The Letter of Intent (LOI) is the formal request of a nonprofit seeking financing from a foundation or other charitable organization. This letter is generally sent to foundations that require an LOI before sending a formal application with a grant proposal.
The Letter of Intent is a vital source of information for the foundation and helps the grantors decide who should apply for the funding opportunity. LOI’s are also a great way to reach out cold to a foundation if you don’t have a relationship with them. To start off on the right foot, it’s important to have a strong LOI.
Here are some tips for writing a strong Letter of Intent:
- Keep it brief and to one page. If the organization has certain requirements it may continue on to a few more pages, but in general, keep it short and sweet
- Always follow the instructions of the organization as closely as possible
- Always address your LOI to a specific person, not “to whom it may concern” if possible
- Always include the name of your organization, the amount you’re asking for, and a description of your project
To help you be as successful as possible, I’ve created a free editable Letter of intent for you to download and enjoy!