So, you’ve been searching for fundraising roles and have found one that looks promising. Now the dreaded moment has come where you need to write the cover letter.
However, with the right structure and information, it doesn’t have to be that dreadful! Here’s some essential advice on writing a fundraising cover letter.
Show that you care
Charities are interested in people who are interested in them. In other words, you must show what has drawn you towards that particular charity. Is it a cause you care about? (Hint: it should be!)
We understand how many jobs you might be applying for, but put yourself in the charity’s shoes―they want a fundraiser who genuinely cares about their cause, not someone who’s applied for everything that comes up. You should never use a generic or copy-pasted cover letter. All this will do is get your application rejected.
Show your experience
Great, you’ve shown all that brimming enthusiasm. It’s now time to show off your experience! Your fundraising cover letter should show the charity you’re applying to how you’ll raise the revenue they need to keep running.
If you’re an experienced fundraiser, this can be quite simple. Explain the work you’ve done and most importantly show your results (without bragging of course)!
This gets a little harder if you’re applying for your first fundraising position, or if you’re looking to shift careers. The aim, in this case, will be to demonstrate how your experience is transferable. You might have experience in sales, marketing, PR or something else entirely. Just make sure you clearly show how your skills would be useful in a fundraising environment.
Eliminate the extraneous
Channel your inner Hemmingway when writing your cover letter. If it’s not essential, cut it, as most employers will not read more than a page. 500 words should be considered the limit unless the job ad states otherwise.
The fundraising cover letter should demonstrate, as much as possible, your suitability for the job in the shortest word count. Another thing to bear in mind is to ensure you don’t repeat anything that’s covered on your CV; employers really don’t like to read things twice.
Double check for errors
Before you click that apply button, make sure you’ve gone over your fundraising cover letter with a fine-tooth comb. Mistakes that seem small to you can appear pretty glaring to a prospective employer. The higher end of fundraising jobs will require you to write grants and applications; they are going to want someone who doesn’t easily make mistakes.
Use active language and end strong
Fundraising is an active profession; you’re going to always need to be on top of your craft. To reflect this, you should avoid using passive language. Be forward and active with your wording. End your cover letter strongly; you can even request an interview if you’re feeling very forward.
Let the charity know you’ll follow up―which you should do anyway―and if you don’t hear back from the employer, then make sure you get in contact with them.
Useful resources
Here are a few resources that can help you get involved in the world of fundraising and work towards a professional fundraising career.
Writing the perfect fundraising cover letter might not be as hard as you think. If you tailor each one to the specific role and charity, and follow our advice, you’ll prove yourself as a strong candidate.
Now get out there and start applying for more fundraising jobs! Your dream job could be just a few clicks away.
