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Project CURA

Fundraising 101

Included:

The Art of Fundraising

What is Project CURA? Know what you are talking about

Statistics on where you are going

Sample Letters

The Art of Fundraising

Writing a good fundraising letter is not a magical process. With a little practice, you can improve your fundraising letters dramatically but writing a fundraising letter is a process that requires a little planning before actually putting words to paper.

A fundraising letter campaign requires knowledge of the organization for which it is being written. Writing a fundraising letter also requires some understanding of the target audience who will receive the letter.  These areas of consideration represent the starting point and the end point of the process of a fundraising letter campaign. What goes in between is the message – the letter itself.

What, specifically, will any funds raised through the letter accomplish for the public good?  A fundraising letter should directly answer what human need will be fulfilled due to the generosity of the donor. You don’t build a hospital, you establish a healthcare facility that will provide relief of human suffering and improve and extend the lives of people in the community. It will create jobs, be a focus of community pride and stimulate economic growth in the community.

You should ask for an amount in your fundraising letter or at least a range. Why try to sell some body on the value of the work of your nonprofit but not give them the price? Ask for an amount in your fundraising letter and you shall receive.

The fundraising letter should also provide a timeline for a response. “Make your decision now to help before this letter and your opportunity to positively change a life are lost.”  You can also ask for a response “this week” or “by a specific date.”

Make sure there is a way for the donor to easily make a gift. Include a pledge card and a return envelope with your fundraising letter. Some organizations use a postage paid envelope while others imprint “thank your for your additional gift of a stamp” in the corner. I like to make it as easy as possible and use postage paid envelopes in my fundraising letters.

The best fundraising letter campaigns are targeted to smaller groups of people who have some sort of interest or affiliation with

your organization or the type charitable services you provide.  A fundraising letter sent to a general category of people will fail to yield meaningful results. 

I have had the most success with fundraising letters no longer than a single sheet of paper. At most I will stretch to the back page to include relevant facts or financial data.  People are hooked in the first paragraph or not at all. The attention span of a typical adult is brief. Write 500 to 750 words as a good target number before a fundraising letter reader will lose interest. To offer additional information about your charity, include your web address in your fundraising letter so that the reader can learn even more if they choose.

Be certain your fundraising letter is targeted, compelling, informative and brief. Ask for a gift, ask for it now and make it easy to respond. When they do respond, treat all donors as if they are the most important you have and thank them in a meaningful way for their gift. Hand-sign the thank you letter.

Remember: Personalize, Personalize, Personalize

Where to have Donations Sent:

Project C.U.R.A.

Purpose: Provide health education/primary prevention for underserved and minority populations of Omaha and eastern Nebraska. Volunteer locally with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club and Make a Wish Foundation.  Enable students to travel to underserved countries for service learning opportunities. Provide students with opportunities to realize Creighton ideals of Magis, Cura Personalis, and Men and Women for Others

Target populations: Underserved populations in Omaha. Underserved Peruvian and Indian communities.

Program: Health education in schools and communities; screening; health and science fairs; health education, medical supplies, basic medical care, and community service in Chimbote, Peru and Calcutta, India (have traveled to Oddanchatram, India in previous years); collecting and distributing clothing, food, medical supplies and medical appliances to the poor.

Impact: During the last four years over 200 students have provided education, service and assistance to approximately thousands of people, domestically and internationally.

Focus of Project CURA

Social Justice
Community

Culture

Service
Simplicity of Life/Cultural Sensitivity

 Sample Letters

Project CURA

Creighton University Medical School

2500 California Plaza

Omaha, NE 68178

February 8, 2000

Dear Doctor/Students:

I’m writing on behalf of Project CURA, a new medical student association at the Creighton University School of Medicine, located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.  Project CURA (which stands for Creighton Medical School United in Relief Assistance) is a non-profit organization founded by medical students concerned about broadening the medical educational experience and to include service to the global society.  The purpose of Project CURA is, first and foremost, to aid those peoples in greatest need both domestically and globally and, secondly, to provide medical students the opportunity to experience the rewards of humanitarian efforts firsthand.

During the months of June and July Project CURA will send small groups of medical students (three to four students per group) to Peru and India to aid healthcare organizations in their efforts to provide quality healthcare for peoples in great need.  Funding for the trips is provided, primarily, by fundraising activities organized and carried out by the students themselves, as well as the generous donations of considerate businesses and individuals.  The funding is used to cover such expenses as airfare, room & board, departure taxes, and various other travel expenses.  Some host organizations choose to provide room & board for the students, and these generous acts allow Project CURA to stretch its limited funding even further to send additional students to other areas of need.  During the four weeks mission, students will serve any function that the host organization requires (education on infectious diseases, personal hygiene, clinical assistance and vaccinations), hopefully focusing the majority of their time and effort in providing firsthand care to under-served peoples. During the school year, students contributed efforts toward improving the greater Omaha community. We are determined to focus our attention on serving the less fortunate in society.  Some of our projects include increasing awareness of sexually transmitted diseases and the risks of smoking and drinking in local high schools and boys/girl clubs.

Although fundraising is actively employed to raise money, these service activities cannot materialize without the support from businesses and individuals from the community.  The purpose of this letter is to request sponsorship from you because the university only allocates a small amount of money ($50) for each organization, yet this organization has higher aspirations and, consequently, higher expenses.  Our dream of service and care in third world countries hinges on your support.  We estimate that each person’s trip will cost approximately $1300.  As stated above, this includes lodging, room & board and airfare expenses. Project CURA wants to dispatch as many as people as interested to offer medical help, wherever that place may be. All donations will be tax exempt under Creighton University. Gandhi once said, “[his] message is his life”, and the message that Project CURA wants to proclaim is one that is filled with love and service tempered with honest and sincere passion for humanity. We are a relatively new organization, developed by a few motivated medical students, attempting to spread the value of human life and the honor and integrity of the medical profession. With your patronage we can make a difference around the globe.

