Sample Letter Format When Writing to a Legislator

(date)
(elected official)
(address)

Dear (name):

I serve as a Commissioner for the Idaho Commission on the Arts and would like to thank you for your support in funding the arts that makes possible the types of arts activities such as the (name of event) happening in (city) right now. I have personally seen the impacts that the Commission has made in District (number). These experiences bring to life the statistics we hear about regarding the value of the arts to our quality of life, economic health, and community building. (Provide brief specifics if available.)

In fact, (name), Executive Director of (organization hosting event mentioned above), told me the importance of the state funding to their success. They had more than (number) community members attend, many for the first time.

I am writing to ask for your continued support in protecting state funding for the arts. I realize you have difficult budget decisions to make again this year and there will be competing priorities. I urge you to maintain funding for the Idaho Commission on the Arts at its current level.

Through this funding the ICA invests in community arts programs such as (name of event mentioned above) as well as supports artists and arts organizations, funds arts programs and curriculum in K-12 classrooms, and encourages projects that share and preserve Idaho's cultural traditions.

Your support is making a difference; I hope I can count on your continued support to keep state arts funding at its current level.

Sincerely,

(name)

Commissioner, Idaho Commission on the Arts

(home address, phone, e-mail)