Struggling to get your grant applications noticed? It might not be your proposal—it’s your Grant Letter of Intent (LOI). This short, strategic document is often your one and only chance to hook a funder’s attention. But with funders reviewing hundreds of LOIs, how do you make yours stand out?
The secret lies in clarity, structure, and strategy. A well-crafted LOI isn’t just a summary — it’s your chance to spotlight your project’s value, mission alignment, and request in a way that funders can’t ignore.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:
What a Grant LOI is and how it differs from a letter of inquiry
How to craft a winning LOI with essential sections, tips, and examples
Avoid common mistakes and use a ready-to-go LOI template to fast-track your process
P.S., Feeling stuck on where to begin? Grantboost has you covered. It builds, formats, and personalizes your LOIs in minutes, so you can focus on what really matters — securing that grant.
What is a Grant LOI? A Grant Letter of Intent (LOI) is a short, focused document that introduces your project to funders, highlighting its mission alignment, objectives, and funding request.
How is it different from a letter of inquiry? Unlike a letter of inquiry, which explores funder interest through questions, an LOI provides a clear project outline and demonstrates alignment with funder goals.
What should be included in an LOI? Key components include:
A strong introduction aligning your mission with funder priorities.
A project overview detailing the problem, solution, and impact.
A transparent funding request outlining how the funds will be used.
Why is an LOI important? It’s the first step in the grant process, acting as a gatekeeper to help funders quickly assess your project’s relevance and potential impact.
How can Grantboost help? Grantboost simplifies LOI creation with templates, auto-formatting, and built-in proofreading, ensuring your LOI is professional, clear, and funder-aligned.
A Grant Letter of Intent (LOI) is a concise, brief document or letter that signals your intent to apply for a grant. It introduces your nonprofit organization’s goals, proposed project, and alignment with the funder’s mission — giving funders a quick snapshot of your project’s relevance and impact.
Think of it as a teaser for your full proposal, offering enough details to spark interest without overwhelming funders. It highlights enticing information like your mission, project description, and request, allowing funders to assess alignment before requesting a full proposal. This streamlined approach saves time for both funders and applicants.
Unlike a letter of inquiry, which centers on questions to gauge interest, an LOI is more focused and specific. It defines project objectives, identifies the relevant funding source, and demonstrates potential impact. A strong, well structured LOI builds trust, establishes credibility, and increases your chances of being invited to submit a full proposal.
How is an LOI Different from Other Documents?
Letter of Inquiry: Focuses on questions to gauge funder interest.
Letter of Interest: Expresses broad interest in future opportunities, often less specific than an LOI.
If you’re struggling to get started, Grantboost can take the guesswork out of LOI creation. Just provide your project details, and the platform generates a polished, funder-aligned LOI in minutes.
Want to know a type of letter of grants other than letter of inquiry and business letter, of intent? Here’s our guide on Letter of Support.
If you’re wondering, “Do I really need to write an LOI?” — the answer is yes, and here’s why:
An LOI acts as a pre-screening tool for funders who receive too many full proposals to review. It allows them to quickly assess the most relevant applications, meaning if your LOI doesn’t stand out, you may not get a chance to submit a full grant proposal.
A strong LOI highlights how your project and goals align with the funder’s mission, demonstrating that your project addresses a cause they value. This alignment help your letter of intent serve secure funding and signals that you’re focused on solving a problem that matters to the funder.
Writing a full proposal requires significant effort. An LOI helps you determine if your project succinctly aligns with funder goals before committing more resources. It also safeguards against deadline changes that can make full proposal submissions challenging. Incorporating statistical facts strengthens your LOI by providing funders with clear, quantifiable evidence of the project’s impact, increasing your chance of moving to the next stage.
Don’t stress about the perfect LOI. Grantboost helps you create well-structured, funder-aligned LOIs that stand out. No blank pages. No guesswork.
Curious how AI helps? Read our guide on using AI in NonProfits.
