Did you know that 45% of donors claim that emails are most likely to inspire repeat donations?
When asking for donations or keeping people updated on the impact of their contributions, it is important to make your messages concise and persuasive enough to encourage action from the recipients.
In this blog post, you will discover ten sample templates for fundraising emails and practical advice on crafting emails that inspire donations.
What is a Fundraising Email?
Imagine that you have a charity cause or an ambitious startup idea in mind. Whether you want to protect green turtles from extinction, help a school offer daycare, or start an online consulting business, you’ll need financial support.
That’s where fundraising emails come in handy.
You can write a fundraising email to a prospective or an existing donor soliciting funds for your cause or project. You may ask for donations within such emails, invite investors to fundraising events, share reports on milestones reached, or even express gratitude for continued support.
A well-crafted email is sure to build lasting relationships and inspire people to contribute to your cause.
10 Examples of Fundraising Email Templates
Now, let’s take a look at ten email templates you can use to drive donations. Choose the fundraising email template that fits your needs best and tailor it to reflect your project’s mission to maximize support.
Campaign Start Email Template
We recommend you use your first email to tell recipients about the cause, explain why it’s so important, and set the stage for future communications.
Make sure this message is clear and straightforward yet inspiring to keep your recipients interested and engaged.
Subject line: Please help us kick off our [Fundraising Campaign Name].
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
We’re thrilled to tell you about the start of our new [Fundraising Campaign Name], and we’d love you to join us. If you support our cause, you’ll impact [Cause or Project Description].
As soon as you join us, we’ll send you update emails, financial reports, and monthly summaries so you can see how your money makes real change—step by step.
Thank you for being a vital part of our aspiring project!
[Donation Button]
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Want your email to look flawless on any device and any email provider? Just choose one of Sender’s free pre-designed email templates.
Impact Update Email Template
Your donors should have constant visibility into the impact of their funds and how you earmark money month-to-month. This will keep your supporters engaged and help you look like a trustworthy brand.
Subject line: Wow! That’s how you change the world
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Because of your compassion and willingness to share, we have reached one of the core goals of [Fundraising Campaign Name] — [explain impact].
We’re happy to share the report about the use of your contributions:
1) [Important Accomplishment 1]: [for instance, raised $100 000 in 8 months, exceeding our target by 10%].
2) [Important Accomplishment 2]: [for instance, held the first event with a volunteer team and collected $5 000 for the cause].
3) [Important Accomplishment 3]: [for instance, provided scholarships for 70 local students].
We’ll come back soon with more impact updates.
[Donation Button]
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Donation Request Letter Template for Nonprofit
Feeling stuck with your fundraising process? Donation requests can be tough, but email is a great way to help the situation and boost results. Keep your message simple, and explain how you’ll use money.
Subject line: We need your help. Will you support our [Cause/Project]?
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
We’d like to reach out to you because we need your help in raising money to continue our [Cause/Project]. Here is how we’ll use your money: [describe distribution of donations].
Your donation—big or small—will help us [describe impact]. We’ll be grateful if you help us make a difference today.
[Donation Button]
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Urgent Appeal Email Template
When there’s an urgent need, you must act quickly in stressful situations and find working solutions. But it’s better to create a sense of urgency without stressing your recipients. Define your purpose, explain the reasons for urgency, and keep a calm and confident tone of voice.
Subject line: Time is running out, and we need your help!
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
Our team is facing a [Challenge], but your attention and support can help us reach the goal of [Goal Amount]. With your contribution, we’ll be able to [Explain Urgency].
If you donate today, your support will have an immediate impact [describe impact].
Please donate now to help us keep going.
[Donation Button]
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Milestone Reached Email Template
Celebrate accomplishments to let donors know that their money makes a difference. Add information about first-time donations, user growth, revenue generated, team expansion, product updates, and events organized.
Subject line: We did it with your help!
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
We have great news to share with you! Thanks to your support and contributions, we reached [Milestone] in our [Fundraising Campaign Name]. As a result, we raised [Amount], and are one step closer to our [Main Goal].
We are so excited for what’s next! Thank you for your help.
