Year-end appeal letter
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Appeal letter: past donors

[ORGANIZATION NAME]

[ORGANIZATION ADDRESS]

[DATE]

[DONOR NAME]

[DONOR ADDRESS]

Dear [DONOR FIRST NAME],

Last year, your gift of $[LAST GIFT AMOUNT] helped [ONE CONCRETE RESULT, FOR EXAMPLE: KEEP OUR FOOD PANTRY OPEN ON SATURDAYS FOR 40 FAMILIES]. Thank you.

[THE STORY: TWO OR THREE SHORT SENTENCES ABOUT ONE PERSON OR MOMENT THIS YEAR, SHARED WITH PERMISSION. FOR EXAMPLE: WHAT CHANGED FOR THEM, AND WHAT YOUR PROGRAM DID.]

[THE NEED: ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ON WHAT COMES NEXT AND WHAT IT COSTS. FOR EXAMPLE: THIS WINTER WE WANT TO ADD A SECOND DAY, WHICH MEANS RAISING $[GOAL] BY DECEMBER 31.]

Will you give $[SUGGESTED AMOUNT] again this year, or more if you can? [ONE SENTENCE ON WHAT THAT AMOUNT DOES.]

You can give online at [WEB ADDRESS], or return the slip below in the enclosed envelope.

With gratitude,

[NAME]

[ROLE]

P.S. [REPEAT THE ASK IN ONE SENTENCE, FOR EXAMPLE: A GIFT OF $[SUGGESTED AMOUNT] BEFORE DECEMBER 31 WILL HELP US START IN JANUARY.]

Appeal letter: people who haven't given yet

[ORGANIZATION NAME]

[ORGANIZATION ADDRESS]

[DATE]

[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

Dear [FIRST NAME],

[THE STORY: TWO OR THREE SHORT SENTENCES ABOUT ONE PERSON OR MOMENT THIS YEAR, SHARED WITH PERMISSION.]

[WHO YOU ARE: ONE SENTENCE. FOR EXAMPLE: [ORGANIZATION NAME] IS A VOLUNTEER-RUN CHARITY THAT [WHAT YOU DO] IN [PLACE].]

[HOW YOU KNOW THEM: ONE SENTENCE. FOR EXAMPLE: THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING AT OUR SPRING CLEANUP / FOR COMING TO OUR OPEN HOUSE.]

[THE NEED: ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ON WHAT COMES NEXT AND WHAT IT COSTS.]

Would you make a first gift before the end of the year? $[AMOUNT 1] [WHAT IT DOES]. $[AMOUNT 2] [WHAT IT DOES]. Any amount helps.

You can give online at [WEB ADDRESS], or return the slip below in the enclosed envelope.

With thanks,

[NAME]

[ROLE]

P.S. [REPEAT THE ASK IN ONE SENTENCE.]

Optional paragraph: when the appeal offers something in return

Use this only if the donor receives goods or services, such as event tickets, for a gift of more than $75. Put it near the reply slip.

[ORGANIZATION NAME] is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For a gift of $[GIFT AMOUNT], you will receive [DESCRIBE GOODS OR SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE TWO TICKETS TO OUR SPRING DINNER], with a good-faith estimated fair market value of $[VALUE]. The amount of your gift that is deductible for federal income tax purposes is limited to the amount you give minus the value of what you receive.

Reply slip

Yes, I want to help [ORGANIZATION NAME] [THE NEED IN A FEW WORDS].

My gift: $[AMOUNT 1] / $[AMOUNT 2] / $[AMOUNT 3] / Other: $______

Name: ____________________________

Address: ____________________________

Email: ____________________________

[ ] Please don't list my name in your annual report.

[ ] I'd like to give monthly. Please contact me.

Please make checks payable to [ORGANIZATION NAME] and mail to [ORGANIZATION ADDRESS]. To give online, visit [WEB ADDRESS].

[ORGANIZATION NAME] is a 501(c)(3) charity. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. [ADD ANY STATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT YOUR STATE REGISTRATION REQUIRES ON SOLICITATIONS.]