Sincerely,

Members, Creighton University's Project CURA

November 5, 2003

To Whom It May Concern:

                I am writing on behalf of myself as well as Project C.U.R.A. (CreightonMed United in Relief Assistance),  an organization that annually sends medical students from Creighton School of Medicine to various locations around the world to provide aid in underserved areas. Additionally, through Project C.U.R.A., medical students volunteer throughout Omaha with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Make a Wish Foundation, and many more. For five weeks this summer students have the opportunity to travel to Chimbote, Peru or to Calcutta, India to provide health care and community service to those in extreme poverty. Of a class of 120 students, approximately 80 students belong to Project C.U.R.A. and 20% of the class students are working abroad this summer.

                I have been asked to organize the project to India this year, and we will be in Calcutta for five weeks during our summer vacation this coming May and June. As this is the especially hot and rainy season in India, volunteers are scarce and are desperately needed.  During this time we will be working with Calcutta Rescue which has four free medical clinics throughout Calcutta and provides care and preventive medicine education to the homeless and poor. Additionally, we are working with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity at Shishu Bhavan, an orphanage that is home to over 400 children, Nirmal Hriday, a home for the dying and destitute and Prem Dan, a home for the sick and mentally ill.

                As this is an entirely voluntary project, we are in the process of fundraising to help defray the costs. There are twelve students going to India and while we do local fundraising events, the bulk of our fundraising is individual and relies on donations from families, friends and outside organizations. The project costs $2000 which includes airfare, vaccinations, simple lodgings and donations to the volunteer sites. While this amount may seem expensive, it is important to remember that every little bit helps. For example, an entire week of lodging is $25-$30 (the bulk of the cost lies in the airfare). Any donation either small or large is greatly appreciated and is completely tax deductible (a code will be sent when donations are received).  Checks can be made payable to Project C.U.R.A. and can be sent to the address on the self addressed envelope I included for your convenience.

                I thank you in advance for taking interest in me, Project C.U.R.A., and all those we will be serving. If you have any questions about the India Project specifically, or Project C.U.R.A. in general please feel free to contact me xxx xxx-xxxx.

My most sincere gratitude,

Mary T. Rogers

India Project Coordinator

to:                 Faculty

from:           PROJECT curA, Creighton University Medical School

subject:     CU MEDICAL STUDENTS SUMMER Mission IN PERU/INDIA

date:            11/25/2003

I’m writing on behalf of Project CURA, a medical student association at the Creighton University School of Medicine. Project CURA (Creighton Medical School United in Relief Assistance) is a non-profit organization founded by medical students who are concerned about broadening their educational experience and to include medical service to the global society.

During the months of June and July, Project CURA will send 10 to 12 first year medical students (six to eight students per group) to Peru and India. These students will experience healthcare from a different perspective and hope to assist in providing healthcare for people in great need. Funding for the trips is primarily provided by fundraising activities organized and carried out by the students themselves, as well as the generous donations of businesses and individuals. The funding is used to cover such expenses as airfare, room & board, departure taxes, and various other travel expenses.  During the four week mission, students will serve any function the host organization requires such as education on infectious diseases and personal hygiene, administering vaccinations and clinical assistance. During the school year, students contribute their efforts toward improving the greater Omaha community by spreading awareness on various topics, such as sexually transmitted diseases, smoking/drinking risks, and infectious diseases in local high schools and boys/girl clubs.

______________________________________________________________________________

Please make checks out to: Project CURA                                             Due date: March 16, 2003

Donation Amount:  $20______$50______$75_______ $100_______ Other: __________

Please send via intercampus mail to:     Creighton University Medical School

Project CURA

Creighton University School of Medicine

2500 California Plaza

Omaha, NE 68178

(or add your own address)

Dear insert name here,

                I am a first year medical student at the Creighton University.  The first year students have started a non-profit organization called Project CURA.  The main goals of Project CURA are two-fold: 1) To provide health care to the underprivileged both nationally and internationally.  2) To create an awareness of the humanitarian aspect of medicine and to encourage this among medical students.

                There are several ways in which Project CURA has begun and hopes to accomplish these goals.  Some of our projects have included educating elementary and high school students about basic preventive health care.  This has included topics like the importance of breast examination, basic hygiene techniques, the importance of not smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.  Part of our duties will include volunteering at local hospitals, food banks, and other areas of need.  On an international level, our goal is to travel to underserved countries and assist at local hospitals with staff shortages to provide health care.  As foreseen, such endeavors involve substantial financial expense.

                In order to accomplish the goals of Project CURA your support is needed no matter how minimal.  Your contribution will cover the provision of medical supplies.  In the case of international projects, funds will be used primarily for travel costs and some basic living expenses. 

                We do understand that some people like to support specific causes and we will honor their respective choices.  In order to do so, we encourage you to indicate these preferences when you make your donation. 

Obviously by contributing, you are an important part of the greater picture of this outreach.  Consequently, we will keep you abreast of our undertakings.  We realize that our needs extend beyond the financial realm and so we do ask that you keep our project in your prayers. 

We greatly appreciate your benefaction.  Thank you and God bless.