Sample Fundraising Letter

The following sample letter was presented by David Volk, NJCL Committee members, as part of a workshop on fundraising at the 2002 NJCL Convention.  It is recreated here to aid chapters in their own fundraising efforts.

"One plants trees for the benefit of another age," Cicero wrote in his essay De Senectute.  We would like to invite you to help support students who will represent North Dakota at the National Junior Classical League convention. By supporting these students in an educational venture, you are fortifying the foundation of the future with knowledge-seeking youth.  Many of the NDJCL delegates traveling to the national convention are the top placing individuals and teams from this year’s state convention.

The Junior Classical League is an organization dedicated to the encouragement of an interest in the Latin and Greek languages, as well as the literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, and their influence on modern civilization. Local and state chapters of the JCL organize their own activities throughout the year, which include fundraising and service projects.  Chapters also sponsor holiday celebrations such as Saturnalia, Rome’s festival of Saturn in December.  State conventions are generally held in spring, which include testing and a team competition called certamen, which we affectionately term “Latin Jeopardy.”  This year’s NDJCL convention was held at Shanley High School on April 26 and 27.

The true climax of the JCL experience, however, takes place at the national convention each summer on a particular college/university campus (NDSU hosted the JCL convention in 1997, and will host it again in 2007!).  Recently, conventions have hosted 1,500 delegates (junior and senior high members). This year’s convention will take place July 30 – August 4, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.  The convention is an excellent experience for “JCLers” — not only do they learn about Classical civilization, but they are also afforded the opportunity to travel to another part of the country.  The North Dakota delegation, which has attended national convention for the past twelve years, makes a point to spend additional days before and after convention sightseeing.

We would truly appreciate your financial support. The convention cost, which includes room and board, is $290 per person. Additional costs of at least $350 include transportation, hotel rooms, and meals for the trip to and from Kentucky. The Fargo Public Schools do not assist in funding national trips, so students must raise funds on their own.

Financial support of these students is a way of assisting in building a strong future by shaping well-traveled and intellectually curious youths to lead the way.

Donations may be made to individual delegates or to the entire NDJCL delegation for equitable dispersal. If you would like more information, feel free to contact state chair David Volk. Thank you for considering our request.