It’s strange how fundraising appeals always seem to have a PS, isn’t it? The amateurs want to omit it, because it “doesn’t make sense.”
The professionals know that if you leave off the PS, you’re in trouble.
The professionals also know how to do it right. Like here, at Dear Joan: 10 pointers to the perfect PS for your next fundraising letter:
- Say exactly how much money you would like your donor to give.
- Say why you’re asking.
- Say what it will do for your beneficiaries.
- Say it in a way that’s different [from] elsewhere in your mailing.
- Say thank you!
- Provide an extra reason to give.
- Provide a deadline for donations.
- Provide a contact point for donors.
- Never treat your PS as though it’s an actual Post Script.
- Never mention [things that] are not relevant to your core proposition, your ask and your donor.
That’s how the PS should be. But most of all, it needs to be there.
Jeff Brooks has been serving the nonprofit community for more than 35 years and blogging about it since 2005. He considers fundraising the most noble of pursuits and hopes you’ll join him in that opinion. You can reach him at jeff [at] jeff-brooks [dot] com.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.