Assignment 3: Letter of Intent and Funder Grant Profile

Introduction
In previous assignments, you selected an agency with a project that requires funding and a shortlist of potential funders for that project. Now you must select the most feasible and pragmatic funder from that shortlist. This will be done by matching your agency and project with funder mandates, goals, needs, and requirements for accountability. You will then write a letter to the chosen funder clearly outlining the project you propose and your intention to apply for funding.
Resources
This assignment is based on course content you have covered:
• In the textbook (Ch. 1–4),
• The workbook Steps 2, 3, and 4, and
• The online webinars from Lesson 1.
Read assignment rubric to understand how it will be graded.
Instructions
1. Compile your notes and previous assignments for material to use in this assignment.
2. With reference to your chosen funders’ mandates and to your agency’s needs assessment, select 1 funder from shortlist for your proposal application
3. Interpret the chosen funder’s grant guidelines and funding criteria and consider your project’s fit with funder’s mandate, needs, and requirements for mutual accountability.
TIP: Use textbook Ch. 2 “checklist: Questions for Knowing the Funder” to help complete this section.
4. Write a 1.5–2 page letter of Inquiry (LOI) to the potential funder, clearly and concisely explaining your project and its goals using the following sections:
Introduction: your agency’s name, the amount of request, and a project description, explain how the project is a good fit for funder,
Organizational Description: brief history of your agency, and overview of its programs,
Statement of Need: problem/need the project addresses, the community served, quote research, statistics to reinforce your argument,
Methodology: activities, how will you solve the problem/ need?
Other pertinent details: such as partnerships and other resources,
Conclusion: restate the intention of your project and thank the funder/reader for consideration.
TIP: “Step 2: Developing Relationships with Funders” in the O’Neal-McElrath workbook, which you read in Lesson 3, covers LOI very well. Consult that step for more explanation and its sample letter for content and format.
Format
• Organization: headings and bullets, white space,
• Use professional tone and clear, concise, direct style
• 12 point font, 1.15 line spacing
• Use your own words and quotation marks for direct quotes
Marking Rubric for Assignment 3
Activity Exemplary
(9-10) Effective
(7-8) Satisfactory
(5-6) Poor
(0-4)
Purpose statement/goals Exceptionally specific, feasible, credible Clear, credible and reasonable Needs more focus and re-working, somewhat impractical Poorly stated and planned, or missing
Mechanics & style No errors in spelling & punctuation,
Exceptionally professional tone & extensive vocabulary,
Sentences are well-constructed and varied in structure. Few or no errors in grammar or spelling, sentences are competently constructed with
Good vocabulary & professional tone Some errors in grammar or spelling, some sentences are poorly constructed, little variety in structure or vocabulary, tone is informal, some slang Some major errors in grammar or spelling. Sentences are poorly constructed, vocabulary is narrow & repetitive, imprecise
Format Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor
Problem/ needs/ evidence Problem/ need statement is exceptional, credible and proven with strong, reliable data Problem/ need statement is credible and proven with reliable data Problem/ need statement is somewhat credible, supporting data is weak Problem/ need statement is not credible or proven with reliable data
Analysis: Justification of funder “fit” Shows exceptional analysis of agency / funder fit Good analysis of agency / funder fit Adequate analysis of agency /funder fit Poor analysis of agency / funder fit