Product video: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/1qAWcUsNy4T6VcCti7XYBz
Wondering what to include in a Grant letter of intent? Here’s a simple framework:
Grab attention by highlighting your nonprofit’s mission and aligning it with the funder’s goals. Mentioning your executive director can establish credibility and show leadership support. Unlike a letter of inquiry, an LOI clearly outlines your full project plan and signals your letter of intent is to secure funding. Clarity is key — avoid fluff.
Define the problem, present your proposed project plan, and a brief overview of the project aims and major activities to achieve them. Determine the funding source and explain how the project aligns with it to generate interest and increase relevance. Use statistical facts to generate interest, validate your claims and demonstrate the project’s impact.
Be clear and concise — funders want to know you have a plan.
Spell out the amount you’re seeking and how you plan to use it. It should also specify how the funds will be allocated, whether for staff salaries, operational needs, or specific project milestones.
Include a brief overview or brief outline of how you’ll use the funds and ensure it aligns with the funder’s guidelines for allocations. Transparency builds trust, and funders love to see a clear allocation plan.
Express gratefulness and end effective grant letter with a call-to-action, inviting the funder or grant provider to reach out for further information and details. Reaffirm your interest in collaboration and keep the tone professional, warm, and open-ended.
Even with a clear structure, some LOIs hit, and others miss. Here’s how to make sure yours stands out:
Tailor your LOI to each funder’s priorities. Conduct in-depth thorough research on their goals, past grants, and guidelines to ensure alignment. Avoid jargon that could confuse potential funders and keep language clear and accessible. This approach increases your chance of standing out.
Generic LOIs get overlooked. Use specific examples from successful past projects to showcase your track record and credibility. Highlight your letter of intent clearly at the start so potential funders can see how your goals fit into their strategy. Personalize every LOI to reflect the funder’s mission and goals, even when using templates.
Typos and unclear language leave a poor impression. Proofread for spelling, grammar, and tone. Reading it aloud can catch hidden mistakes. Grantboost makes this step easier by formatting and proofreading your LOI automatically, ensuring clarity and alignment with funder requirements.
If you’re making these mistakes, your LOI might be getting overlooked:
Avoid these critical mistakes to ensure your LOI stands out from the competition:
Misalignment with Funder Priorities
Avoid sending a “one-size-fits-all” LOI to multiple funders.
Ensure LOI places a strong emphasis on aligning with each funder’s unique priorities.
Customize each letter to match the funder’s specific mission, goals, and funding source focus.
Using general terminology instead of specific goals reduces your chances of being selected from upcoming proposals.
Being Too Vague or Overly Detailed
Strike a balance — too much detail overwhelms, and too little raises doubts about your credibility.
Keep it clear, concise, and focused on the core objectives.
Present statistical facts to validate your claims and provide funders with quantifiable evidence of impact.
Neglecting to Proofread
Typos, grammar errors, and awkward phrasing can cost you funding.
Fine-tune your letter to ensure it’s polished and free of spelling, grammar, and tone issues.
Triple-check your business letter of intent before submission to maintain professionalism and credibility. Make sure it has proper business salutations.
Grantboost helps by automating proofreading, running grammar checks, and aligning content with funder priorities.
Sometimes, seeing a strong LOI example is all it takes to understand what funders expect. Funders typically expect the acronym LOI at the top and the recipient’s address aligned on the left-hand side.
Below are two essential resources to help you craft a brief document and submit a compelling LOI letter that defines project scope, outlines funding needs, and demonstrates impact:
Simple LOI Template — A clear, one-page format that includes all key sections required by funders.
Before-and-After Example — See how a generic LOI is transformed into a polished, funder-aligned request.
These examples showcase how Grantboost helps nonprofits craft targeted, high-impact LOIs that stand out.
[Your Organization’s Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[Email] | [Phone]
[Date]
[Funder’s Name]
[Funder’s Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]
Subject: Letter of Intent for [Name of Grant]
Introduction
[Start with a short description. Your letter of intent should have a compelling opening to hook the reader. Mention your mission, alignment, and intent clearly with the particular grant provider or funder’s goals, and why you’re a good fit for the grant.]
