3 Fundraising Methods And Letter Templates

Your nonprofit organization might want to do fundraising to cover the cost of training Instructors or reach low-income youth who cannot afford your registration. If your organization has fundraising staff, be sure to coordinate with them. They could be very helpful to your efforts.

Inside Your Organization

The best place to look may be within your own organization. Check to see if your organization has received funding in the past. Many organizations have constituents who are interested in providing financial support for worthy projects.

Hospitals often have foundations that give grants for programs such as Safe Sitter®. Schools may have a PTA or parent group that raises money to pay for special programs like Safe Sitter®. Libraries often have Friends of the Library groups. These volunteers raise funds on behalf of the library for programs and special events.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships may be a good option. Service clubs such as Kiwanis or Optimist may be interested in sponsoring your Safe Sitter® program. Local businesses may want to sponsor your program. The sponsor could pay the cost of running the Safe Sitter® program in exchange for recognition. If you have any concerns about the fit of a potential sponsor with a youth-serving program, we suggest you consult with your organization’s board of directors.

Foundation Grants

Applying for foundation grants can be a time-consuming process. Only a small percentage of foundation proposals are actually funded. If you decide to pursue foundation grants, consider first any foundation that has already given grants to your organization and is familiar with your work.

Use the following templates as a guide when requesting funds for your Safe Sitter® program needs.

Template: Start-Up Costs

Dear (Mr/s. Funder):

In (your community), as in most communities, inadequate emphasis is often placed on the magnitude of the responsibility a young teen accepts when babysitting or watching younger siblings. Most youth lack knowledge of first aid, rescue skills, behavior management techniques, and how to handle medical or household emergencies. Successful completion of an educational course addressing these competencies should be a community standard. That’s why we are requesting your support.

(Your organization) would like to begin offering programs by Safe Sitter® in our community. Safe Sitter® is a highly-structured, competency-based curriculum designed to provide skills for life. It offers medically accurate instruction packaged with engaging teaching techniques and participant materials. Individuals who complete a comprehensive Safe Sitter® course become safe, nurturing babysitters. Young teens and preteens also learn how to be safe when home alone after school.

There are over 775,000 Safe Sitter® graduates from coast to coast. Safe Sitter, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded by nationally recognized pediatrician Patricia A. Keener, M.D. in 1980. An investment of ($ amount) would pay all the start-up costs and allow (your organization) to become a Safe Sitter® Provider. Most of the ongoing operational costs in the future would be covered by student fees.

Young children in (your community) will be safer because their babysitters will be trained. Please consider this request to help bring all these benefits to (your community). If you would like to learn more, please contact me at (your telephone number) or (your email address). You may also visit safesitter.org.

Template: Operating Funds

Dear (Mr/s. Funder):

For the past (number) years, (your organization) has offered programs by Safe Sitter® to the youth of (your community) and surrounding communities. These courses teach first aid, rescue skills, behavior management techniques, and how to handle medical or household emergencies. We believe successful completion of an educational course addressing these competencies should be a community standard. That’s why we are requesting your support.

Our goal is to continue to offer Safe Sitter® programs as a community service. The effectiveness of each program is due in part to highly skilled Instructors who teach with a ratio of no more than eight participants for each Instructor. Costs for maintaining skilled Instructors continue to rise.

To keep these classes available and affordable, we only charge ($ amount) per student. We request your support in allowing (your organization) to continue bringing these valuable programs to the people of (your city). An investment of ($ amount) would cover the personnel costs for next year’s courses. Particpant fees would cover the balance of the costs.

There are over 775,000 Safe Sitter® graduates from coast to coast. Safe Sitter, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded by nationally recognized pediatrician Patricia A. Keener, M.D. in 1980. Please consider this request to help (your organization) continue to offer this valuable service.

If you would like to learn more, please contact me at (your telephone number) or (your email address). You may also visit safesitter.org.