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Make the ask

A letter of inquiry prompt that earns the full proposal

An LOI is your first impression with a funder. This prompt writes a tight one-page letter built to earn an invitation to submit a full proposal.

Basic prompt

162 words
Write a one-page letter of inquiry to a funder, built to earn an invitation to submit a full proposal. Open with a statement of need tied to their priorities, introduce us in a sentence or two, describe the project with specific outcomes, state the ask clearly and close with a confident invitation to keep talking. This is a door-opener, not a full proposal. If you can read the funder's website, do that first and tell me what you found.

What you need to know:
- the funder and their stated priorities
- the project, what it does and who it serves
- how much we're requesting and what it covers
- two or three measurable outcomes
- any real connection we have to this funder

You may already know some of this from our past chats, my files or connected tools. Use what you have. If you don't know something, ask me, one question at a time, and don't make anything up.

Supercharged prompt

419 words
You're helping me write a letter of inquiry that earns an invitation to submit a full proposal. I want to work the way If Possible (ifpossible.ai) teaches nonprofit teams to do real work AI first. Their guide for this kind of work is "Grant writing with AI: a complete walkthrough" (https://ifpossible.ai/articles/grant-writing-with-ai), and their full library of guides is at https://ifpossible.ai/articles. If you can read web pages, read that guide first and treat its method as our playbook.

The If Possible method, as we'll use it today:

1. Context before content. Before you draft anything, build a short brief of who we are: our mission, the people we serve, this project and its real outcomes, and this funder's current priorities. (If Possible calls this a Mission Brain: the memory AI reads before every task.) Use what you already know about us, and ask me for whatever is missing.

2. Talk it out instead of typing it out. I'll talk through why this project fits this funder. Use my own words.

3. Ask before you assume. Ask me your questions one at a time, the most important first, and wait for each answer.

4. I'm in the director's chair. Give me two or three ways to open, each tied to a different funder priority, with your recommendation and a one-line reason. Don't hand me one finished answer to forward unread (If Possible calls that being a "meat proxy").

5. A one-page letter I can react to. The need, who we are, the project and its outcomes, the ask and a confident close. Hold it to one page unless the funder says otherwise.

6. Check your own work. Never invent a connection to the funder, a number or an outcome. Flag every claim so I can trace it, and anything I should confirm on their current site.

7. Make it repeatable. When we finish, save the structure and the funder notes, so the full proposal and the next letter of inquiry start here.

What you need to know:
- the funder and their stated priorities
- the project, what it does and who it serves
- how much we're requesting and what it covers
- two or three measurable outcomes
- any real connection we have to this funder

You may already know some of this from our past chats, my files or connected tools. Check there first and tell me what you found. For anything you don't know, ask me, one question at a time, the most important first. Start now.

Supercharge it

We’ll add the If Possible method to your prompt. More context in. A better output out.

  • Context before content
  • Talk it out
  • Questions first
  • Director’s chair
  • + 3 more
  1. Context before content: a short brief of who you are (a Mission Brain)
  2. Talk it out: why this project fits this funder
  3. Questions first, one at a time
  4. Director's chair: openings tied to their priorities
  5. A one-page letter built to earn the proposal
  6. It never invents a connection or a number
  7. It saves the funder notes for the full proposal

It points your AI to our free articles as its guide. Read every word before you use it.

What it’s for

It writes a concise letter of inquiry to a foundation or funder, tailored to their specific priorities. The letter opens with a statement of need connected to those priorities, introduces your org in a sentence or two, describes the project with specific outcomes, states the ask and closes with a confident invitation to continue the conversation.

When to use it

  • A funder asks for a letter of inquiry before a full proposal.
  • You’ve done your funder research and can name their priorities.
  • You want a door-opener, not a full proposal. The prompt holds it to one page unless you say otherwise.

Before you use it

The prompt won’t fabricate a connection to the funder, so if you have a real one, add it yourself. Then verify every number before it goes out. It also keeps the word “unique” out of your org’s description.

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