Send a letter to your membership (personalized letters are best) asking for end of year tax deductible contributions. Here is a sample letter that we like, along with a response form. If you have a direct mail letter that you want to share, please send it to us so it can be posted.
Date/Hebrew
Date
Name Address City,
ST Zip
Dear
(first names),
Each
year seems to pass more quickly than the last, especially this year, when our oldest
child entered college and our youngest entered high school (sniff!).
It’s
hard to believe that in just a couple of weeks we will be celebrating Chanukah,
the festival of lights, when we will be reminded that miracles can happen.
Just
as I have concerns and hopes about my sons’ well-being in this year of big
transitions, so too do I reflect constantly on Temple ABC, the institution and
community I love.
We
can all be very proud of what we accomplished this past year. It was jam-packed
with special events, such as the Joshua Nelson concert, “Goys and Dolls” and
Celebrate Temple ABC.
A
large percentage of our membership participated in our Torah scroll repair project,
Connecting Hand to Heart. We strengthened our connection to Israel through
the JCC’s Makom initiative and enlivened worship with Synaplex experiences.
Behind
the scenes, we discussed new approaches to life-long Jewish education,
developed leaders, and performed gimilut chasadim (acts of
loving-kindness) on an on-going basis.
We’re
already making progress on our goals for this year. We’ve hired new Youth Group
Advisors, who are eager to help us grow the junior and senior groups. With
other new staff we are poised to strengthen both our b’nai mitzvah and Shoresh Pre-school programs.
A
committee is busy planning a family retreat for February, and we are looking
forward to a congregational trip to Israel next summer. We will offer new Synaplex,
Tarbut and Adult Ed programming. Our
discussions about congregational education will culminate in a new program to
be rolled out in September 2010.
We
hope to devote more energy to ensuring the long-term health of our synagogue by
focusing on membership, debt reduction and endowment.
Today
I am writing to ask for your help in the short term. Membership dues alone are
not enough to support our synagogue (or any other) these days. They don’t cover our operating expenses, much
less the myriad of programs and support services we provide.
Most
of what I described above couldn’t happen without gifts of time and money from
congregants like you and me. Your participation in our Chanukah-End of Year
Appeal is crucial to maintaining Temple ABC, which is more than a religious
school, more than a bimah, more than a place for social gatherings.
It
is our community’s Jewish home.
Far
more important than any achievement or event is the fact that we have a place
where we can gather, grow and share the events in our lives, whether they are
sad or joyous.
As
we come together with loved ones for Hanukkah - and as you are thinking about
end of year contributions for tax purposes - I urge you to join me in making a
contribution to Temple ABC. Your gift of $180, $250, $360 or whatever amount
you can afford will be greatly appreciated.
In
the tradition of the “Chanukah miracle of the oil”, join me in creating another
miracle: the miracle of a strong Jewish community in “Anytown” for generations
to come.
Thank
you in advance for your support. May the Chanukah lights bring warmth and strength to you and your loved ones in the
coming days.
L’shalom,
Jane
Smith President
P.S.
Your tax deductible gift of $180, $250, $360, or whatever amount with which you
are comfortable, is very important to me and Temple ABC. In order to take
advantage of a tax deduction in 2009, your contribution must be postmarked by
December 31, 2009. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
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