Collaboratory director's letter
From The Collaboratory
Contents |
Purpose
The Director's Letter provides highlights from the past year and also serves as a general fundraiser for the Collaboratory. In the past, the Director's Letter was separate from the newsletter and was sent out with the Fall Newsletter. Since Fall of 2009, the Director's Letter has been included as an article entitled "Word from the Student Director." This article is placed at the beginning of the Fall newsletter. The Fall newsletter is a fundraiser and is sent out in an envelope, along with a donor response card and pre-paid business reply envelope for donations.
Before You Begin
- Go to College Press's building (Bowmansdale) in September to create an electronic signature to be included in the newsletter. You will need to set up an appointment in advance (email "College Press" and CC the Collaboratory Manager). The electronic signature will be emailed to you. Forward the electronic signature to the Manager and the Publications Team Leader.
- The Publications Team Leader will contact the Student Director and communicate the timeline for the letter and deadlines.
Required Sections of the Director's Letter
General
- Avoid using exclamation points or any exaggerations.
- Use specific details, examples and stories.
- Sentences should be short for best readability.
- Use first person and address the reader directly (e.g., "I am very excited to share with you...").
Introduction
- Explain the purpose of the letter.
- Introduce the letter with excitement about the past year in the Collaboratory.
- Demonstrate your gratitude toward the audience of the letter for their prayers and financial support.
Body of the Letter
Items to include (not all are necessary):
- Updates on projects/trips that have ended or are just beginning.
- Discuss any new changes to the structure of the Collaboratory.
- Explain the Executive Priorities for the year.
- Describe the Curriculum or Theme for this year's Collaboratory Chapels, or spiritual development within the Collaboratory.
- Reference the Collaboratory's core values and/or 2 Timothy 2:15.
- Anything new and noteworthy that has occurred in the previous year, major accomplishments, growth in membership or participation, large grants procured, etc.
Conclusion
- Wrap up the entire letter
- Ask the audience to partner with the organization through prayer or financial support.
- Offer the opportunity to support the Collaboratory financially and briefly explain how to donate (donor response cards).
- Explain how their support allows the Collaboratory to fulfill it's mission to serve disadvantaged communities globally and to develop students as life-long servant-leaders.
- Include a complimentary closing such as:
- May God bless you all
- God bless you all
- Blessings to you
- The electronic signature will be included in the newsletter.
Suggested Timeline
September
2nd Week
- The Collaboratory Publications team will contact the Student Director to begin the process of writing the Director's Letter.
- Student Director will discuss content ideas with the Operations Committee.
3rd Week
- Continue discussing content ideas with the Operations Committee and write rough draft.
4th Week
- Submit rough draft to the Publications Team Leader and the Manager of the Collaboratory.
October
1st Week
- Meet with Publications team to go over rough draft.
- Make revisions based on suggestions by Publications team and the Manager.
- Send revised draft to the Publications Team Leader and the Manager and make any other revisions as requested.
2nd Week
- Submit final draft to the Publications Team Leader and the Manager of the Collaboratory.
