The Letter of Inquiry: How to Write a Compelling First Introduction to a Funder

Turn a simple introduction into a funder-ready LOI that stands out, sparks curiosity, and opens the door to a full proposal

Welcome back, friend. If you’ve been following along this year, you’ve done the hard work—you’ve mapped out your prospecting strategy, crafted narratives that compel, and built a prospect list that actually excites you. Now comes the moment that makes many fundraisers nervous: the first introduction to a funder—the letter of inquiry (LOI) for a grant. It’s the Letter of Inquiry, or LOI, and I promise you, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds.

Think of an LOI as a really sophisticated handshake. In my 25+ years of grant work, I’ve seen some LOIs that opened doors, and others that landed in a busy program officer’s inbox and never surfaced again. The difference? Clarity, specificity, and genuine connection. That’s not luck, it’s strategy.

In this article, you’ll learn how to:

· Define what a letter of inquiry is and when to use it.

· Include the four elements funders look for in an LOI.

· Strike the right tone so your LOI feels like the start of a relationship.

· Close your LOI with a clear,…