Letter of Intent for Grant Example: LOI Templates That Lead to Full Proposals

Last updated: July 2026

A letter of intent for a grant, often called an LOI or letter of inquiry, is a short preliminary request that introduces your organization, project, funding need, and fit with the funder. Many foundations use LOIs to decide which applicants should be invited to submit a full proposal.

If the LOI is accepted, use the complete grant proposal template to build the full application.

Quick Answer: What Goes in a Grant LOI?

Grant LOI Template

Dear [Name],

[Organization Name] is writing to inquire about support for [Project Name], a [brief program description] serving [population] in [location]. We are seeking [$Amount] to support [major activities].

[Brief paragraph about the need and why it matters.]

[Brief paragraph about the project, outcomes, and organizational fit.]

We would welcome the opportunity to submit a full proposal if this request aligns with your current priorities. Thank you for considering this inquiry.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Foundation Grant LOI Example

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Riverside Community Partners is writing to inquire about a $75,000 grant to support the Family Literacy Bridge Project, a 12-month tutoring and caregiver engagement program serving 120 elementary students in two rural schools.

District benchmark data shows that 43 percent of third-grade students in the target schools are reading below grade level. Families also report that transportation, work schedules, and the cost of private tutoring make it difficult to access academic support outside school hours.

The Family Literacy Bridge Project will provide after-school tutoring, bilingual caregiver workshops, curriculum materials, transportation support, and evaluation activities. By the end of the grant period, at least 80 participating students will improve by one reading level or more, and 75 caregivers will complete at least three literacy workshops.

Riverside Community Partners has delivered school-based youth programs for 14 years and will implement this project in partnership with district elementary leadership. We would welcome the opportunity to submit a full proposal if this request aligns with the foundation's early learning priorities.

Sincerely,

Corporate Grant LOI Example

Dear Community Investment Team,

Harbor Youth Arts is writing to inquire about support for Creative Fridays, a weekly arts and mentoring program for middle school students in the East Harbor neighborhood. We are seeking $25,000 to support teaching artists, student transportation, materials, and a public showcase event.

Students in East Harbor have limited access to safe, affordable after-school enrichment. The community center's current youth programs operate at capacity, and school staff report a need for structured activities between dismissal and caregiver pickup.

Creative Fridays will provide 30 after-school sessions for 60 students during the school year. Participants will complete personal art portfolios, build positive peer relationships, and share their work through a community showcase. The project aligns with your company's focus on youth opportunity, creativity, and neighborhood investment.

We would be grateful for guidance on whether this project is a fit for your current grant cycle.

LOI vs Cover Letter

If you are submitting a full proposal package, use the grant proposal cover letter example. If the funder asks for a summary inside the application, use the grant proposal executive summary example.

Follow-Up Etiquette

After sending an LOI:

• Follow the funder's stated timeline.
• Do not call repeatedly.
• If no timeline is given, wait two to four weeks before a brief follow-up.
• Keep follow-up messages short and respectful.
• If declined, ask whether feedback is available.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Writing the Full Proposal Too Early

An LOI is a screening document. Keep it focused. Save the full detail for the invited application.

Mistake 2: Being Vague About the Request

Include a requested amount or expected range unless the funder says not to.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Fit

The LOI should clearly connect the project to the funder's stated priorities.

How Funders Use Letters of Intent

Funders use letters of intent to reduce wasted effort for both sides. An LOI lets the funder decide whether the project is aligned before the nonprofit spends time on a full proposal. For some funders, the LOI is a required first round. For others, it is an optional inquiry that opens a conversation.

An LOI should answer the funder's screening questions:

• Is the applicant eligible?
• Does the project fit the funder's priorities?
• Is the request amount in range?
• Does the organization appear capable?
• Is the project clear enough to invite a full proposal?

The LOI does not need every attachment, every detail, or every budget line. It needs enough specificity for the funder to make the next decision. If that decision is yes, the invited application follows the structure in the nonprofit grant proposal template.

