A good Christmas solicitation letter makes giving easy. Donors want to know who is asking, what the need is, what their gift will do and how to give before the holidays.
Below are five solicitation letters for Christmas donations, followed by a free builder to write your own. You can print the letter or copy it.
AdvertisementAll names, organizations, addresses and numbers are fictional examples. Replace them with your own true details.
5 Sample Solicitation Letters for Christmas Donations
Quick jump: Toy driveHoliday mealsPast donorsLocal businessesFamily shelterFree Christmas donation letter builder
Christmas Toy Drive Solicitation Letter
Executive Director
Little Lantern Children’s Fund
220 Lantern Way
Madison, WI 53703
(555) 010-0211 | rebecca.lawson@email.com
November 2, 2026
Dear Neighbor,
I am writing to ask for your help with our Christmas Toy Drive at Little Lantern Children’s Fund. This year, 380 children in our area are on our list for a gift, and we need $7,600 by December 10 to give each one a new toy and a book.
Last Christmas, 140 neighbors helped us deliver 340 gifts, and one mother told us her son slept with his new truck all night. A gift of $20 buys one child a toy and a book, and $100 covers five children. You can give on our website, mail a check to the address above or drop off new, unwrapped toys at our office Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Little Lantern Children’s Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we will send you a receipt for your records. You can reach me at the number above with any questions. Thank you for helping every child on our list wake up to a gift.
With gratitude,
Rebecca Lawson
Executive Director, Little Lantern Children’s Fund
Christmas Meals Solicitation Letter
Director
Copper Hollow Food Pantry
95 Hollow Road
Nashville, TN 37203
(555) 010-0238 | thomas.reed@email.com
November 2, 2026
Dear Friend,
I am writing to ask you to join our Christmas Meals Fund at Copper Hollow Food Pantry. This year, we plan to deliver 300 holiday meal boxes to families who are struggling, and we need $12,000 by December 8 to fill them all.
Each box feeds a family of four for the Christmas weekend and costs $40. A gift of $40 sponsors one box, $80 sponsors two and $200 sponsors five. We also accept canned vegetables, rice, stuffing and cranberry sauce at our pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to pack boxes with us, we need 40 volunteers on December 13.
Copper Hollow Food Pantry is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we will send a receipt for every gift. Call me at the number above with any questions. Thank you for putting a holiday meal on a neighbor’s table.
With gratitude,
Thomas Reed
Director, Copper Hollow Food Pantry
Christmas Solicitation Letter for Past Donors
Development Director
Sparrow Lane Children’s Foundation
18 Sparrow Lane
Charleston, SC 29401
(555) 010-0254 | jessica.moore@email.com
November 2, 2026
Dear Mr. Hayes,
I am writing to thank you for your gift to Sparrow Lane Children’s Foundation last Christmas and to ask you to join our Christmas Giving Campaign again. Because of donors like you, we granted 210 holiday wishes for children in foster care and kept every child on our list from waking up empty-handed.
This year, 260 children have shared their wishes with us, and we hope to raise $18,200 by December 15. A gift of $70 grants one wish. A local business has promised to match every gift up to $5,000 through December 1, so your gift can go twice as far. You can give on our website or reply with a check in the enclosed envelope.
We will send you a thank-you note, a receipt and a short report on how your gift helped. Call me at the number above if you would like to talk about our work. Thank you for helping us make Christmas special for these children.
With gratitude,
Jessica Moore
Development Director, Sparrow Lane Children’s Foundation
Christmas Solicitation Letter for Local Businesses
Daniel Brooks
Outreach Manager
Pine Harbor Neighbors Network
330 Harbor Street
Portland, ME 04101
(555) 010-0277 | daniel.brooks@email.com
November 2, 2026
Dear Business Owner,
I am writing to ask your business to support our Christmas Neighbors Drive at Pine Harbor Neighbors Network. Our goal is to provide gifts and meals for 220 local families this December, and we are looking for 22 local businesses to sponsor 10 families each.
A $500 sponsorship covers gifts and a holiday meal for 10 families. We will list your business on our thank-you banner and website, and we also welcome gift cards, coats and food for our warehouse. Sponsorships received by December 5 allow us to buy gifts at the best prices.
