Grant Research for Nonprofits

Grant Research for Nonprofits Kathleen O’Keeffe, Librarian

Joyce Mork-O’Brien, Grant Writer

image from foundationcenter.org

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Funding information for nonprofits in the Puget Sound area

Foundation CenterFunding Information Network partners

in Washington State

• Redmond• Seattle• UW Tacoma• Bremerton

•Bellingham• Port Townsend• Spokane

Private Philanthropy: The Big Picture

Giving USA 2012

Giving USA 2012

As you consider grants . . .

Note to self: you are looking for a grant to meet a community need, not the needs of your organization.

What needs are you meeting?

What are your specific goals?

How much do you need?

Who are you serving?

What is the time frame?

How will you measure the success of your project?

What kind of support are you seeking?

IF Your Project:

Fills a demonstrated need in a distinctive way

Includes alliances with other orgs working on related issues

Is realistic in scope

Demonstrates your capacity to manage it properly and report on its effectivenessTHEN YOU HAVE

INCREASED YOUR CHANCES FOR FUNDING.

Preparation

Devote 80% of time to researchAbout your projectAbout funder

Allow 20% of time for proposal writing

The best proposal won’t convince the wrong funder.

Types of Foundations: Private

• Nongovernmental, nonprofit organization (specific legal entity)

• Have own funds or endowment• Three types:– Independent– Operating– Corporate

Average foundation grant for past decade: $5000.

Corporate Foundations

– Separate legal entities, maintain close ties with the parent company. Their giving usually reflects company interests.

– Must meet the public disclosure requirements of foundations.

– Have small endowments.

Average corporate gift in last decade = $2500.

IRS Requirementsfor Private Foundations

• 5% payout every year

• Requires “increased scrutiny” if the foundation gives to individuals

• Must file annual 990-PF form

IRS 990-PFProvides info on:

FinancialsBoard

MembersEvery Grant

Given– To Whom– For How Much– For What

Sample 990 PF: List of Grants Made by Aven Foundation in 2011excerpt

Public Foundations (or Charities)• Community foundations

– Seattle Foundation– Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

• Population or issue-oriented funds– MS Foundation– Sierra Club

Public charities file IRS 990

Not Foundations:Corporate Giving Programs

– Not separate legal entities - no public reporting requirement, no endowments

– May include employee matching gifts and in-kind gifts

– Programs are designed to benefit employees

and families, or communities with company operations

– May include sponsorships, employee volunteers, board members.

Q: How do you find potential funders for your project?

A: Start at the Nonprofit & Philanthropy Resource Center at the Redmond Library

4 grants databases and individual assistance in

using them.

Database #1:Foundation Directory Online

Professional Edition

102,000 Foundations & Corporate Giving Programs Over 2.2 million grants

700,000+ Fully Searchable 990s Updated Weekly

Sample Search

Results

Foundation Profile

Who funds similar organizations?

Search Results

Sample 990 Search

SPECIAL FEATURE OF FDO: 990S ARE SEARCHABLE BY KEYWORD OR PHRASE

Sample Results

Database #2:GrantStation

8,000+ Foundations & Corporate Funders

Active programs only State & Federal Grant Programs

International Grants Excellent articles

GrantStation

Posts Federal deadlines bi-weekly Lists state agencies if have grant programs

Database #3:Philanthropy Northwest

Funders Directory

• Give $750 Million Annually• WA, OR, ID, MT, AK, WY• 194 Foundations & Corporations

Free Publications on philanthropynw.org

Database #4:NOZA Search

Foundations, Corporations, Individuals Adds 1,000,000 Grant records monthly Search by category, amount, city or state

Further Research

• Learn as much as you can about the funding source – from their website (if they have one)– Study 2 or 3 years of 990s– Find newspaper and magazine articles (use periodical

databases from www.kcls.org)

Beyond Foundations

• Service Clubs• Fraternal Organizations• Professional & Trade Associations• Unions• Military• Heritage• Hobby• Faith Community

Additional Resources

Supporting data for your proposal

• http://factfinder2.census.gov

• http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/PSB/Demographics/DataReports.aspx

Free resources from The Foundation Center www.grantspace.org

www.kcls.org/philanthropy

• Updated regularly• Nonprofit

Calendar

Puget Sound Grantwriters Associationwww.grantwriters.org

• 6 lunchtime meetings per year, at the REI Flagship Store in Seattle

• Sample topics from this year: • The Secrets of Site Visits• Next Generation Philanthropists• Program Evaluation: Perspectives from Puget

Sound Funders and Nonprofit Leaders

• Annual Conference: Nov. 1, 2013Scholarships available – deadline is October 11th.

Nonprofits Front & Center 2013Perfecting Your Pitch for Maximum Impact:

Effective Marketing for Nonprofits

An evening with Erica Mills, nonprofit marketing

expert and principal of Claxon Marketing.

Thursday, Dec. 5th7:00 – 8:30 pm

Redmond Library

Nonprofit & Philanthropy Resource Center

• Free access to grants databases• Free instruction on conducting database searches• Materials on nonprofits, fundraising, grant writing• Workshops

Check our website and calendar often!