Letters of support checklist
Letters of Support Checklist for Grant Applications
Letters of support are one of the most commonly requested — and commonly mishandled — attachments in a grant packet. Guidelines are often vague about exactly how many are needed or who should write them, and because they depend on other people's time, they're one of the easiest requirements to fall behind on.
This checklist covers what to confirm about letters of support early, so you're not chasing signatures the week of the deadline.
What to confirm about letters of support
- Whether letters of support are required, or only encouraged
- The specific number requested, if any
- Who the funder wants letters from — partners, community members, government officials
- Whether letters need to reference the specific grant and program by name
- Whether letters need to be on organizational letterhead
- Whether letters need original signatures or scanned copies are acceptable
- The format for submission — separate files or combined into the main packet
- A realistic timeline for requesting letters, given other people's schedules
Common letters-of-support mistakes
- • Requesting letters too close to the deadline, leaving no room for delays
- • Sending letters that are generic and don't mention the specific grant or program
- • Not confirming whether letters count toward a page limit
- • Assuming a required number when the guidelines only 'encourage' letters
- • Losing track of which partners have and haven't sent their letter
Frequently asked questions
Related checklists
GrantPacketCheck helps organize grant requirements and flag possible missing items. It does not provide legal, financial, or grant-writing advice. Always review funder instructions before submission.