# Letter of Inquiry, Private Foundation

Drafts a one to two page letter of inquiry to a private foundation, structured around the foundation's stated funding interests. Use it when a foundation's guidelines call for an LOI before a full proposal.

## Prompt

## Context
You are helping a nonprofit development professional draft a letter of inquiry to [FOUNDATION NAME], a private foundation whose stated priorities are [FOUNDATION PRIORITIES]. The organization seeking funding is [ORG NAME], a [ORG TYPE, e.g., 501(c)(3) community health organization] based in [LOCATION]. The project seeking support is [PROJECT NAME], and the amount requested in the LOI is [REQUEST AMOUNT]. The contact at the foundation, if known, is [FOUNDATION CONTACT, or "not specified"]. The LOI is due [DUE DATE].

## Task
Draft a letter of inquiry of no more than two pages. Structure it as follows:
1. Opening paragraph: name the project, the amount requested, and the single clearest connection between this project and the foundation's priorities.
2. Organizational credibility paragraph: one to two sentences on [ORG NAME]'s track record, reach, and the communities it serves.
3. Project description: the problem, the approach, the population served, and the expected scope. Use the facts I provide in [PROJECT FACTS].
4. Alignment paragraph: draw explicit connections between this project and the foundation's stated priorities. Reference specific priority language from [FOUNDATION PRIORITIES].
5. Closing: a clear ask, named contact, and next-step invitation.

## Standards
- One to two pages when printed. No attachments described unless the foundation's guidelines request them.
- Plain, direct prose. No sector jargon like "leverage," "holistic," or "synergy."
- Do not invent statistics, program outcomes, geographic reach, budget figures, or funder names. Every number and claim must come from the facts I supply in [PROJECT FACTS].
- Do not present this letter as a guarantee of funding or predict whether it will succeed.
- If [FOUNDATION PRIORITIES] is vague or [PROJECT FACTS] is incomplete, ask me what is missing before drafting.

## Variables

- FOUNDATION NAME
- FOUNDATION PRIORITIES
- ORG NAME
- ORG TYPE
- LOCATION
- PROJECT NAME
- REQUEST AMOUNT
- FOUNDATION CONTACT
- DUE DATE
- PROJECT FACTS

## Input checklist

- [ ] The foundation's current guidelines, priority areas, and any LOI format requirements from their website or RFP
- [ ] Your organization's accurate program facts: population served, current reach, and any outcome data you have documented
- [ ] The request amount you intend to ask for, confirmed against your project budget
- [ ] The foundation contact name and title, if listed on their site or in your CRM
- [ ] Confidentiality: strip any donor names, beneficiary identifiers, or personal information before pasting into the prompt, or confirm your AI tool is approved under your organization's data policy

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Every statistic and program outcome in the draft traces back to something you supplied in PROJECT FACTS, not something the AI added
- [ ] The request amount matches your project budget and does not exceed the foundation's typical grant range
- [ ] The alignment paragraph references the foundation's actual stated priorities, not generic grant language
- [ ] No funder names other than the target foundation appear in the letter
- [ ] The letter fits within the page or word limit stated in the foundation's guidelines
- [ ] No language promises a specific outcome or guarantees program results
- [ ] If the foundation's guidelines specify a required format or sections, confirm each required element is present

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

[Riverside Youth Coalition letterhead]
June 13, 2026

Ms. Patricia Olson
Program Officer, Education and Youth Development
Hartfield Foundation

Dear Ms. Olson,

Riverside Youth Coalition requests $50,000 from the Hartfield Foundation to expand our after-school literacy program to two additional elementary schools in the Riverside Unified School District, serving 180 additional students in grades 2 through 5 during the 2026-2027 school year.

Riverside Youth Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization that has served low-income youth and families in Riverside County since 2011. Our current after-school programs reach 420 students across four sites, with 78 percent of participants reading at or above grade level by the end of the program year, compared to 51 percent at enrollment.

Riverside Unified's most recent assessment data show that 62 percent of students at Garfield and Lincoln Elementary are reading below grade level. Both schools serve populations that are more than 80 percent eligible for free or reduced lunch, and neither currently has a structured after-school literacy program. Our model pairs certified reading coaches with small groups of six to eight students for 90-minute sessions three days per week. The $50,000 request covers coach salaries, materials, and site coordination for one full school year.

The Hartfield Foundation's stated commitment to closing the opportunity gap for low-income students aligns directly with what this expansion addresses: students who arrive at middle school without foundational reading skills face compounding disadvantages that follow them through high school and into the workforce. Riverside Youth Coalition's model has a documented record of closing that gap, and this grant would extend that record to two schools where no comparable program currently exists.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this project further. Our Executive Director, Maria Gutierrez, is available at mgutierrez@riversideyouth.org or 951-555-0182. We are happy to provide additional materials at your request.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Maria Gutierrez
Executive Director, Riverside Youth Coalition

## Customization notes

For foundations with very specific LOI formats (word limits, required sections, online submission), paste the exact format instructions into the prompt before running it so the AI structures accordingly. If the foundation funds general operating support rather than specific projects, adjust the project description paragraph to describe organizational priorities and planned uses of funds instead. For smaller foundations with no stated priorities online, substitute your best research on their giving history in place of the FOUNDATION PRIORITIES variable.

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From The Nonprofit Grant & Fundraising Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/nonprofit