Unfortunately, charities often find it difficult to meet the needs of the individuals they help, whether they serve the homeless, at-risk children, underprivileged people or the hungry. As funds drop, individuals in need of help have to be turned away or can only be supported partially, putting them at risk of falling through the cracks. You can help ensure that your charity has enough revenue to adequately support its community by asking businesses to make donations.
Instructions
1. Write an appeal letter, which is a formal letter sent to a company on the behalf of a charity that discusses what the charity does, who it serves, how it helps society and why it needs funds from the company to which it was sent. Appeal letter writers can be hired online, from temp agencies and by posting ads on job boards. It is important to craft a professional, well-thought-out letter; otherwise, your charity may appear unprofessional or like a scam.
2. Call a business and talk to someone who has a position of authority at it, such as the CEO, if the company is smaller, or the individual in charge of handling donation requests, if the company is larger. Explain what your charity is about and why a donation from the business would help society in general, as well as how the contribution will be used.
3. Determine which aspects of your charity a company would be most interested in helping with. In general, companies are often interested in donating toward positive and preventative activities, such as educational programs and playgrounds that will keep children occupied.
4. Explain how the donation could have a positive impact on the company from which you seek a donation. For example, if the company will receive publicity for its donation, detail the kind of publicity the company can expect and the ways in which it could help the business, such as increased consumer awareness of the company's services.
5. Provide your charity's contact information in a clear manner, no matter which method you use to solicit donations. When sending an appeal letter, make sure the relevant contact information is clearly provided at the top of the letter. When speaking to an individual with the company, provide a single name, phone number and email address with which the company can contact the charity at a later date. Too many phone numbers or names could result in confusion and a lost opportunity.
Tags: your charity, contact information