Fundraising

• Websites to track and find grants
• Grantwriting Tips and Tools

Websites to Track and Find Grants

• Grants.gov
  http://www.grants.gov/
  This site is a “storefront” to find, apply for, and manage grants from the Federal government. It covers 26 Federal organizations (including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

• Philanthropy News Digest RFP Bulletin
  http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/
  Search recently released request for proposals (RFPs) by topic, and learn more about the funding agency.  Better yet, subscribe to the free RFP Bulletin , and receive weekly email notifications of new private and corporate funding opportuntities.

• The Grantsmanship Center
  http://www.tgci.com/magazine/archives.html
  http://www.tgci.com/resources/federal/fedgov.htm
  The first link allows you to search the extensive archive of articles concerning proposal writing, fundraising, and managing an effective nonprofit organization. Nonprofit and government agency staff can subscribe to the magazine for free. The second provides links to federal departments that offer funding.

• Grants Alert.com
  www.grantsalert.com
  Focused on education fundraising, Grants Alert.com provides funding updates, a searchable database of funders, tools and special information for teachers.

• 990 Forms - The Foundation Center
  http://lnp.fdncenter.org/finder.html
  Type in the name of a foundation and view their latest Form 990. The 990 lists all grants made to nonprofits during the year and the amount of each award. Also use the 990 to verify the foundation's contact information.

Back To Top

Grant Writing Tips and Tools

• Proposal Writing Short Course
  http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html
  Find a description of key components of every proposal as well as links to FAQs and other useful grant writing resources from The Foundation Center.

• CSC Non-Profit Resource Center
  http://home.comcast.net/~cscunningham/sources.htm
  Detailed list of must have information before you approach a foundation or corporation for funding.

• Proposal Checklist
  http://www.research.vcu.edu/grant/ProposalCheck.htm
  Sixteen-step checklist walks you through everything from the search for funders to preparing and submitting your proposal.

• Community Tool Box
  http://ctb.ku.edu/
  Over 6,000 pages of practical skill-building information on over 250 different topics including step-by-step instruction, examples, checklists, and related resources. Sample topics on sustainability include:

  • Developing a Plan for Financial Sustainability
  • Designing & Implementing a Fundraiser
  • Soliciting Contributions & In-kind Support

• Associated Grant Makers
  http://www.agmconnect.org/
  Access online Common Grant proposal and reporting forms as well as tips on finding funders and writing effective grants.

• The Foundation Center
  http://lnp.fdncenter.org/finder.html
  Supports grantseekers by providing publications, research, and news of the happenings in philanthropy. The Foundation Center offers free services such as the Philanthropy News Digest—an e-newsletter of happenings in the funding world. A large amount of helpful, well-organized data is available in the Researching Philanthropy section of the website.

• Tool for Assessing Startup Organizations
  http://www.geofunders.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=356
  GEO, an affinity group of funders interested in advancing and expanding the practices of the philanthropy and nonprofit communities, provides Tool for Assessing Startup Organizations that can help you evaluate your start-up nonprofit against the criteria grantmakers are considering.

Back To Top

As always, we would like to hear from you! Contact us with comments.