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How Do You Find Grants?
Not too long ago,
grant writers had to rely on "hard copy" sources to research
potential funders. That meant haunting libraries and buying
expensive, quickly obsolete directories. Now, of course, a great
deal of information in available on the Internet.
The first place to
look for funders is usually close to home. Community foundations
have been organized in many geographic areas. These foundations are
supported through contributions by citizens, companies and other
foundations.
There are probably
private foundations in your area, as well, established by wealthy
families to support local projects. You may find listings of these
and other foundations in your library, or through your Chamber of
Commerce.
Most large
foundations have websites where you can learn about their
organization, funding cycles, types of support and restrictions.
Each website will usually include a downloadable application for
funding.
Under federal law,
all private foundations, every year, must file a Form 990-PF. This
form is a public record, and it provides very useful information
about the foundation's finances, Board of Directors, and
particularly which grants it has made during the previous year. If
you identify a foundation as promising, be sure and read its 990-PF.
Local corporations
are always a strong potential resource. Companies generally prefer
to support projects where they have a high concentration of
employees. If your city has major manufacturers, or company
headquarters, or inventory centers, research the philanthropic goals
of those companies.
Corporate websites
usually provide information about their giving programs under the
headings "Community" or "Community Involvement". When a corporation
has established its own foundation, the corporate website should
provide a link to the foundation website.
If you discover
your project is outside a local company's usual parameters for
grantsmaking, don't give up. It may still be worthwhile approaching
them if the project will be important to their employees or
customers. Companies also like the visibility they gain when they
underwrite local causes.
Don't limit your
research to local funders, of course. Contact companies whose
corporate mission is in alignment with the goals of your project.
For example, Whole Foods is a chain of natural foods grocery stores.
They like to support (among others) sustainable agriculture
programs. Look for foundations known for supporting certain kinds of
projects.
Government grants
are available through the federal, state or provincial, or local
governments. In the United States, a complete listing of federal
grants appears in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
available at local libraries. Similar listings are available in
other countries.
Your elected
officials are a good resource for information about government
grants. In particular, the office of your local Congressman will
happily provide you with details of programs that make grants in
your area of interest. For state grants, the Office of the Governor
usually maintains information they make available to citizens. On a
local level, you can contact the Office of the Mayor or City
Manager, as well as County Commissioners or Board of Supervisor
members.
If you would like
to learn how to write grants for a community project, or to start a
new career as a Certified Grant Writer, check out our Grants
Training Classes at:
www.GrantMeRich.com/classes.htm
2008 (c)
Live Oak Tree, LLC
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