How to write a fundraising pitch

In Raising Funds for CCL National Training, one of the areas that groups look for others' input on is how other groups have gone about starting their fundraising pitch and communications.

Here's a simple five step outline that's worked well for groups:

  1. Identify the need you are trying to address. (Climate change is affecting humans now and scientists warn that severe weather events will become more intense and occur more frequently. Citizens Climate Education is educating the general public about climate change and a particular approach to solving this challenge.)
  2. Explain why it is important to you. (I have three grandchildren who I do not want to suffer because of our mistakes.)
  3. Share what you are doing about it. (I have been volunteering with Citizens’ Climate Lobby for the past two years by regularly handwriting letters to my Congressman, writing letters to the editor of my local paper, and traveling to Washington D.C. each June to meet with my Congressman’s staff and explain what we should do about climate change.)
  4. Ask your donor to take a specific action. (Will you support my volunteer work by donating $50 to CCE?)
  5. Let the person answer your questions. Don’t assume you know what their ability is to give or not. Just wait. Remember, you’re not asking for money for yourself. You’re asking for a donation to support a cause that’s really important to you, and will help make our world a better place.

Please share below what has worked well for you, or copy and paste your fundraising pitch so others can imitate it!

 

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