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The Funder File
Essentials

Letter of Inquiry Kit

Open the door to a full proposal with a short, specific letter. Three Word letters follow the six parts Candid describes, and a workbook tracks every prospect and deadline.

4 files · Word and Excel · $19

$19

Secure payment with Stripe. Instant download. Your link works 5 times over 30 days.

What's inside

Word files

  • Essentials_LetterOfInquiry_User_Guide.docx

    Your step-by-step guide to this kit, with official sources and the final checklist.

  • Essentials_LetterOfInquiry_LOI_TEMPLATE.docx

    Three letters of inquiry: private foundation, community foundation and corporate funder, with a strong opening for each part.

  • Essentials_LetterOfInquiry_AI_Prompts_TEMPLATE.docx

    Copy-ready prompts that make any AI tool work from your own facts, with ground rules.

Excel files

  • Essentials_LetterOfInquiry_Grant_Calendar_TRACKER.xlsx

    Prospect research, pipeline with first-stage and full deadlines, alerts and a dashboard.

Who it's for

  • Nonprofits approaching foundations or companies for the first time
  • Teams that send several letters of inquiry a year
  • Anyone who needs a clear structure for a one to three page letter

How the documents work together

  1. Research and score each funder on the Funder Research tab of the workbook.
  2. Write the letter from the template that matches the funder type.
  3. Track the letter, the invitation and the full deadline on the Pipeline tab.

Is this the right kit?

If you have already been invited to submit a full proposal, the Private Foundation Grant Kit adds the proposal, budget and logic model.

General information

Templates and general information only, not legal, tax or fundraising advice. No template can guarantee funding: each funder decides on its own priorities and budget. Always follow each funder's own guidelines.

What's not included

  • Writing, reviewing or submitting your application for you
  • Legal, tax or accounting advice for your situation
  • A list of funders or a database subscription
  • Any promise of funding

Format & delivery

Instant download after payment: one ZIP with editable Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) files, personalized with your order details. Made for Microsoft Word and Excel; the files also open in Google Docs, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Apple Pages or Numbers, where some formatting, drop-downs or checkboxes may behave differently. Your download link works 5 times over 30 days.

Questions about this kit

How long should a letter of inquiry be?

Follow the funder's limit. Candid describes letters of inquiry as usually no more than three pages; the templates fit comfortably within that.

Can I send a letter to any foundation?

Only to funders that accept them. Many private foundations fund only organizations they invite. The guide shows how to check the foundation's website and Part XIV of its Form 990-PF.

Is there a version for companies?

Yes. Letter C is written for company foundations and corporate giving programs, with community benefit and employee involvement instead of advertising.

Helpful guides

Bundles that include this kit

Bundle of 6 kits

US Foundation Bundle

Everything a small US nonprofit needs to approach private foundations, community foundations and companies, and to report afterwards.

Kits bought separately: $189. You save $100 (53%).

$89View bundle
Bundle of 16 kits

US Complete Bundle

Every US kit: the six Essentials, the four US funder kits (private foundations, community foundations, companies, government) and the six sector kits.

Kits bought separately: $544. You save $395 (73%).

$149View bundle
Bundle of 20 kits

All-Access Bundle

All 20 kits: Essentials, US funders, UK, Canada and the six sectors. For organizations working across borders and for teams that want every tool.

Kits bought separately: $700. You save $521 (74%).

$179View bundle

The Funder File is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to any funder or government agency named on this site. All trademarks belong to their owners.

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