Fundraising Email Templates: A Beginner’s Guide
Asking for help of any kind requires courage and vulnerability, and seeking financial help can be especially challenging. Thankfully, a solid fundraising email template can remove the fear of a blank page and give you a framework for writing email outreaches that will inspire others to give.
If you aren’t sure how to ask for donations, we’ve put together a list of fundraising email templates along with best practices that will help you reach your fundraising goals faster.
Fundraising email best practices
Email remains one of the most effective ways to raise awareness of your fundraiser and cause. But even seasoned fundraising professionals can struggle to write a persuasive fundraising letter. These best practices can help you craft compelling outreaches that will inspire others to donate.
Make your subject line count
The subject line for fundraising emails is not only the reader’s first impression—in many cases, it’s your first and last chance to get someone to open your message. Hubspot found that 64% of email recipients open an email based solely on the subject line. Follow these tips to catch your audience’s attention:
- Keep your subject line short but informative—the ideal length is fewer than 65 characters. Long subject lines often get shortened on small devices.
- Pique interest so people want to learn more, but avoid sounding spammy. Don’t use all-caps and excessive punctuation.
- Create a sense of urgency that inspires donors to take action.
Personalize your messages
It would be convenient if one cookie-cutter fundraising email template served everyone’s needs, but you’ll want to tailor each one to avoid sounding cold or inauthentic. Try separating your email list by demographic, giving status, or other relevant factors. Doing this can boost your email open rate by 14.3%, according to MailChimp. If you’re running short on time, even adding the recipient’s name to the greeting can go a long way in making someone feel like you care.
Keep it short and sweet
Brevity is the key to an effective fundraising email. If you write too much, people will lose interest and give up reading. A clear and visually appealing format also plays an important role in an email’s readability.
Pointers to keep in mind:
- Break up large paragraphs to avoid overwhelming potential donors.
- Limit yourself to four short paragraphs.
- Use subheads and bolded text for easy reading.
- Include high-quality photos to help people connect with your cause.
Make the impact clear
How will donations be used? How will the funds change your life or improve the life of your beneficiary? Readers will want to know right away why you’re raising funds and exactly how the money will be used, so be sure to answer these questions within the first few sentences of your email.
If possible, explain what impact a $5, $25, and $100 donation would make. Some people may feel embarrassed making a small donation, so it’s important to emphasize that donations of any amount are welcome, and every contribution will help you reach your goal.
Add visual content
A high-quality photo or video can help break up text and draw people into your email right away, so definitely insert at least one image into your outreach emails. Make sure to avoid using grainy photos, logos, or an image that isn’t related to your cause, as these could make people wary of donating.
Recruiting friends and family to support your cause
When crowdfunding, friends, and family will be some of your biggest supporters. Take special care with outreaches to them. An email template will come off as impersonal to those who know you well, so it’s especially important to personalize these emails.
Some other points to keep in mind:
- Unlike emails to the press, emails to friends, family, and other community members should include a more emotional appeal to inspire action.
- Don’t be afraid to add your own spin and make your personality shine through. This will help people feel more connected to you and your cause.
- You might consider using more personal photos in outreaches to family and friends.
Below is a fundraising email sample you can adapt and send to those closest to you.
1. Email template: Donation request to friends and family
Subject line [short and compelling, avoid CAPS and exclamations]:
Dear [insert name],
You might have heard that I’m fundraising to [insert reason why you’re fundraising]. This cause is very important to me because [supply a personal reason that appeals to the reader’s emotions].
I’m encouraged by the support I’ve already received, but I still need help reaching my fundraising goal of [insert dollar amount].
Would you be willing to make a contribution to my fundraiser? A gift of any amount would mean the world to me.
To donate, simply click the link to my fundraiser below:
[Insert link to fundraiser]
It would also mean a lot if you could share my fundraiser link on social media. The more exposure I get, the faster I will reach my fundraising goal.
I’d love to talk to you in person about my fundraiser, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
With love/Sincerely,
[Your name]
2. Email template: Time-sensitive donation request to friends and family
Subject line: Only [insert days] to help me reach my fundraising goal
Dear [insert name],
I only have [number] days to finish fundraising for [insert fundraising cause].
If only [insert number] of people donated [insert dollar amount] to my fundraiser, I would [be able to meet my fundraising goal/make significant progress toward my fundraising goal]. Would you be able to help make this a reality?
To donate, just click the link to my fundraiser below:
[insert link to fundraiser]
It would also really help if you could share my fundraiser link with everyone you know. The more eyes on my fundraiser, the better!
I appreciate all of your support! I wouldn’t be able to accomplish [fundraising goal] without your help.
With love/Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your contact info]
Reach out to local businesses
If you’ve already sought the support of friends and family, asking local businesses for help is another way to keep the fundraising momentum going.
Keep these tips in mind when composing your outreach:
- Focus on businesses that are known for supporting the community and giving back.
- Reach out to businesses or organizations that align with your cause. For example, if you are raising money to offset the cost of your chemotherapy treatments, you might send outreaches to local organizations known for their support of cancer patients or their work in the field of cancer research.
- In your outreach, include other ways that businesses can help you if they can’t contribute financially. They might volunteer their venue for a fundraising event, or they might donate items to be sold.
Below is a sample donation request letter to a company that you can use in outreaches.
3. Email template: Donation requests to local businesses
Subject line [short and compelling, avoid CAPS and exclamations]:
Hi [insert name],
I am fundraising to [insert reason why you’re fundraising], and I could really use the help of local businesses like yours. [Summarize why you need help in 1-3 short sentences to provide background information, and tie this into your local community].
So far, the community has raised [insert amount] toward my fundraising goal—but we still have a lot of ground to cover. That’s where your business comes into the picture.
Would you be interested in joining me on my fundraising journey by making a contribution to my cause? A gift of any amount can make a difference.
To donate, simply click the link to my fundraiser below:
[Insert link to fundraiser]
I’d love to talk about my fundraiser in more detail, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best,
[Your name]
[Your contact info]
Tap into the Giving Tuesday buzz
Millions of people across the globe donate to worthy causes on Giving Tuesday. This makes the unofficial holiday a fantastic opportunity to rally support for your own fundraiser. Sending outreaches to your network is an important part of planning a powerful Giving Tuesday fundraiser.
A well-crafted email adds a sense of urgency and can encourage people to donate to your cause. You might even consider throwing a Giving Tuesday fundraising event for maximum exposure.
Our Giving Tuesday email template below helps you create an outreach for this specific event.
4. Email template: Donation requests for Giving Tuesday
Subject line: Celebrate Giving Tuesday by donating to my cause
Dear [insert name],
Happy #GivingTuesday! I’m raising money for [insert your fundraiser name], and I need your help on this special day to reach my goal.
I’m aiming to raise a total of $[insert amount] by the end of the day, which will allow me to [insert specific use, ex: “purchase 100 care kits for homeless women.”] The clock is ticking to make this goal a reality.
Simply click the link to my fundraiser below to read more about my cause and make a donation.
[insert link to fundraiser]
If you could also share my fundraiser link with your contacts on social media, it would help boost awareness for my cause.
I appreciate all of your support!
Best,
[Your name]
[Your contact info]
Start your fundraising journey today
Whether you’re reaching out to the press or to family and friends, a clear, polished email will help you reach potential donors and inspire people to take action. Once you reach your fundraising goal, show some appreciation for your supporters and write a donation thank you letter. And if you haven’t already, take advantage of fundraising on GoFundMe and sign up to create a fundraiser today.