Finding and Utilizing Grant Makers Online
By Cindy Adams, President and CEO, GrantStation, and
Jay Love, President and CEO, eTapestry
Jun 3, 2002, 17:43 PST
Eight Basic Funding Research and Usage Steps
The tracking and securing of grants for any nonprofit organization can significantly shape the financial underpinnings and enlarge its ability to deliver upon the mission for which it exists. This article proposes eight steps for securing grants using available online funding research tools. If all eight steps are followed your success rate for tracking and securing grants will increase dramatically.
Step 1. Begin with an online search (see suggested Web sites below). This is relatively simple if you use a multiple search engine software. We like Copernic.com to help find corporations because it uses dozens of search engines to help you hunt down that elusive corporation. You can download a free version of Copernic 2001 Basic by going to www.copernic.com.
Always look for government sources. If you can't use government grants for some reason, then just skip this step. These are some favorite government Web sites for doing research:
- http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html
This site has well-organized information on government granting agencies. You do have to open this information in either text or pdf, which can be a little time consuming. - http://www.fundsnetservices.com/gov01.htm
This site has lots of government links and is easy to navigate. - http://www.tgci.com/resources/federal/ffed.html
You have access to the Federal Register from this site and fairly good links to other nonprofit information. - http://www.nonprofit.gov/
Nonprofit Gateway provides a very intuitive way to access Federal funding opportunities. - http://ocd.usda.gov/nofa.htm
An easy way to find Notices of Funding Announcements if you have a lead, such as a date of issue, Federal Register number, etc. - http://www.firstgov.gov/
This is a favorite site and easy way to locate government deadlines. - http://www.schoolgrants.org/
This site provides only Federal information regarding grants for K-12 and is quick and easy to use.
You should then look for foundation and corporate grant makers whose giving guidelines fit with your project. Here are the Web sites most often used by clients we deal with:
- http://www.grantshotline.com/
There is information about grant makers on this site but they don't update their site on a regular basis so you needn't check back every week. - http://www.fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/npr-mgt.html
This site provides good, general information on grant makers.
http://www.grantstation.com
This has several useful facets such as a new Funder of the Day profile you can check. You can also register for a free e-newsletter on grant makers.
Here are various e-newsletters you can have delivered to your desktop:
- abes_email_reports@mindspring.com
Abe's is great for upcoming government deadlines. You can also use it to identify new foundation and corporate giving programs. - alert@eno.sciencewise.com
This is mostly obscure science related, government funding but worth adding to your list if this is your area of interest. - JTO-Direct@jointogether.org
Their daily e-newsletter yields information on all sorts of news regarding substance abuse and they often provide funding alerts in this area. It's easy to read. You can go to their Web site to retrieve archived information.
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/funding/0,1858,00.html - seliger@seliger.com
They provide good overall information on grant-makers, but don't provide Web sites, just telephone numbers. This can get frustrating. - http://www.grantstation.com/Insider_signup.asp
The GrantStation Insider provides the latest information on new funding programs and upcoming deadlines. This is a no-cost e-newsletter.
Finding grant makers in the corporate world can be time-consuming. Many corporations include information on their philanthropic activities on the company Web site (not all!) but it can be challenging to find the information you need because the link to the information is usually not clearly labeled on the home page.
Following are several typical links that often occur on corporate homepages that will guide you toward the information you need:
About Us
Corporate Information
Community
The "Community" link usually occurs on the "About Us" page, or the "Corporate Information" page rather than the home page. You can also use the "Site Map" to locate contribution information if the typical links aren't useful. If all else fails, try sending an email through the site requesting information on the corporate contribution program.
Step 2. Once you have accumulated a comprehensive list of potential funders, write, call, or email to request the latest application guidelines and annual report. Another helpful task is to review the funder's IRS Form 990 (use GuideStar at www.guidestar.org). For federal and state sources, be sure and request application packets and a copy of the enacting legislation (which will help you determine what this Federal appropriation is really supposed to be funding).
Step 3. Read through the materials as they arrive and eliminate those that obviously don't fit the proposed project. Your list will shrink considerably. Remember: one strong lead is worth 20 weak ones!
Step 4. Create a brief description of the project and your organization. Compile a list of questions you want to ask each funder. Note the contact people with each organization.
Step 5. After compiling this information we suggest adding these as accounts to your database system. After the basic account and contact information is initiated the various project descriptions can be cut and pasted into most systems. Pay special attention to setting up the network of relationships within your relationship tracking area. You will even see web-based systems in the future where such vital details can be downloaded automatically into the appropriate fields with just a click of the mouse! Integration is crucial here, especially as your work with grants and funders increases. Some web-based database systems already provide links to research based sites. The more details you have that are properly indexed the greater chance of success in most cases.
Step 6. Call the prospective funder. This is the crucial step grant seekers often avoid, but it is by far the most critical element of the funding search process. When you reach your contact person, let him/her know you will take only five to ten minutes of his/her time.
- To make sure you keep your word:
- Keep the discussion brief and focused
- Use your written descriptions from Steps 4 & 5
Set a timer or keep track of time to be sure you take ONLY five to ten minutes
After a few minutes of discussion, you'll have a clear idea if you should pursue this funder.
Step 7. Based upon your research and call, establish a follow-up and critical date/deadline tracking process within your database. If you have the proper database this can easily become part of your calendaring and contact management functions. You and your staff (if appropriate) will be reminded about each approaching date/deadline and have all of the detailed information at your disposal. Such tools once implemented will allow you to expand the number of funding groups you can successfully work with dramatically. Integrated technologies will soon allow your Palm Pilot to alert you to an upcoming grant proposal deadline.
Step 8. Complete a final review of your prospective funders. Eliminate those that won't work. File them for another project, if appropriate. You should have a list of three to five solid leads. Incorporate these leads into a funding strategy for the overall project.
In total, these steps when executed properly should allow larger grant funding and make your life much easier in the pursuit of them. In fact, as more and more of this process migrates online, the use of such steps and tools will allow the gap between the have and have-not organizations in grant related funding to decrease sharply. Best of luck in grant-related endeavors!
Editor's Note: Our thanks to Cindy Adams, President and CEO of GrantStation and Jay Love, President and CEO of eTapestry for their contribution to E-Philanthropy Review.
GrantStation quickly and easily links nonprofits to all current sources of grant money, while also teaching these organizations how to secure available funding.
eTapestry provides Web-based donor management software to nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes.
Listen to our recent interview with Jay Love at: http://charitychannel.com/weinterview/archive/014.htm
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