Letter Writing 101

Paragraph 1:  What is your request? 

• The best letters are those which make a specific request.  It's okay to make a general request ("I am writing to urge you to be a strong supporter of the Peace Corps"), but even better if there is a specific action you are being asked to take.  If you have a specific action request, make it very clear and right at the beginning of your letter.

Examples:

"Dear Mr. President:  I am writing to respectfully urge you to uphold your campaign pledge to double the size of the Peace Corps.“

"Dear Congressman _____:  As a recently returned Peace Corps volunteer, it is my hope you will sign the House Dear Colleague letter that is currently circulating urging robust funding for the Peace Corps."

"Dear Senator _____: I write to ask you to become a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1382, the Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act."

Paragraphs 2 and 3:  Why more funding to the Peace Corps?

• If you are a returned volunteer (RPCV), share specific examples of people you helped in the Peace Corps  or skills you acquired.  The more your can connect your present leadership and volunteer activities to service in Peace Corps, the more compelling this paragraph will be.
• If you are not an RPCV or former Peace Corps staff, your letters are also of great importance!  You help demonstrate the broad support for the Peace Corps among U.S. citizens.
• Make 3 points about why a bigger, better, and bolder Peace Corps is important.
• Because of the success we acheived in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, be sure to acknowledge and thank policymakers for this progress.

Example A (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer):

“I write to you as a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served as a teacher in a village in Ecuador from 1988 to 1990.  The friendships I made and my continued efforts to advance literacy in other parts of Latin America through an NGO I created in 1995 are meaningful contributions to global cooperation – extending far beyond my two years of Peace Corps service.  I don’t think I would be this fluent in Spanish were it not for my service, and the language and cultural knowledge I acquired in the Peace Corps opened up even more opportunities to serve.  Peace Corps is America at its best and we need much more of it.

I was so pleased and am so grateful to Congress for its action last year in approving the largest single-year funding increase to the Peace Corps in its nearly 50 year history.  While this was a tremendous step forward, it is imperative that we continue to press forward.  The Peace Corps remains too small and not bold enough.  The number of volunteers sent each year - less than 4,000 - is half the number sent four decades ago when the population of America was just 180 million.  Demand for volunteers exceeds supply; more than 20 additional countries have requested Peace Corps.  The Peace Corps remains a symbol of ‘America at its best’ at a time when our global standing has fallen in many regions of the world.   Peace Corps is uniquely positioned to help boost the nation’s image as a cooperative partner and trusted friend.  I know that in my village in Ecuador, every time they think of America, they think of someone who tried to help their community get better education.”

Example B (non-returned Peace Corps volunteer):

“Even though I never served in the Peace Corps, many Peace Corps volunteers have enriched my classroom at Herricks High School on Long Island by speaking to my 9th and 10th grade social studies students about their experience living in Ghana, Mali, and the Philippines, for example.  One returned volunteer who came to speak in my class told us about a women’s cooperative she built in Mali, and some of the girls in my class were inspired to get involved in her project.  I imagine some of my students will decide to enter public service because of that one presentation.

I was so pleased and am so grateful to Congress for its action last year in approving the largest single-year funding increase for Peace Corps in its nearly 50 year history.  While this was a tremendous step forward, it is imperative that we continue to press forward.  The Peace Corps remains too small and not bold enough.  The number of volunteers sent each year, 4,000, is half the number sent four decades ago when the population of America was just 180 million,  Demand for volunteers exceeds supply; more than 20 additional countries have requested Peace Corps, and some countries that currently have programs seek even greater numbers.  The Peace Corps remains a symbol of “America at its best” at a time when our global standing has declined in many regions of the world.   Peace Corps is uniquely positioned to help boost America’s image as a cooperative partner and trusted friend.” 

Paragraph 4:  Thank the lawmaker and request a reply.

• Thank the lawmaker for reading the letter.
• Thank your lawmaker for past support and urge continued support (to find out more about past support from your lawmaker, email Jonathan Pearson at
• Be sure to seek a response.
• When you receive a response, please let us know and consider sending up a follow-up message.
• Contact us to discuss other follow-up actions. 

Example:

“Thank you, Senator _____.  I truly appreciate the time you took to read this letter and hope you share my view that increasing the number of Peace Corps volunteers is a wise investment that benefits both the United States and the world.  It would cost only $1 per capita to double the budget of the Peace Corps and as we approach the 50th anniversary, this would be a good way to recognize the half-century of achievements this program has made.  Thank you and I look forward to your reply.”