Contact us
If you’re unsure you have the right letters or enough letters, contact our grants team before submitting your application:
Grants guide: letters of support
How to gather strong letters of support for your grant application.
Related to Grants resources
Published
This page explains what letters of support are, why they matter to your grant application and how to request and prepare them to meet our requirements.
Letters of support are written statements from community members, organisations or project partners confirming their support for your project.
A strong letter does more than show agreement. It demonstrates genuine collaboration, confirms community need and shows that the right people are involved to make your project happen.
Request letters early
Contact potential supporters as soon as you decide to apply. Giving people enough time leads to more considered, specific letters. Rushed or generic letters are less persuasive.
The City of Sydney cannot provide letters of support.
Why letters of support matter
Letters of support directly strengthen 2 key assessment criteria used across City of Sydney grants.
Criterion 2: Community benefit
Assessors will consider how your proposal benefits selected priority communities, supports inclusive participation and demonstrates local support and partnerships. They will also look at how people from priority communities are engaged and involved in project leadership or key roles.
Letters of support provide independent confirmation that the community need you’ve identified is real and unmet.
Criterion 3: Capacity and experience
Assessors will consider whether your proposal shows appropriate planning and resources. This may include the skills and experience of key people involved, a realistic budget and a clear, achievable timeline.
Partner letters demonstrate that you have the right people involved and that partnerships are genuine.
Types of letters
You may be asked to provide 2 types of letters. Each serves a different purpose.
Community support letters
Who writes them: Local community members, groups or organisations who live or work in the City of Sydney local area.
What they show: Local support, community need and a clear local connection. Links to criterion 2 – community benefit.
Partner letters
Who writes them: Partner organisations, professionals, advocacy groups, specialists or consultants involved in the project.
What it demonstrates: That your project is supported by credible partners with defined roles. Links to criterion 3 – capacity and experience.
Note for applicants working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups
Community support letters must come from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, groups or organisations in the City of Sydney local area. These letters must demonstrate your connection to the local community and confirm support for your project.
Grants guide: letters of support
Coral Lever, CEO of First Nations Response, shares her tips on how to gather strong letters of support for your grant application.
Community support letters: what to include
Partner letters: what to include
Formal agreements
For significant partnerships – particularly with community-led organisations – you may also include a formal agreement such as a Memorandum of Understanding. This can strengthen evidence of a genuine and committed partnership.
Templates
You may wish to share this guide and templates with your supporters. Ask them to use their own letterhead where possible.
Checklist: before you start your grant application
Use this checklist to make sure your letters of support are ready to attach to your application.
☐ Identified all required community support letters
☐ Identified all partner letters
☐ Contacted letter writers early
☐ Letters are specific to this project and not generic
☐ Partner roles and contributions are clearly described
☐ Contributions include estimated value where possible
☐ All letters are signed and dated
☐ Writers are based in or serve the City of Sydney local area (where required)
☐ Letters for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collaboration fund are from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, groups or organisations
☐ All letters are ready to attach to your application
