How to Ask for Donations to Your Charity

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Fundraising is an art. Hone this valuable craft, make soliciting simpler, and increase donations to your favorite charitable organization with these pointers.

Step 1: Make it easy
Make giving easy by using one-click requests that link to the donation processing page on your website or in e-mails.

Step 2: Connect requests to content
Connect requests for donations to your website or e-mail content. For example, if your page describes your services for animals, you might want your request to read, "Give these animals a better future. Click here to donate now."

Tip
Incorporate donor success stories with appeals to give.

Step 3: Use eye-catching graphics
Use attention-getting, eye-catching graphics or photos in your solicitations. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Step 4: Solicit recurring gifts
Solicit recurring gifts from anyone who pledges. Setting up regular gifts, whether it's monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually, makes it easy for the donor to give and creates guaranteed future revenue for your charity.

Step 5: Encourage planned giving
Encourage planned giving by clearly outlining your charity's options and giving specific instructions on how to transfer stock, donate a vehicle, or make another type of planned gift. Several online companies offer tools for incorporating planned giving into your website, including a planned gift calculator.

Step 6: Solicit volunteers
Solicit volunteers by providing interesting and detailed information about such opportunities on your website. Include job descriptions, photos, time commitment, contact information, and online applications.

Step 7: Send thank you notes
Send thank you notes to everyone who makes a donation. Making donors feel appreciated will keep the gifts rolling in.

Did You Know?
Americans gave about $295 billion to charity in 2006.