Letter of Recommendation for CBO Volunteers and Participants

What a good one includes

• Clear context of your professional relationship, specifying your role at the CBO and the exact duration and capacity in which you worked with the volunteer.
• A detailed description of at least one specific community project or initiative the individual spearheaded or significantly supported, highlighting their active role.
• Quantifiable metrics of their impact, such as the number of community members served, hours dedicated, or funds raised during their tenure.
• An endorsement of specific interpersonal strengths, such as cultural competency, resilience, team collaboration, or leadership under pressure.
• A brief narrative of their personal or professional growth during their time with your organization, showing their capacity for learning and adaptation.
• Explicit alignment between their volunteer achievements and the specific requirements of the job, scholarship, or academic program they are pursuing.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a generic template that fails to mention specific community projects or the unique mission of your organization.
• Focusing solely on general character traits while neglecting to mention the tangible results, hours, or outcomes of their volunteer service.
• Adopting a tone that is too casual or overly emotional, rather than professional, objective, and authoritative.
• Using internal organization acronyms or jargon without explaining what the CBO actually does and why its work matters to the broader community.

Frequently asked questions