Last Updated on August 15, 2022
Charity is seen as offering benevolence to others who are less fortunate or to the less privileged than ourselves. It’s an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, which depicts a sign of generosity. It could be in form of money or goods for those in need offered by charitable organizations, individuals, businesses, or governmental agencies as a show of love and concern.
Table of Contents
What is Charity Letter?
A charity letter is a letter written by an organization or person asking or seeking help, which could be in form of money or gifts donations from individuals, businesses organizations its governmental agencies. Its aim is to seek financial help for organizations and request contributions to improve their conditions.
When to write Charity Letter?
A charity letter is a letter written by an individual or organization to a potential donor who could help the group or organization in their cause, event, campaign, or program by providing financial support, aid, or amenities that they might put into use to help the people and society as a whole. It can also be a letter written by a charity organization or non-profit organization that wants to ask for assistance or source for funds to be used in running their operations and programs in form of donations or gifts.
How to write a Charity Letter
A charity letter can be written following these steps;
- Provide basic information about the charity firm/organization: This involves you using the organization letterhead which includes the name, address, and contact details of the charity organization.
- Add the name and address of the donor: Ensure to include the name and address of your recipient to whom you’re sending the letter correctly.
- Date: Include the date at which you composed the letter.
- Salutation: Make sure you open your letter with the appropriate greeting to the recipient. It’s necessary you include their name, as a charity letter without a name seems impersonal and is more likely to be ignored. Including their name makes them under their donations are valuable.
- Explain your mission: Here you let your recipient knows about your organization and what you stand for if they have not heard of your organization before, i.e. when you’re sending the letter to a new donor. Explaining your mission helps your readers to know and understand the goal and vision of your organization. One effective way of doing this is by telling a story of your previous programs, about someone or an individual who benefited from your organization, and how the donor’s helped make a difference in the life of individuals you came in contact with.
- Describe the current project or event: In this section, you give details on the project, event or campaign to which cause you’re writing to seek the donation. Ensure you clearly outline the reason and include details like dates or guidelines.
- Express your need and what you hope to achieve/accomplish: It’s always important to explain why need your donor’s support for the project, event, or campaign you’re working on, how it will help make a difference, and why they should give for the program in particular. For instance, if you’re raising funds to provide resources to schools around your community, tell your donor’s the exact schools in the community their donations will support. This helps connect deeper with prospective donors.
- Request for donations and state its impact: Donors like knowing exactly where their money is going and what difference it will help to make. In your letter request a strong donation by describing specifically what the gift will accomplish. For example, stating that the donation of #500,000 will help provide books, uniforms, sandals, school bags, and food for a specific number of students helps the donor under their impact. It could also inspire more generosity as they might decide to increase their original amount. Tell them what you want them to do and make it easy for them to partake.
- Be thankful in advance: Expressing gratitude to your recipient for their attention and for taking out time to read your letter. Include gratitude for the past donations made by your recipient if they have made any in the past and express your excitement in advance for their current contributions.
- End with a friendly closing and sign: It’s important to add a friendly closing in such a letter as it could create a good impact on your reader. You can say “kind regards”. Add your full name, title, and any contact information.
Sample Charity Letter
A donation letter to support our community educational program
Day Spring Academy
148 Oron Road
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
www.dayspringacademy.com
August 6, 2022
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Ebong
128 Nwaniba Road
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ebong,
The day Spring Academy is a local school that seeks to help children with learning challenges in the Uyo community. We currently have enrolled over 3000 students and helping them with our customized and befitting curriculum.
It’s our dream this year to add more classroom blocks to accommodate more individuals who desire to be educated and also introduce extracurricular activities in form of trades, skill acquisition, and other profiting and lucrative activities and crafts so students who desire to acquire any of the skills will have the full opportunity to do so. We will need your help to accomplish this vision and goal.
You can help Day Spring Academy in whatsoever measure, capacity, and to the best of your ability that you dimmed fit, as your support is key to achieving our goal.
We ask that you take part in this vision by donating a token. Our expected goal for this project is #200million, and we hope you will be able to make a contribution to support this cause. Your benevolence will impact the lives of young individuals and make a difference in our community.
For it is through generous contributions like yours that Day Spring Academy has been able to provide a stand education scheme, life-changing classes, and experience to thousands of young people’s educational needs in the past 8years. Enclosed is a printed envelope where you can either make a cash donation or by cheque.
We wouldn’t have been able to come this far without you.
With warm regards,
Rufus Sunday
Principal
Conclusion
In writing a charity Letter ensure to conduct research on your donors, at least a little about your recipient, address your letter to your recipient in person, and make it personal so they know you value your value and their support. Ensure to give accurate details about your organization be precise and with your motive so as not to confuse your reader. Avoid false stories and always express gratitude to your donors no matter what your request is meant for as this would create more room for giving.