Fundraising works best when it feels like a relationship, not a transaction. And nothing bridges that gap faster than a handwritten note—simple, imperfect, authentic, and deeply human. (Also, mildly inconvenient, which is precisely the point.)Part of the fundraiser’s struggle is balancing thoughtfulness with strategy and, if we’re being honest, resisting the siren song of efficiency.

You care deeply about your cause, and you want your donors to feel that same connection. But care is personal, and showing it requires a bit of effort—ideally, the kind that doesn’t come from a mail merge.

There is perhaps no better place for that bid for emotional engagement than in a handwritten note.

That is the real power of the pen!

For the fundraiser, communication is second nature, and while it’s easy to express and leverage emotional appeals in face-to-face interactions, it becomes more challenging when in-person opportunities are unavailable.

Sitting at the computer screen and reading an email, a newsletter, or any other digital correspondence has an inherently flat feeling no matter how wonderfully-worded the communiqué is.

A printed typed letter is better, but still impersonal.

The uniform print still leaves a coldness to the touch, and you can’t help but imagine the hundreds of other identical copies fluttering off the printer to be sent to others just like you. (Unless you scribble a personal note on it!)

To deepen a relationship, slow down and write something by hand.

Whether it’s a thank-you note, a solicitation, a gala invitation, a campaign, or anything else, the keyboard is no match for the pen.

The imperfection of handwriting emphasizes the individuality of the note and its recipient, and the inconvenience of handwriting something in the modern day amplifies its intentionality.

Suddenly, your recipients know that someone else’s palm dragged across the piece of paper they’re now holding as they wrote, maybe they even restarted after a misspelling, or an ink splash.

Outreach, which can often feel like a marketing ploy, becomes personal correspondence thanks to the inherent value of the human touch.

At ETM, I sent major donors original notes and cards drawn by children.

Donors called me to say how much they loved it.

This hyperpersonalization makes every recipient feel seen and valued. While the most effective option is to go with a fully handwritten copy, even adding a handwritten name on the return envelope or a real signature at the bottom adds that pinch of personalization and shows your investment.

How to Get it Done.

The thought of sitting down and writing until your pen dries up isn’t exactly appealing, but the pen-on-paper approach doesn’t have to be that hard.

Volunteers, student participants, or anyone else in your organization with some time to spare and good penmanship can come together as scribes. We have a wonderful freelancer with beautiful handwriting who provides the service at a reasonable price. DM us for details!

Remember, no one actually knows what the executive director’s handwriting looks like!

And, use handwriting everywhere you can. On an invitation. On a notecard tucked in the invitation. On a sticky note stuck to a letter or invitation. On the outside of a letter.

Be brave. Draw a picture. Add a smily face. Use xxoo and hearts. The world is such a serious place. A stick figure or awkwardly scribbled heart will always make someone smile.

On the topic of penmanship, while it is true that part of the charm of a handwritten note is in its warm imperfection, there is nothing charming about an illegible scrawl—clear handwriting is paramount to preserve the effect. But it does not have to be perfect. Perfection is the enemy of good in the world of fundraising.

Remember, the value is in the human touch, no matter who wrote it, so don’t feel like you have to do it all yourself.

We hope you use your pen, paper, and our advice to “grow for good!”

On Fundraising & Interim Leadership

“Claudia jumped in as our Interim Senior Director of Development and Immediately brought clarity, momentum, and calm as a trusted thought partner. She’s strategic, hands-on, and deeply collaborative — the kind of leader you trust quickly in a transition. She understands our organization, built trust across teams, and brought a steady, strategic approach to advancing our fundraising goals.”

Miranda Altman
Education Through Music, chief operating officer

Photo Credits:

Shout out to our colleagues at GallopNYC, Queens Community House, and Education Through Music for best-in-class examples!