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. A gift letter for a mortgage shows your lender that you don't need to repay gift money toward your down payment.Only certain gifts can be used for your down payment. Gifts can only come from family members or friends who have a close relationship with you. What should you include in a gift letter? A gift letter for a mortgage is proof to the lender that money you've been given for your home purchase is a gift, not a loan to be repaid. Gift funds may not be contributed from any source that has an interest in the sale of the property (seller, builder, real estate agent, etc.). Mortgage gift letters tell the lender that money for your loan came from a gift. Lenders require gift letters when necessary. The letter should state that the person giving you the money is not getting something of value in return, such as an ownership stake in the property.