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Private Foundation Grant Kit

Everything a small US nonprofit needs to approach private foundations: from checking that a foundation accepts requests, to the letter of inquiry, the full proposal and the final report.

8 files · Word and Excel · $49

$49

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

What's inside

Word files

  • US_PrivateFoundation_User_Guide.docx

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

  • US_PrivateFoundation_Boilerplate_Library_TEMPLATE.docx

    Your organization's facts and standard wording, in three lengths, with sources.

  • US_PrivateFoundation_LOI_and_Proposal_TEMPLATE.docx

    Letter of inquiry, cover letter and full proposal, based on the components Candid describes, plus an attachments checklist.

  • US_PrivateFoundation_Final_Report_TEMPLATE.docx

    Final report structure that compares what you promised with what you delivered, including the financial summary.

  • US_PrivateFoundation_AI_Prompts_TEMPLATE.docx

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

Excel files

  • US_PrivateFoundation_Budget_TRACKER.xlsx

    Budget workbook with formulas: budget lines, totals, checks, a draft justification for every line, and budget vs actual.

  • US_PrivateFoundation_Logic_Model_TRACKER.xlsx

    Logic model, indicators, evaluation plan and reporting log, with example indicators.

  • US_PrivateFoundation_Grant_Calendar_TRACKER.xlsx

    Funder research, application pipeline, deadlines with alerts, reports due and a dashboard.

Who it's for

  • Small US nonprofits applying to private and family foundations
  • Executive directors writing grants alongside everything else
  • Organizations with a fiscal sponsor applying for a project

How the documents work together

  1. The Boilerplate Library holds your facts and standard wording.
  2. The logic model workbook gives your objectives and evaluation section; the budget workbook gives the budget and its justification.
  3. The letter of inquiry and proposal template assembles them; the calendar tracks deadlines and reports; the final report template closes the loop.

Is this the right kit?

Applying to a community foundation or a company? See the Community Foundation Grant Kit or the Corporate Giving & Sponsorship Kit. Need sector-specific indicators? See the sector kits.

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

Does the kit tell me which foundations to apply to?

No funder list is included. The guide shows how to find and qualify foundations with free public sources, including Part XIV of the foundation's Form 990-PF, and the workbook records your research.

What if we do not have our own 501(c)(3)?

The guide explains fiscal sponsorship and the two most common models, so you can apply through a sponsor.

How long is a letter of inquiry?

Follow each foundation's limit. Candid describes letters of inquiry as usually no more than three pages.

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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