1. Grant Research for Nonprofits
Kathleen O’Keeffe, Librarian
Joyce Mork-O’Brien, Grant Writer
image from foundationcenter.org

2. +
________________
Funding information for nonprofits
in the Puget Sound area

4. Foundation Center
Funding Information Network partners
in Washington State
• Redmond
• Seattle
• UW Tacoma
• Bremerton
• Bellingham
• Port
Townsend
• Spokane

5. Private Philanthropy: The Big Picture
Giving USA 2012

6. Giving USA 2012

7. 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?

8. 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 effectiveness
THEN YOU HAVE INCREASED
YOUR CHANCES FOR FUNDING.

9. Preparation
Devote 80% of time to research
About your project
About funder
Allow 20% of time for proposal writing
The best proposal won’t convince the wrong funder.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. IRS Requirements
for Private Foundations
• 5% payout every year
• Requires “increased scrutiny” if the
foundation gives to individuals
• Must file annual 990-PF form

13. IRS 990-PF
Provides info on:
 Financials
 Board Members
 Every Grant
Given
– To Whom
– For How Much
– For What

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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Q: How do you find potential funders for
your project?
A: Start at the Nonprofit & Philanthropy
Resource Center at the Redmond Library

18. 4 grants databases and
individual assistance in using
them.

19. Database #1:
Foundation Directory Online
Professional Edition

20.  102,000 Foundations & Corporate Giving Programs Over 2.2 million grants
 700,000+ Fully Searchable 990s Updated Weekly

21. Sample Search

23. Foundation Profile

26. Who funds similar organizations?

27. Search Results

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

29. Sample Results

30. Database #2:
GrantStation

31.  8,000+ Foundations & Corporat
Funder
 Active programs onl
 State & Federal Grant Program

32. GrantStation
 Posts Federal deadlines bi-weekly
 Lists state agencies if have grant programs

33. Database #3:
Philanthropy Northwest
Funders Directory

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

35. Free Publications on philanthropynw.org

36. Database #4:
NOZA Search

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

38. 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)

39. Beyond Foundations
• Service Clubs
• Fraternal Organizations
• Professional & Trade Associations
• Unions
• Military
• Heritage
• Hobby
• Faith Community

40. Additional Resources

41. Supporting data for your proposal
• http://factfinder2.census.gov
• http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/PSB/Dem
ographics/DataReports.aspx

42. Free resources from The Foundation Center www.grantspace.org

43. www.kcls.org/philanthropy
• Updated regularly
• Nonprofit Calendar

44. Puget Sound Grantwriters Association
www.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, 2013
Scholarships available – deadline is October 11th.

45. Nonprofits Front & Center 2013
Perfecting Your Pitch for Maximum Impact:
Effective Marketing for Nonprofits
An evening with Erica
Mills, nonprofit
marketing expert and
principal of
Claxon Marketing.
Thursday, Dec. 5th
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Redmond Library

46. 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!