[Donation Button]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Personal Story Email Template
Here are some facts—businesses using storytelling have a 20% higher repeat purchase from customers. Telling personal stories can go a long way in making people see how your cause or project is improving their lives.
You can share success stories, a narrative about your company’s fundraising goals, or a story describing your challenges.
Subject line: See how your help changed [Name] life
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Do you know how many success stories wouldn’t have been possible without your help? This one is no different!
Today, we’d like you to meet [Name], whose life has been improved greatly with the help of [Cause or Project].
[Share a personal story of how donor’s support made a difference].
[Donation Button]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Event Invite Email Template
Hosting a fundraising event? Email will help you engage more people to generate funds and create a buzz for an event to draw attention to your cause or project. Your event invitation email should include all the necessary details:
- Event purpose and goal;
- Location, date, and time;
- Agenda;
- List of speakers;
- Clear call-to-action for attendees to register or add an event to their calendars.
Subject line: Mark your calendar—join us for [Event] on [Date].
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
We’re delighted to invite you to be our honorable guest on our first [Event Name] on [Date] at [Address or Link]. This event is a splendid chance to support our [Cause or Project] and enjoy [provide agenda details like a list of speakers, special guests, networking opportunities, etc.].
Click here to save your spot: [RSVP Link].
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Year-End Reminder Email Template
Leverage the perfect opportunity that comes with the season’s festivities to encourage all members of your organization’s board or any other potential donors to make that tax-deductible donation towards achieving the fundraising goal.
Double-check if your message is encouraging and noticeable enough to catch the recipients’ eye in the holiday email flood.
Subject line: You still have time to make a difference this year
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
This year is almost over, but you still have some time to work your holiday magic and help us reach our [Goal]!
We just wanted to remind you that it’s a fantastic opportunity for your tax-deductible donation for [Cause or Project].
Now, we’re [amount]% away from reaching the goal with less than [number of days] to go.
[Donation Button]
Happy holidays,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Monthly Giving Email Template
With donors donating regularly, you’ll be able to distribute funds more efficiently and benefit from long-term planning.
What’s more, 56% of monthly supporters claim that their regular donations let them continuously help the cause or project. In this email, it is important to explain the benefits of monthly contributions and the continuing impact.
Subject line: Want to make a lasting impact? Become a monthly supporter
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
Did you know that you can support our [Cause or Project] all year round by becoming a monthly sponsor? It’ll help us plan in advance and make a better impact.
Here are some benefits you can expect from monthly donations:
1) Recurring donations multiply your impact.
2) By dividing the donation into several smaller ones, you can help without weakening your budget.
3) You’ll get monthly updates to see all the difference you are making.
4) Set up your gift once and change something only when you need to.
Thank you for considering this offer!
[Become a Monthly Supporter Button]
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Thank You Email Template
Any day is a perfect day to send a thank-you message and express gratitude for your donors’ help. Make sure it’s personalized, brief, and sincere. You can include details like the donor’s name and their most significant donations.
Subject line: Your generosity means the world to us
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
We just wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your continued support and attention to use [Cause or Project]. It takes us one step further to our [Goal] every day, and it’s really meaningful.
We will keep you updated on how we use your donations to make a lasting impact.
Thanks again for your generous support!
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
[Organization Name]
Also read: How to Write a Thank You Email (+Templates for Any Situation)
How to Write a Fundraising Email Template?
Creating motivating and inspiring fundraising emails requires clarity and connection with your target audience. Here are some tips to help you drive more funds and strengthen your fundraising efforts:
- Work on engaging and brief subject lines: Limit them to 30–50 characters and 4–7 words. Make sure to include the email purpose in your subject line;
- Make your email purpose straightforward: Recipients should understand why you’re reaching out to them right after they see your email;
- Double-check if your fundraising email is to the point: To avoid too much information, we recommend you to create an email sequence. Share the most important info in your first message and add more details in the next ones;
- Use a sense of urgency sparingly: A sense of urgency may help drive donations, but be honest, and don’t start all of your emails with phrases like “Your immediate attention is required”;
- Ensure the message is personal: Fundraising emails should resonate with your recipients, so use their first names and provide personalized reports. With email personalization, you can also benefit from your recipients’ location, age, and gender to offer them more relevant content.
Also read: 8 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Nonprofits
