Letter of Inquiry

  1. Direct to Appropriate Grantmaking Source Following Guidelines for Letters and Inquiry
    • Companies, Businesses, Plants, Local Family Foundations,
    • Community Trusts, Individuals, Environmental Grant-Markers

  2. Two Pages or Less


  3. Establish Upfront (one brief paragraph)
    • Purpose -- including time table for activity
    • Amount of Project and Requested Grant Amount

  4. Balance of Letter
    • Situation and Problem -- (one paragraph)
    • Capabilities -- What your organization has done and its ability to carry out the project if support is received. (one paragraph)
    • Program Methods and Operation -- What you will do, how you will do it, who will be involved - agencies, other organizations, donors, etc. (two paragraphs)
    • Impact -- How will community/constituents benefit? (one paragraph)
    • Evaluation, Reporting, and Visibility -- How success will be measured, how the donor will be informed, and what visibility the donor will receive? (one paragraph)
    • Budget -- Include when you need the grant approval and when you need the actual contribution.
    • Summary -- Brief recap of the significance of this program for people, the community, and the donor.

Source: Adapted form Association of Partners for Public Lands, revised September 2006