Research is perhaps the
most important part of raising money. Figuring out where to apply, what
kind of opportunities you are eligible for, and which funders are most
interested in your work can be a very complicated and time-consuming
process. We'd all like a shortcut to
success when it comes to filling the coffers, but building good knowledge of
and relationships with grantmaking entities
takes effort and focus.
Here are a few basic
strategies every grant seeker can effectively employ to narrow the field and
target proposals to the very best prospects for funding:
·
Take the bulls-eye approach, and start in the center – funders in your local
community are the most likely to be aware of your purpose and mission, and
invested in supporting your activities. Next, look at funding sources in your
county, region, state, and so on.
·
Sign up for state,
federal, and foundation listservs related to your issue
area, to receive email notices about new RFPs and grant
competitions as they become available. These resources will deliver
the latest opportunities right to your in box, often on a daily or weekly
basis. Examples of available lists you can join include:
·
Visit the Foundation
Center library closest to your area. They have twenty cooperating collections in
Texas, which provide the public with free access to databases, prospect
research tools, even one-to-one assistance from a librarian or staff member.
Learn how to identify foundations and donors interested in your work, or use
the powerful information gathering resources to craft a proposal that reflects
the best match of your needs to a donor’s interests. For a list of cooperating
collections located throughout the state of Texas, visit http://foundationcenter.org/collections/cctx.html.
·
Do some
detective work – take notice of funders who are giving to other organizations in
your geographical area, and to nonprofits providing similar services or
programs anywhere in the state. Make note of news stories about prominent
philanthropists or businesspeople interested in the same problems or issues you
are working to address, and find out if they are associated with a foundation
or corporate giving program to which you might apply.
·
When you do find common ground with a grantmaking entity,
whether you are responding to an open call for proposals or your ideas simply
fit the stated funding strategy, talk to
a live human being there before asking for money. Most grant officers are
happy to discuss the application process, guidelines, and even the basics of
your pitch to determine whether a request is appropriate. Even if your first
shot at a proposal is discouraged, these kinds of conversations allow you to
learn more about the funder, and vice versa. Good relationships can develop, as
can a match between your needs and their giving strategy down the road.
·
Perform regular, targeted
searches on the Internet, and bookmark websites and resource lists that compile grant
notices or foundation profiles related to your work. Our Grant Research Links page
will lead you to a few examples of good research sites, but there are many more
out there.
