enough money from sponsors, then perhaps it is time to think of items that can be exchanged for cash.

If the you have the talent to sew, a few things like quilts can be made and sold. The same thing goes for those who know how to bake. Cookies and cakes are a treat which will surely make people want to give more especially if these taste really good.

You can also go to places that sell quality items at low prices. These can be ordered in bulk then a little advertising will help raise the needed funds. You can also try checking out the internet since there are also some cool items.

A few examples are shirts, mugs and cookies. You will just put the stall in a place where people frequently traffic such as the mall, the park or near the church. The volunteers should be able to explain well the cause and distribute flyers at the same time.

People can also distribute flyers in the street and put some up on bulletin boards and light posts. You can even go house to house carrying some products that the neighborhood will be interested in buying similar to what scouts do when selling cookies.

You can also setup donation boxes or jars at supermarkets and convenience stores. They can be picked up at the end of the week and replaced with a new ones.

You can also have this counted right there at the store at the end of the day so that the cashier will just give cash rather than carrying a lot of loose change in your pocket.

You should make sure that a thank you card is sent to stores and other participating establishments who chose to help out in the fund raising event.

You can also advertise items online to create a larger market for those who will want to buy for a cause.

Fund raising is a fulfilling experience. You will be proud to help out and receive the gratitude from those whose lives were changed by the generosity of a stranger.

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Friday, January 4, 2008

The First Five Lessons in Fund Raising 101

fundraisingFundraising for charitable purposes is always a noble undertaking. It is however an achievement that can’t be done overnight. Determination and perseverance is needed to launch a successful fundraising event; genuine love and devotion would ensure its continued survival. Here are the first five lessons of Fund Raising 101. Keep them in mind – and inside your heart – when you finally take the necessary steps to start your fundraising campaign.

Choose your beneficiary wisely. There are certainly thousands of ways you can provide aid but to succeed, you must feel an instant connection, a strong bond if you will, with your beneficiary. The plight of orphans could, for instance, remind you poignantly of the time you yourself was a foster child once. This connection will serve as your primary source of inspiration later on, helping you constantly develop more ideas to attain your fundraising objectives.

Enlist the help of others. This isn't just about picking anyone who wishes to join your cause. Your selection process must resemble what’s being used in today’s large corporations. The number of contacts, skills and abilities shouldn’t be the only things that matter; you must take the time to know as well why they’re joining and what they believe they can get out of joining your cause.

Initial spending is unavoidable with a fundraising campaign and unless you have enough money in your pocket to shoulder the capital expenses, it’s wiser for you to appeal to the bigwigs for financial aid. Explain to them the need for capital money for your campaign to hit the ground running and give them a detailed accounting of how you plan to use the money.

Corporations and wealthy citizens would welcome the idea of donating more warmly if their donations are tax deductible. For this to happen, you must file the necessary documents to make your foundation legally recognized. Next, you do everything possible to ensure that your foundation is given the approval by the law to solicit tax-deductible-donations. Research well because this particular step would prove to be very beneficial later on.

Organize diversified events for your fundraising campaign to be able to tap all sections of the market. It’s imperative that you think of your fundraising campaign as a business knowing you’re striving to earn profit for the benefit of others. Make some of these events regular occasions to foster the feeling of tradition and permanency among your donors.

That’s it then. Good luck on your endeavor!

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