Donation request letter that tells a story and asks clearly
Whether you run a small nonprofit, a school fundraiser or a community project, people give when they see one real story and know exactly what their gift will do. This prompt has your todo.is agent write a warm donation request letter with a short story, a clear ask with amounts, and an easy way to give.
The prompt
- Write a donation request letter for [ORGANIZATION OR CAUSE]. Who it goes to: [EXISTING DONORS, LOCAL BUSINESSES OR NEW SUPPORTERS]. What we do: [ONE OR TWO SENTENCES]. A real story: [ONE PERSON OR MOMENT THE WORK CHANGED, WITH PERMISSION]. Goal: [AMOUNT AND WHAT IT PAYS FOR]. Suggested gifts and what each buys: [E.G. $25, $50, $100 = ...]. How to give: [DONATION LINK, ADDRESS OR BANK DETAILS]. Deadline: [DATE OR "NONE"]. Keep it under 350 words, warm and personal, written to one reader ("you"). Put the ask in the first half, and add a P.S. that repeats it. Give me a Word file, a printable PDF and a shorter email version.
What to change
- [ORGANIZATION OR CAUSE]: E.g. "Northside Community Pantry".
- [EXISTING DONORS, LOCAL BUSINESSES OR NEW SUPPORTERS]: The tone changes for each. Write who will receive it.
- [ONE OR TWO SENTENCES]: E.g. "we give free groceries to 400 families a week".
- [ONE PERSON OR MOMENT THE WORK CHANGED, WITH PERMISSION]: Keep names private unless the person agreed, e.g. "a grandmother raising two grandkids".
- [AMOUNT AND WHAT IT PAYS FOR]: E.g. "$15,000 to buy a second refrigerated van".
- [E.G. $25, $50, $100 = ...]: Match amounts to real things, e.g. "$50 fills a weekly food box for a family".
- [DONATION LINK, ADDRESS OR BANK DETAILS]: Where people can donate.
- [DATE OR "NONE"]: A real deadline helps, e.g. "before 31 December".
Example result
- Donation request letter
- Northside Community Pantry
- northsidepantry.example
- 1 November 2026
- Dear Friend,
- Last month, a grandmother named Rose came to our pantry for the first time. She is raising her two grandsons on a small pension, and that week she had skipped meals so the boys could eat. She left with a full box of groceries, fresh fruit and milk. "I can breathe again," she told our volunteer.
- Every week, Northside Community Pantry gives free groceries to about 400 families like Rose's. But our only refrigerated van is 14 years old and broke down three times this autumn. Each time, we lost fresh food we could not collect.
- Will you help us buy a second van before 31 December? Our goal is $15,000.
- • $25 buys fresh milk and eggs for 10 families
- • $50 fills a weekly grocery box for one family for a month
- • $100 covers a full day of van collections from local farms
- You can give online at northsidepantry.example/give, or send a check to Northside Community Pantry, 82 Elm Street.
- Every gift, of any size, goes straight to food and transport. We are run almost entirely by volunteers, and we will send you an update with a photo of the new van in January.
- Thank you for keeping your neighbors fed.
- With gratitude,
- Maria Torres
- Director, Northside Community Pantry
- P.S. A gift of $50 before 31 December fills a grocery box for a family like Rose's for a whole month.
- Why this letter works
- • One story instead of statistics
- • A clear ask in the first half, with amounts tied to real things
- • A deadline and a P.S. that repeats the ask
- • Written to "you", one reader at a time
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your cause, story, goal and how to give.
- Paste it into todo.is, or send it to your agent on Telegram or WhatsApp.
- Your agent writes the letter, a printable PDF and a shorter email version.
- Ask for versions for other audiences, like "local businesses" or "last year's donors".
Tips for a better result
- Lead with one person, not numbers. Readers give to stories they can picture.
- Tie each amount to something concrete. "$50 fills a grocery box" is easier to say yes to than "please give generously".
- Always thank past donors first and tell them what their last gift did.
- Send a thank-you within 48 hours of each gift. Ask your agent to draft them from your donations spreadsheet.
- Check local fundraising and tax-receipt rules for your type of organization.
donation request letter: FAQ
- How do you write a donation request letter? Tell one short, real story, explain the need, ask for a specific amount for a specific purpose, make giving easy, and thank the reader.
- How long should a donation letter be? One page, about 250 to 400 words. Many fundraisers add a P.S. because readers often see it first.
- Should I include suggested donation amounts? Yes. Two to four amounts, each linked to what it pays for, make it easier for people to choose.
- Can individuals use this for a personal cause? Yes. It works for school trips, medical costs or community projects. Be clear about who receives the money and how it will be used.
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