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Hi there!
There’s nothing like a letter of support to help push your grant application over the top, demonstrating just how strong a trusted partner you are.
In this week’s edition, we’ll share everything you need to know about letters of support: what pitfalls to avoid, how to secure them, and more.
So settle in and start scrolling.
Welcome to The Impact.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Waiting Until the Last Minute to Request Letters of Support
For many funders, letters of support are optional, so securing one might not be a priority on your long list of to-dos.
But waiting until the last minute to request a letter of support can cause you to panic ask your partners in a rush. Not only does this cause stress, it also can sour your relationship by making your lack of planning their emergency.
💡 Pointer: Have Letters of Support on Hand Before You Need Them
The best time to get a letter of support is when you don’t quite need it yet. That way, your partners will have time to thoughtfully craft their responses.
Here’s how to secure stand-out letters of support:
- Ask the right partners. You want to choose individuals who can speak positively about your organization, particularly those who are personally involved in the project. Someone with a fancy title may look good on paper, but if they have no involvement in your project, their testimonial could fall flat. Consider who has the best story to tell and reach out accordingly.
- Offer to draft the letter. Writing a letter of support can be intimidating. You can help by offering to draft the letter or provide an outline. Your partners can customize as needed and share it back on their official letterhead, streamlining the process.
- Set a generous deadline. Even if you don’t need the letter for a specific application, set a deadline. Check in if there’s anything you can do to help them in advance of the deadline and after it passes if you don’t hear back. They are just as busy as you are, so be gracious and understanding.
📩 Discover more expert tips and strategies for leveraging letters of support!
Tech You Should Know
What:
The Impact Genome Registry is a repository for standardized impact data, recognizing the social impact of more than 2.2 million global nonprofits and programs.
They utilize internationally recognized, peer-reviewed protocols, transforming social impact into a measurable asset that informs both funders and nonprofits.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Leverage its data. The Impact Genome Registry catalogues essential data, including outcomes, strategies, costs, and evidence quality. You can join the registry or simply reference similar nonprofits to gain a sense of the available data and how you compare to your peers.
- Use the taxonomy to inform your analytics. Even if you don’t want to join, you can use their framework as a baseline for your own analytics. That way, you’ll be aligned with international reporting requirements when you share your own impact data.
- Explore the outcomes in your niche. The Impact Genome Registry clearly outlines the expected outcomes by focus area. Identify what the industry standards are in your area, and see if there are areas of opportunity that you can improve.
Keep in Mind:
- While it is free to join the registry, there is a $1,000 fee to take advantage of all the available resources.
🔎 Take a peek at the power of impact data with the Impact Genome Registry!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Rachel Waterman on Getting Stellar Support Letters for Your Grants
Rachel Waterman, Founder and CEO of Global Development Solutions, knows what it takes to secure stellar support letters. In a conversation with Instrumentl, she shared some expert tips on securing and leveraging these letters for your grant applications.
Here’s her expert advice:
- Consult the scoring rubric for inspiration. Pay special attention to what the grant funder is looking for in your application and specify these things as you extend the ask to your partners.
- Avoid form letters. Funders can tell when you’ve used generic letters or asked AI to draft them without solid prompts. Support letters should be written from the heart and feature strong testimonials that add new value.
- Ask to keep an undated copy on letterhead. That way, you can use the same letter in the future as needed without bothering your partners. All you need to do before submitting is ask permission to use their reference again and inquire if they have anything they’d like to adjust.
👉 Check out the full conversation for more tips on securing stellar support letters!
🎁 A Gift for You 🎁
Even if they aren’t required, letters of support build trust and credibility with potential funders.
However, writing a letter from scratch can be an intimidating ask for your partners. To help streamline the process, we’ve put together a free Grant Letter of Support Template to kickstart the creative process.
Opportunities Spotlight
⭐ Autism Speaks Local Impact Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofits that serve individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Next Deadline: Oct. 6, 2025
Grant Amount: Up to $5,000
The Details:
Autism Speaks is investing in local organizations that are working to empower the Autism community. They provide support to education, recreation/community activities, young adult/adult services, and sensory equipment/supportive technology. Applicants who serve underserved communities will be given careful consideration.
👏 Lawrence Foundation Grant
Who It’s For: Nonprofits supporting environmental, human services, and other causes
Next Deadline: Oct. 31, 2025
Grant Amount: $5,000-$10,000
The Details:
The Lawrence Foundation is providing unrestricted grants to help support nonprofits. To date, they have funded the following focus areas: environmental, human services, and disaster relief efforts. While there are no geographical restrictions, they do require more than 50% be used for reasonable indirect costs.
🥳 There’s more where that came from. Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Build a Better Compliance System
Tuesday, September 16 | 12:00 PM CDT
Managing federal grants comes with high stakes and even higher scrutiny. In this free workshop, federal grants expert Rachel Werner (Owner and CEO of RBW Strategy and Principal at MyFedTrainer) will share 10 essential tips to help you stay compliant with federal regulations, reduce audit risk, and build confidence in your grant management systems.
Save Your Spot!
📅 Conference: The Nonprofit Alliance Leadership Summit
Sept 8-10 | The Vinoy, St. Petersburg, FL
Join fellow nonprofit leaders to learn more about critical challenges facing the sector. You’ll work together with your peers to develop practical solutions, as well as determine opportunities to advance your organization’s important work at this summit.
Don’t Miss Out!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: The Ultimate Guide to a Strong Case for Support
Your case for support is a powerful narrative that encompasses your mission, vision, and how you’re committed to making a positive impact. In this guide, you’ll learn more about how to craft your case for support and the role it plays in the grant application process.
🎙️ Podcast: The Importance of Communication in Your Nonprofit’s Success
Effective communication is key at any nonprofit. Whether you’re talking to your employees or potential funders, you want to nail it to be successful. Learn more from grant professional Jennifer Yarbrough as she shares nonprofit nuggets on communication.
🎙️ Instrumentl’s Podcast: The Grant Writing Expert Podcast – Episode: How to Rethink Your Grant Strategy When Federal Funding Disappears
In this episode, grant consultant Persis Loomis shares how nonprofits can adapt when federal grants dry up. You’ll learn why designing your program first is more important than ever, how to pivot toward local funders, and what to prepare for short-notice funding windows.
Let Your Support Letters Shine
Maintaining strong partnerships with the communities you serve is so important. Who better can speak to how awesome and effective a partner you are?
As you request these letters, Instrumentl can help you at every stage of the process.
- Store contacts. You can keep all contact details handy in Instrumentl for easy access.
- Track deadlines. Just as you would for a grant application, set deadlines and a timeline for your letters of support. Stay on track using Instrumentl’s calendar and task features.
- Save letters. Our document repository allows you to upload documents so you and your team can more effectively collaborate.
That’s not even mentioning all the grant prospecting features.
🎉 Sign up today to see how Instrumentl can help with all your grant needs!
