expect rejection letters to arrive quickly if your project is clearly unsuitable. Your letter should establish a connection between your project’s goals and the foundation’s philanthropic interests. The secret to a successful letter of inquiry is condense, condense, condense. Generally, a letter of enquiry should only be two pages long. Each sentence has to be scrutinized when editing. Focus on detail, clarity, and conciseness, but also remember to convey passion for the project. The following is also important when sending an enquiry letter: Timing You should identify prospective donors well in advance of your project start date. Allow donor staff ample time to request a full proposal, and allow yourself time to prepare the grant proposal, which is a much longer document. Contact Person Identify the appropriate foundation officer for submissions in your target funding category or program area. Small family foundations often ask that submissions be sent directly to the foundation president or board chair. If you have found names online or in an annual report or publication, call the foundation to double-check that the officer is still on staff. Mailing Letters of inquiry should be sent timeously and through regular mail. Several foundations have become annoyed when high-cost overnight delivery services are used for a deluge of last-minute submissions. Letter of Inquiry Introductory Paragraph The following is a sample of the paragraph of an introductory letter: We take pleasure in requesting support for Happy Children’s facility expansion, which will increase our feeding programme for 150 hungry children in Masiphumelele and allow for the refurbishment of two of our play school facilities. Happy Children seeks a grant of R90 000, to be disbursed as your organisation sees
Start a list of active verbs that will add colour and movement to your writing. Using these will also help you to shorten your text: sentences written in the passive voice are usually much longer (and clumsier) than those in the active voice. Here are some to get you going: achieve analyse announce appeal apply assemble assess assist balance become begin believe belong bring change choose clarify coach combine compare compose conclude connect constitute contain contrast coordinate create decide define demonstrate depend design develop diagnose differ discuss distinguish educate elevate engage ensure entail envision establish evaluate excel exemplify exhibit experiment explain extend find focus form give help hinder identify illuminate illustrate implement include indicate inform inspire instruct intend introduce invent invest investigate involve know lack lead learn maintain make manage modify motivate move negotiate need observe occur offer operate organize perform plan portray prepare prevent produce prohibit promote provide pursue realize receive recognize refine reflect rely remain remind report research restore result return require reveal review sample search send show signal specify start state suggest support survey synthesize taught teach tend test translate try understand use validate verify wish work write wrote Sometimes, you have to use the passive voice, as some sentences will sound strange if you do not. Don’t indiscriminately exterminate passive construction at the expense of the writer’s voice or intent, but do try to bring colourless prose back to life. On the whole, keep your writing lively and concise. The Case Statement
What is a case statement? It is probably easier to first define what a case statement is not. A case statement is not an annual report. A case statement is not a long-winded grant proposal. A case statement is not a list of the organisation’s financial needs. A case statement is not the history of a non-profit. A case statement is not everything there is to know about a specific program. A case statement is not something the uses to show off its talents. So what is it? A case statement (Case) is the core document of your organisation. It sits at the centre of your plan and strategy. The Case explains to your potential donors what need your agency addresses, how you address it, what makes your organisation unique, and how others can help, whether through time or money. It also shows what the benefits will be if the donor gives to your cause. It’s a short, compelling argument for supporting the non-profit that can be presented as a brochure, a one-page information sheet, or a glossy folder filled with factsheets, photographs, budgets, or charts. It should be professional, factual, and short enough that readers will read it all the way through. It forms the core of your organisation’s website and presence on the internet. Case statements can be used in any fundraising campaign. What does the Case Statement explain and contain? The Case Statement tells the story of your organisation. The Case Statement sets out The Mission Statement of your organisation: Why you exist. The need that exists and how you will address it. The of your organisation: What you will do your mission. What you will accomplish. The Objectives of your organisation: In what specific way you will accomplish your The Programmes of your organisation: What services you provide, and through what activities. The History of your organisation: What is the background of the organisation.