Sample Fundraising Letter

Dear Friend,

I am writing to ask for your help.

Almost no one knows (because the press rarely reports on it) that:

• More than 5,000,000 people have died in DR Congo since 1998 as a result of what has been called "Africa's First World War".
• 45.5% of those deaths have occurred in children under 5
• Women regularly endure savage gang rapes, torture and mutilation, forced cannibalism, being forced to watch family members brutally murdered, and are held as sex slaves by militias.
• Women who survive have no means of supporting their surviving children, which accounts for the staggering death rate among small children.

An expert recently reported that conditions for women in DR Congo are the worst she has ever seen anywhere. (Reuters. July 30, 2007.) Yet there are very real, simple things we can do to save lives and help women to regain a foothold for life for themselves and their surviving children.

Yet there are very real, simple things we can do to save lives and help women to regain a foothold for life for themselves and their remaining children. Women for Women International, an award winning non-profit, operates a year long sponsorship program that provides these women with direct cash aid; healing group work with other women who share similar experiences; training in how to operate a small business; literacy training; rights awareness training, and seed money to start a business when they complete the program.

I will be taking part in Run for Congo Women on {date} in {city} to raise awareness about Congo and enough money to sponsor one woman for every mile that I run.

I plan to {run / walk} {5 }miles.

I would love to have your support. If you can do only one thing, please sign up to sponsor a woman for a year. It only costs $27 in monthly payments +$30 initiation fee. Flat donations are welcome if you cannot become a sponsor at this time.

I will be hosting a gathering at my home to share more about Congo (we need to know about this) and my run on ____________ at _______. I hope you will come. Please invite your friends, or consider having a gathering at your home where I could speak. Our simple efforts have a huge impact for women and children in Congo. To a mother who has nothing, sponsorship provides a lifeline by providing her the means to support her children. Please pass on this email to anyone and everyone you think might be interested.

Take care,
{Emily}