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In an ongoing effort to focus our grantmaking on our values criteria, The Kresge Foundation has further clarified the steps for composing an effective letter of intent. Submitting a letter of intent, along with a completed gift chart and fact sheet, initiates the challenge grant application process.

The required elements in a letter of intent have been reduced and, more importantly, focused more directly to showcase how a grantseeker’s organization and project is advancing Kresge’s values.

“We have been asking grantseekers to address five topics in their letters of intent, three related to our values and two to the capital campaign,” says Rip Rapson, president of the foundation. “Today we are announcing we have sharpened the focus of our request and now ask three values-related questions and one that deals with an organization’s capital campaign. In doing this, we want to reinforce our message to grantseekers that we are most interested in learning how their organization and project advance our values.”

Now, grantseekers are asked to address the following four elements in a letter of intent:

• Provide a brief overview of your community and the role your nonprofit organization plays in it.
• Explain how your organization and the project you are proposing fits within the relevant Kresge fields of interest and explain with specific examples how your organization and project are advancing Kresge’s values.
• How does your project support your organization’s mission?
• Tell us about your fundraising campaign, including an overview of your campaign plan and how the campaign plan supports the long-term financial sustainability of your organization.

 

We recommend grantseekers review Kresge’s fields of interest and values criteria before writing a letter of intent. Letters of intent are evaluated based on how well the values criteria are addressed. Grantseekers who submit a letter of intent deemed favorable by the foundation will be asked to submit additional information on their challenge grant request and proposed project.

The fact sheet, which has been enhanced to include fields for client service, endowment and accreditation information, will sufficiently capture information relating to the grantseeker’s capital campaign. Please see the Program Updates on the front page of the site for more information on the updated fact sheet.

In addition, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page has been added to the Challenge Grant pages to address grantseekers’ common questions.

If you have questions, e-mail the Grants Inquiry Coordinator or call 248-643-9630.