When someone offers to help you make a down payment on a house, your lender will require a gift letter for a mortgage. Here's what it includes.Here's a sample gift letter you can use to prove that the money is truly meant as an outright gift, with no expectation of repayment. A short letter like this sample gift letter will cover all of the requirements your lender needs. Foster generosity and handle donations effectively with these specialized donation form templates. If part of your mortgage deposit is a gift, the lender may ask for a mortgage gift letter confirming the funds are not a loan. Downloadable template. In this post, I'm breaking down how to write a donation letter. Your lender may have a sample down payment gift letter you can use for guidance, or you can find reliable templates online, too. Filling Out the Form Properly.