A letter of support is essential to governments, businesses/organizations, and students. For example, a government may want a grant to support its developmental goals. An organization or business also may want support to finance its operations. On the other hand, a student may apply for support to get the necessary funding for their college applications and learning. With these examples and many more, writing an effective letter of support can make or break your chances of getting support in the first place.
Usually, grants don’t come from anywhere. You must send a request through a letter. So, how do you write a letter of support? Well, if you are planning to write one and don’t have an idea of where to start, you are in the right place. In this article, we will take you through guiding steps that will make you write a letter like an expert. But first, let’s look at the tips you need to know when writing a support letter.
How to Write a Persuasive Letter of Support
Writing a persuasive letter of support helps you to get a better chance of getting the much-needed support. Therefore, the following is a step-by-step guide that can help you write one:
- Start your letter by writing the heading on the top-left side of the letter. In the header, you need to include the writer’s name, institution, and the fate of the writing. The recipient’s name and address should follow this.
- Secondly, you need to write a customary salutation or opening line. This can either be ‘Dear’ or ‘Hello,’ followed by the recipient’s last name. As a point of note, always refrain from using general words such as ‘To whom it may concern.’
- After the header and the greeting, you need to get to the introduction. In the first lines of your introduction, you need to state clearly your intent in writing the letter. Also, state your connection with the reader or how you get to know them. This will help build credibility and trust.
- Now, proceed to the body paragraphs, where you will describe your project in detail. You can mention the people involved and the type of support needed. Also, don’t forget to mention the dates needed for the project to get done.
- Last but not least, you can conclude your letter by declaring your gratitude and appreciation to the recipient. Your closing paragraph should also contain a call for action. For instance, write that you are optimistic and looking forward to their immediate feedback.
- Finally, add your name, your title, and your signature. As a golden rule, attach any photos or documents like grant proposals supporting your project. After that, it’s time to proofread your work to correct any mistakes.
Free Letter of Support Samples
Following are some free editable letter of support templates for you:
How to Send your Letter of Support
Now that you’ve known how to write a letter of support, it’s now time you understand how to send it to the right recipient. Therefore, the following are some helpful hints you can use to get your letter delivered to the right hands:
- First, you need to send your letter at the right time. Don’t send it when it’s too late, as it may not serve you well. That being said, the best time to send your letter of support is 3 to 4 months before you start your project or get admitted to the school. This period is enough to give your benefactors adequate time to organize their funds.
- Another thing to think of is the recipient. Usually, you should take your time and research the recipient. Know their name, organization, and work profession, among other details. This will help you send the letter of support to a specific recipient rather than generalizing it.
- Talk with your colleagues and discuss the recipient. Through sharing, you can make a more solid decision on the person you want to send the letter to.
Helpful Tips for Writing the Best Letter of Support
In whatever we do, it’s always important to give out our best. By giving out our best, we stand the chance of winning the interest of our donors. Therefore, the following tips will help you write one of the best letters:
- Keep your letter short. When writing the letter, make sure you use short phrases that are direct to the point. Professionals will tell you that a one-page letter of support is enough to deliver your message home. However, if you have colossal content, shorten it to prevent it from going past two pages.
- Properly format your letter. Remember that the first impression lasts longer. Therefore, while writing the letter, always ensure that you format your letter so that it looks visually appealing. You can include a photo of your organization or projects that will benefit from the support.
- Proofread your letter to correct writing mistakes and errors. No human is perfect. So, the chances are that you may miss a comma or spelling when writing. You do not want your donor to read your letter full of grammar or spelling mistakes. Therefore, it’s prudent that you take your time once more and read over your piece of work. Alternatively, you can give someone you trust to read through and help you correct the mistakes.
- Make the tone of your letter as persuasive as possible. Remember you are writing a letter to seek help. And therefore, you do not want to use rough language. Instead, you need to be humble, respectful, and persuasive. This is the only way to convince the reader that you seriously need support.
- Avoid stressing about fundraising. Most people will get turned off easily when they realize your letter is about fundraising. Therefore, just pay much focus on the support you need for your projects, education support, among other kinds of support.
- Additionally, let the reader know they aren’t obliged to give financial support legally. Simply let them know it’s up to them to give out of kindness or willingness.