Below is a letter I was instructed to write to request some money for the event I'm planning. It's really sketchy, and I'm not sure it's exactly what my sponsor wanted. I'll find out when he gives me some input, and I will include the next draft on my blog. It's just the content of the letter, not in letter format.
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I am writing in regards to the International Innovation Grant: Increasing International Exposure and Collaborations for STEM Faculty and Students at West Virginia Schools.
The objective of the grant coincides with the objectives of WVNano to provide funding and research opportunities for students at West Virginia University, Marshall University, and West Virginia State College.
I am requesting $5,000 to be granted for the Multifunctional Nanomaterials International Symposium which will be held in April at Stonewall Resort in West Virginia. Overall, I would like to have 40-50 students from all over the state participate in the event. Currently, I have funding for half of them. The amount requested ($5,000) will help fund 20 students to participate in the symposium. Each student will cost $250 for the three days at the symposium.
This symposium will give students the opportunity to display their research to others on an international level. It will leave the faculty participants with a good impression of the work of West Virginia colleges in the world of science. Also, the event will contribute networking for students and faculty to interact, exchange ideas, and plan future collaborations with international scientists.
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I tried to use the direct method to conduct business in a professional manner. I have to get my message across as soon as possible, or there is a chance I will not get the end results I'm looking for - the money for student participation. I had to do some reading of what the grant includes and what the vision of the grant is. I wanted to keep the letter short in order not to lose my audience - grant committee members.
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3 comments:
I really appreciate your point in your final reflections about the research and reading you did in order to understand the aims and the values of the audience you're writing to -- and you do nice work in the middle part of the letter, once you've presented the specific details of your request, to speak to these values as you describe the positive gains that will follow from additional students' participation in the conference.
I really enjoy how you reflected here on your reasons for writing the letter in the particular manner. I thought it was very smart to keep it short: many get distracted if a request is too long. Also, I really enjoyed that you wrote about why this grant should be given to the students. You could probably even stretch it further by explaining the need and the enjoyment in more detail. However, it could cut the formal manner you are trying to achieve here by becoming more personal and relaxed. However, great job and I hope you get some great feedback!
I think this letter turned out great! I agree that using the direct method is the best; sometimes people can get annoyed when they have to skim through a bunch of writing just to find the point. Great job and good luck!
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