Freedom of Information Act Guide
Sample FOIA Request
Here is an example of a FOIA request
from A Citizen's Guide to Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to
Request Government Records, published by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight,
2005.
Dear FOIA Officer:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
I request that a copy of the following documents [or documents containing the following information] be provided to me: [Identify the documents
or information as specifically as possible.]
In order to help to determine my status for purposes of determining the applicability of any
fees, you should know that I am [insert a suitable description of the requester and purpose of the request].
[Examples:
- A representative of the news media affiliated with the ____newspaper, magazine,
television station, etc., and this request is made as part of news gathering and not for a
commercial use.
- Affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this
request is made for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for a commercial use.
- An individual seeking information for personal use and not for a commercial
use.
- Affiliated with a private corporation and am seeking information for use in the
company's business.]
[Optional] I am willing to pay fees for this request up to a maximum of $____. If you estimate that
the fees will exceed this limit, please inform me first.
[Optional] I request a waiver of all fees for this request. Disclosure of the requested
information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to
public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in my
commercial interest. [Include specific details, including how the requested information will be
disseminated by the requester for public benefit. Failure to include such details may result in a
denial of a fee waiver.]
[Optional] I request that the information I seek be provided in electronic format, and I would like to receive it on a CD-ROM [or via email] . [You may receive your request in either paper
or, if available, electronic format. Please specify the precise format you
prefer.]
[Optional] I ask that my request receive expedited processing because ________________. [Include specific details regarding your "compelling need" and specifics concerning your "urgency
to inform the public."]
[Optional] I have included a telephone number at which I can be contacted during the hours of
______, if necessary, to discuss any aspect of my request.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone number [Optional]
Fax number [Optional]
Email [Optional]
National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506 |