Template · Fundraising
Letter of inquiry to a foundation
A fill-in skeleton for a short letter of inquiry: who you are, the need, what you'll do, how much you're asking for, and a polite close.
The Word file opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice. Reviewed October 21, 2026.
A letter of inquiry (often called an LOI) is a short letter that introduces your charity and your project to a funder, usually a foundation, and asks whether they'd welcome a full proposal. Some funders ask for an LOI first; some use it as the whole application. Candid Learning, the nonprofit research organization's training site, says LOIs are short, no more than three pages, but that doesn't make them easy. Most of the work is in saying a lot in a little space.
Candid suggests six parts, in this order: an introduction that works as a summary, a short description of your organization, the statement of need, how you'll do the work, other funding sources, and a final summary. This template follows that order, in our own words.
Before you write
- Check the funder accepts approaches. A private foundation that only gives to charities it has chosen itself says so on its tax return, Form 990-PF, in Part XIV on the 2025 form (older returns may number it differently). Our guide on researching foundations shows how to find this.
- Follow their instructions over this template. If the funder lists what an LOI should cover, or sets a page limit, use their list and their limit.
- Find the right person. Candid advises addressing the letter to the right contact at the foundation, or to its chief executive, and sending it the way the funder prefers.
- Don't attach anything they didn't ask for. Candid advises including attachments only if the funder asks for them.
How to adapt it
- Keep it to one or two pages if you can. Short and clear beats long and complete.
- Use the same numbers you'll use later in a full proposal and budget. Our guide on grant budgets helps.
- Replace every bracket. Delete any section prompt the funder hasn't asked for, except the need, the plan and the amount.
- Ask someone outside your charity to read it. If they can't tell you what you're asking for after one read, rewrite the first paragraph.
Preview
Letter of inquiry
[ORGANIZATION NAME]
[ORGANIZATION ADDRESS]
EIN: [EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER]
[DATE]
[CONTACT NAME AND TITLE]
[FOUNDATION NAME]
[FOUNDATION ADDRESS]
Dear [CONTACT NAME],
Introduction
[ORGANIZATION NAME] respectfully requests $[AMOUNT] to support [PROJECT NAME], which will [WHAT THE PROJECT DOES, IN ONE SENTENCE] for [WHO BENEFITS] in [PLACE] from [START DATE] to [END DATE]. We are writing to ask whether [FOUNDATION NAME] would welcome a full proposal.
[ONE SENTENCE ON WHY THIS FITS THE FUNDER'S STATED PRIORITIES, USING THEIR OWN WORDS WHERE YOU CAN.]
About us
[ORGANIZATION NAME] is a [STATE] nonprofit and a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in [YEAR]. Our mission is [MISSION STATEMENT]. Each year we [ONE OR TWO FACTS ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORK, WITH NUMBERS FROM YOUR OWN RECORDS, FOR EXAMPLE: SERVE 300 FAMILIES THROUGH OUR WEEKLY PANTRY].
[ONE SENTENCE ON WHY YOU ARE WELL PLACED TO DO THIS PROJECT: EXPERIENCE, TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTNERS.]
The need
[TWO TO FOUR SENTENCES ON THE PROBLEM IN YOUR COMMUNITY. USE LOCAL FACTS YOU CAN BACK UP, AND NAME THE SOURCE, FOR EXAMPLE YOUR OWN WAITING LIST OR A COUNTY REPORT.]
[ONE SHORT, REAL EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE NEED LOOKS LIKE, WITH NAMES AND DETAILS REMOVED.]
What we will do
[TWO TO FOUR SENTENCES ON THE PROJECT: THE MAIN ACTIVITIES, WHO WILL LEAD THEM, AND WHEN.]
By the end of the project, we expect to [ONE TO THREE OUTCOMES YOU CAN MEASURE, FOR EXAMPLE: HELP 40 ADULTS PASS THE CITIZENSHIP INTERVIEW]. We will measure this by [HOW YOU WILL COUNT OR CHECK IT].
Budget and other support
The project will cost $[TOTAL PROJECT COST] over [LENGTH OF TIME]. We are asking [FOUNDATION NAME] for $[AMOUNT], which will pay for [MAIN COSTS THE GRANT WILL COVER].
[OTHER FUNDING: NAME OTHER FUNDERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED OR WHOM YOU ARE ASKING, AND ANY OTHER INCOME, SUCH AS DONATIONS OR FEES.]
Closing
Thank you for considering this request. We would be glad to send a full proposal, answer any questions or arrange a visit. You can reach me at [EMAIL] or [PHONE].
Sincerely,
[NAME]
[TITLE]
[ORGANIZATION NAME]
Keep going
- GuideBuilding a donor baseHow to find your first 50 donors, ask with confidence, keep people giving year after year, and grow toward monthly giving with a simple donor list.
- GuideBuilding a grant budgetHow to build a grant budget and budget narrative that a funder trusts: direct and indirect costs, in-kind gifts, and matching requirements.
- GuideEarned income: fees, social enterprise and UBITHow charities earn money by selling services or goods, when that income can be taxed, and the $1,000 gross income line for filing Form 990-T.
- Founder pathwayLaunching your charitySimple branding, a basic website, a first fundraising plan, thanking donors well, and your first local grant applications.
Sources
Checked on October 21, 2026. Rules and fees change, so follow the links for the current version.
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