Asking for Sponsorship
Here are some simple tips, from a dyed-in-the-wool introvert turned successful philanthropist (Kat) — and be sure to check out our email template and conversation script below!
1. Start with those closest to you: muster up your courage and ask your best friends or family. If you can do this in person, even better! People are much more sympathetic in person (for serious). Emphasize that they don’t need to donate a specific amount, but give them an example you think is appropriate for their economic situation. If you’re asking in person, show them the website and fundraiser page–it emphasizes that it’s legitimate, and provides them a visual to help them remember the fundraiser.
I promise: people will NOT be offended! If they can’t help, they’re still awesome. Thank them. Y’all will still be friends/family.
2. Once you have one or two sponsors, expand your network! Use the email or script below, and add personalized bits (just like querying) wherever you can. If you can query, you can ask for sponsors. It’s even easier because your potential sponsor already knows and cares about you!
3. If someone just wants to donate right away in your name, that’s fine! For in-person asks, consider printing links to the Mighty Pens team page and the fundraiser page to hand out. Even better: have the page pulled up and ready-to-go on your phone or computer.
4. Give thanks to your sponsors both when they agree to sponsor and once they donate. This encourages others to donate, and also just feels nice. Try it publicly, on social media, with a direct shout out (as long as they’re okay with the attention!) Or better, get some nice cards and really hand mail them a note! You’d be surprised at the difference it makes.
5. Keep your sponsors (and therefore folks who haven’t responded yet) updated! Even after they donate, let them know how the campaign is going, how your writing is going. This can be through social media, email, or in person. Repetition helps remind people to donate when they don’t have their information handy.
Hello, [name]!
So, I have something to ask you. You know how runners will get their miles sponsored in a race for charity? I’m doing that but with words. We call ourselves the Mighty Pens, and for every word we write during November, National Novel Writing Month, we hope to earn donations for Direct Relief.
Their mission is simple: to support people worldwide suffering from poverty or emergencies, be it Ukraine, Ethiopia, Syria, or even natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay.
I personally am aiming for [word count goal], and I’m hoping you might be able to sponsor me! I’m not asking for much! A dollar for every 1,000 words I write, a dollar for every 10,000 words — whatever you can spare! And of course, you won’t have to donate if I don’t reach my goal.
No pressure to answer now. Mull on it!! And if you’ve got questions, you can ask me or check out the Mighty Pens website.
Thank you, thank you!
Dear [insert name],
Hello! I’m writing to you because I’m hoping you might help me with a super cool fundraising initiative I’m doing this November. I’m working with a group called the Mighty Pens to raise money for DirectRelief, a 501(3)(c) non-profit. Our goal is to harness the passion of writers during NaNoWriMo to raise money for work that supports people worldwide suffering from poverty or emergencies, be it Ukraine, Ethiopia, Syria, or even natural disasters like Hurricane Ian. I love knowing that creating my stories will directly improve the lives of strangers, regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay.
Just like runners who get every mile sponsored in a race, we’re getting the words we write sponsored!
Which is where you come in. I’m hoping that you might be able to sponsor me as I try to write [word count goal] during November. I’m not asking for much! A dollar for every 1,000 words, a dollar for every 10,000 words — whatever you can spare! And of course, you won’t have to donate if I don’t reach my goal.
If you think you might be able to help me out, then I can email you more details on the campaign! Or if you’re certain this is not your sort of thing, then no worries.
Thank you so very much for your time!!
Asking for Sponsorship
Here are some simple tips, from a dyed-in-the-wool introvert turned successful philanthropist (Kat) — and be sure to check out our email template and conversation script below!
1. Start with those closest to you: muster up your courage and ask your best friends or family. If you can do this in person, even better! People are much more sympathetic in person (for serious). Emphasize that they don’t need to donate a specific amount, but give them an example you think is appropriate for their economic situation. If you’re asking in person, show them the website and fundraiser page–it emphasizes that it’s legitimate, and provides them a visual to help them remember the fundraiser.
I promise: people will NOT be offended! If they can’t help, they’re still awesome. Thank them. Y’all will still be friends/family.
2. Once you have one or two sponsors, expand your network! Use the email or script below, and add personalized bits (just like querying) wherever you can. If you can query, you can ask for sponsors. It’s even easier because your potential sponsor already knows and cares about you!
3. If someone just wants to donate right away in your name, that’s fine! For in-person asks, consider printing links to the Mighty Pens team page and the fundraiser page to hand out. Even better: have the page pulled up and ready-to-go on your phone or computer.
4. Give thanks to your sponsors both when they agree to sponsor and once they donate. This encourages others to donate, and also just feels nice. Try it publicly, on social media, with a direct shout out (as long as they’re okay with the attention!) Or better, get some nice cards and really hand mail them a note! You’d be surprised at the difference it makes.
5. Keep your sponsors (and therefore folks who haven’t responded yet) updated! Even after they donate, let them know how the campaign is going, how your writing is going. This can be through social media, email, or in person. Repetition helps remind people to donate when they don’t have their information handy.
Hello, [name]!
So, I have something to ask you. You know how runners will get their miles sponsored in a race for charity? I’m doing that but with words. We call ourselves the Mighty Pens, and for every word we write during November, National Novel Writing Month, we hope to earn donations for WeForest.
But wait, what is WeForest? It’s an international nonprofit that plants trees to help the earth absorb carbon. WeForest works with communities, local organizations and NGOs to develop scalable reforestation projects, demonstrating that restoring our degraded landscapes is possible if we all work together. WeForest’s mission is to empower communities to sustainably advance and implement innovative, high standard, scalable and lasting solutions to restore forests and landscapes.
I personally am aiming for [word count goal], and I’m hoping you might be able to sponsor me! I’m not asking for much! A dollar for every 1,000 words I write, a dollar for every 10,000 words — whatever you can spare! And of course, you won’t have to donate if I don’t reach my goal.
No pressure to answer now. Mull on it!! And if you’ve got questions, you can ask me or check out the Mighty Pens website at themightypens.susandennard.com.
Thank you, thank you!
Dear [insert name],
Hello! I’m writing to you because I’m hoping you might help me with a super cool fundraising initiative I’m doing this November. I’m working with a group called the Mighty Pens to raise money for Every Mother Counts, a 501(3)(c) non-profit. Our goal is to harness the passion of writers during NaNoWriMo to raise money to plant trees worldwide to help combat climate change.
Just like runners who get every mile sponsored in a race, we’re getting the words we write sponsored!
Which is where you come in. I’m hoping that you might be able to sponsor me as I try to write [word count goal] during November. I’m not asking for much! A dollar for every 1,000 words, a dollar for every 10,000 words — whatever you can spare! And of course, you won’t have to donate if I don’t reach my goal.
If you think you might be able to help me out, then I can email you more details on the campaign! Or if you’re certain this is not your sort of thing, then no worries.
Thank you so very much for your time!!