Writing a Letter of Intent/Interest or a Letter of Inquiry (2024)

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Writing a Letter of Intent/Interest or a Letter of Inquiry

While the acronym LOI can refer either to a Letter of Intent or Interest or a Letter of Inquiry, the aim of both is to generate interest from a grant provider.

Letter of Intent or Interest

The Letter of Intent or Interest (LOI) might be represented as a brief unsolicited narrative to an agency's Program Officer in which an interested researcher/investigator offers a synopsis of his/her proposed project to an identified Program Officer to get some initial feedback as to the Program Officer's/agency's interest. The LOI can help the investigator explore appropriate funding that aligns with the research as well as provide the sponsor’s program officer/gatekeeper with a description of the project plan to determine whether the research aligns with the agency’s mission/goals.

The Letter of Intent/Interest is a one-page (occasionally 1-3 pages though brevity is always preferred) comprehensive sketch of your proposed project’s purpose, the need/problem being addressed, a description of the project plan, and its intended outcome/impact.

Typically, the brief LOI narrative should respond to the following:

  • What is the current state of the problem and how will your proposed research explore it in a novel way or provide forward-moving steps toward reducing the problem?
  • A very brief overview of the problem and why there is a gap or a need to know more specifics. What implications will your research have for your field and for others?
  • What is your plan, your methodology, your hypotheses (if you’ve framed these), and your aims (at this early stage)?
  • What preliminary studies have you completed? Why are you the expert to perform this research? (This content lends itself to the proposed project’s feasibility and your credibility as an investigator).
  • What are the broader applications of your study?
  • How will you disseminate this study’s results?

Letter of Inquiry

A mandatory Letter of Inquiry (LOI) differs from an Letter of Intent or Interest. Funding agencies may require the submission of a brief (approximately 2-3 pages) Letter of Inquiry rather than a full proposal. The funding agency reviews these letters so that only projects of interest to the project agency are invited to submit a full proposal.

The funding sponsor usually provides an outline for the Letter of Inquiry. While this outline may vary from agency to agency, one possible outline might consider the following:

  • A Brief Proposal Summary, which is typically a one-paragraph summary that describes the problem you intend to address, what activities you will undertake, what deliverable you will provide, and the impact your expect the project to have.
  • A Project Description, which details the work/activities that you will undertake in your project.
  • A Project Timeline.
  • A Statement of Significance
  • A Statement of Capacity for Success that explains why your team and/or organization is positioned to be successful in yourproject.
  • A Narrative Description of the Outputs/Deliverables you intend to produce.
  • If requested, a Brief Budget Explanation.
Writing a Letter of Intent/Interest or a Letter of Inquiry (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a letter of intent and a letter of inquiry? ›

Unlike the mini proposal that is the letter of inquiry, the letter of intent is a few paragraphs long and states a charities' intention to apply for a grant. If you're wondering about a letter of interest, well, I am too! I know at least one foundation that uses the term the same way we've defined a letter of inquiry.

What is the difference between a letter of interest and letter of intent? ›

What's the Difference Between the Two Letters? While both letters express your level of interest in your school of choice, the main difference between the letter of intent and letter of interest is the level of commitment.

What is a LOI letter of inquiry? ›

A Letter of Intent/Inquiry (LOI) is an opportunity to introduce your proposed project to a funder and to elicit feedback that hopefully leads to an invitation to submit a full proposal. A letter of inquiry is not a vague exploration of an idea.

Does letter of intent make a difference? ›

A letter of intent can also come in handy when you do have a job opportunity in mind, but the company itself isn't quite sure about what they're looking for. They might have multiple open roles at the moment or simply be receptive to hearing where you think you'd be a better fit.

Is a letter of intent a good thing? ›

LOIs are useful when two parties are initially brought together to hammer out the broad strokes of a deal before resolving the finer points of a transaction. Terms included in an LOI are certain stipulations, requirements, timelines, and the parties involved.

What is an example of a letter of interest? ›

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the [industry/company]. After researching your company and the work it does, I am very impressed with its mission and the positive impact it has on the community. I am confident that my skills and experiences would positively contribute to the organization.

How do you begin a letter of intent? ›

Use the first one or two sentences of your letter to formally introduce yourself. This section can include your name, a brief explanation of your current experience level and your reason for writing. For example, if you're a recent graduate, include information about your degree and areas of study.

Is a letter of intent legally binding? ›

A letter of intent (LOI ) is a document drawn up when two parties come to a mutual agreement, but haven't worked out all the details yet. This letter is presented before the finalized legal agreement, which means that a letter of intent is not legally binding.

Do I need a cover letter for a letter of intent? ›

While a letter of intent is a letter that you send unprompted as a gesture of interest in a specific job position, a cover letter is instead a critical component of an application letter for a job application.

Are intent and interest the same? ›

It's a matter of interest vs intent. Although we may be very interested in doing all these things, we lack intent for doing them. What's the difference between the two? The difference between intent and interest is need and resolve.

How long should a letter of intent be? ›

Size and format

Your letter of intent should be one to two pages of succinctly written prose, or 400 to 800 words including a brief reference list.

Is a letter of inquiry the same as a letter of intent? ›

A mandatory Letter of Inquiry (LOI) differs from an Letter of Intent or Interest. Funding agencies may require the submission of a brief (approximately 2-3 pages) Letter of Inquiry rather than a full proposal.

What are the rules for letter of inquiry? ›

To write a good letter of inquiry, start with an introduction, describe your organisation, explain the need behind your request, propose a solution, list other entities you are contacting, and conclude with gratitude and your contact information.

What is a letter of inquiry example? ›

Dear Mr. Doe: After visiting with several XYZ recruiters at Fall Career Fair, I checked your company's website and am even more intrigued with some of the recent projects. I am writing to inquire about employment opportunities with XYZ Company.

What is the purpose of a letter of intent? ›

Letters of Intent, sometimes referred to as "memorandums of understanding," are frequently used in media transactions and are pre-contractual documents that set forth certain basic terms upon which parties intend to enter into binding definitive agreements.

What is the purpose of a letter of inquiry? ›

In general, the purpose of the letter of inquiry is to generate interest and a desire to hear more in a full proposal. At the same time, the LOI should provide enough detail about the problem and your project to allow readers to understand your general approach, methods, data, and analysis plans.

What is the difference between a letter of intent and a letter of understanding? ›

Key Takeaways

A letter of intent is a document declaring the preliminary commitment of one party to do business with another. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) describes the broad outlines of an agreement that two or more parties have reached.

What is the difference between a letter of intent and a letter of purpose? ›

However, a key difference between them is the scope. A statement of purpose is more general, focused on your overall academic, professional and/or extracurricular experiences and your long-term career goals. A statement of intent is more targeted and detailed, with a clear focus on your specific research interests.

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