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Lesson 4 of 9 · 2 promptsAI for Grant Writers
LESSON 04 OF 9

Letters of Inquiry and Summaries

2 prompts for Grant Writers

Prompts for Grant Writers: copy one, fill it in, paste it into your AI.

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In this lesson

  1. 01Draft a Funder Letter of InquiryUse this when you need a short introductory letter to a funder before they invite a full proposal.
  2. 02Write Project Executive SummaryUse this when you need a 250-word overview that covers need, approach, outcomes, and the ask.
1Copy the promptClick Copy on the prompt you need.
2Paste it into your AIChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot.
3Fill in the {{brackets}}Your own details, or let the AI ask you.
4Follow up and checkUse the follow-ups, then check the facts.
01

Draft a Funder Letter of Inquiry

Use this when you need a short introductory letter to a funder before they invite a full proposal.

Prompt

Role You are a grant writer who drafts short letters of inquiry that match a funder's stated priorities and earn an invitation to submit a full proposal.

Context you provide

  • {{organization_name}} - legal name and tax status
  • {{mission_and_service_area}} - purpose and who you serve
  • {{project_and_amount}} - funded work, total ask, grant period
  • {{funder_priorities}} - funder name, program area, stated interests
  • {{need_evidence}} - data, assessment findings, or client stories you hold
  • {{outcomes_and_history}} - results to date and any prior funding
  • {{submission_rules}} - page or word limit, portal or email, attachments
  • {{signatory_details}} - name, title, contact

Instructions

  1. Ask for any missing inputs, then confirm the funder's priorities before drafting.
  2. Open with one sentence naming the organization, the request amount, and the fit with the funder.
  3. State the need in two or three sentences using only the evidence supplied.
  4. Describe the funded work and how it answers that need, in plain language.
  5. Give outcomes and track record, tying each claim to a supplied figure.
  6. Close by offering the full proposal and giving the signatory's contact details.
  7. Stay inside the funder's limit; if none is given, keep to one page.

Output format One letter ready to paste: date, funder contact block, salutation, four to six short paragraphs, signature block. Plain professional tone, no headings inside the letter, no filler adjectives. Report the word count at the end.

Guardrails

  • Do not invent figures, outcomes, funder names, or deadlines; use only supplied details and mark gaps as [to confirm].
  • Tell the user to check the funder's published guidelines and eligibility rules, and to involve a qualified advisor for tax or legal questions.
  • Flag any assumption about the funder's priorities.

Example Inputs: {{organization_name}}: Rivertown Food Network; {{project_and_amount}}: $40,000 over 12 months for a mobile pantry; {{funder_priorities}}: community health grants for food access.

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02

Write Project Executive Summary

Use this when you need a 250-word overview that covers need, approach, outcomes, and the ask.

Prompt

Role: You are a grant writing assistant. You produce a concise 250-word project executive summary that aligns need, approach, outcomes, and ask with a funder's priorities.

Context you provide

  • {{organization_name}}: your organization
  • {{project_name}}: project title
  • {{funder_name}}: funder or program
  • {{funder_priorities}}: stated focus areas
  • {{problem_statement}}: the need, in factual terms
  • {{target_population}}: who benefits
  • {{project_approach}}: method or model
  • {{key_activities}}: 3 to 5 main actions
  • {{expected_outcomes}}: measurable changes
  • {{amount_requested}}: total ask
  • {{project_duration}}: months or dates
  • {{budget_highlights}}: main cost categories
  • {{track_record}}: relevant past results

Instructions

  1. Ask for any missing inputs, then draft the summary.
  2. Open with one sentence naming the organization, project, amount requested, and duration.
  3. State the need using {{problem_statement}} and connect it to {{funder_priorities}}.
  4. Describe {{project_approach}} and {{key_activities}} in two sentences.
  5. List {{expected_outcomes}} as concrete changes, tied to {{target_population}}.
  6. Close with the ask: {{amount_requested}} over {{project_duration}}, supported by {{budget_highlights}}.
  7. Keep the final text between 240 and 260 words. Remove adjectives that do not add evidence.
  8. If {{track_record}} is provided, add one sentence of proof before the ask.

Output format A single plain-text block of 240 to 260 words in three short paragraphs. No headings, no bullet points, no bold. Tone: factual, specific, calm. Leave out mission language not tied to the project, emotional appeals without evidence, and any numbers not supplied.

Guardrails

  • Do not invent statistics, budget figures, funder names, or outcome claims.
  • Flag any assumption you make from incomplete inputs.
  • If the summary mentions legal, tax, or regulatory matters, tell the user to confirm wording with a licensed professional or the funder's guidelines.

Example {{organization_name}}: Riverbend Food Network; {{project_name}}: Fresh Start Mobile Market; {{funder_name}}: Healthy Communities Fund; {{amount_requested}}: $75,000; {{project_duration}}: 12 months.

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