Sample Grant Letter of Inquiry Grantmaker Foundation 5555 N. Grant Ave. Wichita, KS 67211 To Whom It May Concern:

With this letter of inquiry, we are seeking funding in the amount of $2,600 to purchase 40 Graco© Pack 'n Play® portable cribs to distribute to new families that are financially unable to provide a safe sleep environment for their infant.

[Insert Organizational Description paragraph] __ State the organization’s mission, goals, history, current programs, activities. __ Define existing clients or population served. __ Include a brief overview of the board of directors and key staff. (For example: “We have 17 board members and three full-time staff, including the Executive Director, Program Director, and the Administrative Assistant.”) The funds requested will be used to continue our Kansas Cribs for Kids® project. The mission of Kansas

Cribs for Kids® is to reduce infant deaths by providing an appropriate and safe sleep environment through education and safe cribs at no charge. The target population is compromised of infants from families financially unable to provide a safe sleep environment and thus are at risk for dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or accidental suffocation because they are sleeping with adults, siblings, on couches, or in other unsafe sleep environments. Prior to receiving a crib, a crib assessment will be conducted to verify eligibility and parents will be provided information on general infant safety and specific education on safe sleep and reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The purpose is to educate Kansas infant caregivers about safe sleep, showing them how to safely place their infants to sleep, what a safe sleep environment looks like, and to provide them with a portable crib, which allows them to have a safe sleep environment for their infant wherever they are.

This problem should be addressed because According to the Kansas Child Death Review Board 2011 report, in 2009 thirty-four infants died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Of these infants, 68% were in unsafe sleep environments, such as a bed or couch, and 71% were in an unsafe sleep position, such as on their stomach or side. Aside from SIDS, twelve infants died in 2009 due to suffocation. The Kansas Child Death Review Board states these infant deaths from suffocation were often the results of improper sleeping arrangements. This project addresses the demonstrated need for high-risk families to receive education and information, as well as useful tools, to reduce the risk of their infant dying of SIDS and some other preventable causes, such accidental suffocation.

Initial results from the Kansas Cribs for Kids® project show that 65% of infants receiving a crib would have slept with their parents or in another unsafe sleep environment had they not received a crib through Kansas Cribs for Kids®. Thus, the projects anticipated overall result is fewer Kansas infant deaths due to unsafe sleep environments.

40 Graco© Pack 'n Play® portable cribs will be purchased by the SIDS Network and distributed to at risk infants. The cost per crib is $65 ($50/crib plus $15/shipping) for a grand total of $2,600.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please contact the [agency/contact person name] at [e-mail] or [phone] if you have any questions or need additional information for consideration of this project. Sincerely,

Community Baby Shower for Safe Sleep