AI for Nonprofits: Crafting Compelling Appeal Letters with AI

AI for Nonprofits: Crafting Compelling Appeal Letters with AI

Are you ready to set up your year-end fundraising campaign to engage your donors and drive donations to your organization? 

The centerpiece of all direct marketing campaigns is the fundraising appeal letter.

Here is a shortcut we strongly recommend: give our AI appeal letter template a try.

Let’s use AI’s superpowers to help craft an emotional and powerful appeal letter that will compel your donors to hit the “donate” button. 

Why use AI to Draft Appeal Letters?

Let’s face it, writing appeal letters that actually work is a challenge. 

These letters need the perfect blend of tugging at heartstrings, while still sharing cold hard facts about the need. 

Even more, they need to sound like your organization, not some generic robot. But here’s the good news: AI can serve as a sort of fundraising sidekick – offering suggestions you might not think of.

Be Careful With AI Tools, However

Caveat – anything that AI creates is simply a draft, full of ideas to either accept or reject. So take it all with a grain of salt, and use what works and “feels” like your institution.

In addition, some donors may be wary of AI in fundraising. So be absolutely sure to make the letter your own.

Use it for ideas. You may not want to copy it directly. We all want to use AI tools judiciously!

But I promise you that ideas generated by AI can surprise you. Sometimes the tool crafts a far better ask or case than you can come up with yourself. I’ve personally been quite surprised – and pleased – at the results. 

Our AI Fundraising Appeal Letter Template – for you and your team! 

Are you ready to let AI transform your appeal letters from meh to mesmerizing? 

Let’s dive in and explore our template. We’re offering a series of prompts you can feed into your favorite AI tool, like Chat GPT. 

Take a look at how this cutting-edge technology can help you connect with your donors on a more emotional level and unlock a flood of generosity!

(It’s interesting – and somewhat surprising – to see how AI can be generate a more emotional appeal than I can!)

Crafting Your AI Prompt: 

When using AI, you probably know that you need to create a detailed prompt that outlines your specific needs. 

The Gail Perry Group has an excellent guide on writing appeal letters that rock:  10 Steps to Write an Appeal Letter That Works. It includes a solid list of do’s and don’ts to help your appeal letter shine. 

Here’s how to use this AI appeal letter template: 

1. Take the italic text below, and add your customized information in the brackets. 
2. Drop the text into your favorite free generative AI tool such as Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT. 
3. Hit return/update and watch the magic happen.

Our Prompt: 

Write a simple, emotional donor appeal letter to [DONOR’S NAME] that touches your donor’s heart, not their brain. 

Ask your donor to fund or underwrite something interesting, urgent and exciting [PURPOSE]. 

Include the name of your organization [BUSINESS NAME] and sign it by a high-ranking person [NAME/ROLE] including their phone number [PHONE]. 

Use a deadline [DATE] to create urgency such as “time is running out to help” or that “your matching challenge gift only is in effect for another 2 weeks”.

• Make your appeal letter donor-centered so the donor feels like they are the ones making a huge difference. Such as, “when you make this gift, you’ll be able to help a kid in Africa have new hope for a healthy life.” 
• Do not say such things as “when you make this gift, we will be able to help a kid . . . “ 
• Avoid the words “we” and “us” when possible. Instead, use the word “you” as much as possible. 
• Use “you” in the opening sentence to encourage the donor to keep reading. 
• Be emotional. Emotion drives action. Donors give from an emotional place in their hearts. 
• Don’t use long words, jargon, and technical language.  
• Don’t use grandiose, lofty wording. 
• Use simple action verbs, and make it easy to read.
• Use a short, attention-grabbing first sentence that is powerful, even riveting such as “This is the most difficult letter I have ever written in the 10 years I have been the executive director of your domestic violence center.” 
• Longer fundraising appeal letters do better than shorter letters. Craft a longer letter to keep the reader reading – to engage them longer and longer in the problem you are asking them to help solve. 
• Include a specific call to action, such as: “Click the link and give today!” 
• Be sure to explicitly tell your donor – in the letter – what you want them to do. Be absolutely direct.  Use words like please “send in a generous contribution quickly.“ 
• Add a heartfelt PS (Postscript) that reinforces the ask and its urgency. It could: Restate your offer, remind you about the deadline, or make a bonus offer (your gift will be matched)

Output 

Based on the above prompt, Google’s Gemini generated the following draft:

[SPCA in Bedrock Letterhead]

Dear Barney,

This is the hardest letter I’ve ever had to write. Our furry friends at the SPCA in Bedrock are hurting. Right now, they’re living in cramped kennels that are old and crowded. 

You have always been there for us, Barney. Your kindness has helped so many animals find loving homes. But now, they need your help more than ever.

We’re dreaming of a new, spacious kennel where our dogs and cats can play, run, and just be happy. A place where they can feel safe and loved while they wait for their forever families.

Barney, can you help us make this dream come true? Your gift, no matter the size, will change their lives. And for the next two weeks, your gift will be doubled thanks to a generous matching challenge!

Time is running out, though. We need to break ground on the new kennel by September 1st.

Please, Barney, open your heart and help us give our furry friends the home they deserve.

With hope,

Fred Flintstone 

Executive Director 

123-456-7890

P.S. Barney, your gift means the world to these animals. Don’t let them down. Every penny counts!

Bring Your Appeal Letter to Life: The Human Touch

Think of the AI-generated draft as a lump of clay – it has potential, but it needs a personal touch to truly shine. You can take the result and Infuse it with the heart and soul of your organization. 

Share the personal stories, the struggles, and the triumphs that make your work so meaningful. Let your unique voice and passion ring through every word.

And be sure to be passionate. Wear your heart on your sleeve. This is the special ingredient of the best fundraising appeal letters – emotion. 

Your Voice, Your Impact

Remember, AI is a tool, not a replacement for your expertise. Use it to spark ideas, streamline your process, and amplify your message. 

By blending AI’s efficiency with your own personal touch, you can create appeal letters that truly connect with your donors and inspire them to become a part of your story.

Bottomline: Give our AI Appeal Letter Template a Try! 

AI may be transforming the way we raise money, but it’s your dedication, creativity, and genuine connection with your donors that will ultimately drive your success. 

Ready to revamp your approach? Send us an email, and we’ll schedule some time to learn where you are and where you want to go and share how we can help get you there.