Letters of Inquiry

Final draft due: Single PDF by February 5th in appropriate D2L assignment folder

Quick Reference Guide

• Genre: business letter (consider adding your organization’s logo or motto)
• Purpose: inquiring into potential funding
• Audience: Potential funders
• Word count: 300 words per letter; 900 words total
• Format: Single-spaced throughout. No references of worked cited pages. Add your signature

Overview

For our first written assignment, I invite you to submit three letters of inquiry to potential funders. As initial steps in the proposal process, LOIs offer agencies the opportunity to state problem the agency seeks to address clearly and succinctly and the monetary resources needed to address the problem. But most importantly, LOIs need to show how an agency’s goals align with the goals of the potential funder.

After selecting an established not-for-profit organization, target three potential funders for your LOIs. To find potential funders, use Grants.gov or Google "grants" plus the name of a large coroporation (e.g., "Coca cola grants"). Most have resources directed toward community engagement and support. 

Using the sample LOIs we looked at in class and the pdf from Clarke, compose three different LOIs. Be sure to include

• Why you are writing to the potential funder? How do your goals align with theirs?
• What is the problem?
• How do you plan on addressing the problem?
• How much money are you requesting?
• Why is your agency well-positioned to address the problem?

No need to address these questions in order. As a writer, you need to make the necessary rhetorical choices to meet the unique needs of your audience.

Good luck! I’m happy to help if you need some additional assistance at any stage of this letter. You can reach me via email at Michael.rifenburg@ung.edu.