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Fundraising Letter Course: Write a Winning Fundraising
Letter in 2 Hours or Less
Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has written 9 books and garnered 800K+ views for her writing tutorials.
You have an important mission. You have people to serve. And you need donors who will help make it all happen.
But first, you need to write that fundraising letter.
And there's the problem.
You stare at a blank screen. You write a few sentences. Delete them. Start again. You wonder how to tell your story, how much to ask for, and how to convince donors to give without sounding pushy.
Before you know it, hours have slipped away.
What if you could write your entire fundraising letter in just 2 hours or less?
You can. And I'll show you how.
Now, a fundraising letter course that makes it easy
Writing a fundraising letter doesn't have to be complicated.
You don't need to be a pro. You don't need a marketing department. And you certainly don't need to spend three days agonizing over every word.
You just need a simple, proven process that takes you from your first idea to a completed appeal. That's exactly what you'll get in my online fundraising letter course, Write a Winning Fundraising Letter in 2 Hours or Less.
I'll walk you through the entire process, one manageable step at a time.
No fluff. No complicated fundraising jargon. No endless lectures about writing theory. Just practical, easy-to-follow lessons, examples, and worksheets that help you get your letter written.
And here's the best part:
By the time you finish the course, you'll have more than a bunch of notes about fundraising. You'll have your own completed fundraising letter, ready for final approval and mailing.
Who is this fundraising letter course for?
This course was created especially for busy people who wear a lot of hats at small and mid-sized nonprofits – or those who work for them.
- Nonprofit executive directors who need to raise money but don't have a dedicated development department.
- Development staff who want a faster, more organized way to write fundraising appeals.
- Ministry and church leaders who need to communicate financial needs clearly and persuasively.
- Board members and volunteers who have been asked to help with fundraising.
- Freelance writers who want to add fundraising letters to their services.
If you have a cause you care about and donors you need to reach, this course is for you.
What you’ll learn as you write your fundraising letter
I've broken the fundraising letter writing process into six practical modules. Each one builds on the last, so you can make steady progress without getting overwhelmed.
Module 1: Get Ready to Write
Build your fundraising letter's foundation.
Before you write a single sentence, you'll identify the one problem your letter needs to address, the audience you're trying to reach, and the specific result you want donors to help accomplish.
You'll use a simple Prep Sheet, Single-Character Auditor, and Dollar Anchor Calculator to organize your ideas.
Your result: A clear plan for your letter, so you know exactly what you're going to say.
Module 2: Build Your Fundraising Letter
Put the right pieces in the right places.
A successful fundraising letter doesn't happen by accident. It follows a logical structure that helps donors understand the need and how they can help.
You'll learn my five-part fundraising appeal framework and how to use it for year-end appeals, emergency campaigns, and general operating support.
Your result: A complete outline that makes writing the actual letter much easier.
Module 3: Hook Your Reader With a Powerful Story
Turn your mission into a story donors care about.
People connect with people, not organizational charts and program descriptions.
- You'll learn how to open your letter with a compelling hook, tell a focused story, and explain why your cause needs help right now.
- You'll practice five different opening techniques and use a simple micro-story framework to bring your appeal to life.
Your result: An engaging opening and story that help readers connect emotionally with your mission.
Module 4: Make the Ask
Invite donors to give — confidently and clearly.
Here's where many nonprofit leaders get stuck.
How much should you ask for? How often should you ask? How can you communicate urgency without sounding desperate?
I'll show you how to choose meaningful gift amounts, connect donations to tangible results, and write a strong P.S. that reinforces your message.
Your result: A clear, confident fundraising ask that gives donors a compelling reason to respond.
Module 5: Polish Your Letter
Make every word count.
Your first draft is written. Now it's time to make it stronger.
- You'll learn how to eliminate jargon, trim unnecessary words, improve readability, and format your letter for people who skim.
- You'll use a readability scorecard and editing checklist to make your message clearer and more persuasive.
Your result: A polished fundraising letter that's easy to read and understand.
Module 6: Get Ready to Mail
Turn your finished letter into a fundraising campaign.
A strong letter is just the beginning. You also need to make it easy for donors to respond.
- You'll learn how to create a clean response device, segment your mailing list, and adapt your print appeal for email.
- You'll also use a final checklist to make sure you've covered the essentials.
Your result: A completed fundraising letter and the supporting pieces you need to prepare your campaign.
Along with the lessons, you’ll get practical tools ...
This isn't a course where you watch a bunch of videos and then wonder what to do next. You'll get hands-on worksheets, templates, checklists, and examples that guide you through the writing process. Your course materials include:
- A fundraising letter Prep Sheet
- A five-part appeal framework
- A micro-story builder
- A giving ladder worksheet
- A three-ask audit
- A readability scorecard
- A response device template
- A print-to-email conversion tool
- A sample before-and-after fundraising letter
- A complete sample fundraising package
- A 10-Minute AI Prompts bonus
- A final fundraising letter checklist
And because these tools aren't tied to one particular campaign, you can use them the next time you need to write an appeal, too.
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Want another set of eyes on your fundraising letter before you send
it?
Sometimes a second set of eyes can make all the difference. Once you've completed your letter using the course, you can send it to me for a professional review and edit. I'll look at your opening hook, storytelling, fundraising ask, urgency, readability, and overall persuasiveness.
It's a chance to get professional feedback on the very letter you've worked so hard to create.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fundraising Letter Course
Q. Do I need fundraising experience to take this course?
Not at all. The course is designed for beginners as well as experienced nonprofit professionals who want a faster, more effective writing process.
I'll explain each step in plain English and give you practical tools to help you along the way.
Q. Can I really write a fundraising letter in two hours?
Yes. The course is structured to help you move from planning to a completed draft in two hours or less.
Your actual writing time will depend on how much information you have available, your experience, and the complexity of your campaign. Final organizational approvals may take additional time.
Q. Will this work for my nonprofit?
The principles apply to a wide variety of causes, including education, social services, healthcare, animal welfare, faith-based organizations, community development, and more.
You'll adapt the exercises and examples to fit your own organization and audience.
Q. What if I don't consider myself a good writer?
Then you're exactly the kind of person I had in mind when creating this course!
You don't need fancy words or literary talent to write a strong fundraising letter. You need a clear message, a compelling story, and a simple process to follow.
Q. Can I use the materials for future fundraising
letters?
Absolutely. The worksheets, frameworks, and checklists are designed to help you write future appeals, not just the one you create during the course.
Q. Is this course for printed letters or email appeals?
Both! You'll learn how to create a traditional fundraising letter and then adapt it for email fundraising.
A final word about this fundraising letter course
Your nonprofit is doing important work.
Maybe you're feeding hungry families. Helping struggling students. Caring for vulnerable animals. Supporting people facing homelessness. Or making your community a better place to live.
Whatever your mission, you need people who believe in it enough to give. And your fundraising letter is one way to invite them into that mission.
You have a story worth telling. You have a cause worth supporting. Now it's time to write a letter that brings the two together.
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