Pine Harbor Neighbors Network is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we will send a receipt for your records. I would be glad to visit your business or answer questions by phone. Thank you for standing with your neighbors this Christmas.
With gratitude,
Daniel Brooks
Outreach Manager, Pine Harbor Neighbors Network
Christmas Solicitation Letter for a Family Shelter
Linda Walker
Shelter Director
Tallow Creek Family Shelter
77 Creek Road
Boise, ID 83702
(555) 010-0295 | linda.walker@email.com
November 2, 2026
Dear Friend,
I am writing to ask for your help giving the 45 families at Tallow Creek Family Shelter a Christmas to remember. Each child will receive two gifts and each family will share a holiday dinner, and we need $9,000 by December 12 to make it happen.
A gift of $25 buys a gift for one child, $50 covers a family dinner and $200 sponsors a whole family. We also need new socks, hats, gloves and board games, which you can drop off at the shelter office Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. We cannot accept used toys.
Tallow Creek Family Shelter is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we will send a receipt for your records. You can call me with questions or to tour the shelter. Thank you for giving these families a warm and joyful Christmas.
With gratitude,
Linda Walker
Shelter Director, Tallow Creek Family Shelter
Free Christmas Donation Letter Builder
Step 1. What are you raising donations for?
Step 2. Who are you writing to?
Step 3. Tap the lines to add. Three to five is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the letter and type to make it yours.
Replace the names, organization, address, goal and every detail with your own. Use only true numbers and an honest tax statement, and delete any line that does not fit.
Karen Mitchell
Executive Director
Winterberry Lane Outreach
410 Winterberry Lane
Columbus, OH 43215
(555) 010-0184 | karen.mitchell@email.com
November 2, 2026
Dear Neighbor,
I am writing to ask for your help with our Christmas Toy Drive at Winterberry Lane Outreach. Every December, we bring gifts to children whose families cannot afford them, and this year we need your help to reach 400 children.
I am writing to ask for your help with our Christmas Meals Fund at Winterberry Lane Outreach. Every December, we provide holiday meal boxes to families who are struggling, and this year we need your help to reach 300 households.
I am writing to thank you for your past support of Winterberry Lane Outreach and to ask you to join our Christmas Giving Campaign again. Because of donors like you, we served more than 1,200 neighbors last year.
Neighbors like you have made this possible every year.
Local businesses like yours keep this community strong.
Families and friends like you make the holidays brighter for others.
Our goal is to raise $8,000 by December 12 for 400 gifts, which is $20 per child.
Your gift will arrive in time for Christmas if we receive it by December 12.
Last year, 150 donors helped us deliver 380 gifts and 260 meal boxes to neighbors in need.
A gift of $20 buys a toy and a book, $40 provides a holiday meal box, and $100 sponsors a family.
You can donate on our website, mail a check to our address, or drop off a gift at our office Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A local business has offered to match every gift up to $2,000.
Winterberry Lane Outreach is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we will send a receipt for your records.
We also welcome new, unwrapped toys, canned food and warm winter clothing.
If you would like to help in person, we need volunteers to sort gifts on December 14 and 15.
We will send you a thank-you note and a report on how your gift helped.
You can reach me at (555) 010-0184 or karen.mitchell@email.com.
Thank you for making Christmas brighter for our neighbors.
With gratitude,
Karen Mitchell
Executive Director, Winterberry Lane Outreach
To save your letter: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the letter prints. To copy it, select the text inside the letter and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Which Letter Fits Your Situation?
| Your situation | Best sample | What to highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting toys and gifts for children | Sample 1 | Number of children, cost per gift and a drop-off place |
| Raising money for holiday meals | Sample 2 | Cost per meal box, households served and pantry hours |
| Writing to people who gave before | Sample 3 | Thanks, last year’s results and a matching gift |
| Asking local businesses to sponsor | Sample 4 | Sponsorship tiers, recognition and a deadline |
| Helping a shelter or family program | Sample 5 | Families served, cost per gift and needed items |
The Three-Paragraph Formula
| Paragraph | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ask | Says who you are, what you want and the goal | I am writing to ask for your help with our Christmas Toy Drive. We need $7,600 by December 10. |
| 2. Impact | Shows what a gift does, with numbers and how to give | A gift of $20 buys one child a toy and a book. |
| 3. Close | Adds the tax note, contact details and thanks | We will send you a receipt. Thank you for helping every child wake up to a gift. |
Keep the letter to one page. Short, specific and warm beats long and formal.
