Fundraising For Dummies by John Mutz

Author:John Mutz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2010-03-08T16:00:00+00:00

Getting any grant at all — regardless of the size or the source — is a seal of approval for other funders. The fact that you’ve secured funding is an encouraging sign to those who may consider funding you in the future because it shows that someone already thinks your organization is worth investing in.

The next step after you receive one grant is to research foundations and corporations not found locally that are similar in mission to the foundation that has already awarded you a grant. Review your proposal, and revise it to mention the money you’re getting from the local foundation. Then make a trip to your nearest library. Get your hands on a foundation reference book (see the list of resources in the “Resources for grant research” sidebar), and begin your search for foundations that are a good match for the program or project you seek to fund.

On the Foundation Center Web site (www.foundationcenter.org), you can search the Foundation Finder database to find good foundation matches. You pay a subscription fee, but depending on the types of grants you receive as a result, the price may be well worth paying.

Digging deeper to find the right grantor

Foundation and corporation reference books, as well as foundation Web sites, provide a wealth of information about the grant makers you want to investigate. But which pieces of information are important? What data should you pay the most attention to? As you dig deeper in your search for the right funder, find the following information about each corporation or foundation you’re considering as a potential funder:

The types of programs the corporation or foundation funds: Many foundations support a wide range of program areas in varying degrees. Read carefully through the program priorities of the foundations you’re researching. This information helps you determine which candidates are most likely to fund your particular project and which ones are the long shots.

The average grant amount: The reference books list both a grant range (from smallest to largest) and an average grant amount. If you’re seeking $120,000, you know you’re way off base when you’re considering approaching a foundation with a $35,000 average award.

The number of grants awarded last year: Obviously, the greater the number of grants awarded, the better your chances of winning a grant. Numbers can be deceiving in this regard, though, because the foundation probably also receives a greater number of proposals than smaller foundations, which means more competition for you. More important is how closely your program fits its mission and how clearly you make that connection.

The time of year, or specific date, when the organization accepts proposals: Different foundations have different proposal time frames, usually connected to when the staff or board discusses grant possibilities. Submit your proposal in plenty of time to make the deadline.

The submission process the foundation or corporation wants you to follow: Some funders want letters of inquiry (see the next section for an explanation of these letters); others want full proposals; still others invite personal visits.

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