Letter of Support Generator

Letter of Support for Grant Example: NIH Requirements

For NIH grant applications, letters of support for grant example documents demonstrate collaborations, resource access, and institutional commitments. They are particularly important for R01, R21, K awards, and other mechanisms requiring external collaboration. Strong letters clearly state the collaborator's role, available resources, and specific time commitments.

Key NIH Requirements: Letters should be on institutional letterhead, signed by the collaborator, and include specific commitments (e.g., hours per year for consultants, dataset access for data providers, equipment availability for core facilities).

When crafting your winning proposal anatomy, these collaboration letters serve as critical evidence of your team's capabilities and resource access.

NSF Letters of Collaboration

NSF has strict requirements for Letters of Collaboration. The 2024 PAPPG (Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide) requires a specific single-sentence format that states the collaborator's intent to collaborate if the proposal is funded. NSF explicitly prohibits detailed commitments or endorsements in these letters.

NSF Format: "If the proposal submitted by [PI Name] entitled [Project Title] is selected for funding by the NSF, it is my intent to collaborate and/or commit resources as detailed in the Project Description or the Facilities, Equipment or Other Resources section of the proposal."

Common Collaboration Roles

• Data Provider: Provides access to existing datasets, cohorts, or databases. Should specify dataset name, access timeline, and any required Data Use Agreements.
• Statistical Consultant: Provides expertise in study design, power analysis, and data analysis. Should specify hourly rate, total hours committed, and specific statistical methodologies.
• Equipment Provider: Grants access to specialized equipment or core facilities. Should specify equipment name, access priority, and any associated fees.
• Mentor: Provides guidance and support for career development awards (K99/R00, K01, K08, K23). Should specify meeting frequency, protected time commitments, and institutional resources.

When Do You Need a Draft Letter of Support for Grant?

Letters of support strengthen grant applications by demonstrating team capabilities and resource availability. You need these letters when:

• Your proposal requires multi-PI collaboration across institutions
• You need access to specialized equipment, datasets, or core facilities not available at your institution
• External consultants will provide statistical, methodological, or technical expertise
• Career development awards (K series) require documented mentor commitments
• You are proposing international collaborations or multi-site studies
• The funding agency specifically requests collaboration documentation

According to NIH guidelines, letters should arrive before the proposal deadline. Plan to request letters at least 3-4 weeks in advance, providing collaborators with a draft they can customize and sign on institutional letterhead.

Common Mistakes in Collaboration Letters

Even well-intentioned letters can weaken your proposal if they contain these common errors:

For comprehensive guidance on building a strong proposal, explore our pre-submission checklist to ensure all components meet funder expectations.

How to Request Strong Letters of Support

The quality of your collaboration letters often reflects the quality of your request. Follow these best practices:

1. Provide a Draft: Don't ask collaborators to write from scratch. Use this generator to create a customized draft they can edit, saving them time and ensuring all required elements are included.
2. Include Project Details: Share your specific aims page or project summary so collaborators understand the full context and can speak to how their contribution advances your goals.
3. Specify the Deadline: Give collaborators at least 3-4 weeks notice. Include both the internal deadline (when you need the letter) and the agency deadline.
4. Clarify Format Requirements: Specify whether NIH (detailed) or NSF (single-sentence) format is needed. Attach funder guidelines if requirements are complex.
5. Follow Up Graciously: Send a reminder one week before your internal deadline. Make it easy for collaborators to help you succeed.