LOI Structure for a One-Page Request

Use this order when the funder does not provide questions:

1. Opening request: organization, amount, project, purpose.
2. Fit: why the project aligns with the funder.
3. Need: specific problem and population.
4. Project: core activities and grant period.
5. Results: expected outputs or outcomes.
6. Capacity: why the organization can deliver.
7. Close: invitation for next step.

This structure works because it mirrors how reviewers scan early-stage opportunities. Address the letter to the named funder contact rather than a generic title.

What To Include When Space Is Tight

If the LOI limit is 500 words or less, prioritize:

Do not hide the request amount. Funders need to know the scale of the ask.

Mini Budget Language for an LOI

Some LOIs ask for a short budget summary rather than a full budget. Use a sentence like:

"The total project cost is $125,000. The organization requests $50,000 from the foundation to support part-time program staffing, participant transportation, materials, and evaluation. The remaining project cost will be supported through county funding, individual donations, and in-kind partner space."

This gives the funder scale, use of funds, and leverage without overloading the letter.

LOI Review Checklist

Before sending:

• Confirm the funder accepts LOIs.
• Follow the required format or portal instructions.
• State the request amount.
• Show direct fit with funder priorities.
• Keep the project scope realistic.
• Avoid attachments unless requested.
• Include contact information.
• Save the submitted LOI in the grant record.
• Add follow-up and invitation deadlines to the grant calendar.

One last test: the LOI should make sense on its own. If the funder read nothing else about your organization, it should still name the applicant, request, project, need, fit, and expected result without sending the reader to your website for basic context. Keeping the submitted version in the grant record also helps when the invitation arrives weeks later and a different staff member drafts the full application.

AI Prompt for a Letter of Intent

Draft a grant letter of intent using only the facts below.
Keep it concise and funder-facing.
Do not create new program details, outcomes, or budget sources.

Funder priority:
[Priority]

Organization:
[Name, mission, credibility]

Request:
[Amount]

Project:
[Name, activities, timeline]

Need:
[Population, geography, data]

Expected results:
[Outputs or outcomes]

Fit:
[Why this funder]

Ask the AI to produce a second version under the funder's word limit. Shortening is often where AI helps most.

Short LOI Example

Dear Program Officer,

North Valley Family Center requests an invitation to submit a full proposal for $50,000 to support the Family Stability Navigation Project. The project aligns with the foundation's interest in preventing housing instability and improving access to basic needs for low-income families.

During the past year, the center received 214 household requests for housing navigation, benefits assistance, and transportation support. Current staffing allows emergency intake, but many families wait more than 30 days for follow-up support. Grant funds would support a part-time family navigator, evening appointment hours, transportation assistance, and outcome tracking for a 12-month pilot.

The project will serve 120 households in North Valley County. By the end of the grant period, at least 90 households will complete a stability plan, and 70 will resolve at least one documented housing, benefits, or transportation barrier. The total project cost is $92,000, with the remaining support coming from county funds and individual donations.

We would appreciate the opportunity to submit a full proposal and can provide additional information at your convenience.

Sincerely,

[Name]

How To Expand an LOI Into a Full Proposal

If the funder invites a full proposal, use the LOI as the promise you must keep. Expand each part without changing the core request:

If the proposal changes significantly after the LOI, explain the change or contact the funder before submitting.

LOI Fit Signals Reviewers Notice

Reviewers look for small signals that the organization has done its homework. Mention the funder's priority in plain language, name the population and geography, keep the request within the funder's usual range, and show that the project can be delivered during the proposed period. If the LOI reads like it could be sent to any foundation, it is not doing its job.

The strongest LOIs feel specific without becoming dense. They give the funder enough information to say, "This is in scope, invite a proposal," or "This is not a fit, save everyone time."

FAQ

How long should a grant LOI be?

Most grant LOIs are one to three pages. Follow the funder's instructions if they give a word or page limit.

Is a letter of intent binding?

Usually no. In grant seeking, an LOI is normally an inquiry or preliminary request, not a binding contract.

Should an LOI include a budget?

Include the requested amount and a brief use of funds. If the funder asks for a budget table, provide one.

Next Step

If the funder invites a full proposal, save the invitation and build the application from the complete grant proposal template. Expand each part of the LOI into full detail without changing the core request or the promise you made.