Grant Information and Links

Finding a Grant

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This Fundraising & Grants Directory is provided at no cost to visitors. Since 1996 Fundsnet Services has provided resources information about grants, fundraising, philanthropy, foundations and 501(c)(3) non-profits organizations to those in need of funding and research for their their philanthropic efforts and missions.

 
Federal funding information

Finding information and services for nonprofits, including grants.

Writing a Grant

10 Things to Do Before You Write a Grant Proposal

1. Identify your organization's needs. This is much more effective than starting with the grant-making organization and trying to create a project to meet their funding priorities.
2. Identify a project. Look for one that requires outside funding and directly supports your organization's mission and strategic plan.
3. Prepare a concept paper. Describe your project in 2 pages. Include information such as the problem or need the project addresses, previous work undertaken to solve the problem, the proposed solution, required resources (including staff time to prepare the proposal), a timeline, and anticipated outcomes. Although writing the paper may be a lot of work, it will help to clarify and test your ideas and to provide you with information necessary to find an appropriate funder.
4. Research potential funders. If you don't have grants directories and databases of your own, check your local library.
5. Ask your colleagues for advice. People who work in your organization (or in the same field) can often suggest appropriate foundations or grant programs. Members of your board of directors might also know some good sources. Better yet, you might discover that someone in your organization knows a program officer or a board member of a foundation.
6. Identify a funder. Does your organization meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the grant guidelines? Does your organization's philosophy match the foundation's philosophy?
7. Obtain guidelines and information on the application procedure.
8. Read the guidelines, and follow the directions. It sounds simple, but many people miss out on grant money because they don't provide what the grantmaker requests.
9. Ask questions. Unless the guidelines clearly state that you should not approach the grant maker, contact the program officer with any questions. Make sure you are prepared with specific questions before placing the call.
10. Decide who will write the proposal and get started.

Tips on Finding an Appropriate Funder

A proposal must convince the prospective donor of two things: A) that a problem/need of significant magnitude exist; B) that the applicant agency has the means and the imagination to solve the problem and/or meet the need.

Each grant maker is an individual and should be approached in a different way.

Design the project before you go looking for a matching funder.

Funders are a match when they're trying to solve the same problem you are.

Funders match when they fund projects in the area in which your project will be operated.

Funders match when you are eligible according to their policy and your tax status.

Funders match when you're asking for an amount of funds they can and will appropriate.

Grant seeking is a process, not an event.

Grant making is not a charity. It's an investment.

Your only real relationship with the potential funder is the problem. You are both trying to solve the same problem. The proposal tells the potential funder how you intend to do it and why they should invest in you.

Grant makers like to partner on a project. If you have one grant maker willing to invest in your project, it's likely you can attract more.

Most foundations like to establish a personal relationship with potential grantees.

Site visits are common.

When approaching a grant maker, be honest and realistic. Don't play games with your project or your budget.

Eight basic components of a proposal

Summary

Introduction

Problem Statement

Objectives

Methods

Evaluation

Future Funding

Budget (no check list)

Proposal Component Check Lists

Checklist for Proposal Summary

Belongs at the beginning of the proposal

Identifies the grant applicant

Includes at least one sentence on credibility

Includes at least one sentence on problem

Includes at least one sentence on objectives

Includes at least one sentence on methods

Includes total cost, funds already obtained, amount requested in this proposal

Should be brief

Should be clear

Should be interesting

Checklist for Proposal Introduction

Clearly established who is applying for funds

Describes applicant agency purpose and goals

Describes agency programs

Describes clients or constituents

Provides evidence of accomplishment

Offers statistics to support credibility

Offers statements an/or endorsements to support credibility

Supports credibility in program area in which funds are sought

Leads logically to problem statement

Is interesting/ shows enthusiasm?

Is free of jargon

Is brief

Checklist for Problem Statement

Relates to purposes and goals of organization

Is of reasonable dimensions

Is supported by statistical evidence

Is supported by statements from authorities

Is stated in terms of clients or beneficiaries

Is developed with input from clients and beneficiaries

Doesn’t make assumptions

Doesn’t use jargon

Is interesting to read

Checklist for Objectives

Describes problem-related outcomes of your program

Does not describe you methods

Defines the population served

States the time when the objectives will be met

Describes the objectives in numerical terms, if at all possible

Checklist for Methods

Flows naturally from problems and objectives

Clearly describes program activities

States reasons for selection of activities

Describes sequence of activities

Describes staffing of program

Describes clients and client selection

Presents a reasonable scope of activities that can be accomplished within the time allotted for program and within the resources of the applicant.

Checklist for Evaluation

Covers product and process

Tells who will be performing evaluation and how evaluators will be selected

Defines evaluation criteria

Describes data gathering methods

Explains any test instruments or questionnaires to be used

Describes the process of data analysis

Show how evaluation will be used for program improvements

Describes evaluation reports to be produced

Checklist for Future Funding

Presents a plan to provide future funding if program is to be continued

Discusses both maintenance and future program funding if program is for construction

Accounts for other needed expenditures if program includes purchase of equipment