The Dad Letter Project
Sometimes, you just need a dad.
So we send you one.
A real letter. From a real dad. Written just for you.
Whether you need a little encouragement, some unsolicited dad advice, a terrible joke, or simply a reminder that someone cares — we're here to put that feeling in your mailbox.
A LETTER FROM DAD
Just when you need it most.
The Dad Letter Project connects people who could use a little encouragement with dads who are willing to sit down, pick up a pen, and write.
No algorithms.
No automated messages.
Just a dad, a pen, and a piece of paper.
And sometimes, that's exactly what you need.
Request a Dad Letter (It’s Like a Hug, But on Paper)
If you want a pick-me-up from a dad who writes better letters than he texts, you’re in the right place. One of our esteemed dads will write you a letter just for you.
Behind Every Letter: How We Keep This Safe and Real
A free letter looks simple from the outside. Getting it right takes a real system. Here's what happens between a request and a letter in someone's mailbox.
Every request is read by a person — twice
Before any letter is written, a trained volunteer reads the full request and assesses what kind of care it needs. We built a five-level framework (we call it Handle With Care) so a request about a hard breakup gets matched differently than one describing active grief — and requests signaling crisis are redirected to appropriate professional resources, because DLP is a letter-writing program, not a crisis service.
Technology assists. It never decides
A first pass flags language that may need elevated care, so nothing slips through from volume alone. But every flag is confirmed or overridden by a trained human — and if there's any ambiguity, a second independent reviewer weighs in before a decision is made. The cost of missing something real is always higher than the cost of double-checking.
Writers are matched to what they can actually hold
Dad Writers apply, submit references, pass a background check, and write a sample letter before they're cleared to write for real requesters. For our most sensitive requests — child loss, incarceration, racial identity — we require writers with lived experience of that specific thing, not just good intentions.
Every letter is reviewed before it's mailed
No letter goes from a writer's hand straight to a recipient. A second trained volunteer reviews it for tone and care first. Writers also never see a recipient's mailing address — that's handled separately by a background-checked mailing team, so personal information stays protected at every handoff.
One letter, one person, real accountability
We deliberately built this as a one-time letter, not an open-ended correspondence — it keeps the promise we can actually keep at our current scale, and lets every letter get this level of care rather than spreading volunteers thin.
REQUEST A LETTER
Disclaimer: Important Information
The Dad Letter Project is a volunteer-based initiative where kind-hearted dads write letters to people who could use a little encouragement, a funny story, or just a reminder that someone out there cares.
While our dads love being dads and are here to share positivity, please know they are not licensed therapists, counselors, or mental health professionals. The letters are not a substitute for professional mental health support, therapy, or crisis intervention.
If you are in need of mental health support, please consider reaching out to these resources that are better equipped to help:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (free, 24/7 support)
International Helplines: https://www.befrienders.org
All letters are written with kindness and good intent, but The Dad Letter Project, its volunteers, and its organizers are not responsible for how messages are interpreted.
By requesting a letter, you acknowledge that this is a volunteer-run project and letters are sent as personal gestures, not as professional advice, guidance, or counseling.
We do not collect or share sensitive personal information beyond what you choose to submit in your request.
The content of the letters is not reviewed by licensed professionals and should not be considered therapeutic or diagnostic.