Printer Friendly" Where shall I begin?" he asked." Begin at the beginning," the King said, "and stop when you get to the end " - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Grant writing may seem overwhelming, but with a plan and practice, you can write a grant. Take it one step at a time. Follow instructions. Be thorough and honest. Be persistent and believe in what you are doing. Thousands of private charitable foundations exist to give away money and promote certain interests. Because foundations enjoy special tax privileges, they are required to donate at least five percent of the market value of their assets to charitable causes. The Foundation Directory is the major print listing of major foundations. It lists more than 3,000 foundations with assets of over $1 million or more. The Pollard Library in Lowell at 401 Merrimack Street (978-970-4120) has a copy, and is a great place to start. Using reference sources in a library and computerized databases, you can narrow your search to perhaps a half dozen foundations that make grants in your field and in your geographic location. (See tip sheet on internet searches.) Research the foundation's priorities, geographic areas served, number of grants awarded annually and to whom, the average size of the grants and whether they distribute other resources. Follow the instructions, writing in a clear, concise manner. Illustrate your needs are unique and your solution effective. Look for opportunities where the funding source's goals and your expertise match.
Different Types of Foundations
- Special purpose or operating foundations are dedicated to only one project, organization or program.
- Community foundations serve a specific geographical area, usually a city or several counties.
- General-purpose foundations are usually larger and heavily funded, with broad areas of interest, often national in scope.
- Family Foundations are controlled by family members and may be either large or small.
- Corporate foundations usually give funds to areas that will provide some benefit to the company's interests, often earmarked for the community where the corporation does business.
Government Grants
Government agencies often have funds available for pilot projects, start-up grants, research grants or ongoing funding grants (please see tipsheet) How to Search for Grants on the Internet for ideas on finding information on these grants). Different layers of government exist, each with its own structure and procedures. Local, municipal and state governments are all potential sources of funds. Government agencies may want to experiment with new and innovative approaches and will ask for proposals for such projects. Government agencies may also be established to assist small struggling organizations or programs. The National Endowment for the Arts, for example, was specifically established to fund artists and to underwrite projects that otherwise might not be produced.
Five Basic Steps
- Identify prospective sources of funds. Target those that are most likely.
- Establish contact and nurture prospective sources.
- Prepare and submit a written proposal.
- Follow up on that submission.
- Say thank you.
by Sheri G. Denk
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