Looking to boost your nonprofit’s fundraising game with the right donation messages? You’re in the right place.
Whether you’re soliciting via email, text message, direct mail, invitation letter, social media post, a crowdfunding platform, or your website’s donation page, your wording can influence how much money you can raise.
No fluff, no filler—just actionable tips you can use right now to make your next fundraising campaign a success.
Today, we’re diving into 13 rock-solid short donation message examples that get results.
You can use them to inspire your next donation request messages.
13 Best Donation Request Messages Examples
1. Be Clear and Direct in Your Donation Messages
Photo by Julia M Cameron
Dear X, I’m writing to tell you about the work we’re doing to preserve rainforests in villages in the Congo that are being harmed by illegal tree harvesting. Congo’s rainforest is a biodiversity haven and is home to over 600 tree species and 10,000 animal species.
By donating just $20, you can help us protect these species by replanting trees, educating the local citizenry, and training them to fight against illegal loggers. Thank you for joining our cause—together we can change the world.
Let’s face it, the moment people come across your email, text message, or social media post, they know the ask is coming. There’s no need to beat around the bush.
Take a cue from this donation request message and save everyone’s time by going straight to the point. Tell them why you need their money and how their contribution is going to make an impact.
Your directness and the clarity of your intentions will help inspire action faster than if you went on and on about your cause before finally asking them to open their wallets.
2. Use Numbers in Your Donation Messages
Photo by Pixabay
Every day, ten thousand children across the country go to bed without food. But you have the power to change that.
A gift of only $25 will feed one hungry child for a month. Help us make a difference in a child’s life and give them the hope of better tomorrows.
Sometimes, people are unable to imagine how bad a situation is or how their direct donations would make any impact until you put hard figures in front of them. This donation message example starts out by presenting the problem: starving children across the nation.
That statistic is enough to whittle down defenses and get potential donors thinking about how lucky they are. Already they’re starting to feel sorry for the subjects of the cause.
The message then moves on to suggest a donation amount and what such a donation would achieve. This way, donors will see exactly what their money can do and they’ll be pushed to help in whatever capacity they can.
Don’t be afraid to get specific. Let the numbers or details lead the way and help your cause make a strong impression on your audience.
3. Throw in Some Social Proof in your Ask for Donations
Photo by Pixabay
Wow! Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our donors, we have been able to raise $100,000. We need $80,000 more to reach our fundraising goal and we’re counting on you to help us get there.
For over 15 years, LSK has been a platform for writers, artists, and thinkers to start conversations that matter and help our community imagine what a more inclusive world could be.
Can you invest in making more of these visions possible for the upcoming year? Make a tax-deductible donation to LSK today.
In just a few short sentences, this donation message manages to explain the importance of their cause in a captivating way. It also inspires people who are yet to donate to them to take action.
This donation ask example acknowledges that people are more likely to give when they see that other people have already done so.
Their trust in your cause will increase. This happens when they see that you are an established organization. It’s important to show that you have been doing impactful work for a long time.
By stating how much the organization has raised so far, how long it has been around, and the vision they’re constantly working towards, this message provides two kinds of social proof.
You can apply the same structure and strategy to craft an effective donation message. That will help you cross your fundraising finish line.
4. Offer a Token of Appreciation When Asking for Donations
Photo by Christina Morillo
Angels On Earth is hosting a fun run event on September 12 and we would like to invite you to be a part of it by sponsoring the event. Your pledges will be used to provide food and shelter for the homeless during the harsh winter season.
As a sponsor, you or your business will receive an ad placement in our newsletter, extensive recognition and publicity throughout the event, and fun stickers for your laptops, bags, and cars.
To receive all these benefits, consider making a donation of $25 or more. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.
Most of the people who give donations are content to receive a thank you and the sweet satisfaction of knowing they’ve done something good in return for lending their support to a cause. However, some donors, especially brands and businesses need a little more.
They want some concrete returns in exchange for their donation. Dangling some kind of reward in front of these potential donors can push them to give to your cause because they know they’ll be getting something tangible in return.
Ideally, what you’re offering should cost you little or no money. It’d defeat the purpose of your crowdfunding message if you have to spend a chunk of the money you raise rewarding the people who donated the funds in the first place.
Just think of something the audience you’re trying to appeal to will appreciate and use that to motivate them to donate.
5. Center Your Donation Appeals Around One Person/Subject
Photo by Kampus Production
Meena was five years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Three years later, her family has sold their home and Meena’s mother has been forced to quit her job to focus on caring for her full-time while also raising her two older siblings. Her father works two jobs to be able to afford her treatments but the medical bills keep rising.
