Your grant application cover letter should be organized and persuasive.
When applying for a grant, careful time and consideration must be put into writing the letter of intent that lets an individual or organization know that a grant proposal is forthcoming. While letters of intent follow the traditional business letter format, they should feature a persuasive style of writing that makes the best possible first impression on the recipient.
Subject
The obvious topic of a letter of intent is the grant itself. Each sentence must be written with the overall goal of receiving the grant in mind. Every aspect, from how the grant will be used, to how much is being asked, must be covered. Don't sidestep the financial matters, as recipients will want to immediately understand how much you're requesting.
Content
A grant application's letter of intent should provide the recipient with a short summary of the grant itself, including its goals and purpose, and what the significance of the proposed project is. A timeline for the project is also expected, along with the total estimated cost. If the grant you're requesting is going to a specific part or section of the project, highlight that section. Any benefits to the recipient that will come as a result of providing the grant, should also be mentioned.
Style
The tone of a letter of intent must be professional, but persuasive. Every aspect of the project must be portrayed in as positive a light as possible. Any obvious downside to your proposal must be acknowledged and downplayed in your letter. Backing up your statements about how the grant will be used with statistics, testimonials, or other facts will also help persuade the recipient.
Format
A letter of intent for a grant should be printed on a page with your organization's letterhead, or your own personal header, followed by the date. The recipient's name and company address are featured in the inside address, followed by a salutation that greets the recipient by name (do not use generic addresses or salutations in grant letters of intent). Unless the company or individual has otherwise specified, your letter of intent should fit onto one page and feature an introduction paragraph, body and conclusion. The letter should be single-spaced, with a space in between paragraphs.
Tags: letter intent, Every aspect, grant application, grant itself, grant should, grant will