An Insider’s Guide to Finding Foundation Funding – Part 2
Research Strategies and Finding Information
Determining which foundations might be willing to fund your organization should not resemble finding a needle in a haystack. The information is out there, you just need to know what you need and where to get it.
The first step in the grantseeking process is to make a list of the names and addresses of foundations that might support your organization or the project in question.
The most comprehensive listing of grants and grantmakers can be found in the network of libraries around the United States affiliated with the Foundation Center (foundationcenter.org). The Foundation Center libraries have a range of directories that provide information on specific foundations. They also have specialized funding directories that cover particular fields of interest, geographic locations, and types of support
Your local public library can also be a good source of information. Reference librarians are underutilized gems who can help find books on researching foundations. And if they are not in the library’s collection, they may be able to order them from regional libraries.
Finally, there is a wide range of independent books and magazines that are available for purchase. A few places to get started include: The Grassroots Fundraising Journal (grassrootsfundraising.org), Klein & Roth Consulting (kleinandroth.com/books), Andy Robinson Consulting (andyrobinsononline.com), and books published by Wiley/Jossey-Bass (wiley.com). This is by no means an exhaustive list of options. Merely a starting point.
Once you have compiled all the information you need, you are ready for the next step – contacting the grantmakers!