Components of a Strong Letter of Inquiry
A letter of inquiry should be addressed to a specific person within the granting agency, most often the program officer. If the foundation is not staffed, find the contact person (perhaps a bank official or the founder) in the guidelines. Your letter of inquiry should include the following:
The problem or need you are addressing
A summary of the project
Potential outcomes of the project
A direct or indirect reference to the ways the project fits the goals or guidelines of the foundation
An indication of the amount you hope to request and the structure of the grant (i.e., one year, three year, challenge, matching, etc.)
A brief budget and breakdown of expenses and revenues, including other places the nonprofit has applied or plans to apply for funding
Reference to partners in the project
Outcomes of previous fundraising efforts, if any
A request for a meeting or discussion of the merits of the project and a subsequent invitation to submit a full proposal
