Before foundations accept grant proposals, many require letters of inquiry. When you submit a letter of inquiry, there are some basic tips to remember:
Scheduling—make sure you submit your letter far enough advanced according not only to the foundation’s guidelines but your project’s deadlines.
Contact person—Confirm with the foundation the correct person to whom your letter should be sent.
Mailing—Submit your letter through regular mail. Be timely in your mailing, not squeezing it in last minute.
Writing the letter—
Summarize: You only have a short amount of space so use it wisely. Provide a brief synopsis of your project and funding amount in one paragraph. If applicable, be sure to identify how many people will be served through this project or other similar statistics.
Emphasize: Tell about the greater impact of their gift rather than just addressing your request as your organization’s need. For instance, if you are requesting funds for your organization that builds homes, talk about how this will impact your community, rather than simply saying you are lacking funds.
Perspective: Be positive. Talk about your project as if it is a reality. Don’t use “if”, talk about “when” and how “it will”. A sense of anticipation is important.
Confidence: Make it clear that this is your program and you value it. Use terms like “our program” rather than just “the program”.
Payment: Be sure you suggest payment periods, especially if it is a large grant. Consider the size of the foundation and what would be easiest for them. Sometimes multiple year grants are more feasible for foundations to incorporate in their budget than paying it all at once.
Information taken from Grant Proposal’s website (www.grantproposal.com)
-- Jessica High is a Research Assistant at Christian Foundation Grants (www.christianfoundationgrants.com) which is a subscription database of foundations that provide grants to faith based organizations. iDonate.com is a website (www.iDonate.com) that allows ministries to receive non cash gifts online