The following is a sample donation request letter to a corporation for an event (a carnival-type festival). Feel free to copy it and modify it for your fundraising needs. (More fundraising letters and templates…)
Event Fundraising Committee
Dear …,
Do you remember going to the … Festival when you were a kid? I know I do. It was the first time I tasted cotton candy; the first time I rode the Ferris Wheel; even the first (real) date I ever went on! In fact, the … Festival has been creating memories for people, young and old, for more than 40 years.
This year’s … Festival is going to be bigger and better than ever, with a whole theme park devoted to rides, guests from all over the world at the Grandstand Tent, and of course, lots and lots of wonderful food.
But our … Festival wouldn’t be possible without corporate sponsors. It is only through partnerships with local companies that we are able to provide such high-quality entertainment at such a low price. In return, the Festival is able to offer high-profile advertisement to corporations on a variety of levels.
This year’s Festival will have three levels of corporate sponsorship available to partners this year. Each level will have increasing amounts of exposure and free advertisement included as part of the sponsorship package.
• Silver—$1,000. Your company name/logo to be featured in all printed advertisements for the … Festival and on all banners at the … Festival grounds.
• Gold—$5,000. Same as above, plus a free 30-second television spot to be shown during … Festival week, plus a free booth for your company to use during the Festival.
• Platinum—$10,000. All of the above included, plus exclusive rights to be listed as the primary sponsor for … Festival in all publications, advertisements, and media.
Would your company be interested in participating as a partner at one of the above sponsorship levels?
I know that together, we can make this year’s … Festival the best yet, and make wonderful memories for a generation to come at the same time.
Yours truly,
…
Chairman
P.S. Thank you for supporting us in the past. We couldn’t do it without you.
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Writing a fundraising letter to a corporation is only the beginning. Call about a week later, but no more than two. As you go along, be sure to update the potential sponsor on the progress of the scheduled event. If they end up becoming a sponsor, be sure to send them a thank you letter as soon as you receive the money. If they call, make it a point to call back within 24 hours. You need to “court” your sponsors, and that means pay attention when they call.
After the event, when you’re exhausted from all the hard work that’s finally come to fruition: you’re not done yet! Send out a final letter updating them on how the event went, how much money was finally raised, etc. Be sure to include pictures, if possible pictures with their company name in it. Cultivate your sponsor relationships, and keep asking yourself: how would you like to be treated if you gave a donation to a cause? Treat others how you’d like to be treated and you’ll find that next time you need to raise money, it will be that much easier.