Storytelling Strategies for your Letter of Inquiry 

6 Storytelling Strategies for Writing a Compelling Letter of Inquiry 

In order to be at its best, your Letter of Inquiry (LOI) needs to be as short and packed with information as possible. 

When you only have a maximum of two pages in which to tell your story, there’s a very real need to plan for maximum impact. Some foundations may have different length requirements, so always check their guidelines before writing. 

The first thing you need to do is ensure that your story reflects your mission and your vision. 

Do this by knowing your story inside and out before you put pen to paper or attack your keyboard. 

Develop your Case for Support by articulating your tale for the hero of the story — the participants who will hopefully become involved and make that all-important donation which will provide the resolution to your story and complete it. 

In our case, this is most likely to be a foundation to whom you are applying. 

Once you know the story completely, including what will happen if resolution is not achieved, you are ready to begin writing. 

Storytelling is an important part of nonprofit fundraising because it helps funders understand the people, needs and outcomes behind a funding request. For nonprofits looking to develop this skill further, NonprofitReady’s storytelling resources offer additional guidance on crafting stories that engage supporters. 

Our Document Generator for nonprofit grant writing is designed to help with the logical flow of your Letter of Inquiry as you relate your tale of woe. 

1. Know Your Story: Introducing the Problem 

Our Document Generator is laid out specifically to help you tell your tale. 

You will need to lay your story out in a logical manner, so the first part of it (the introduction) will describe the problem you are attempting to solve. 

Why is it a problem? 

Who is affected? 

In terms of the story, who is suffering the pain that the problem is causing? 

Given that your first paragraph is unlikely to begin with “Once upon a time,” it should include information that you, the storyteller, need to convey as an introduction. 

You will introduce your nonprofit, the pain you can see, and refer to your solution briefly to whet the appetite for the main story. 

You will state the problem, convey your idea of the solution and indicate the path that you feel will need to be taken, all in the very beginning of the letter. 

You will include your request for a grant right there in that first paragraph of the letter. 

If you’re looking for more guidance on structuring that introduction, our article on writing a Letter of Inquiry that gets noticed by foundations explains the important elements of an effective LOI. 

2. Introduce Your Organization: Establishing Your Role in the Story 

As the narrator of the story, your next step is to describe your organization. 

Who are you? 

What do you do, and how does that fit into this story? 

Since you have identified the problem that needs to be solved, the next step is to describe it in more detail. 

This is also where your nonprofit has an opportunity to show the foundation why your organization is well positioned to address the problem you’ve identified.

And if you’re new, we also have a helpful guide on what grant funding can be used for.

3. Detail the Action Needed to Relieve the Pain: Writing Your Needs Statement 

State the need. 

Talk about the problem, and describe how your nonprofit has identified a solution. 

How do you propose to meet that need? 

Know the time it will take and the methods you will use. 

Relate the actions that will enable the hero — as I indicated earlier, in this case you are not the hero, you are the storyteller. 

The honor of being the hero goes to the foundation who will figuratively ride up on their white horse to come to the rescue and relieve the pain you described in the first paragraph of your LOI. 

A compelling needs statement should also be supported by relevant facts and evidence wherever possible. While storytelling helps explain the human impact of a problem, supporting information helps foundations understand its scope. 

4. Lay Out the Path to Resolution: Explaining Your Methodology 

Make sure your story details the way to remove the barriers between the problem you perceive and the solution you will apply. 

Show how best to eliminate any layers of friction there may be. 

Detail the action that will be required to bring about that happy ending you’re hoping for. 

Know the amount of work, money, and support it will cost to alleviate the suffering endured by your protagonist in the first part of your letter. 

Because there is not really room in an LOI to tell the full story the way it should be told, you will need to make sure that your website is up to date, tells your story in more depth, and that its web address is clearly indicated in your Letter of Inquiry. 

Photos and videos help to ensure that your story is explained, but even though they are important to the tale you are telling, there isn’t room in a letter for them. 

So ensure that your website’s URL is featured in your letter, either in the signature or in a header, where permitted by the foundation’s submission guidelines. 

Your website is also the place for endorsements from the receivers of the service, the personal stories of those clients who are making your journey with you. 

Important as they are, they shouldn’t overwhelm your LOI, but make them available. 

Remember that a foundation may also want to understand whether your organization has the experience and capacity to carry out the work you’re proposing. 

This is one reason it’s important to research and qualify prospective foundations before sending your Letter of Inquiry. Understanding a funder’s interests, previous grants and application preferences can help you determine which details of your story will be most relevant. 

5. Be Compelling: Explaining the Funding and Support Needed 

Make sure that you lay out the actions needed to provide a solution for the problem. 

This is most likely to be a grant, but it could be a plea for volunteers or gifts in kind. 

Whatever the solution is, remember that humans make decisions based on their emotions, so don’t be afraid to tug at those heartstrings. 

Whether you are trying to mitigate the problems associated with drug addiction, destruction of the environment or the need for literacy training for adults, you are the guide who will lead your hero to the resolution of the problem. 

Use that emotion to help them understand what’s at stake for those protagonists who need relief. 

Explain why you are the best nonprofit to undertake this work. 

Discuss your plans for sustainability and tell your hero about any other assistance there may be in reaching the positive outcome you seek. 

Your storytelling should also give the foundation a clear understanding of how its contribution will make a difference. 

What will the grant help your organization accomplish? 

How will the people you serve benefit? 

And what could happen if the funding isn’t secured? 

These details help connect the emotional side of your story with the practical outcomes of your proposed project. 

If you’re looking for additional ways to strengthen your funding documents, our article on using AI tools to improve nonprofit grant writing discusses how technology can help organize and refine your writing while keeping your organization’s own voice and experience at the centre. 

6. Summarize Your Story: Bringing Your Letter of Inquiry to a Close 

The final section should be one that offers any extra assistance your hero may require as you cheer them on to the rescue. 

Remind them that the story isn’t complete yet, and thank them for considering a role in bringing about its resolution. 

Your conclusion should leave the foundation with a clear understanding of what you’re asking for, why the funding matters and how it can learn more about your organization’s work. 

Keep it brief, but make sure the story you’ve told has a clear next step. 

Tell Your Story With the Right Support 

Every nonprofit has a story to tell. 

And when you’re approaching a foundation, the way you communicate that story can make a difference in how your organization and its funding needs are understood. 

At Grant Advance, our Document Generator helps nonprofits organize their information and create starting drafts for Letters of Inquiry, grant proposals and other funding documents. 

Our platform also helps organizations research foundations, review historical giving and identify prospective funders whose interests align with their work. 

Because even the most compelling story needs to reach the right audience. 

Explore Grant Advance’s nonprofit grant writing and foundation research tools to see how we can help your organization prepare its next funding request. 

Funding Made Possible. Support Made Personal. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Storytelling in Letters of Inquiry