What to Put in a Christmas Solicitation Letter
| Part of the letter | What to write |
|---|---|
| Opening | Name your organization and the Christmas cause in the first sentence |
| Need and goal | Give the number of people helped and the dollar goal |
| Deadline | Pick a firm date so gifts arrive before Christmas |
| Gift levels | Show what $25, $50 and $100 do |
| How to give | List the website, mail and drop-off options |
| Tax note | Say you are a registered nonprofit and will send a receipt |
| Thanks | Promise a thank-you note and a short report |
Tips for Asking for Christmas Donations
- Make one clear ask. State the goal and the deadline in the first paragraph.
- Use real numbers. Children helped, meals packed and cost per gift build trust.
- Make giving easy. Offer a website, a mailing address and a drop-off time.
- Be honest about taxes. Claim tax-exempt status only if your organization has it.
- Say thank you quickly. A prompt receipt and note bring donors back next year.
Donation Receipt Rules From the IRS
| IRS rule (substantiation and disclosure) | What it says |
|---|---|
| Gift of $250 or more | The donor can deduct it only with a written acknowledgment from the charity |
| When the donor needs it | By the earlier of the date the donor files the return or the due date, including extensions |
| Who requests it | The donor is responsible for getting the acknowledgment |
| Gift with a benefit over $75 | The charity must give the donor a written disclosure statement (quid pro quo contribution) |
These rules apply to donors and registered charities in the United States. Ask your accountant or the IRS about your own situation before you promise a deduction.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Being vague. Replace “any amount helps” with a goal, a deadline and gift levels.
- Using guilt. Focus on the good a gift will do.
- Promising a deduction you cannot offer. Only registered charities can issue deductible receipts.
- Leaving out how to give. Add a website, address and hours.
- Typos. Proofread twice and check every name, date and dollar amount.
Donation Letter Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. The letter is ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a solicitation letter for Christmas donations?
It is a letter that asks people or businesses to give money, gifts or time to a Christmas cause, such as a toy drive, a holiday meal program or a shelter. A good one states the need, the goal, the deadline and how to give.
What should the letter include?
Say who you are and what you are asking for in the first sentence. Add a clear goal with numbers, a deadline, what a gift will do, how to give, a tax receipt note and your contact details.
Who should I send it to?
Start with past donors, then neighbors, local businesses, churches and community groups. Use a named greeting for past donors and “Dear Neighbor” or “Dear Business Owner” for wider mailings.
When should I send it?
Send it in early to mid-November so donors have time to give before the holidays. Give a firm deadline, such as December 10, so gifts arrive in time.
How long should the letter be?
One page, or three to four short paragraphs. Make the ask clear in the first paragraph.
Should I mention tax deductions?
Only if your organization is a registered tax-exempt charity. The IRS says a donor can deduct a gift of $250 or more only with a written acknowledgment from the charity, so offer to send a receipt.
Should I ask for non-cash gifts?
Yes, if you need them. List what you accept, such as new toys, canned food or warm clothing, and say where and when to drop them off.
Is it better to mail or email the letter?
Use both when you can. A mailed letter feels personal, and an email with a donate link makes giving quick. Keep the wording the same.
How do I follow up?
Send a thank-you note and a receipt within a few days, and share a short report after Christmas on how the gifts helped. Donors who see results give again.
How do I measure success?
Track the response rate, total raised against your goal, the number of new donors and the number of returning donors. Compare each year.
Conclusion
A good Christmas donation letter is short, specific and sincere. Name the need, set a goal and a deadline, show what a gift will do and make giving easy. Use the samples and builder above to write yours today.
Related Reading
- Christmas letter to a sponsor
- Donation request letter for a nonprofit
- Thank you letter for a donation
- Christmas thank you letter to sponsors
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, Charitable Organizations: Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements. Sample letters, names and organizations are fictional.