Sample Thank You Letters

Use the sample letters below as a guide for writing your own thank you letters to Members of Congress and their staff. While IRA charitable rollover legislation is highlighted in the samples, feel free to emphasize other issues that are relevant to your foundation like the private foundation excise tax. Please remember to FAX or E-MAIL your thank you letters to Representative and/or Senator’s DC office. Due to heightened security, it can take up to a month for members to receive letters sent via mail.

• Letter to Senator
• Letter to Senate Staffer
• Letter to Representative
• Letter to House Staffer
• Congressional Contact Information - This information is also in your congressional directories.

Thank You Letter to Senator

[If faxing, insert your foundation’s letterhead]

[Insert Date]

Dear Senator [insert last name]:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and [insert names of other group members, if any] on March 5th while we were in Washington, DC for Foundations on the Hill. As constituents, we enjoyed talking with you about the good work of our foundations and our mutual interests in growing philanthropy in ways that both merit the public trust and effectively address the needs of our communities.

During the meeting, we discussed the Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2007.We urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the IRA Rollover (S.819).

[This paragraph is optional] I would welcome the opportunity to arrange for you to visit our foundation when you are back home. We would like to share with you additional information and demonstrate first-hand how we are impacting our communities. I will be in touch with your district staff to work out a mutually convenient date.

Again, thank you for meeting with our group. Please feel free to contact me by phone (insert phone number) or e-mail (insert e-mail address) for additional information about our foundation or philanthropy in [insert state]. You are also welcome to contact the Council on Foundations in Washington (703/879-0600) or the [insert regional association name] (insert regional association phone number).

Sincerely,

[Insert your full name. If e-mail, insert your full address as well.]

cc: [Insert full names of any staff members in your meeting]

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Thank You Letter to Senate Staffer

[If faxing, insert your foundation’s letterhead]

[Insert Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Insert staff last name]:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and [insert names of other group members, if any] on March 5th while we were in Washington, DC for Foundations on the Hill. As constituents of Senator [insert Senator's last name], we enjoyed talking with you about the good work of our foundations and our mutual interests in growing philanthropy in ways that both merit the public trust and effectively address the needs of our communities.

During the meeting, we discussed the Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2007. We urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the IRA Rollover (S.819).

Again, thank you for meeting with our group. Please feel free to contact me by phone (insert phone number) or e-mail (insert e-mail address) for additional information about our foundation or philanthropy in [insert state]. You are also welcome to contact the Council on Foundations in Washington (703/879-0600) or the [insert regional association name] (insert regional association phone number).

Sincerely,

[Insert your full name. If e-mail, insert your full address as well.]

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Thank You Letter to Representative

[If faxing, insert your foundation’s letterhead]

[Insert Date]

Dear Representative [insert last name]:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and [insert names of other group members, if any] on March 5th while we were in Washington, DC for Foundations on the Hill. As constituents, we enjoyed talking with you about the good work of our foundations and our mutual interests in growing philanthropy in ways that both merit the public trust and effectively address the needs of our communities.

During the meeting, we discussed the Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2007 and the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. We urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the IRA Rollover (H.R.1419) and become a member of the philanthropy caucus.

[This paragraph is optional] I would welcome the opportunity to arrange for you to visit our foundation when you are back home. We would like to share with you additional information and demonstrate first-hand how we are impacting our communities. I will be in touch with your district staff to work out a mutually convenient date.

Again, thank you for meeting with our group. Please feel free to contact me by phone (insert phone number) or e-mail (insert e-mail address) for additional information about our foundation or philanthropy in [insert district number, community name, or region]. You are also welcome to contact the Council on Foundations in Washington (703/879-0600) or the [insert regional association name] (insert regional association phone number).

Sincerely,

[Insert your full name. If e-mail, insert your full address as well.]

cc: [Insert full names of any staff members in your meeting]

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Thank You Letter to House Staffer

[If faxing, insert your foundation’s letterhead]

[Insert Date]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Insert staff last name]:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and [other group members, if any] on March 5th while we were in Washington, DC for Foundations on the Hill. As constituents of Representative [insert last name], we enjoyed talking with you about the good work of our foundations and our mutual interests in growing philanthropy in ways that both merit the public trust and effectively address the needs of our communities.

During the meeting, we discussed the Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2007 and the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. We would appreciate it if Representative [insert Representative's last name] signs on as a co-sponsor of the IRA Rollover (H.R.1419) and joins the Caucus.

Again, thank you for meeting with our group. Please feel free to contact me by phone (insert phone number) or e-mail (insert e-mail address) for additional information about our foundation or philanthropy in [insert district number, community name, or region]. You are also welcome to contact the Council on Foundations in Washington (703/879-0600) or the [insert regional association name] (insert regional association phone number).

Sincerely,

[Insert your full name. If e-mail, insert your full address as well.]

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