Fundraising letter that turns one story into donations
Most appeals list everything a charity does and ask for "any support". This prompt has your todo.is agent build a fundraising letter around one person helped, one goal with a deadline and gift levels that show what each amount does, then format it for print and email.
The prompt
- Write a fundraising letter for [ORGANIZATION NAME], which [WHAT YOU DO IN ONE LINE]. The campaign goal is [GOAL AMOUNT AND DEADLINE] for [WHAT THE MONEY PAYS FOR]. Build it around this story: [ONE REAL STORY OR PERSON HELPED]. Write to [WHO IS RECEIVING IT] in a warm, direct voice, under 400 words, with 3 gift levels that each say what they pay for, a clear ask in the first half and again at the end, and a P.S. with the deadline. Signed by [SIGNER NAME AND ROLE]. Give me a Word file for printing on letterhead, a PDF, and a shorter email version (under 200 words) with 3 subject line options.
What to change
- [ORGANIZATION NAME]: Your charity, school, club or project, e.g. "Northside Community Pantry".
- [WHAT YOU DO IN ONE LINE]: One plain sentence, e.g. "gives free groceries to 300 families a week".
- [GOAL AMOUNT AND DEADLINE]: E.g. "$25,000 by December 31". A specific number and date make people act.
- [WHAT THE MONEY PAYS FOR]: Something concrete, e.g. "a walk-in fridge so we can accept fresh produce".
- [ONE REAL STORY OR PERSON HELPED]: A short true story, with permission, e.g. "Maria, a nurse whose hours were cut". Change names if needed.
- [WHO IS RECEIVING IT]: E.g. "past donors", "parents at our school", "local businesses" or "people who have never given".
- [SIGNER NAME AND ROLE]: Who signs it, e.g. "Dana Ruiz, Executive Director".
Example result
- Fundraising letter
- Dear friend,
- Last March, Maria came to our pantry for the first time. She is a nurse. When her hospital cut her hours, she could pay rent or buy groceries for her two boys, but not both.
- She left with a full bag. What she did not leave with was fresh food, because we had nowhere to keep it cold. Every week we turn away milk, eggs and vegetables from local farms for the same reason.
- This year we want to change that. Will you help us raise $25,000 by December 31 for a walk-in fridge?
- With it, we can accept fresh produce from four farms that have already offered it, and give families like Maria's the food that keeps kids healthy.
- • $50 keeps the fridge running for one month
- • $150 stocks a week of fresh milk and eggs for 40 families
- • $500 names a shelf after you or someone you love
- You can give at northsidepantry.org/fridge or with the envelope inside. Every gift, of any size, goes to this goal.
- Maria is back on her full hours now, and she volunteers with us on Saturdays. She asked me to tell you that it was the small things, the fresh fruit for her boys, that mattered most.
- Thank you for standing with your neighbors.
- Warmly,
- Dana Ruiz
- Executive Director, Northside Community Pantry
- P.S. We are $9,400 away from our goal, and the farms need an answer by January. A gift before December 31 brings fresh food to families this winter.
- Email version subject lines
- • Maria's boys and a fridge
- • $9,400 to go before December 31
- • Fresh food we keep turning away
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your goal, your story and who you are writing to.
- Paste it on the todo.is Today screen or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram. Attach last year's appeal if you want the same voice.
- You get a printable Word file, a PDF and a short email version with subject lines.
- Ask for versions per audience, like "one for past donors who gave over $500", and compare them side by side.
Tips for a better result
- Tell one story about one person. A single face raises more than statistics about thousands.
- Use "you" more than "we". The donor is the hero of the letter; your charity is how they help.
- Put the ask in the first half, not only at the end. Many readers skim and stop early.
- Always add a P.S. with the deadline. It is often the most-read line of a printed letter.
- Ask your agent for a matching thank-you letter now, so you can send it within 48 hours of each gift.
fundraising letter: FAQ
- How long should a fundraising letter be? One page is a good target for most appeals, roughly 300 to 450 words. Longer letters can work for loyal donors, but the ask must be easy to find.
- What should a fundraising letter include? A story about a real person, a clear goal and deadline, what a gift will do, a specific ask, an easy way to give and a P.S. Thank the reader before asking.
- Should I use a real person in my story? Yes, if they agree. Ask for permission and change the name or details if they prefer privacy.
- Can my agent personalize letters for a donor list? Yes. Attach a spreadsheet with names and past gifts, and your agent can write a personal opening line per donor and give you the letters as files.
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