The letter must explain who is gifting the money, where the donor's funds are coming from and the relationship between the donor and the recipient. The person who gave you the money must write and sign the gift letter as well as provide their personal information.A short letter like this sample gift letter will cover all of the requirements your lender needs. Use these stepbystep instructions for accepting a cash downpayment gift on a home, including a readytouse mortgage gift letter template. A gift letter is a note from a donor to your lender regarding cash funds for your mortgage down payment. Learn about gift letter requirements A mortgage gift letter states that you received money as a genuine gift to use toward a down payment, rather than a loan. Using gift money for a down payment is a common practice that can help make homeownership more accessible. While it's possible that no one claims on it, it's best to prepare for any legal issues in the future. A gift letter for a mortgage shows your lender that you don't need to repay gift money toward your down payment.