How to Ask for a Volunteer Work Letter

Asking for a volunteer work letter is a lot like asking for a letter of recommendation. In fact, the principle between the two is the same. You generally want a supervisor or project coordinator to write a letter on your behalf. The objective of a volunteer work letter is to provide a detailed summary of your performance and contribution as a volunteer. Students who apply for grants and community service-based scholarships are frequently asked to submit a volunteer work letter with their application. Additional reasons for requesting a volunteer work letter are to account for volunteer hours, establish experience in a specific area or document the various volunteer activities fin which you have participated.

Things You'll Need

• Requestor's name, title and address

Instructions

1. Request the volunteer work letter in person. Explain the purpose of the volunteer work letter, so the writer can focus her comments on the context for which it is required. If the letter is for a community service scholarship or grant, the letter writer could include information about how your volunteer contributions have made a significant contribution to the community.

2. Write an outline or use a ghostwritten letter as an example. A volunteer work letter can range from a short declaration of how many volunteer hours have been served to a detailed summary of how a volunteer's efforts helped to change a community or helped to meet an important social goal. Be sure to explain which format best fits your needs.

3. Ask the letter writer to describe your relationship with the organization. If you have a long-term relationship with the organization, be sure to include this information. This part of the letter should focus less on your performance and more on your passion and commitment to a larger cause.

4. Provide the letter writer with the contact information for the person or organization to which the letter should be addressed. Include the requestor's name, title and address.

5. Provide the letter writer with a few basic materials to help him write the letter. Include a pre-addressed, stamped envelope and a deadline for sending the letter .

6. Send a thank-you letter to show your appreciation for the letter writer's time and effort.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also write a short note to explain why you require a volunteer work letter.

• Give the letter writer at least 14 days advance notice to complete the letter.

References

• Thank someone for volunteer work

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Helping Volunteers to Market Their Experience on Their Resumes