Letter of Inquiry – General Operating Support

Include:

1. Name of Organization
2. Location of Organization
3. Date Founded
4. Mission of Organization
5. Grant Purpose

Two-Sentence Summary (please summarize in no more than two sentences the purpose of the grant request). For example: to support the annual operating budget of a non-profit that provides employment training and placement for indigent men and women residing in the City of Baltimore.

6. 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
7. This grant request is for:
   • General operating support
8. Budget information: please provide the following specific numbers:
   • What is your current organizational budget and what percentage of the budget would this grant represent?
   • Total funds already committed for the applicable fiscal year 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).
   • Discuss what grant proposals for the same period are under review elsewhere?
   • What is the Board’s financial participation with your organization? Please include a summary of the total pledges provided by the Board members to this particular request.
9. Timeframe: please provide the duration period (start and end dates, etc.)
10. 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.
11. Previous contact with the Weinberg Foundation (one sentence)
12. Previous funding from the Weinberg Foundation (one sentence)
13. Operating Support Description (one page)
    In addition to the brief two sentence organizational description you have given, please, in greater detail, describe the organization.
    1. Organizational Design
       • Describe the proposed strategy for addressing the mission of your organization (purpose and measurable objectives).
       • How many people will participate in the organization’s programs and services?
       • 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?
       • Who are the primary Community Partnerships and Alliances for the organization?
    2. Organizational Capacity
       • Describe the demonstrated experience and the infrastructure of your organization.
       • 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 work of your organization.
       • Has your organization received any awards and honors, licenses and accreditation?
       • How does your organization differ from other organizations in your community that provide similar direct services?
14. Your Contact Information
    • Full Name
    • Title
    • Phone number
    • Fax number
    • Email address
    • Mailing address
    • Website of agency
15. 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