In my last blog, I shared 5 reasons why your nonprofit organization or business should apply for grants. Now, I would like to share some insight on how to find the right grants to meet your needs.
First, there are countless grants available for both charitable and for-profit organizations. For the most part, funding is derived from the federal or state government, or from a private charity/foundation. Federal grants help fund public projects such as community block programs centered on housing rehabilitation and demolition, while state grants are available for research and development projects and flood mitigation, for example.
Grants available through a private charity or foundation tend to focus on a specific issue – combatting homelessness, for instance – or are earmarked for a target market, such as organizations that serve military veterans, or entities focused on tourism in a particular region or demographic.
For business owners, especially those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration is a great starting point to investigate grant funding and other relief options available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Seeking out and applying for grants can be a full-time job. Thankfully, it does not have to be. Below are some of the best online resources to find grant opportunities tailored to your organization’s needs.
Online grant resources
Grants.gov is a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. The site houses information on more than 1,000 grant programs and reviews grant applications for federal grantors. A mobile app is also available for download, allowing easy search and submissions on the go.
GrantWatch offers more than 26,000 grant opportunities for federal, state, local, foundation and corporations. The search engine offers a free and paid membership service. Free subscribers can preview a brief overview of grants in the database, while paid members can view entire grant details, including eligibility requirements, contact information and application.
Philanthropy News Digest lists RFPs for various grants available to nonprofit organizations. Users can search various categories from three dozen subject areas, including mental health, disabilities, and conservation, to determine if grant opportunities are available to match the charitable organization’s mission. You can also opt to have grant RFPs delivered to your inbox by signing up for their e-newsletter.
Foundation Directory Online offers a three-tiered paid subscription service for use of its grant database. The directory features more than 235,000 grantmaker profiles, as well as more than 1.5 million recipient profiles. Insights from grantmaker profiles include IRS Forms 990 and 990-PF, as well as grantor Websites, annual reports, and printed application guidelines. According to the Website, grantmaker profiles include private and independent foundations, corporate foundations, federal funders, public charities, and international foundations.
Grant Station features grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. Membership is required to access all the features of the online database, including grant opportunities, strategy planning tools, and tutorials. Grant seekers can sign up to receive The GrantStation Insider weekly newsletter via email. The e-newsletter is available at no cost and features up-to-date information on grantmakers, as well as upcoming grant deadlines and more.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all available grant resources, but instead serves as a starting point for your grant funding research and planning. Please feel free to reach out to me if I can provide help.
Katalinas Communications provides fundraising and grant writing services for a number of nonprofit organizations in the greater Philadelphia area. Does your organization need help creating a winning grant application? Email Theresa or call 215-519-8833.
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