Hi dragon2006 {up}

Good luck with your charity collecting :D When I started the charity forum almost 3 years ago I had no idea there would be so many of us collecting for good causes {thumb2}

Fudgemonkey's letter is great, but as others have mentioned, make sure you clearly state your charity number/details as it adds a lot of credence to your collecting. Also, if possible, try to get a letter of support from your charity to include with your request letters.

Like the others have said, I would not ask for 'extras' for yourself as it does look a bit unprofessional, but actually in the scheme of things celebrities often will send you an extra (often personalised) photo when they know you are collecting for charity.

Anyway, in the meantime, best of luck with your collecting - and if you have any other queries or questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Cheers,
Ian :mrgreen:

Definitly DONT ask for an autograph for the charity and yourself(or office) at the same time. It makes you look alot less professional if you ask for both at the same time.

[quote="dragon2006"]so what people dont understand we don't collect money we collect new unwrapped toys for under privileged children
the way our auction goes someone brings a new unwrapped toy and gets tickets for the autographed memorabilia to bid on. no money exchanges hands[/quote]

I know that this doesn't really have anything to do with me, but wouldn't it make more sense to auction bthe celebrity autographs off for money, and then use the money to buy the toys? I think that it would be easier that way, but that jut my opinion :)

so what people dont understand we don't collect money we collect new unwrapped toys for under privileged children
the way our auction goes someone brings a new unwrapped toy and gets tickets for the autographed memorabilia to bid on. no money exchanges hands

It would also be a good idea to include your charity id #. Many celebrities and sports stars have such items set aside for events like yours, but require a charity id # as a way to deduct, for tax purposes,the item they have given your charity.

thank you for your help i will edit my letter,this is my email request i also add our website link.
i've gotten 6 so far so i guess im doing something right.

The only time I mixed the two was when I wrote to Helen Mirren. I wrote two seperate letters, a charity one & a personal one from me, not requesting an autograph though.

2 things jump out at me -

1) "Wanna"? I think you'll [i]wanna[/i] change that to "want to"

2) Asking for a autograph for you or your office is not something I'd have the cheek to do, personally. You're collecting for charity, not yourself. My opinion is they should always stay seperate, but people will disagree with this I know..

As always with charity requests, there isn't a 'correct' way of writing the letter.

For my reuqests, I write an A4 letter explaining
-Who I am
-What the 'charity' or 'organisation' is
-What the charity or organisation does
-What the money goes towards
-What is being requested

If you can, try to get some letterheaded paper from the charity or organisation, and try to get a letter from the 'manager' or person in charge confirming the event is actually taking place.

Hope this helps, and if you need any more help then feel free to email me
james@fanmail.biz

James {thumb2}