Are letters of inquiry a useful tool?
Letters of Inquiry used to be standard in the grant writing process ensuring that foundations are interested in your project, and vice versa. It doesnt seem to have quite the same importance of late with all the other ways we have to communicate such as email or a simple phone call. But it is still important to contact the foundation in some manner to confirm certain details such as the application process, deadlines and giving interests. Despite consulting very current resources, sometimes these things do change. The other reason to introduce yourself to the foundation outside of the application process is to get some feedback on the project idea and hear how they respond. Its an opportunity to listen to how the foundation administrator explains what their interest might be in your project and the kind of language he or she uses to describe it. This could prove to be vital information that you can use in your formal application. A good example would be the field representatives for th
