A year end appeal letter? Many ministries don't do them despite the fact that the wise ministry recognizes that 30-50% of an organization's funding may come in the month of December. So suffice it to say, it is wise, if not imperative that you write a year end appeal letter to your donors.
What are some of the basics in writing a year end appeal letter? They are as follows:
1. Keep it short. No more that 1 and 1/2 pages.
2. Tell a story. People like stories. Jesus used stories. Better yet, people share stories.
3. Use pictures. A picture tells a thousand words.
4. Don't make it all about your family. No one wants to sit through a slide show of your family vacation. Tell about what is happening in the ministry.
5. Demonstrate impact. How many people came to know Christ? How many people were exposed to the Gospel? How many were educated? Give something measurable that you accomplished. People like to see a return on their investment.
6. Edit yur letr. Their iz nuthin mur distracktin then misspeluns. You know what I mean?
7. Make your appeal clear. State your need. Tell them how you want them to participate. Tell them when you want them to participate.
8. Use the examples of others. There are lots of year end mailers coming out now. Take some of their ideas and use them in your own letter.
9. Write it now. Best to have it in their hands no later than December 15 or the 20th at the latest. It gives people an opportunity to consider it, and then respond.
10. Offer other options for giving in your letter. Online, credit card, publicly traded stock, cars, boats, RVs, etc.
Go for it! Happy writing.
--William High is the President/General Counsel of the Servant Christian Community Foundation (www.servantchristian.com). He can be reached at whigh@servantchristian.com. For non cash giving, visit www.idonate.com.