Fundraising Letter - How Long Should It Be?

[TwoIfBySea]

So I was asked to write a speculative letter to raise funds for a local group. Wrote a one page letter, briefly describing the project, project aims and how the recipient could help (businesses).

Got a rather scathing email back from the group leader, hoping I hadn't already used the letter as it wasn't what he'd wanted. He then attached his own, two page letter, jammed full of numbers and information, saying this is what these companies wanted.

So my question is - what would you want if you were a company (with a charitable trust)? Also, what would you do, work with what the group leader is wanting or..?

I'm beginning to wish I'd never said yes to this, it's a pain in the proverbial.

I worked in fundraising and they do say the longer the letter and the more bits included (e.g. leaflets in the envelope with the letter) the more likely you are to get a donation. Things like x pounds can buy this also work well so they can see where the money might go.
How well do you know the company? Is there a particular area of the charity's work it is interested in?

Thanks, I wasn't sure if I was being particularly dense in not quite getting what he obviously meant as he asked for it not to be "flowery".

I might suggest a short one-page letter with an information leaflet attached?

Perhaps by flowery he might mean it needs to be factual (facts and figures) rather than emotional and waffly? I'd go for longer than a page personally but its hard to say without the details!
There are some websites with example fundraising letters which might give inspiration

I had looked at those sites, it seemed to be mostly one page efforts which is why I wrote accordingly.

Gah! I should just stick to what I know!

I wouldn't read a long letter. Introductory stuff, 5 bullet points. 1 page.

tell people exactly what you want to achieve
tell them exactly how much you need to raise
tell them exactly how much you would like from them
tell them what they will get out of donating (usually good PR - but it can be something else)

good luck

Contact the funding organisations first, or at least look at their websites, and get details of their criteria. Most funding orgs are very strict about this and will not give unless you meet their criteria and apply in the right way. You'll probably need to tailor your letter/application to each fund, but you're more likely to actually raise funds this way.

Funding orgs rarely reply to tell you were you went wrong if your application isn't successful, and you might only get 1 chance. Don't waste it.

I work for a funding charity and we get loads of unsolicited applications that just end up in the bin as they don't appear to meet our criteria or don't give the information we are looking for.

Good luck!

I doubt many businesses are going to have someone with the time to read a 2 paged letter packed full of facts - your approach sounds more likely to get a response.

Just make sure there are clear, tangible reasons why they should give the funds - so your £X will enable Y people to do/have Z. Comic Relief are very effective with that - £5 will buy 2 mosquito nets etc - which makes donating seem immediately effective.

Also, as you go along, tell them how much you have raised so far, and from whom. Orgs will often 'pledge' an amount providing you can also get (or have already got) funding from someone else.

Americans tend to be way better than us at this, if you google California centre for public health advocacy - although it has a health focus it gives pointers on how you should?d structure your argument.

It give pointers for awareness raising rather than straight fund raising though.

When I read your title I thought 'as short as possible'. Assuming it's a letter you are sending to local businesses asking for donations or something. I'd just be interested in who you are, what charity does (in one sentence), what sort of donation you are after (money/raffle prize etc), website (to show you are bona fide), what the benefit to the company is, and how to go ahead.

Good luck. Though I volunteered at a charity that was going downhill and discovered they didn't actually want help and new ideas and people asking questions about gift aid. So don't get in too deep...