Letter of Support for a Grant Application (Free Templates)
A letter of support is a short third-party endorsement, usually from a partner, beneficiary or local representative, that backs up a grant application. Strong letters are specific, naming the project, the relationship and a concrete example of impact, since funders read them to corroborate an applicant's own claims rather than as generic praise. Supporters should be given at least two weeks and a short brief; generic or clearly templated letters can weaken an application.
What a letter of support is (and when funders ask)
This is the letter of support guide I wish I’d had for my own charity’s first grant application: three adaptable templates, the five things funders check, and the wording to use when you ask. A letter of support is a short, signed statement from a partner organisation, beneficiary, or local stakeholder confirming that your project is real, needed and likely to work as described, and funders ask for them to independently verify your claims about need, partnership and delivery capacity. They are most commonly requested for partnership bids, capital projects and first-time applications to a funder, where the funder has no track record with you to rely on. First-time applicant? Our grant readiness checker shows what to have ready first.
Funders that request letters of support typically want to see that: the partnership you describe actually exists, the community need you describe is recognised by people on the ground, and any named delivery partner is genuinely committed, not just listed. If you’re building a full application around this, our how to write a grant application pillar guide covers where letters of support sit in the wider bid, and our grant funding handbook covers the wider funding journey.
What a strong letter contains (5 elements)
A strong letter of support names the specific project and funder, states the relationship between the writer and your charity, gives one concrete example or figure that evidences impact or need, confirms any commitment being made, and is signed by a named person with a role, not just an organisation’s generic office. Missing any of these five elements is what makes a letter read as generic.
- 1. Specificity: names the project and, ideally, the funder and grant round.
- 2. Relationship: explains how the writer knows your charity and for how long.
- 3. Evidence: one real example, statistic or story, not just “we support this application”.
- 4. Commitment: what the writer or their organisation will actually do (referrals, venue, co-delivery, match funding).
- 5. Signature: a named individual, job title, organisation and date, on headed paper or official email where possible.
In my experience, element 4 is the one that separates letters assessors believe from letters they skim: praise is easy, a named commitment is not.
I drafted the three templates below myself — the same skeletons I work from when my own charity’s applications need supporting letters, tightened against what funders say they check.
Template 1: partner organisation
Use this when another charity, community group or service provider is genuinely co-delivering or referring into your project.
[Partner organisation letterhead]
[Date]To whom it may concern,
Re: Letter of support for [Your Charity Name]’s application to [Funder Name] for [Project Name]
I am writing as [Job Title] of [Partner Organisation], which has worked alongside [Your Charity Name] since [year/period]. We [describe the nature of the relationship, e.g. “refer service users to their weekly drop-in” or “co-deliver the X programme”].
In the past [timeframe], we have referred/supported [number] people through this partnership, and have seen [specific outcome or example]. The need this project addresses is real and growing in our local area: [one local fact or example, cited if possible].
If [Your Charity Name] is successful in this application, [Partner Organisation] commits to [specific commitment: referrals, shared venue, co-delivery, data sharing, match funding].
We fully support this application and are happy to be contacted for further information.
Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Job title, Partner Organisation]
[Contact details]
Template 2: community/beneficiary
Use this when a service user, parent, carer or community member can speak first-hand to the need and impact.
[Date]
To whom it may concern,
Re: Letter of support for [Your Charity Name]
My name is [Name] and I am a [service user / parent / carer / community member] who has used [Your Charity Name]’s [service/project] since [period].
Before finding this project, [describe the situation or need in your own words, one or two sentences]. Since taking part, [describe the specific change: “my daughter now attends school five days a week” or “I have been able to access food support without travelling 40 minutes”].
This kind of support is hard to find locally, and losing it would mean [describe the impact of the gap]. I support this application because I have seen directly what it makes possible.
[Name]
[Optional: role/relationship, e.g. “Parent of a service user”]
[Contact details, with consent to be contacted]
Template 3: local authority or MP
Use this when a councillor, MP or local authority officer can confirm local need or policy alignment, common for capital and place-based bids.
[Official letterhead]
[Date]To whom it may concern,
Re: Letter of support for [Your Charity Name]’s application to [Funder Name]
As [Councillor for Ward / MP for Constituency / Job title], I am writing to support [Your Charity Name]’s application for [Project Name].
[Your Charity Name] has been active in [area] since [year], and its work addresses a recognised local priority: [cite a local strategy, JSNA, or council priority document if one exists]. I have [visited the project / met with the team / received casework relating to this need] and can confirm the need described in this application reflects what residents in [area] are telling us.
I fully support this application and hope the panel will give it serious consideration.
Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Title]
[Contact details]
How to ask for one (email script)
Ask for letters of support at least two weeks before your deadline, using a short brief that tells the writer exactly what to cover so you don’t receive something generic back, and always offer to draft bullet points they can adapt rather than leaving a blank page. Funders can usually tell when a letter has clearly been written entirely by the applicant and just signed, so give real information but let the supporter use their own words. The deadline matters as much as the brief, in practice — most people write the letter the day it’s due, not before.
From experience: letters of support are the first thing I sort when starting a grant application, not the last. Other people’s diaries are the one part of a bid you can’t compress, so the request goes out before I’ve drafted a word of the application — three bullet points on what would help, plus a deadline well ahead of the funder’s. A specific letter that arrives early beats a glowing one that lands the night before submission.
Subject: Quick favour: letter of support for our [Funder] application
Hi [Name],
We’re applying to [Funder] for [Project], deadline [date]. Would you be able to write a short letter of support (half a page is plenty) confirming [the specific thing: the partnership / the need you’ve seen / local relevance]?
To help, here’s what’s useful to include: how you know us, one example of the need or impact you’ve seen, and what you’d commit to if we’re funded. Happy to send bullet points if that’s easier; just need it back by [date, at least 3 working days before your deadline].
Thanks so much,
[Your name]
For more ready-to-use language across an application, see our 30 phrases for grant applications post and our worked example grant application answers, plus The Fore’s guidance for applicants for another funder’s perspective on what makes supporting evidence credible.
What to do next
Identify which of the three letter types your next application actually needs, don’t gather all three by default. Send the relevant brief and template today if your deadline is close, and keep a small bank of supporter contacts so future requests are faster — mine lives alongside the funder shortlist. Add the letters to our grant application pre-submit checklist so nothing is missing on the day. If you want the surrounding application drafted faster too, our Grant Finder can help you find and shortlist funders that match your project first.
Want AI to help you draft your next grant application, letters of support included? Join the AI grant writer waitlist →
Frequently asked questions
Anyone with a genuine, verifiable relationship to your project: a delivery partner, a beneficiary, a local authority officer, or an MP. The best choice depends on what the funder is trying to verify, whether that's partnership, need, or local relevance.
Half a page to one page is standard. Funders read many of these, so a short, specific letter with one strong example beats a long, generic one every time.
They can be written, but generic letters are a weak signal and some assessors discount them. Funders want to see specific relationships and examples, so a templated but personalised letter works far better than boilerplate.
No. Many funders never ask for letters of support, and some prefer you save supporters' time and only request them for partnership or capital bids. Always check the funder's own guidance before gathering them.
A letter of support backs a specific application and project, while a reference typically speaks to your organisation's general trustworthiness or track record. Some funders ask for both, so check the application guidance carefully.