How to Write Fundraising Emails that Work

Written by James Baxter is professional ghostwriter, editor at write my essay and blogger, who loves sharing his experience and knowledge with readers. He is especially interested in marketing, blogging and IT. James is always happy to visit different places and meet new people there.

Have you ever thought of how hard it is to get someone to donate to a cause through an email? It’s quite difficult to convey in one email all your organization’s efforts and activities while working in an effective plea for money. However, email marketing is a very efficient method for fundraising if you do it correctly. So, how do you write a fundraising email that works? Well, if you do not know how to write a compelling email, you could always consult an essay writer who has profound skills and has a touch for words. Another way is by making use of fundraising tools like the GivingWay platform.

How to Write Fundraising Emails that Work

If you do intend to write the email yourself, here are a few tips to help you out:

Write intriguing subject lines

It takes the average user between 1-2 seconds to decide to open your email, erase it or mark it as spam. The fundraising email subject lines are the most important part of the email because they determine if your message will even be conveyed. Make sure the subject lines reflect the content of your email but keep you wanting for more, this way, your email would not be sent to the trash before it is even read.

This article will teach you how to write a compelling fundraising letter.

Tell an authentic story

Let’s assume you’re trying to raise funds for a non-governmental organization. Now, it has most likely changed lives in the past or done something amazing. Tell that story. Remember an authentic story doesn’t necessarily have to be a sad one, rather a story that people can relate to.
When writing it, use words that would create empathy to make them relate to your cause. Try staying positive, appeal to their sense of purpose and hope. To write a compelling story help them understand how they can be a part of something good, and avoid scary and negative terminology.

Involve

Donors are not just giving you money, they are joining your efforts and becoming part of your community. Welcome them, involve them in the vision and make them feel part of the solution. When speaking to them in the email, use including terminology such as “we”, “our”, “lets”, “together”.

Be Transparent

Oftentimes, organizations make grandiose statements of what they are going to do with the donated money. Try breaking it down, helping the potential donor understand the real impact of their donation. A small donation won’t stop the hunger in Somalia, but it can provide an impressive amount of meals for hungry children. Tell them how you are planning to use the donation. You can even share the cost. For example, 5 Dollars pay for 5 meals, so when you donate 20 dollars you are feeding 5 families, or supporting one child for a week. Let them know what part of your project they are handling by donating their money.

Keep it short

People get a lot of emails for different reasons all the time. As such, they do not have the time to go through a two-pages email. Keep it as short as possible. Also, break the email into headlines, and highlight the most important thing you want them to know. This way, it would be easier to scan through. If you feel you must share more information, keep the email short but add a short link that refers to that information. This way only those who are truly interested will see it.

Make them feel comfortable

Many fundraising organizations make the mistake of pressuring their donors into contributing by making fundraising seem like a do or die affair. It is important to remember that a long-term relationship with your donors is more important than a specific contribution. It’s very important to make your donors feel comfortable with what they can give. If they donated in the past it doesn’t necessarily mean they will again now, but perhaps they will again in the future, if you keep them close and engaged in your activity. Also, remember that contribution can be done by other means than money, such as volunteering or spreading the word.

Final thoughts

Writing a fundraising email is not as hard as you thought now, is it? The main idea is to make sure that you can transfer your ideas to masses. Once your ideas have been successfully portrayed, getting engagement and donations is easier. As long as you stay interesting and precise, you are good to go. Good luck!