How To Send A Letter

The Letters Foundation welcomes letters written by individuals on behalf of themselves, a family member, or a household member in a situation of dire need.

Please note that the last day we will be accepting new letter requests is January 31, 2020. All letters must be postmarked by this date for grant consideration.

Send Your Letter To:

The Letters Foundation only considers requests from individuals residing in the United States, either citizens or those with documented immigration status. Please kindly note that we do not accept letters written on behalf of someone else (with the exception of letters written on behalf of a family member) and that all new letter requests must be postmarked by January 31, 2020. EXCLUSIONS: The Foundation does not make grants for vehicles, capital construction costs, endowments, medical or academic research, experimental medical treatments, scholarships, sectarian or religious purposes, general fundraising drives or events, loans of any type (personal or business), business startups, student loans/debt, tuition, or to support candidates for political office. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from nonprofit institutions. While the Foundation does not pay tuition, some vocational training programs are considered.

Letters Foundation - 292 Newbury Street Suite 503, Boston, Massachussetts 02115

We appreciate your courage in reaching out to us, and will hold your letter in strictest confidence.

Your Letter Checklist

To qualify for consideration, include a detailed description of your hardship and a specific request for the item or service that you feel would be of most help. Additionally, please include the following details:

Full Name

Mailing Address

Date of Birth

Email Address

Contact Number(s)

What to Expect

Frequently Asked Questions

What will you do with my information?

Letters Foundation takes many steps to ensure the security of your data. Physical letters are safely and securely stored with Iron Mountain for both legal compliance and historical purposes. Application documents are scanned and stored electronically in a secure database, and then securely shredded and destroyed. Information sent via email will be stored in the database, and all attachments will be deleted. Database access is limited only to those who need it to perform Letters-related business, and there are additional security protections in place. We will not disclose any information without explicit consent.

Can I email my letter?

No, the Foundation does not accept emailed letters. All requests must be mailed to our office location in Boston. Follow our instructions for how to mail a letter here.

Can I write a letter for somebody else?

If someone who lives in your household is unable to write a letter due to a disability or medical condition, and/or if you have power of attorney, we will accept a letter from you on that person’s behalf (this includes writing in on behalf of minors). Otherwise, all individuals must write a letter on behalf of themselves in order to be considered for a grant, and we do not accept letters written on behalf of someone else. If you know someone who may be eligible for a grant, please ask him or her to write to us directly.

How long does it take for me to hear back once I submit a letter?

We always do our best to be as responsive as possible to every letter we receive. If you include an email address in your letter, we respond with a notification of receipt within 10 business days of receiving the letter. Otherwise, you can expect to hear from us within two months via mail regarding the status of your request. Individuals whose letters are approved for further review are asked to fill out our application, which may take up to two months to complete. Given our timeframe and thorough due diligence process, we are unable to accommodate emergency requests.

How big or small of a grant can I ask for?

We prioritize practical, one-time grants, and the amounts vary greatly based on the individuals’ needs. We ask all applicants in their letters to be honest about their needs, so that we can make as informed decisions as possible in our grant-making.

Should I hand-write my letter?

Please feel free to handwrite or type your letter.

How to send us a letter.