Resources

Finding the Right Funder

An increasing number of organizations are turning to foundations and private donors to diversify their funding. For those of us who have been trained on federal grants and NOFOs, foundation announcements can feel like unfamiliar terrain. By design, foundation guidelines are less detailed and specific than government ones. Knowing the unwritten rules of this type of funding can put you ahead of the competition. So how do you know whether you’re a good fit for a foundation funder? Here are some tricks of the trade:

Precedent: You can get a good sense of the type of organization a foundation will support by looking at who they’ve granted to historically (note: funder preferences do change, so always cross-reference with the current announcement and website!). Ask yourself if your organization or project is similar in size, mission/focus, and region (if applicable), to previous recipients. Pro tip: Reference the funder’s 990. Private foundations are required to make their tax filings public, so you can check out who they’ve funded, and for what and how much.

Initiate: Foundations don’t always have a guided pre-application process . Our rule here is, if any type of contact information is listed on the website or announcement – and we do mean any – use it! If you get a response, turn it into a strategic opportunity. Introduce your project and discuss why it’s important. Ask questions about what the funder’s priorities are for the current grant cycle, and then listen carefully. In these instances, it quite literally pays to ask!

Need help crafting a stellar proposal to match that opportunity? Contact us!