Letter of Inquiry – Capital Project

Before the Trustees consider a capital project request (including building construction, renovation projects, and purchase of equipment), an agency must have achieved the following requirements for a capital grant:

The agency has raised at least fifty percent of the total capital campaign goal (signed pledges, other funding commitments, or cash in the bank).
The agency has received value-engineered drawings or a signed contract with the builder, if applicable. The Foundation does not award supplemental grant funding to cover unexpected construction costs.

As soon as these goals have been accomplished, please submit a Letter of Inquiry for a Capital Project according to the following instructions.

Please note that according to the Foundation’s charter, it cannot give more than thirty percent (30%) of the total cost of a capital project. Normally, the Foundation awards less than the thirty percent (30%) because it prefers to see substantial local, private support for any fundraising campaign. The Foundation prefers to provide support in the latter stages of a fundraising campaign, after construction costs are fixed and a substantial portion of the funding has been raised. Please understand that the Foundation’s policy is not to jumpstart campaigns as an early funder. The Foundation’s grants are usually cash-for-cash challenge grants to assist an organization in reaching the capital campaign goal.

Include:

Name of Organization
Location of Organization
Date Founded
Mission of Organization
Grant Purpose
Two-Sentence Summary (please summarize in no more than two sentences the purpose of the grant request). For example: to support construction of an independent housing project for indigent older adults; or to construct a new 15,000 sq ft residence for children with severe cognitive and physical disabilities, including a clinic and respite care.
Please specify which area of giving your grant request falls under:
- General Community Support
- Meeting Basic Needs
  - Older Adults
  - Disabilities
  - Health
  - Hunger
- Building Self-Sufficiency
  - Workforce Development
  - Education, Children, Youth, and Family Issues
  - Homelessness
  - Addictions
This grant request is for a:
- Capital project
Budget information: please provide the following specific numbers:
- Total cost of project
- Other funds already committed to this project that will leverage a Weinberg grant award
- Specific dollar amount of your request (you may leave this blank, but we encourage you to propose a specific amount)
- What is your current organizational budget and what percentage of the budget would this grant represent?
- What is your institutional commitment to the program or project? Please include the internal funds that are being contributed to the project to prove your commitment.
- Discuss what grant proposals for the same or similar project are under review elsewhere?
- What is the Board’s participation with your organization? Please include a summary of the total pledges provided by the Board members to this particular request.
Timeframe: please provide the timeline for the Capital Project (start of planning phase, start and end dates for construction, if applicable, etc.)
Eligibility Confirmation (one paragraph):
- Confirmation of 501(c)(3) status and population served.
- Confirm that your organization provides direct services that mostly benefit people whose financial resources are below the median financial resources of the persons in the community or metropolitan area in question. By way of illustration: If U.S. Census records show that the median annual income of a family of four in your relevant community or metropolitan area is $60,000, and your organization overall provides direct services mostly to persons whose income is less than $60,000 (i.e., “below the median” in that area), then your organization and/or the relevant program would qualify for funding consideration.
Previous contact with the Weinberg Foundation (one sentence)
Previous funding from the Weinberg Foundation (one sentence)
Capital Project and Program Description (one page)
In addition to the brief two sentence project description you have given, please, in greater detail, describe the capital project and the related programs (that will take place within the building). You may also briefly discuss the following items:
1. Capital Project
  - Provide a detailed description of the new building, renovation project, or equipment purchase.
  - Disclosure of the current ownership of the land and of the building (or a long-term lease, if applicable).
  - Information on any mortgage, line of credit, bridge loan, construction loan, or liens for this building or project.
2. Program Design
  - Explain how and to what extent this Capital Project and the related programs will help to reduce or alleviate poverty among the persons being served by the same.
  - How many people will participate in the related programs and services?
  - For the related program, describe the proposed strategy for addressing the problem (purpose and measurable objectives).
  - What are the anticipated outcomes? Also, briefly identify how the outcomes will be achieved and measured (methods).
  - Describe the demographic data on the people served and their involvement with your organization.
  - What are the benefits to the participants in the program or project?
  - Who are the primary Community Partnerships and Alliances for this program or project?
3. Organizational Capacity
  - Describe the demonstrated experience and infrastructure your organization has in managing programs similar to the one proposed in this application and in managing other grants.
  - Describe your plans and your capacity (current and anticipated) to implement and use self assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement systems to provide data and information on the program or project.
  - Has your organization received any awards and honors, licenses and accreditation, for this type of program or project and for your organization?
  - How does your organization differ from other organizations in your community that provide similar direct services?
Your Contact Information
- Full Name
- Title
- Phone number
- Fax number
- Email address
- Mailing address
- Website of agency
Full names, titles, and signatures of both the Executive Director (not the Development Director) and the Board Chairperson. Please note: a Letter of Inquiry will not be accepted without both signatures.

Submit your three-page Letter of Inquiry to:

Grants Intake Manager
The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
7 Park Center Court
Owings Mills, MD 21117-4200