Nonprofit Technology News Tech Tips
Grant Resources Online E-mail
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 
Written by Lorna Doone Brewer   
Thursday, 01 May 2008 18:00

Deli.cio.us    Digg    reddit    Facebook    StumbleUpon    Newsvine
ImageGrants sometimes make up the backbone of nonprofit funding, especially for newer organizations that don't yet have their own sources of support. The Internet has created new grant opportunities that make a nonprofit organization's development department a little less stressed than it was in days gone by. That's not to say the researching and writing grants is simple, by any stretch of the imagination, but online resources have certainly taken some of the legwork out of the process.

The Internet has especially simplified the research step of the grant search. Not only are there online databases of funders, but many foundations have their own web sites. Likewise, many companies have special pages on their sites to highlight their corporate giving or community outreach programs. Each of these resources generally includes:

  • The funder's name and contact information
  • Their areas of interest
  • Guidelines for applying
  • Projects they have funded in the past
It can still be worthwhile to spend some time in the library using printed resources for your research, but the Internet is definitely a tool that you should be using, too. One of the most useful sites is The Foundation Center. Their mission is to " . . . strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy." They do this by hosting sort of a clearing house of information, including a great database of grantmaking foundations. There is a subscription fee for this service, although there are enough free resources on the site to make it a worthwhile visit for any development professional.

In addition to lists and databases of funders, many sites also offer tutorials on how to write and submit grant proposals, too. A few other useful online grant resources include:

These are just a few of the grant resources available online. Determining if your organizaiton fits the guidelines, crafting a great proposal, and meeting deadlines are still all up to you, but at least these sites give you a leg up on the research portion of your project.

Good luck!


Lorna Doone Brewer
About the author:
Lorna Doone Brewer is a freelance writer and entrepreneur in Spokane, Washington. After earning a B.A. in Theatre Arts at Gonzaga University, she took her love for the arts and social justice one step further by pursuing an M.A. in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Nonprofit Organizations. Along with her business partner, Tamara Berry, Lorna combined this education with a passion for writing to found the Berry-Brewer Freelance Agency. The company produces a variety of materials for businesses, with a special focus on nonprofit organizations. From grants to web content, Lorna and the entire Berry-Brewer Freelance Agency strive to help each organization fulfill its mission.


< Prev   Next >
 

Add your comment

Your name:
Subject:
Comment:
  The word for verification. Lowercase letters only with no spaces.
Word verification:
yvComment v.1.22.0