How to Write a Volunteer Cover Letter

by Ruth Mayhew

Nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations welcome the talents and skills that volunteers contribute. Many entities depend entirely on volunteers, so they might be especially glad to receive a letter of interest from someone willing to devote time to advancing the organization's cause. When you send a volunteer cover letter, make it just as professional as a cover letter for a paid position. Address the letter to the highest level executive of the organization or the organization's volunteer manager and attach your resume or portfolio to provide a complete picture of what you have to offer.

1. Draft the first paragraph of your cover letter as you would for a paid position. Write two to three sentences about your expertise, interest and where you learned about the volunteer role. For example, write: "I'm interested in learning more about the volunteer role for fund development chair with ABC Foundation that was advertised on For the past 10 years, I have developed a reputation for successful business development and event management with for-profit corporations. Based on what I know about ABC Foundation and my commitment to its causes, I'm interested in the opportunity to volunteer my talents and expertise to your foundation."

2. Write another paragraph that describes specific accomplishments in paid positions or other volunteer roles. Distinguish between your paid work and volunteer work; however, be able to draw a connection between the transferable skills you used for each kind of work. For example, if you work in the fund development office of a university and belong to a service organization where you're in charge of fundraising and event planning, describe each role. Then list the skills you use for both positions, such as developing campaigns to attract donors, delivering presentations to stakeholders and developing budgets for events and operations.

3. Insert two or three achievements or accomplishments of which you're proud and that correspond to the type of volunteer you would be doing. Whenever possible, use concrete figures and numbers to describe your achievements. This is helpful when you're applying for volunteer positions because it demonstrates you understand the importance of tangible measurements, especially for fundraising and fund-development activities. Use bullet points to set out your achievements from the text of your letter.

4. Express your interest in the organization and its philosophy in your third paragraph. If you have membership in the organization, indicate how long you've been a member and if you've been involved in any committee work. Describe parallels between the organization's mission and your personal beliefs to strengthen your cover letter. For example, write: "I've been committed to women veteran's issues for decades through my professional work and volunteer commitments to organizations that serve the needs of women veterans. I am a veteran myself and know firsthand the challenges of women who serve the country during both war and peace time."

5. Close your letter with a brief statement about your availability and your interest in starting with a telephone call to discuss the volunteer role. Tell the reader you'll follow up with a phone call to her office or invite her to call you at the most convenient time for the reader.

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