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Letters Charity provides direct assistance
to families facing urgent financial hardship.
Letters Charity is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using Art as a conduit to turn passive compassion into direct, unconditional relief for families in need. For over 30 years, our flagship tradition—Letters To Santa—has brought together world-class musicians, comedians, visual artists, and community leaders to raise critical funds for Chicago-area households facing extreme financial hardship, housing insecurity, and systemic poverty.
We believe that dignity and trust are central to effective charitable giving. Thanks to generous benefactors who fully underwrite our operating fund, 100% of every donation received goes directly into the hands of recipient families as unconditional gifts of food, clothing, toys, computers and significant cash grants. By eliminating administrative overhead on public contributions, we ensure your support makes an immediate, life-changing impact where it is needed most.
Give directly. Change a life.
We organize live fundraising events featuring legendary musicians, comedians, and improvisers. Our operating budget is paid for by our Benefactors*, a small group of donors committed to covering our administrative costs so that 100% of all public donations received are used in program initiatives.
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We partner with other nonprofit organizations to identify economically-disadvantaged families who are then given the opportunity to write a letter addressing three questions:
1. If you could receive any gift for you and your family, what would it be?
2. If you had one chance to tell your story to someone who wants to answer your letter, what would you share?
3. If your letter is answered, how would it transform your life?
We respond to every letter, surprising families on their doorsteps with armloads of gifts. Each family receives what they requested in their letter—typically warm clothing or beds for their children—plus food, toys, household necessities, a computer for every child, a tablet for the letter writer, and an unconditional financial gift for ongoing expenses. No strings attached.
*Contact us to learn more about how you can become a Benefactor.