How to approach funders who have no website
When it comes to applying for funding, nonprofits often assume that completing a formal grant application is the whole game. This is an incorrect assumption. There are a lot of funding opportunities out there, and not all of them are unlocked through conventional grant applications. A bit of digging reveals the bigger picture.
There are tens of thousands of foundations in the U.S. that disburse grant funds, and have assets totaling $2 trillion. Yes, that’s trillion with a T.
But here’s the rub: 90% of these funders are small organizations that don’t have websites. Because of this, they can be tricky to find through web searches, or even by using a grant database. And not all grant databases are created equal. Some include more comprehensive listings, including foundations with websites as well as those whose contact information includes only a mailing address or phone number. This doesn’t mean that these funders should be passed over, though. Far from it.
Small family foundations give out hundreds of millions of dollars in funding annually. Their small part-time staff or lack of a website is not an indication of their readiness to allocate grant funds. On the contrary, these organizations give out a large quantity of funding annually.
When there is no website listed for the funder, the usual means of approach is a letter of inquiry (LOI). An LOI can make or break a funding request.
“When there is no website listed for the funder, the usual means of approach is a letter of inquiry (LOI). An LOI can make or break a funding request. ”
An LOI is a short (2 - 3 page) document that consolidates all of the information that foundations typically want to see in a funding request. It paints a clear and compelling picture of your organization and its work, and the need that it serves in the community. A nonprofit that submits a strong LOI has a good chance of unlocking much-needed funding for its programs and operations. As such, the LOI is an essential tool in your fundraising toolkit.
Not sure what to include in your LOI? The Grant Muse has you covered. How to Write a Letter of Inquiry that Will Impress Funders provides everything you need to craft a strong LOI.
You’ll learn:
Why a letter of inquiry matters in your funding search
What an LOI should include
How to write an LOI that presents a compelling picture of your organization and its work
And – best of all – you’ll get a template that you can use (and reuse and reuse) to create an LOI that will knock the socks off program officers..
Never wonder how to approach a funder without an online presence again. Get How to Write a Letter of Inquiry that Will Impress Funders today. At just $17, it’s likely the best investment you’ll make in your organization’s fundraising capacity this week.