How to write a letter of support for award

There comes a time in your career where you may be asked to write a letter of support for an award, or to write a letter of nomination for an award. These letters aren’t just about getting someone recognition.

These letters may also play an important part of the candidate securing funding or employment. Here is a brief guide on how to write an effective letter of support for an award.
Begin with the salutation
Forget “to whom it may concern” and find out who you are really writing to in the letter. This isn’t something that you have to do the research for, ask the candidate to get you the proper name and title of who you are addressing. This personalizes the letter and shows an effort that is appreciated. Keep the salutation businesslike, but at least have the name.

1st Paragraph – Explain the connection
In the first paragraph you need to identify the connection you have to the candidate, and who the candidate is. This is also the paragraph in which you want to establish your credentials. Explaining the relationship that you have at the beginning adds weight to the consideration that next two paragraphs are given.

2nd Paragraph – Explain the qualifications
This paragraph is slightly tricky as you have to set forth an understanding of two different sets of qualifications. The first is that you must clearly identify that you have an understanding of the qualifications sought in the award. The second set is the matching qualifications that the candidate possesses. Make sure that you keep the qualifications you mention evidence based. In other words, don’t create a list, but create a narrative of examples you have experienced that show the qualifications in the person.

3rd Paragraph – Relate specific skills
This is usually the weakest paragraph in a letter of support for an award and it needs to be as strong as the paragraph on qualifications. Using an evidence based narrative you want to descriptively present the specific skills the candidate has and relate them to the skills that the award requires. Make sure you cover all the skills from the simplistic (can create a spreadsheet), to the complex (can apply data analysis to response orientation in real time).

4th Paragraph – Summarize the points
The fourth paragraph should be a summary of the strongest points of qualification and skill of the candidate. Restate your credentials and relationship to the candidate and emphasize that both allow you confidence in presenting the letter as support for consideration.

Examples are vital
It is vital that you present as many examples as possible without allowing the letter to exceed one page. A letter of support for an award should be succinct, but detailed. Pay close attention to your closing and include adequate information to allow the recipient to contact you for further information as well.