Office of Program Development

Contact the Grants Office:  While some donors welcome a phone call to determine whether a project fits their specific guidelines, others prefer letters of inquiry. Moreover, some donors are unclear about how and whether to initiate contact before submitting a proposal. We can help to identify the best way to initiate contact with potential donors.  

Calling a Program Officer:  Usually, donors assign program officers to their grant programs to provide a resource for applicants when questions arise about whether and how to submit an application. When substantive questions arise - like whether a project fits with the priorities of the donor - the Grants Office encourages applicants, rather than Grants Office staff, to make the call to program officers themselves; applicants possess the expertise to best describe and discuss their projects. However, the Grants Office can help to prepare applicants for making such a call. Specifically, the Grants Office can review available information about a donor to ensure that an applicant is well-informed about a potential funder and/or grant program. Additionally, the Grants Office can serve as a sounding board to applicants to help them refine what they want to say when they make the call.

Letter of Inquiry:  Also known as a "letter of intent" or a "pre-proposal," a letter of inquiry is a compact version of a proposal. Letters of inquiry allow applicants to present a condensed description of their project to a potential donor in order to receive feedback about whether to apply. Typically 2-3 pages in length, letters of inquiry usually consist of an opening paragraph, a statement of need, a description of the project and anticipated outcomes, credentials of the applicant, a budget, and a closing statement. The Grants Office is available to assist applicants in the drafting and editing of letters of inquiry. See also the guidelines below. 

• Inquiry Letter Guidelines
• Writing a Proposal
• Budget Considerations
• Other Considerations