ACF seeks to provide medical intervention funds to help thousands of sick patients like Meena get the treatments they need to stay alive. But we cannot do it alone.
We need you to join us on our mission to provide hope and comfort to Meena and others in need. Any amount you can contribute will make a difference to Meena and her family.
Instead of asking people to donate to a group of people, you will make more of an emotional impact by focusing on one member of that group.
Draw from this sample donation request message, pick someone from the group you’re trying to raise funds for, and let them be the name and face of your cause.
Studies have shown that people are more inclined to donate to one named individual than a faceless victim or group of victims.
This means that you’ll be better off trying to get potential donors to care about a specific person than the hundreds or thousands of people you’re trying to help. It doesn’t matter that their donation might be used to help a lot more people behind the scenes.
You just have to cultivate their sense of connection with one person to push them to act and even give more than they ordinarily would.
6. Make Giving Seem like a Partnership in Donation Messages
Photo by Julia M Cameron
The earth is our only home and it’s up to you and I to save it and preserve it for the next generation.
By making a much-needed donation you can partner with PlanetChange to protect endangered species, restore and rehabilitate forest areas, and find innovative solutions to our most urgent climate issues.
Together, we can take action before it’s too late. Join us in protecting our home. Your gift will go a long way in helping promote the diversity, health, and sustainability of our air, water, and natural habitats.
Using words like “together,” “community,” and “partner” can help arouse feelings of belonging and kinship with your audience.
It will make them believe that they’re a part of something bigger than themselves and they can join hands with you to make a difference to something or someone in the world.
Inviting prospects to partner with you instead of simply asking them to donate, makes their role seem bigger.
They can give to your cause, fulfill their personal desires to make the world a better place and visualize the impact of their actions.
What’s more, when you succeed in accomplishing what you set out to, your wins will feel like their own. They will be more willing to partner with you again to do even more good the next time around.
7. Create a Sense of Urgency in Your Fundraising Letters
Photo by RODNAE Productions
ONLY THREE WEEKS LEFT! We’re so grateful to the 263 people who have donated so far to help us get food, medical supplies, and other relief materials for the people of Kazakhstan who have been affected by the ongoing earthquakes tearing through the country.
We have made serious progress in our disaster relief efforts but we’re not done yet. There’s still time to make a difference and help bring hope, comfort, and healing to the people of Kazakhstan in their greatest time of need.
If prospects think that your fundraiser campaign is open forever and they can donate at any time, they’ll be less motivated to part with their money right now.
In their minds, they don’t have to give immediately so they can just come back and donate whenever they are ready or have more disposable funds.
As the days go by, they might forget about you and your cause and end up not donating at all. It’s better to get them to give what they have now no matter how little than to let them go and not receive anything.
As you can see, the donation message above is not taking that risk. It tells people when the fundraising campaign is going to end. This way, they know that if they want to give, they need to do it now or as soon as possible before the deadline elapses.
Even without adding a donation deadline, you can still create a sense of urgency by talking about the consequences of inaction.
Get prospects to see how the people or things you’re trying to help or save will suffer or worsen if they don’t give aid now.
8. Open Donation Request Message with a Relevant Quote
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya
“Two years ago, I was homeless and out of work with no idea of where my next meal was coming from. Today, I’m working for the same organization that helped me get off the streets and I couldn’t be happier or prouder.” – Alice
At Home For All, we are committed to helping others like Alice better their lives and become productive members of society. But we can’t do it alone.
We need your support to help us in our mission to make homelessness a thing of the past. Donate now to join in the fight and help us make a difference.
Who is more qualified to express the significance of your work than someone whose life has been affected by it?
Take a cue from this donation message example. Try using quotes from real-life survivors. Also, include individuals who have received aid from your organization.
The quote can be something profound that hits all the right emotional marks or you can keep it upbeat and playful. If possible, include a picture of the person responsible for the quote to make your donation message more potent.
9. Focus on the Why in Your Donation Appeals
Photo by Mia X
Our animal shelter is at full capacity and we need your help because every pet deserves to have a loving home. Consider adopting a new furry friend or giving a gift of $25 or more to help us feed, nurture, and provide medical attention for the animals in our care because their lives and health matter too.
Rather than talking about what you’re trying to do or what you want people to do, explain why you want (them) to do it. Why should people open their hearts and wallets to give to your cause?
