Here’s How To Raise $200 In 30 Minutes To "Keep Winter Cold!"

Dear Clean Energy Supporter:

Thanks so much for agreeing to jump into the [body of water] with us on Saturday December 8th at [time], to raise awareness about global warming. We’ll send you more information about the event, including directions to [specific location of plunge], in the coming days.

But right now, we hope you’ll take just 30 minutes to send the special letter below to 20 (or more) of your closest friends and relatives. This simple email letter will help you collect sponsors [or pledgers] for your December 8 adventure into the icy [body of water]. We know from experience that this is an amazingly easy way to raise money for this vital cause. Indeed, if you use this battle-tested method, you can raise all your pledges entirely by e-mail! No going door-to-door. No phone calls. No licking envelopes. You’ll never even have to touch the money…all while doing just 30 minutes of work! I promise.

All you have to do is send the template e-mail letter below to all your friends and family. The letter works! Individuals who have used it in past polar bear plunges have raised hundreds of dollars, mostly because their friends and family – like yours and most other Americans – care deeply about our planet and the threat posed by global warming.

So just send out the letter, either keep a list of your pledgers and their amounts [or direct them immediately to the online donation site], and join us for our jump in the [body of water] on December 8^th. Then, after our chilly swim, we’ll provide a similar e-mail message with instructions on how people can send in their pledge. I guarantee that if you send out the appeal letter to 20 people, you will raise at least $200 in 30 minutes or less on the computer.

While any and all funds are certainly welcome (!), we recommend setting a personal goal. For example, $200 is a potential target (equal to just ten of your family/friends making a $20 pledge).

So please, if you can, make a little time to join us in this vital fund-raising effort. You'll feel good about the results and you'll enjoy your plunge even more.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

[your name]

[your group and contact info]

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SAMPLE FUNDRAISING EMAIL TO SEND TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Dear (name of your friend):

On [day and date] I'll be jumping into the icy [body of water] for a really good cause: the fight against global warming.

Yes, you read that right. I'll be plunging right into the water at [specific location/town at body of water for jump] with several dozen other crazy people. The event, organized by [your group(s)], in conjunction with the National Polar Bear Plunge, is meant to raise awareness about the fight to "Keep Winter Cold" and thus save our planet from the growing crisis of global warming.

So here’s the deal: I'll agree to get wet and cold if you’ll agree to sponsor me. By making a pledge to support my playful suffering, you'll help [your group] fulfill its very serious mission of educating and mobilizing the citizens of [your area] to take concrete steps to protect our climate. The suggested minimum pledge is $20 but if you give more it will help [your group] accomplish more – and make my plunge into icy water even more worthwhile!

This is an especially critical time for an action like this. There has been a growing surge of citizen activism on global warming over the past six months, and the issue of climate change has only grown in importance with each passing day. The Plunge will conclude a year of activism on climate change on a high note, and, most importantly, it will continuing to highlight the issue for the crucial presidential election year that begins in earnest with the primaries in January and February.

And by participating in the National Polar Bear Plunge, with thousands of other concerned citizens jumping in cold bodies of water all across the United States, we will be sending the strongest, clearest, most visceral, national message we can to all candidates running for office: Keep Winter Cold! Act on Global Warming NOW! Best of all, we’ll also be raising money to continue this struggle throughout the election year.

So please let me know if you can make a pledge toward this very worthwhile event. Also know that [your group] is a reputable, nonprofit organization based in [your location] with an emphasis on community-based, grassroots organizing. You can learn more about [your group] at [website url]. Your contribution is tax-deductible.

If you can make a pledge, just let me know the amount right now by replying to this email and then I'll follow up with you after the swim to collect your contribution. Or, you can go to this special, secure web page and make your contribution to my plunge right now. [website url]

Either way, thanks so much for pledging your support to continue the fight against global warming – and for me to freeze my #%@*&!#! in the process!

Thanks so much,

[your name]