Letter writing is one of the most common and effective means of communicating with policymakers, as they are sensitive to issues of concern to their constituents. Many policymakers readily acknowledge that a good letter – particularly from a constituent – can have a major impact. Therefore, it is important to make your letter powerful.

Key Ingredients for Writing an Effective Letter:

• If you live in a policymaker’s district, mention this fact upfront.
• Identify the issue you are writing about clearly in the first paragraph and ask the policymaker to take the specific action you are proposing. If you are writing about specific legislation, try to include the bill number.
• Share a personal anecdote about how the bill will affect you, your family, your community, etc.
• Include supporting facts to strengthening your point.
• Extend an invitation to discuss the bill or issue, if desired.
• Request a reply, and ask directly whether he or she will support your position. Policymakers are known for writing letters that avoid a clear statement of stance.
• Add a note of appreciation for their consideration of your message.

General Tips for an Effective Letter:

• Cover only one issue per letter; letters that address multiple issues are much less effective.
• Keep your letter to one page, if possible.
• Write in your own words, avoid bold words or jargon and only use acronyms that you are certain your policymaker will know.
• In the absence of a major letter writing campaign, do not send a form letter, preprinted card or other “cookie-cutter” means of communication. Policymakers tend to ignore them unless they receive them en masse.
• Legible, handwritten letters are perfectly acceptable. In fact, they often receive more attention than typed letters.
• Send additional materials if you think the policymaker needs more information, but limit the amount of materials sent to avoid overwhelming him or her. For example, relevant editorials and news stories from local papers in the policymaker’s district will certainly get his or her attention.

For additional information on letter writing or other means of influencing policymakers, please contact the NMHA Advocacy Resource Center at (800) 969-6642 (NMHA), Option 6.