The Covenant Foundation

Apply for a Grant | How to Apply 1: The Letter of Inquiry

How to Apply for a Covenant Grant

Please be sure that you have read all of the information under "About Our Grants" before proceeding.

Letters of Inquiry that fall outside The Covenant Foundation's parameters for funding will not be considered.

Part 1. Letter of Inquiry

The process begins with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which has three parts: a cover sheet, a brief description of the proposed project, and a budget estimate. The complete Letter of Inquiry should not exceed four 8 ½" x 11" double-spaced typed pages. All pages must be numbered, and the main, two-page narrative should not exceed 700 words. At least one copy of the LOI must include a cover sheet printed on the applicant's letterhead and signed by the person authorized to approve the submission.

The LOI must be submitted both online and in six printed copies. The applicant should review all guidelines thoroughly and prepare all sections of the Letter of Inquiry before submitting it online. Both online and printed applications are due by Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 5:00 pm EST, without exception.

Instructions for preparing the three parts of the Letter of Inquiry are as follows:

1. Cover Sheet(one page). The first part of the LOI is a cover sheet containing the following background information, which the applicant creates by completing an online form: 
   • Most current name, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and website of the sponsoring institution. Please note that this is the contact information we will use to contact the project director for the duration of the grant process.
   • Name of the person who will serve as the project director and the e-mail address where he or she can be reached. This person will be responsible for all correspondence with the Foundation.
   • Type of grant being requested (Ignition or Signature).
   • Title of the proposed project. If there is no official title at this time, please create a tentative title.
   • One sentence that explains what the organization hopes to accomplish with a Covenant Grant: "[name of institution] requests $[x] over [x] years to fund [or support, disseminate, create, expand]… [x]."
   • A brief description of the institution where the program will take place.
   • An approximate annual operating budget for this institution.
   • The signature of the person authorized to approve the submission of the proposal, such as the executive director of an organization or the principal of a school. This is only required on printed copies.
2. Brief Description of Proposed Program(two pages). The second part of the LOI consists of a brief description of the proposed program, which should not exceed 700 words. This description must include the following: 
   • Overall goal of the program.
   • Individual steps planned to achieve goal.
   • Intended audience for the program.
   • How participants will be recruited.
   • The need in the Jewish community fulfilled by the program.
   • How the program fulfills that need.
   • How the proposed program differs from existing ones.
   • If the proposal is to disseminate a program already in existence, please provide a brief history of the program and list intended replication sites.
3. Budget Estimate (one page). The third part of the LOI consists of a budget estimate. Please divide costs into per-year expenditures and list them under the following categories: "personnel," “consultants,” "supplies," and "other." The budget should explain which portions of the project would be paid for using Covenant Grant funds, and it should include an estimate of other proposed sources of income to support the program, including in-kind support. Sample budget estimates for Signature and Ignition grants are available for download.

To submit a Letter of Inquiry, begin by filling out the online form at Step 4: Apply for a Covenant Grant, which will create a cover sheet. The project description and budget estimates can be uploaded as files in the .doc, .pdf, or .xls formats. Data cannot be saved from one session to another, so please do not attempt to complete the online application until all materials are ready for submission. Questions about the process may be directed to the Grants Administrator at grants@covenantfn.org or 212-245-3500.

After submitting the online application, please mail six printed copies of the Letter of Inquiry, including all three parts, to The Covenant Foundation in time for arrival by 5:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Applicants are requested to keep a copy of the original submission. Please deliver applications to the following address:

2012 Grants Selection Committee
The Covenant Foundation
1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 304
New York, NY 10020-1702

At least one copy of the LOI must be written on the institution’s letterhead and must include an original signature in order to be considered by The Covenant Foundation. Faxes will not be accepted. Although the LOI is initially submitted online, electronic submission is not a substitute for sending paper copies.

The Covenant Foundation does not review draft proposals. However, our staff is available to answer questions regarding eligibility and to provide limited feedback on project design. Please feel free to contact us.

To read the guidelines for preparing a Full Proposal, go to the next step: The Full Proposal. To submit a Letter of Inquiry, go to step 4: Apply for a Covenant Grant.