Making Solicitations
Guidelines and Alternate Phrases
Use an attention-getting opening appropriate to your cause. Don’t make this a “routine,” business-as-usual memo.
Would you help us improve our schools so your children get the education they will need to make their way in the world?
Does it disturb you that…?
Are you one of the group who thinks somebody ought to do something about…?
These statistics don’t lie:…
Within the next two months you will be hearing an announcement that…. And here’s what you can do to help:….
Elaborate on your organization and be specific about what you want from the reader.
We need your contribution immediately.
We ask you appoint two volunteers from your organization to join our committee….
We want to add your company’s name to our list of contributors of $1,000, a list that will be going out with our letter to ask for….
Can you send us something, anything, today—$100? $25? $10?
Point out either personal or corporate benefits from involvement if they are not apparent.
Today’s students adequately trained become your future employees.
Our children deserve to live in a community that protects their rights to participate in sports events and other extracurricular activities in order to learn the basic skills of life.
We think such a contribution will enrich your own life. In buying food for at least one child for a month, you perhaps will be better able to instill in your own children gratitude for what parents such as yourself routinely provide for their loved ones.
Support your request with testimonials from prominent people who have endorsed your cause or even with comments from the “average” recipient of the money or services you’re soliciting. In other words, make the reader hear firsthand the good that can come from the donation.
Our cause is a worthy one, as any of the people in our shelters will share. One 22-year-old woman commented to us recently, “….”
Many of our finest citizens have been personally involved, from our mayor to the president of our local chapter of….
If these victims could talk with you one-on-one, they would share what a critical difference this mission made in their turnaround….
Bob Jones and Art Wilde have asked me to express their personal appreciation for your help in this way.
A recent unwed mother who stayed with us until after the birth of her baby had this to say about what the center meant in her life….
Mention your hopes for a specific amount (of money or time) from each contributor if you have a certain goal and are trying to raise the money from a limited number of large corporations or wealthy individuals. When that’s not the case, let the reader know that any amount or donated time will be welcome.
We want to limit our sponsorship to about 20 corporations. If you would like to be one of these 20, we need $10,000 toward the construction of….
With our membership of more than 12,000 individuals, if we receive just $10 from each member, we could meet our goal to….
Someone has suggested we should make this effort an entirely local one—something “we as a community do for our own.” To make that a reality, we’ll need approximately $1,000 from each organization.
With our active membership, we could provide 24-hour coverage of the hotlines if each individual could contribute four hours per month.
We will appreciate any amount you can contribute and can assure you of its wise use.
We hope you can contribute $100 to our cause. If not, we welcome any amount you feel you can afford.
Any size gift is appropriate—$5, $10, $25. Simply do what you can to help.
Express appreciation for the contribution in a summary statement of the benefit.
Thank you for helping with this important research.
We appreciate your considering our request for help in providing shelter for these homeless victims of abuse.
Thank you for your foresightedness in contributing to this project, one that will put us on the tourists’ agenda for future vacations.
We appreciate your sensitivity in contributing to this seldom-mentioned, behind-the-scenes effort in our community.
How can we thank you for your help? We hope your own satisfaction will come in knowing that you’ve fed and clothed a hungry, cold child today.
On behalf of those your money will help, we appreciate your caring concern.
Your contribution will make a lasting difference in educating our young people here in Britely. We thank you on their behalf.
Your money—and, most of all, your time—are a constant reminder that there are those who care.
The citizens of Dunsburg will enjoy and appreciate your contribution for years to come.
Your money can save a life.
Your help with these data may be just the impetus our institution and our governmental agencies need to take action.
My heartfelt thanks for your support.
We will appreciate whatever you can give to help these mentally handicapped people lead self-supporting lives.
Thank you for your help in this way. Without your contributions, many abused teenagers would be on the streets tonight.
Please accept my personal gratitude for a generous gift toward the day we will conquer this dreaded disease.
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