Appeals are an essential part of every nonprofit’s fundraising strategy. They carry a lot of weight, putting your cause in front of current and potential donors and convincing them to give their money to you instead of someone else.
Let’s pretend for a moment that you aren’t a fundraiser. If you got a letter in the mail asking you to give to a specific cause, what would motivate you to give away your hard-earned money to that organization? Or what puts you off from donating? What is the tipping point that makes you choose one mission from hundreds of incredibly worthwhile causes?
It could potentially boil down to the appeal itself and its sense of urgency. Urgency is a powerful force, and could even be the deciding factor between someone donating to your cause rather than someone else’s.
But what else can you do to craft the most effective appeal you can? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a compelling message that will resonate with your audience and drive meaningful contributions. But first, there are some things you should outline.
Be Intentional
Before starting out, set an intention for why you’re writing to your audience. Are you trying to raise a certain amount of money to launch a new initiative? Are you trying to get one-time donors to renew their gift or invite inactive donors to renew their support? Or are you reaching out to grow your sustainer program?
Whatever it may be, it’s important to know what exactly you want to communicate.
Know Your Audience
Think about who this appeal will go to. It’s critical to define your audience before you start the writing process, because the content and appeal itself might be shaped around who will receive it. Segmenting your audience could be based on giving history to your organization, like amount or frequency, but can also be split by age, or interest in a certain program.
Then, think about how you can best engage those groups based on what defines them. If they gave last year, but not this year (also known as LYBUNTs), then re-engagement will have to be the focus. Or, if they’re a younger demographic, they’ll probably respond best to a lower ask string. Top-level strategy is what usually resonates best with mid to higher-level level donors.
To get the most out of your hard work with these appeals, think about which audiences to segment for specific messaging. For more information on how to use analytics and predictive modeling to create more nuanced segments, reach out.
Consider Your Channels
How can you maximize your channels for the best results? If possible, never rely on just one for a fundraising campaign. Multi-channel campaigns have been shown to be the most effective in response and retention of donors. While there are an array of channels you should consider for your campaign (social media, SMS, paid search), there are two main ones for your direct appeals:
Direct Mail remains an important and valuable fundraising tool because it provides a personal touch and a tangible experience for whoever receives it. It is not dead at all. Rather, it is very often an important driver for donors to respond even if it means they make their gift online. It can also reach an audience that isn’t as tech-savvy or online, and stand out in a less crowded space than digital.
Email is essential, as it’s cost-effective and has a wide-reach. A huge advantage is that its delivery is almost instant – which really helps with urgent appeals or time-sensitive campaigns. Its metrics are usually pretty easy to track, as is the ability to segment your audience.
Content is King
Here’s where the real work begins. There’s a lot that goes into writing an appeal, but it’s nothing that you can’t handle! Use these tips to write an effective appeal:
- Tell A Story
Storytelling is one of the most powerful allies of a fundraiser. By sharing the story of someone whose life has been transformed by your organization, you are showing real and true impact.
Work to craft a compelling and emotionally engaging story that hpefully highlights either the people or communities that your organization serves. Evoking an emotional response is always more likely to lead to donations, as it helps people put a real person or thing to a cause.
- Answer the “Why”
Why now? Why your organization? Why will their donations make all the difference? Persuasive language and a strong call-to-action are vital to encourage immediate and meaningful support. Tie your donations directly to impact by adding in sentences about what exactly a donation could do. Could it provide five families with shelter for a week? Or give medications to shelter 20 shelter animals? Making this point makes the gift even more tangible to the donor, and it can also encourage someone to give even more as they can clearly see the impact that their dollars will have.
- Incorporate Personalization
Personalize the appeal by addressing donors by name and acknowledging their past support, if possible. The tone of your voice should sound like it’s coming from a friend. You want to humanize your organization as much as possible, and not have your donors feel as though they are just another drop in the bucket of yet another marketing effort. So write like how you might make a speech. Keep sentences short, and don’t use words that might be difficult to understand. You want your writing to be accessible to as many people as possible.
- Express Gratitude
The people who are taking the time to read your work and make a donation make all the difference in advancing your mission. Be sure to let them know how thankful you are for them and their potential contributions.
- Don’t Forget to Consider Design
When it comes to the format, less is usually more. Sometimes a good rule to follow is designing your appeal with your grandmother in mind. Wherever possible, strategically use white space to make your words stand out on the page. Make sure to bold key points, and if you’re considering using images, make sure they directly tie back to the story you’re telling and don’t sidetrack the reader. Make sure the font is an appropriate size, and it’s easy to read.
- Stick to One Call to Action, and Be Direct
Don’t beat around the bush when asking your audience for something – you should be crystal clear about what you’re asking for. “Donate today”, “Give now”, “Take action now”, “Make your gift today” all get the point across pretty quickly. Be straightforward, but with a friendly and conversational tone. Clearly state the fundraising goal (if there is one) and how the contributions will make a difference in accomplishing what you’re looking to do. Repeat your call to action a few times, as repetition builds urgency.
Now, after you’ve convinced people to make a donation, then what? Well, you can’t raise money if there’s no way for your donors to make their gifts! Make sure to have your donation process be as simple as possible. Simplifying your donation page to be as clear as it can be is one of the best things you can do to boost your fundraising efforts. Most importantly, build a strong stewardship plan to thank your donors in many different ways so they feel their gift is making a difference and that they are valued.
So there we have it. Crafting a well thought-out, engaging appeal can inspire donors, attract new supporters, and secure essential funding for your cause. By following these do’s and don’ts of appeal writing, you can help maximize your efforts and build deep relationships with your donors.
