Playbook for Your Year-End Appeal 

Closing the gap between tuition and the full cost to educate can be a difficult and complex task. We’ve provided two sample letters and emails to assist you in your year-end appeal. 

Sample Donor Appeal Letter/Email (Download Word document) 
Dear [Donor Name],  

[Share student/family impact story, along with a few statistics of ministry impact.]  

None of that happens without people like you.  

[School Name] relies on tuition for only [X]% of our operating budget. Our cost to educate each student is [$xx,xxx]. The rest, financial aid for [X] families this year, the [specific program/resource], and keeping Lutheran education within reach for families who could not otherwise afford it, depends on gifts like yours.  

This December, we’re asking for your support to help us [specific, concrete goal, e.g., “fully fund financial aid requests for 8 waiting families”].  

Would you consider a gift of $[suggested amount] before December 31st?  

[Give Now button / link]  

Thank you for believing in what happens inside these walls.  

In Christ, 
[Administrator Name]  

Thank-You Note Templates 
Short Variant (handwritten card) 
“Dear [Name], thank you for your generous gift of $[amount] to [School Name]. Because of you, [one specific, concrete outcome, e.g. ”three families received the financial aid they needed to stay enrolled this year”]. We’re grateful for you.  [Administrator Name]”  

Longer Variant (email/letter) 
“On behalf of our students, families, and staff, thank you for your gift of $[amount], received on 2026. Your generosity directly supports [specific program]. We don’t take this kind of trust lightly, and we’d love to have you visit and see it in action. Please reach out anytime to schedule a tour.”  

Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) is here to partner with you in ministry. Whether you need help with development and fundraising, strategic clarity or administrative mentoring, I’m here to walk alongside you. Contact me for a free consultation. I’d love to hear about your ministry! 

Brian Booth 
Vice President of Ministry Solutions, Agency 
Lutheran Church Extension Fund