A proposal cover letter is a one-page message to a potential donor quickly introduces your organization and proposal. Including a cover letter with a proposal is usually optional, but can add a nice personal touch and brings context to the proposal.
Cover letters are separate from the proposal, and so is distinct from the cover page and executive summary. A cover letter is an accompanying letter that serves as the introduction to your full proposal. The cover letter looks similar to a letter of inquiry, but a LoI is sent independently of a proposal while the cover letter is always paired with a proposal.
The cover letter format may change depending on the way the proposal is submitted. If the proposal is submitted physically by mail or in person, the cover letter should be placed on top of the printed proposal, but should not be stapled or bound to the proposal. If the proposal is submitted by email, the cover letter should be included as the body of the email, not as an attachment. All the typical rules for contacting a donor also apply to cover letters.
Often a cover letter is the first contact with a prospective donor. The basic purpose of a cover letter is to convince the donor to read your proposal. The cover letter is often the basis for either consideration or rejection of a proposal. The cover letter is to introduce you and your project to the donor and draw their attention to your proposal. A cover letter can also provide administrative details useful to donors, such as which fund or portfolio the proposal should be considered under, who should review the proposal, etc. A cover letter should also be used to try and establish a connection with the donor – either by mentioning past grants and meetings, or just by proving you have researched the donor and taken their priorities into consideration for this proposal.
If you are submitting an unsolicited application, it is highly recommended to include a very good cover letter.
A well-written letter can entice the donor to read your proposal with greater interest and will improve your chances of winning the grant.
A cover letter typically contains 3 – 4 paragraphs, no longer than one page, in letter format.
Paragraph 1 should contain general overview information:
Paragraph 2 should contain, if applicable, any relationship with the donor:
Paragraph 3 should summarize the impact of the project:
Paragraph 4 should conclude with a request to contact:
Typically, it should be the NGO’s executive director who signs off the letter. If the letter is printed or sent as a document, remember to include the executive director’s signature and printed name and title.
To summarize, the proposal cover letter should:
Here is a sample proposal cover letter as well as a cover letter template to download for your own use.
Alta Alonzi is a writer and researcher focusing on international development funding and grassroots NGOs. She works with the fundraising consulting company Philantropia conducting research for clients ranging from small NGOs to UN organizations. She also works closely with FundsforNGOs running training webinars, contributing resource guides, and updating the Premium donor database.
Dear friends As You know Somalia When the Destroyed Central Government up to moment Our People are Poor every site of Life so we are requesting You this Proposal Best regards Mr Yakub
Yakub Ali – are you with me?
yes
hi dears!
Dear author
Am glad for your guidance could kindly send me a template of the cover letter for proposal to my email
Thanks
Need the cover letter template sent to my email
Dear Abel you can easily download it from the article here.
Dear Priti Ji, i am interested to learn about how to write a good proposal. I regularly explore to this web page and resources to know more about… could you suggest if any training is provided by the organization?
Dear Rajesh ji: The writing of a winning proposal workshop scheduled for 6-7 March is full. But we do have the next training on the pipeline. Do subscribe and stay updated.
yes
Dear Writer,
Can you send me a template of concept note for NGO?
Also, can I know the procedures of purchasing some NGOs’ materials?
Dear Noverty:
Check out our list of samples here.
Wahoo this is amazing to discover that covered letter
Have been sending proposal with very minimal information
Thank you for kind elaboration
Thisbis fantastiv guidance. I have always wanted to have that cover letter include import ant facts but always feels something is missing somewhere. Thanks very much indeed
Thank you Alta. This information benefits us a lot in Africa
thanks for this greatful information
can you send me the sample letter to my email
Dear Zukile:
You can find a sample cover letter here
Dear Author,
I am indeed overwhelmed with joy for the professional guidance you have exhibited to facilitate those who would be applying for grants.
You have made an eye opener to those who have not been well conversant of writing a cover letter.
Sincerely Yours,
Denis Nnyondo
Dear Author,
This is fantastic and well educating atricle that really guide us that intending to apply for the grants.
Hope this is the tools that will be used to evaluate the grants applications.
Best regards,
Philip Salifu Conteh.
Hello Sir/Madam, I,m indeed happy with your guidance on proposal related matters and cover letter. it will be so appreciated if your esteem could send me the concept note tamplate in my inbox and thanks .Joseph Ungom
Dear Joseph: I am glad that the article is helpful to you. You can download the sample concept note here.
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dear Alta: am very glad and eager to gate this wonderful information in order to mobilize sufficient resources for my beneficiaries and i need to gate your help. please would able to send me a sample of cover letter that able to best attract donors please?
Dear Kasahun:
You can find a sample cover letter here
For my organization not funded what the easy way of getting donations for first time ?
Dear Assiimwe:
I am glad that the article is helpful for you. Unfortunately we do not offer referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org
It is an interesting and valuable sample as being to be a winner of a project, so would you send to me the proposal cover letter sample through my email.
Dear Gebeyehu:
You can find the sample cover letter here
Dear Alta,
Your guidance will be very helpful to me. Hope using these skills will permit me to raise more funding for our local NGO, “Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development” (PaWED).
Thanks.
Dear Author,
This is indeed very fascinating! Can I kindly have a template of the cover letter in my email.
Thank you
Alek Garang
South Sudan 🇸🇸
Dear Alek: you can easily download it from the article here.
I quite appreciate this gesture,but i would not mind if you can send samples of these cover letter and the template to mu e.mail. ebenremjeje2015@gmail.com. Thanks.
Dear Adamolekun: you can easily download it from the article here.
Thanks for the idea shared. This is powerful. I would like to have one of the templates of your proposal cover letter. Thanks in anticipation
Quite helpful, thank you for the effort.
Excelent guidelines to prepare a proposal cover letter. It really points out the main information this letter should contain. Thanks a lot indeed.
Thank you
Dear madam
I really appreciate your outstanding job. I am from Ethiopia one of developing countries where Gender issues are neglected. so, would you assist me to raise funds for gender equality.
Hello Genet: We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.
Please check out the many resources available on our site. Hope this helps.
Thank you!
Thanks a lot Alta Alonzi,
Greetings from the Republic of South Sudan, Amadi State, Mundri County Western part of the Country. Could you please send me the details of the Project Proposal format.
Felix Zara
Dear Felix, we have a general proposal template here
Dear author,
Thank you for your guidance, could you please send me a template cover letter to my eamil? Thanks
Hello Islamudin: You can easily download the template from here
Please send a cover page template
Hello
how are you all
It’s been very good and well to see there’s people lk you who cares for other people
Our organization is dealing with society in general, based on teenagers who are living in hard environment in a rules/urban areas
Thank you!