A Letter of Support for a Grant is written by donors and partners of a nonprofit organization to articulate their support for a grant application or proposal.
It acts as a testimonial from a third party that backs up the nonprofit organization’s claims of success and promises of delivery of results.
A grant letter of support helps show that the nonprofit organization has committed third parties that believe in the proposal. For example, a business that supports the project and is willing to provide an in-kind donation, or donors willing to provide specific amounts of money for the project, or a commitment by businesses to loan volunteers for implementation of the project.
Demonstrating such commitment and willingness to support the grant proposal of a nonprofit organization can help provide compelling and persuasive reasons for a guarantor to fund a project.
The following individuals or entities can write the letter:
- A partner organization
- Another foundation
- A congress representative
- A key stakeholder
- An outside business
- A community leader that believes in the project
- Recipients of the services proposed
Free Template
Following are some free downloadable templates for you:
Importance of a Letter of Support for Grant
A letter of support for a grant provides evidence that the nonprofit organization’s grant proposal is backed by other individuals or entities who believe in the project’s merit. It plays an important role in demonstrating third-party confidence in the grant proposal.
Foundations or government agencies responsible for the provision of grants receive several grant requests. Such a letter written by a high-level individual in the nonprofit organization can help make the grant proposal more competitive.
It also plays an important role in demonstrating that the nonprofit organization has a good reputation and that the community supports its grant proposal. The demonstration of community support can help convince a guarantor to fund the grant proposal. It can also help show a funding body that the nonprofit organization can be trusted with the grant.
A grant letter of support can impact the guarantor by describing how third-party partners such as donors plan to support the nonprofit organization’s proposal. Description of additional support by committed partners shows that the nonprofit organization is not alone. The guarantor can therefore discern enthusiasm associated with the project or proposal made by the nonprofit organization.
Grant Letter of Support Vs. Memorandum of Agreement
The letter of support for a grant has some similarities to a memorandum of agreement. A memorandum of agreement is a document signed by two parties to cooperate and work together on an agreed project. It accompanies the grant application or proposal, as does the letter of support for a grant. The grant letter of support may or may not be a memorandum of agreement and vice versa.
However, a memorandum of agreement describes the roles, responsibilities, terms, and conditions among the parties involved in the agreement. The authorized members of the involved parties sign the agreement. It is intended for the grantor and the partnering organizations. The memorandum of agreement contains details summarizing the material support expected from the guarantor.
The structure and contents of the MOA ensure that the parties involved are well-known to each other. It also ensures in writing that the use and implementation of the grant are acceptable by all parties. The MOA helps mitigate conflict surrounding the grant and the roles of the parties involved. On the other hand, a letter of support is intended for the guarantor, and statements backing the ideology of the grant proposal are provided.
What to Request in a Grant Letter
A nonprofit organization should ensure that the information contained in the letter of support for a grant is adequate. An effective grant letter of support can help compel the guarantor to award the grant to the nonprofit organization.
The following should be considered by a nonprofit organization when requesting such a letter
The nonprofit organization should start by identifying and forming a list of the beneficiaries of the proposed project. The beneficiaries may be individuals or organizations. Next, a meeting with the identified and listed beneficiaries should be set. The nonprofit organization should use the meeting with the beneficiaries to explain what the project entails.
The beneficiaries should be well-informed of the advantages of the project for them and their community. The nonprofit should then ask if the beneficiaries are willing to write a grant letter of support to back up the grant request.
Suppose the beneficiaries are willing to write a letter of support for a grant. The nonprofit organization should provide them with a usable draft of the letter. The draft ensures that the letter contains the correct proposal details. The nonprofit organization should request a beneficiary to send the grant letter of support by a specific date. It ensures that the nonprofit includes the beneficiary in the grant application.
If a beneficiary opts to compose the letter of support for a grant, the nonprofit organization should outline the proposal’s various aspects. The information can be in the form of bullet points or short paragraphs.
Components of a Letter of Support for Grant
The nonprofit should ensure that the letter of support for a grant contains the key components. The components ensure that the grant letter of support appropriately conveys the donor’s support for the grant proposal. It also helps show that the support is genuine through the details provided in the letter.
The grant letter of support should contain the following components:
Salutation
The nonprofit organization should discourage the grant letter of support writer from using generic and vague salutation such as “To Whom It May Concern”. The letter of support for a grant should use an appropriate salutation that addresses the recipient directly. The nonprofit organization should provide the writer with the funder’s name.
Grant application number
The nonprofit organization should ensure that the writer indicates the grant application number in the letter of support for a grant. The grant application number helps the recipient identify which grant request the letter is backing. However, the nonprofit organization must verify if the grant number is required in the letter of support for a grant.
Project summary
The letter of support for a grant should contain a summary of the project. The summary proves that the writer is well informed on what the project entails. The nonprofit organization is responsible for ensuring that the writer is well informed of the proposal’s details before writing the letter of support for a grant. A comprehensive summary ensures that the writer can compose a strong and compelling grant letter of support.
Project’s connection with funder’s interests
The letter of support for a grant should link the project to the interests of the funder/guarantor. The nonprofit organization should identify the funder’s interests by reviewing previously supported projects. The clear demonstration of a connection helps compel the funder to award the grant to the nonprofit organization.
Examples
The nonprofit organization should provide the writer of the grant letter of support with examples of how the grant enables the realization of the project. The examples should be detailed and demonstrate the benefits to the targeted individuals, entities, and the community. The examples must also be able to demonstrate tangible or visible results.
Excerpts from a previous letter of support
The nonprofit organization should provide the writer with a grant letter of support with excerpts from previous effective letters. The excerpts can enable the writer of the grant letter of support in the composition and structuring of information contained in the letter. It can also provide the writer with a demonstration of how to compose an effective letter of support.
The person or organization receiving the letter
The recipient’s name and address should also be provided to the writer. The recipient’s name and address enable the writer to get familiar with the guarantor. It can also ensure that letter of support for a grant is delivered to the right organization or person.
Examples
Following are some examples:
Example 1
April 5, 2020
Janice Williams
XYZ Company
467Lombard Street
San Francisco Ca, 1234
Re: Support for Marin Life Solutions
Dear Mr. Smith,
I, Ben Green, am a Professor at UCLA and a donor of Marine life Solutions. I am writing on behalf of the nonprofit organization in support of their grant application.
The fund can help the organization expand its marine cleaning technology research. I was privileged enough to play an active role in the initial prototype development of ‘The Aqua-Tech.’ I believe that the development of this technology can be revolutionary for local marine conservation efforts.
For any questions, I am available at bengreen@email.com. I thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ben green
Example 2
May 12, 2020
Re: Support for the Sustainable living Research Project
I, Zain Beverly, am writing on behalf of the research team at Mayfield University to express my support for the Sustainable Living Research Project.
The project aims to reduce homelessness by 35 percent. The project is of significant value to me as I am in charge of housing and welfare in the city council. I was actively involved in the project as a consultant to provide city administrative assistance.
Your funds can enable us to undertake the first phase of the research project, which is to rehabilitate the dormant structures on the city’s south side. The rehabilitations and changes made to the structures can enable data collection and analysis of the project.
I am confident that the project will yield valuable results. For any questions, you may contact me at zainbeverly@email.com. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Zain Beverly
Final Thoughts
A letter of support for a grant enables a nonprofit organization to demonstrate that a third party backs the grant proposal by providing a testimonial. The nonprofit organization should ensure that the third-party testimonial is provided by an individual or entity that is well informed on the proposal and its advantages. In addition, the letter of support should provide compelling and persuasive reasons for the guarantor to fund the proposal.
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