NCJ Number
81031
Date Published
1981
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This handbook provides guidance to lawyers who have volunteered to help law-related education projects by soliciting money from local business and civic groups or other sources.
Abstract
Law-related education is designed to help elementary and secondary school students understand the law and the legal system and develop skills necessary for responsible citizenship. The first step in soliciting funds is to gain a thorough knowledge of the program for which funding is being sought. The lawyer should be prepared to explain the program's basic goals, the identity and number of people who will benefit from the program, and the ways in which the money will be spent. Lawyers should begin their solicitations through personal contacts, including colleagues, fraternity members, classmates, and friends. Funding sources may also include corporations, labor organizations, private foundations, banks, and community service and professional organizations. Individual donors may also be solicited to underwrite the project. The decision about whether to solicit a potential donor in person, by telephone, or by letter should be based on what is known about the potential donor. Each potential donor should be supplied with a letter of solicitation and a description of the program. The solicitation process should also include a plan for followup efforts to inform the donor about what was done with the funds. Appendixes present background information about law-related education and a sample solicitation letter.