Use transition words like “because” and “so” to share why prospects should click on that donate button. Providing them with a strong reason to give to your organization will enable you to highlight why your work matters without directly speaking about it.
It will spark an emotional connection and increase your chances of getting a donation.
10. Personalize your Donation Requests to Encourage Donations
Photo by Pixabay
Hello Alan, we at LSF are grateful to have had your support over the years. We are planning our annual charity race event scheduled to hold on June 10 to raise funds for breast cancer research.
We hope that we can count on your kindness and support once again with a tax-deductible donation to help us reach our 20,000 goal. If you would also like to participate in the race, kindly fill the form below.
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Prospective donors want to feel like they matter to you, they don’t want to be just a number. This short donation message starts by mentioning the donor by name and acknowledging the relationship they have with the organization.
If you’re sending your donation messages by email, you can leverage your email marketing software to automatically segment your list and personalize your emails based on existing donor data.
Mentioning prospective donors by name is only possible if you’re reaching out to specific known individuals or if you have the donor’s record in your database.
However, you can still personalize messages to the general public by using the word “you” when addressing them.
11. Appeal to Emotions in your Fundraising Letters
Photo by Puwadon Sang-ngern
The prolonged conflict in Banya has caused undue and extreme harm to civilians and forced over 8 million people to flee the country. The need for humanitarian aid for those left in Banya will outlive the war.
As displacement, food insecurity, and realities on the ground worsen, Banyans are in greater need than ever before. So I am asking you to consider lending your support to help Banyans survive the ravages of conflict.
Take action by donating today.
To nail donation messages, try weaving in compelling stories or details that illustrate your needs. It’s important to make sure these elements resonate with the reader.
You’ll achieve greater success by engaging your prospects emotionally than by trying to appeal to their logic or common sense.
You have two options when making a donation request. You can either focus on your nonprofit organization’s unique story or highlight the stories of the individuals you are crowdfunding for.
The more authentic your message is, the stronger the influence it’ll have on the minds of readers.
You can take things a step further. You can include real-life photos. They can be of the people, places, animals, or things you’re at the center of your campaign.
12. Shine a Light on Past Achievements in Your Fundraising Letters
Photo by Julia M Cameron
Dear Nana,
Thanks to your help last quarter, we’ve been able to feed 1000 hungry families and provide breakfast and essential clothing items for 3000 school students. We intend to double these numbers in the next quarter which is why we are trying to raise 30,000 by the end of April.
With your support, we know we can get there. Can we count on your help? As always, we value and appreciate your support.
This is another great example of a donation message that will help you get the results you want. It’s a great way to approach your donation request when you’re dealing with people who have donated to your organization in the past.
This example starts by telling donors about the impact they’ve made so far. Explaining what their last donation accomplished before asking them to give again will flood donors with feel-good hormones.
The update will help your message appear personalized to each recipient. This can prevent it from being perceived as a generic mass campaign.
Ultimately, this strategy will make donors open to the idea of extending another gift to you.
13. Give Donors a Way Out in Your Donation Messages
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
For over thirty years, the Bridgerton Theater has challenged and entertained the Pawnee community with brilliant productions of contemporary and classical plays.
Many of our productions have featured eminent actors like Oscar Perez, launched the careers of up-and-coming stars like Kelly Stavanger, and received praise from both local and state media.
As a non-profit organization, we require funds to bring our productions to life. You can help us stay in business by purchasing season tickets or making a monetary donation. Either way, you don’t have to pay right now. You can redeem your pledge and cancel ticket purchases anytime from now till May 22.
Thank you for contributing to preserving, promoting, and enriching the dramatic arts in our community.
A study shows that letting some time lapse between when you ask for a donation and when prospects have to give up their money can actually persuade those who are reluctant to donate to do so.
So rather than asking people to donate now, give them the freedom to choose whether to give immediately or a few days later. Or even the option to cancel their donation at any time.
Don’t forget to thank them straight away regardless of which option they choose.
This allows people to get the positive reward of donating to charity—gratitude and a sense of pride in the good deed—without the discomfort of parting with their money right away.
Turns out that having a way out makes people more likely to commit to their decision to give. It’s a win-win situation.
Best Short Donation Message Examples For Your Fundraising Campaign – Conclusion
How you frame your donation request messages are incredibly crucial to the success of your fundraising campaign.
To reach or surpass your fundraising goals for your nonprofit organization, pay attention to what you say and how you say it.
People hate having to part with money. But the right message will make it easier for you to raise money & to convince them to lend their support to your cause.
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