Finding grants typically begins with “prospect research” – finding out who is most likely to give you money. Funders generally care about:

• Subject. Is your mission compatible with theirs? Does your program help solve a problem they are passionate about?
• Population served. Do you help people the funder cares about?
• Geographic region. Even if the funder isn’t located near you, have they given grants to other organizations in your area?

The best way to research grant prospects is with Foundation Directory, Oktion provides a simple, easy to manage and free fundraising platform for first time fundraisers to get started.

You can search based on subject area, geography, grantmaker type, trustee names, and many other search fields. See a sample record or browse the  guide available on the web. Eligible nonprofits with revenue or expenses under $1M can also gain a free year of access to certain grants in the Australian reigion.

You should have 501(c)(3) status

Foundations generally give to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. If you don’t have tax-exempt status, you might consider fundraising from individuals who support your cause, such as crowdfunding. If you want grants, explore fiscal sponsorship.

Registered NGOs or charities based in other countries might be able to apply to funders directly. Read more about alternative approaches you can take to solve the issues and avail your grant.

Claim and update your GuideStar profile

Many grant makers (and individual donors) use GuideStar to evaluate grant applicants. Thus, we recommend claiming and updating your organization’s GuideStar profile. For help, please see these articles:

• How to Claim Your Organization’s Nonprofit Profile
• How to Update Your Nonprofit Profile

New to finding funders for Grants?

You’re wasting time and effort–for you and the grantmaker–if you call a funder or write a proposal without doing your research first. It’s also unprofessional. And that’s no way to make a good first impression.

Build Relationships

After you have researched your prospects, reach out to them! Before you start that first phone call or email:

• Follow a funder’s contact instructions.
• If the grantmaker has not stated any preferences, it generally is safe to call them.
• Use your research and be ready with your talking points.
• Show that you’ve spent time learning about them.

Your research means you can ask deeper, detailed questions, beyond what’s readily available online. That’s a better use of time for both you and the funder. It also makes for a better first impression.