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Mail a thank you note, even if the application is not funded. Express your appreciation for the funder’s time during the review process and your admiration for the funder’s philanthropic priorities.

If funding is not approved, send a polite letter requesting reviewer comments and suggestions for future submissions. Be aware that many foundations no longer have time or staff resources to provide personal feedback.

Foundation cultivation requires more than a minimal report at the end of a funding cycle. Send regular updates with meaningful information about the project’s accomplishments and extend a handwritten invitation to visit your facility.

“People give to people” is the classic slogan of fundraising. Personal contact with a funder increases the likelihood of success.

After receiving a positive response to your letter of inquiry and an invitation to submit a full proposal, consider setting up a meeting or telephone conference with the Foundation’s Executive Director or Program Officer. Review your research notes first to see whether this type of interaction is specifically encouraged or discouraged. Be ready with specific questions based on your careful review of submission guidelines, your proposed budget line items, and the details of your project implementation plan. This discussion with the foundation can lead to excellent feedback on such points as timelines, evaluation expectations, and allowed expenditures.

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