Example: At [Your Organization’s Name], our mission is to [insert mission here]. We see a natural alignment with [Funder’s Name]‘s mission to [insert funder’s focus], and we’re excited to submit this well-crafted letter of intent for the [Grant Name] opportunity.
Project Overview
[Briefly summarize the executive summary of the problem, your solution, and outcomes.]
Example: The [issue/problem] is affecting [target population]. Our project, [Project Name], addresses this challenge by [explain the solution briefly]. We hope that this initiative will deliver measurable outcomes that directly support the community within the organization or specified geographic area. We anticipate that this project will result in [key outcomes, impact, or change expected].
Funding Request
[Clearly state the amount of the grant you’re requesting and how you plan to use it.]
Example: We are respectfully asking for [insert amount] to support the [specific program, initiative, or need]. These funds will be allocated as follows: [list 2-3 categories of allocation, like staff salaries, equipment, or outreach].
Closing
[Express gratitude at the end of your letter of intent and invite the funder to follow up.]
Example: Thank you for your consideration. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this project further and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact [Your Name] at [email] or [phone number].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Organization]
Need extra support? Grantboost can turn your input into fully formatted, funder-aligned LOIs. No guesswork required.
To show you the power of Grantboost, here’s a real-world example of how the platform transforms a bland LOI into a compelling one.
Before
Our organization works on mental health awareness and support. We want to apply for funding to create a support program for at-risk youth. We’re asking for $50,000 to run workshops, hire staff, and buy supplies. Thank you for your consideration.
This LOI is generic, vague, and doesn’t make a strong impression. It lacks a compelling hook, clear outcomes, and specificity.
After
Subject: Letter of Intent for Youth Mental Health Support Grant
At Better Minds Collective, our mission is to empower at-risk youth by providing them with the mental health resources they need to thrive. We see a natural alignment with [Funder’s Name] and your commitment to supporting youth-focused initiatives.
Our new initiative, The Youth Resilience Program, is designed to equip at-risk youth with critical coping skills through guided workshops and one-on-one support. By addressing early-stage mental health challenges, we aim to reduce dropout rates and improve mental well-being for over 250 youth annually.
To bring this vision to life, we’re seeking $50,000 to fund workshop materials, hire experienced facilitators, and support program administration. This will directly impact the quality and reach of our services, ensuring that every youth in our program gets the support they need.
We would love to discuss our program further and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out to [Your Name] at [email] or [phone number].
Thank you for considering our ask.
Notice the Difference?
Clear Mission Alignment: Mentions the funder’s mission directly.
Specific Request: Breaks down the funding ask ($50,000) and where it will be used.
Powerful Storytelling: Uses names, numbers, and emotional language to drive impact.
This is the type of transformation you can expect with Grantboost. Its AI analyzes the funder’s priorities, formats your LOI, and adds clarity, specificity, and impact.
Want to know how to make the most of the AI? Read our guide on best practices to evalue AI software.
A strong and effective Grant application or Letter, of Intent (LOI) is your gateway to securing funding and advancing your nonprofit’s mission. By clearly aligning your project with funder goals, structuring your letter of intent effectively, and avoiding common mistakes, you’re setting yourself and organization up for success.
Here’s what you’ve learned in this guide:
What a Grant LOI is and how it differs from other documents.
Key components of a compelling LOI and strategies for making it stand out.
Common pitfalls to avoid when writing your LOI.
With Grantboost, creating polished, funder-aligned LOIs has never been easier. This platform streamlines the process, offering templates and tools to ensure your letters are clear, concise, and tailored to each funder’s priorities.
From auto-generating structured LOIs to proofreading for errors, Grantboost equips you to submit with confidence and focus on what matters most—securing the grants your nonprofit needs.
Try Grantboost Free today and elevate your grant writing game effortlessly!
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