Where to Find Grants Online

Philanthropy News Digest

For those without subscriptions, this is a great first step at searching for foundation related support.

Simply type in key terms to find recent organizations that have funded similar projects, then search on google or foundationcenter.org to find their websites or contact info. You may be able to also find recently released Requests for Proposals (also called RFP’s), which are grants open for application.

All-Star Tip: Sign up for their regular newsletters by topic and keep your eyes peeled for the next big release online.

Other Foundation Searches

Simply try Google, and look up “receives a grant for blank” or “releases funds to blank.” Then follow the same process above by filtering through press releases in your project location or topic field.

Banks or Community Foundations often hold and manage trusts for others.  Look through the managed trust section of multiple banks online to find a likely fund that may work for you.

All-Star Tip: Foundations like to fund similar projects, contact the grant program or foundation manager to see if you’re a fit for this grant or others.

State and local funding are also out there!

Be sure to check the “grants” section under your state, county, and city departments such as the Department of Education, Department of Justice, and others.

Remember each site operates completely differently, so prepare yourself for some patience and digging. These opportunities, while difficult to find, typically have less competition and are specific to your location. This makes finding a fit for your organization more likely.

All-Star Tip: Use other identifiers besides “Grant” on these sites such as Request for Proposals or RFP, Funding Opportunity Announcement or FOA, Request for Applications or ROA, etc. You may also have to check their bidding and contracts site to become a sub-recipient of a large grant awarded to your state, this is dependent on the respective state policy.

Corporate Sponsorship and Giving programs:

Look into the corporations that are linked to your project for their corporate giving and foundation sections, such as technology grants. Some examples include Best Buy Foundation or Lenovo Corporate Responsibility.

These amounts can range anywhere from grants of $100,000 for scalable projects, to small internal sponsorships for events in the amount of $250-$5,000.  These gifts can be easily attainable with a phone call to organizations you do business with such as your bank or other vendors.

All-Star Tip: Keep your relationships flowing and then so will the money.  Many sponsors become regular annual participants!

Best of luck with your search for grants online!

Be sure to review your list thoroughly for a best fit for your project.  Grant selection is equally as important as the research done.  Be sure to speak with program officers for advice and likelihood of funding, it will go a long way! From there, be sure to review all of the guidelines!  Then you are off to the next phase of grant writing.