Work example · fictional demonstration

Grant letter of inquiry example and free template

Wellridge Group · September 9, 2026

A grant letter of inquiry introduces your organization, proposed work and funding request so a foundation can consider fit and the next step. Use the blank structure below, then see how a fictional nonprofit presents its program, budget and planning targets.

Important: Northside Arts Workshop and the Evergreen Community Arts Fund are fictional. This page is a writing demonstration, not a real client, funder, request, award, endorsement, or achieved result.

Sample premise: imagine Northside Arts Workshop is asking a local arts funder whether it would invite a short application for one existing, approved workshop plan. The facts below carry forward the fictional grant-review example; the funder name, contact details, inquiry framing, and signatory name and role are invented for this sample.

A grant LOI template you can adapt

Check whether the foundation accepts inquiries from your organization. Its questions, length limit and submission process take priority over this template.
Copy or download the template and edit it in your own document. Replace each bracketed prompt with approved facts; remove instructions before submitting.
Check that the request, total project budget and other support reconcile. Keep planned outcomes separate from achieved results, and pending funding separate from secured support.

Free to copy and adapt. No email required. The box below is a read-only template; write your organization's draft in your own document.

Blank letter of inquiry template

GRANT LETTER OF INQUIRY — WORKING TEMPLATE

Replace every bracketed prompt with verified, approved information. Remove these instructions before submitting. Follow the funder's questions, format, length limit, eligibility rules and submission process first. This is a starting structure, not a completed letter or a promise of funding. If the funder does not accept unsolicited inquiries, do not send one.

[Date]
[Foundation name]
[Contact name or grants team, as instructed]
[Address, only if requested]

Dear [contact name or grants team]:

[Organization name] requests consideration of [$request amount] for [program or project name], a [brief description] serving [intended participants] in [location] during [time period]. The project connects to your published [specific funding priority] through [concrete connection supported by your plan].

[Organization name] works to [mission in one sentence]. [Briefly explain relevant experience or current work using verifiable facts; include organizational status only if confirmed and relevant to the funder's requirements.]

[Describe the need this project addresses, who experiences it, and the source and date of any evidence. Do not invent statistics or use identifiable participant stories without permission.]

[Describe the approved activities, delivery schedule, responsible team and intended reach. State the planned outcome and how you will assess it. Distinguish future targets from results already measured.]

The total project budget is [$total budget]. We are requesting [$request amount] for [eligible cost categories and their amounts, at the detail requested by this funder]. [Describe other support and its status: confirmed, pending or planned. Explain any remaining funding gap and the plan to address it. Do not present pending support as secured.]

[State the next step requested under the funder's process, such as consideration of this LOI or an invitation to submit a full proposal.] [Name and role] can answer questions at [approved contact information]. Thank you for considering this inquiry.

Sincerely,
[Authorized signatory name]
[Role]
[Organization]
[Approved contact information]

BEFORE SUBMITTING — REMOVE THIS CHECKLIST

- Replace or remove every bracketed prompt and instruction.
- Confirm eligibility, current priorities, deadline, time zone and submission route.
- Reconcile the request, total budget, other support and any remaining gap.
- Verify factual statements, permissions and the signatory's approval.
- Follow the funder's word/page limit and include only requested attachments.
- Keep a final approved copy and the submission confirmation.

Template by Wellridge Group. Copy and adapt for your organization's inquiry.
Source: https://www.wellridgegroup.com/work-examples/letter-of-inquiry
Remove this credit and source line from your submitted letter if not needed.

Download template (.txt)

You can also select the text and copy it manually. The download opens in a text editor and can be pasted into Word or Google Docs.

Want help turning your approved plan into an LOI?

Our $350 service covers one letter up to two pages for one identified funder, using your approved program and budget, with one revision.

See the $350 LOI writing service

Fictional example: Northside Arts Workshop

The letter below demonstrates structure and clear distinctions between requested money, planned support and future targets. The organizations, people and scenario are invented; this is not a submission-ready letter.

September 9, 2026

Evergreen Community Arts Fund
Attn: Grants Team
Arlington, Texas

Dear Evergreen Community Arts Fund Grants Team:

Northside Arts Workshop respectfully inquires whether the Evergreen Community Arts Fund would invite a short application for a free six-week visual-arts workshop in Arlington, Texas. The workshop is planned for 24 students ages 10–14, with no prior art experience required. Six Saturday sessions are planned for October 17, 24, and 31 and November 7, 14, and 21, 2026, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. Each student would receive materials, and the sessions are designed as one workshop sequence.

Northside is seeking $3,600 toward a $4,800 project budget: teaching artist $1,800, materials $960, space $900, transportation assistance $600, and evaluation/administration $540. Planned other support is $1,200 and is not committed or secured. The request would support delivery of the existing workshop plan, rather than a new program design.

The planning targets are for at least 18 of 24 enrolled students to attend five of six sessions and for at least 18 students to report at least a one-point increase on a five-point creative-confidence question from the first to final session. Sign-ins and the first-to-final confidence question would be reviewed after the workshop. Any missing follow-up would be reported explicitly. These are planning targets, not results.

Would the fund be willing to advise whether this project fits its current priorities and, if so, whether Northside should submit a short application? We can provide the approved program description, budget detail, and requested attachments through the fund’s stated process.

Thank you for considering this inquiry. We would welcome the fund’s direction on fit and next steps.

Sincerely,
Jordan Lee
Program Director
Northside Arts Workshop

Discuss a $350 LOI

What remains unresolved before a real submission

Confirm the real funder’s eligibility, priorities, instructions, deadline, and required contact or portal.
Confirm Northside’s approved program, venue, accessibility, safeguarding, transportation, and budget authority.
Confirm whether the $1,200 other support is committed, planned, or removed from the request story.
Assign the accountable reviewer and final submitter; confirm required attachments and current versions.

This sample pairs with the grant review, LOI, or application guide, the fictional grant review example, and letter-of-inquiry writing service.

For another perspective on structure and funder fit, see Michigan Tech's letter-of-inquiry guide. Your actual funder's current instructions govern your submission.