A two-to-three page letter of inquiry template: the short version of your proposal that gets you invited to submit the full one. Each section has guidance and placeholders, and below it is a sample letter of inquiry for a youth literacy program.
An LOI is a complete pitch in miniature. A program officer who reads only the LOI should understand the need, the project, the result and the ask.
| Section | What it answers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction and request | The amount, the project, the result and the fit, in one paragraph | 1 paragraph |
| 2. Organization | Mission, who you serve, and results that show you can deliver | 3–5 sentences |
| 3. The need | The problem, with local evidence and the gap | 1 paragraph |
| 4. The project | What you’ll do, who does it, for how many, over what period | 1–2 paragraphs |
| 5. Expected results | Two or three measurable outcomes and how you’ll track them | Short list |
| 6. Budget and other support | Total cost, the request, other committed or pending funds | Small table |
| 7. Close | Thanks, a contact, and interest in submitting a full proposal | 2–3 sentences |
A grant letter of inquiry for the fictional Harbor Bend Reads, pitching its summer program to a regional funder. The organization, funder, people and figures are fictional.
Dear Mr. Okafor,
Harbor Bend Reads respectfully requests $25,000 toward the Summer Reading Initiative, a 12-month program that will help 150 struggling readers in grades 2–5 gain at least one reading level. The program advances the Coastal Families Fund’s priority of “closing early learning gaps before fourth grade.”
Founded in 2014 by retired teachers, Harbor Bend Reads serves about 400 students a year through tutoring, a summer program and a free book exchange. Last year, 68% of students in our in-school tutoring gained at least one reading level.
In spring 2025, 58% of third graders in the Harbor Bend school district read below grade level, compared with 44% statewide, and only one of the three schools we serve offers any summer programming.
Four trained coaches will tutor small groups four mornings a week for six weeks in the summer and twice a week during the school year, at the students’ own schools. Every student takes home books and a reading journal, and six family reading nights help parents keep reading going at home.
By May 2028: 70% of participants will gain at least one reading level (pre/post assessment); 80% will attend three-quarters of sessions; 60% of families will report reading together three or more times a week.
| Source | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Families Fund (this request) | $25,000 | Requested |
| Other foundation requests | $17,262 | Pending |
| School district (classroom space, in-kind) | $5,000 | Committed |
| Community tech fund (assessment tablets) | $2,400 | Committed |
| Harbor Bend Reads operating funds | $20,160 | Committed |
| Total project cost | $69,822 |
Thank you for considering this inquiry. We would welcome the opportunity to submit a full proposal. Dana Morales, Program Director, can be reached at dana@harborbendreads.example or 555-0110.
The terms get mixed up, and funders don’t always use them the same way, so read the guidelines. In general:
| Purpose | Length | |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of inquiry (LOI) | A short pitch so the funder can decide whether to invite a full proposal | 2–3 pages |
| Letter of intent | Notice that you plan to apply, often required by federal agencies and some foundations; sometimes just a form | Often 1 page |
| Full proposal | The complete application: narrative, budget, evaluation and attachments | 5–20+ pages |
Going over the page or word limit.
Leaving out the amount you’re requesting.
A need statement about your organization’s budget instead of the community’s problem.
Outcomes with no numbers or dates.
More on LOIs: how to craft a winning letter of inquiry.
Upload a funder’s LOI instructions to Grantable and it turns them into a checklist of what’s required, including word limits, then drafts from your organization’s own profile and boilerplate. A review pass checks the draft against those requirements before you send it. Free to start.
A letter of inquiry (LOI) is a short document, usually two to three pages, that summarizes your project and funding request so a foundation can decide whether to invite a full proposal. It includes the request, your organization, the need, the project, expected results and the budget.
Two to three pages unless the funder says otherwise. Many funders now use an online form with word limits per question; follow those exactly.
A letter of inquiry pitches the project so the funder can decide whether to invite a proposal. A letter of intent usually just tells the funder you plan to apply, and is common for federal grants. Some foundations use the terms interchangeably, so check the guidelines.
Yes, a brief one: the total project cost, the amount you’re requesting and other committed or pending funding. A detailed line-item budget usually waits for the full proposal.
Your executive director, or whoever is authorized to request funds for the organization. Name the program lead or grant writer as the contact for questions.
A 10-section proposal outline with guidance, prompts and a full annotated sample proposal.
Project budget with indirect costs and cost share, a drafted budget narrative, and your organization budget.
A one-page cover letter for your proposal, paragraph by paragraph, with a sample letter.
The master argument for giving to your organization, with statement of need examples.