expect rejection letters to arrive quickly if your project is clearly unsuitable. Your letter should establish a connection between your project’s goals and the foundation’s philanthropic interests. The secret to a successful letter of inquiry is condense, condense, condense. Generally, a letter of enquiry should only be two pages long. Each sentence has to be scrutinized when editing. Focus on detail, clarity, and conciseness, but also remember to convey passion for the project. The following is also important when sending an enquiry letter: Timing You should identify prospective donors well in advance of your project start date. Allow donor staff ample time to request a full proposal, and allow yourself time to prepare the grant proposal, which is a much longer document. Contact Person Identify the appropriate foundation officer for submissions in your target funding category or program area. Small family foundations often ask that submissions be sent directly to the foundation president or board chair. If you have found names online or in an annual report or publication, call the foundation to double-check that the officer is still on staff. Mailing Letters of inquiry should be sent timeously and through regular mail. Several foundations have become annoyed when high-cost overnight delivery services are used for a deluge of last-minute submissions. Letter of Inquiry Introductory Paragraph The following is a sample of the paragraph of an introductory letter: We take pleasure in requesting support for Happy Children’s facility expansion, which will increase our feeding programme for 150 hungry children in Masiphumelele and allow for the refurbishment of two of our play school facilities. Happy Children seeks a grant of R90 000, to be disbursed as your organisation sees
expect rejection letters to arrive quickly if your project is clearly unsuitable. Your letter should establish a connection between your project’s goals and the foundation’s philanthropic interests. The secret to a successful letter of inquiry is condense, condense, condense. Generally, a letter of enquiry should only be two pages long. Each sentence has to be scrutinized when editing. Focus on detail, clarity, and conciseness, but also remember to convey passion for the project. The following is also important when sending an enquiry letter: Timing You should identify prospective donors well in advance of your project start date. Allow donor staff ample time to request a full proposal, and allow yourself time to prepare the grant proposal, which is a much longer document. Contact Person Identify the appropriate foundation officer for submissions in your target funding category or program area. Small family foundations often ask that submissions be sent directly to the foundation president or board chair. If you have found names online or in an annual report or publication, call the foundation to double-check that the officer is still on staff. Mailing Letters of inquiry should be sent timeously and through regular mail. Several foundations have become annoyed when high-cost overnight delivery services are used for a deluge of last-minute submissions. Letter of Inquiry Introductory Paragraph The following is a sample of the paragraph of an introductory letter: We take pleasure in requesting support for Happy Children’s facility expansion, which will increase our feeding programme for 150 hungry children in Masiphumelele and allow for the refurbishment of two of our play school facilities. Happy Children seeks a grant of R90 000, to be disbursed as your organisation sees
Course%20Pack%20as%20of%2021%20Feb%202013.docx