Following is a sample donation request letter to be sent to parents; feel free to copy and customize this letter with your school specific information as needed. (>> More donation request letters. For any other use, please contact us first.)
Dear Parent,
First of all, let me say: Thank you. Thank you for your tireless support of your child in OurSchool. Through fundraisers, parent-teacher meetings, school sports, after-school activities, and everything else that happens in the course of a school year, you have shown your commitment to giving your child the best possible education. As we partner with you here at OurSchool for the education of your child, I want you to know, that your commitment does not go unnoticed.
It is partly because of the busy lives we all lead that I am writing. As you know, OurSchool customarily has a fundraiser in the first part of the school year to pay for things that are not fully covered by the school budget: art and music classes, field trips, science fairs, and so on. We also understand that parents are tired of having their kids sell fundraising products door-to-door and have come to question the status quo of such standards as candy fundraisers and car washes.
When discussing several alternative fundraising options at our school board meeting, one person proposed that we simply write to the parents and let them know the amount of our budget shortfall. We could ask each parent to contribute a little bit towards that amount, so that we can continue to offer the wonderful programs and extracurricular activities that OurSchool the highly respected school that it is.
And that brings me to you.
I wish I could tell you that we are raising money for a new program, or a special event. The reality is that we are raising money to simply continue the great programs we have been able to offer in the past: namely art and music classes, field trips and our annual science fair.
And partly out of consideration for you, one of our esteemed parents, and your valuable time, we have decided to ask if each parent could contribute $60 over the course of the next 3 months to help make up for where the state budget has fallen short.
Like I said, we’ve considered many options, but in the end, we felt that the parents at OurSchool have all given so much of their time already, the easiest and most convenient way to raise the needed money would be to just lay it at the parents’ feet and ask if we can all work together to share this burden.
“Many hands make light work,” so the saying goes. If each of the parents in the school can give an extra $60, we will have enough for all programs and extracurricular activities to carry on through the year.
I want to end this letter by thanking you again. Thank you for taking the time to read it, and whether you are able to give or not, know we deeply appreciate your dedication to your child and our school.
Sincerely,
Your Principal
Principal at OurSchool
Note: Include personal quotations from people who have benefited from your fundraising in some way, or people who are in need and will be served by your efforts. Place these quotes at the top, the bottom or in the side margins of the letter – maybe even in a different color – for maximum impact.
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