Finding Funding for Great Ideas
Here are some good resources for training, funding alerts, and grants by subject area.
Learn About Grants
The Grantsmanship Center and the Foundation Center offer high-quality, intensive training in developing grant proposals that respond to requests for proposals from government agencies, foundations, and corporate funders. Charity Channel offers workshops, publications, and list-serves about legal issues for non-profits, grant funding, board development, and other topics.
Find Funding Opportunities
grants.gov is the US government's official clearninghouse for all grant opportunities. You can subscribe to a daily email update of all postings and modifications or only for postings by specific agencies.
Each federal agency that provides grant and contract funding posts information on its webpage.
The Foundation Center's RFP Bulletin lists grant opportunities from foundations and corporate funders. It also features a daily or weekly email subscription that can be tailored by subject area.
Approach Potential Funders
Research funders to learn about their strategic priorities, giving history, and grantmaking process. Good tools include the IRS form 990PF, annual reports, news releases, and information from other projects or programs that have received funding.
Review grantmaking guidelines carefully to understand timelines, preferred methods of contact, and steps involved in a grant application. Small foundations may have no paid staff and no formal process, while larger foundations may have a multi-step process that includes letters of inquiry, meetings and site visits, and extensive reviews of grantseeker proposals, financial statements, and policies.
Regardless of a funder's size or complexity, it's critical to learn about funder priorities and build a relationship built on mutual interests in serving the community.
Craft a strong proposal
Most letters of inquiry or grant proposals have these elements:
Introduction
- Set the stage, hook the readers, establish your credibility
- Be clear about who you are and what you're asking
Need for the proposed project
- The need within your organization AND your community can be documented with data and results of needs assessments
Goals and objectives
- Goals are broad statements
- Objectives are specific & measurable
Project Description (Action Plan)
- Describe exactly how the project will meet the goals and objectives (who, what, when, where, and why)
- Feasibility of proposed approach
- Sound methodology (major steps are explained and are logical and appropriate for Need)
- Workable timeline
- Qualified personnel and partners
Project Significance
- Your project will have impact, both locally and for other communities
- Your project aligns well with the funder's mission and priorities
Budget
- A description of what you need money to do. Typical line-items include salaries and benefits, travel, equipment, materials and supplies, contracts, and other considerations like advertising, printing, or space rental.
Contact Diane Schmitz or Bart Boyer for more information.