VolunteerHub
  • Platform
    VolunteerHub automates and streamlines, so you can concentrate on making a difference and driving your organization’s mission forward.
    • Platform Features
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • Volunteer Management
      • campaign Volunteer Recruitment
      • calendar_month Volunteer Scheduling
      • track_changes Volunteer Hour Tracking
      • storage Volunteer Database
      • paid Volunteer Fundraising
      • receipt_long Volunteer Liability Waivers
      • stars Rewards and Recognition
      • add_chart Reporting
    • Opportunity Management
      • vertical_split Landing Pages
      • task_alt Check-In
      • view_module Multi-Event Editor
      • move_up Configurable Forms
      • lan Group Organization
    • Volunteer Communication
      • mark_email_read Email Messaging
      • sms Text Messaging
      • share Social Media
    • Client Success
      • checklist Onboarding
      • school Training
  • Solutions
    VolunteerHub simplifies processes and removes friction for both coordinators and volunteers, saving your organization valuable time and resources.
    • Software Benefits
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • By Need
      • timer Save Time and Effort
      • extension Integrate with Existing Platforms
      • favorite Improve Volunteer Experience
      • show_chart Boost Volunteer Engagement
      • handshake Build Community Partnership
      • list_alt Consolidate Data Management
    • By Initiative
      • pets Animal Rights
      • music_note Arts and Culture
      • sports_football Athletics
      • bookmark Cause/Cure
      • forest Conservation
      • school Education
      • food_bank Food Banks
      • local_hospital Hospitals
      • attribution Human Rights
      • support Human Services
      • local_library Libraries
      • volunteer_activism Nonprofits
      • campaign Political Campaigns
      • account_balance Public Service
      • church Religious Organizations
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    VolunteerHub provides a bevy of resources to help you succeed in nonprofit and volunteer management.
    • All Resources
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • slow_motion_video Software Overview Video
    • menu_book The Book on Volunteer Management
    • format_quote Case Studies
    • rss_feed Blog
    • podcasts Podcast
    • upcoming Product Updates
  • About
    Over the last 20+ years, VolunteerHub has helped thousands of organizations manage billions of volunteer hours.
    • About VolunteerHub
    VolunteerHub Overview Video
    Watch Overview 1:50
    • groups Team
    • handshake Partners
    • work Careers
  • Support
  • Request Demo
Blog
Best Practices 2 min read

Sample Letter for Donation Request for Non Profit

Fonda Kendrick August 4, 2014
Share this
jar full of cash

Your organization relies on the generosity of others. That generosity is often shown by means of donations – whether through financial contributions or the gifting of tangible goods (such as software and technology).

How can you ask for donations and still sound gracious? Sometimes getting “the ask” just right can be a challenge. In this article, we’ll offer tips for writing effective financial and technology donation requests and provide sample letters for each.

General Rules to Live By

There are a few guidelines to consider regardless software donation requestof the type of donation letter you are drafting. Start by grabbing the reader’s attention, but keep the tone personal and conversational. Don’t be afraid to use mail merge and address each prospect by name (instead of using “Dear Friend”).

Click the image for a free donation template >>

Personalizing the experience has been proven to yield better results. Additionally, keep your request brief, but at the same time tell a story that appeals to the heart. This can include letting the reader know the consequences of not contributing to your cause.

Requesting Financial Donations from Volunteers

Your volunteers already support your organization by giving their time. Why aren’t you asking them to also lend their financial resources too? Volunteer and donor cross-pollination is a hot topic among nonprofits. Simply asking your volunteers to donate can yield huge results.

When soliciting financial contributions from volunteers, here are some important elements to include in the letter:

  • Praise volunteers for the work that they have done. Give specific examples of their accomplishments, such as the number of items collected or the number of clients served.
  • Let them know that not only does your mission take the work of volunteers, but it also requires funding. Even though they already volunteer for you, this may be the time to educate them about your mission and vision.
  • Discuss a particular project or program for which you are raising funds and explain the impact it will have on your services. For example, a donation of $50 would help feed ten hungry children.
  • Directly ask if the volunteer would consider donating.
  • Make it easy to donate via your website (or other means) and give simple directions on how to do so. Once prospects reach this point, it is also worthwhile to give suggested donation tiers, as well as an option for an “other amount.”
  • Explicitly mention how their donation will be used.
  • Provide your contact information in case donors have questions.

Requesting Technology Donations from For-Profit Businesses

Corporations often have funds set aside for philanthropy. Therefore, if you already have relationships with for-profit businesses, reach out to them and seek advice for soliciting software or other technology donations.

As an example, several VolunteerHub clients have used the following approach to request technology sponsorships. Here’s how to make an impact with this type of ask:

  • Outline your needs. What challenges are you facing? How does this affect your organization?
  • Introduce your proposed software solution and provide a web link for sponsors to get additional information about the product.
  • List the specific goals that the proposed technology will help your organization meet.
  • Don’t be shy about communicating monthly or yearly costs of the product.
  • Ask if the company would be willing to help sponsor the cost.
  • Offer to set up a conference call between your organization, the corporation, and the software provider. This gives your prospective donor a chance to learn exactly how its money will be used and how the software will aid your organization.

Many of the tips we’ve mentioned are included in our popular solicitation templates (see resources). Feel free to customize them for your organization’s needs before sending. We believe you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Good luck!

 

Volunteer Management Features

Topics Discussed

  • Best Practices

Related Posts

2 min read Nonprofit Social Media Strategy: Building a Foundation
Social Media Strategy
1 min read March VolunteerHub User Forum - Recurring Events
1 min read Event Segmentation: Segmented Volunteer Data for Nonprofits
Event Segmentation

Subscribe to Our Blog

Subscribe to receive email notifications every time we publish new insights, news, and thought leadership to our blog.

Subscribe Here!

symbol-full-color
Contact Us

877.482.3340

media@volunteerhub.com

  • Platform
  • Solutions
  • Pricing
  • Resources
  • About
  • Support
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright Management
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Vimeo
©2025 BetterGood. All rights reserved.