Cain Nonprofit Solutions - 3 Resources to Help You Find Grants

If your arts nonprofit organization hasn’t written or received many grants in the past, then you may now be wondering how in the heck people even track down grant opportunities. Especially if the grants you have encountered fell in your lap because of someone you knew or another organization you may have partnered with.

I’m not going to make this post super-long, but I do want to give you some resources to go to so you can start researching good grantmaker prospects.

Here’s my Top 3 Fave Grant-Finding Resources:

#1 – Foundation Directory Online (FDO)

This one is a service of Foundation Center and it’s my go-to for finding foundation-level grants. As claimed on their website, up to 90% of small foundations don’t have websites (why?!) so Google won’t help you find this hidden treasure trove of prospects.

To access it you either need a membership (which can be pricey) or you can check with your local library. It’s been my experience that many libraries retain a membership and allow library patrons to utilize the service through them. Definitely call and check.

#2 – Google

Oh Google, you truly are the best free research assistant anyone could ask for. And while that’s true, I’m still not just setting you adrift on Google with no guidance. Start by searching for local community foundations, which are your safest bet for funding. You should also look for local companies and corporations. Many have attached foundations or giving programs.

Next, start looking at national-level companies who may have a presence or workforce in your region. They often have charitable foundations (examples being Honda or US Bank).

Finally, type in what your organization does + “grants” and see what you get. You might be surprised at how effective this can be. (ex: symphony orchestra grants, community theater grants, etc.)

#3 – Grants.gov

This website will help you track down federal grants. Fair warning: writing and submitting a federal grant is HARD WORK. It takes a ton of time and you may need some help or guidance your first time out. Having said that, it’s doable and there are lots of good resources right on the grants.gov website to help guide you through the process.

Go forth and find grants, my friends!

And while you’re at it, make sure you’re truly grant-ready so that you are as competitive as possible for grant awards. I can help you do that with my Grant Readiness Toolkit. Click here to get your hands on a copy of the Toolkit.

You should also check out my “What to Look for in a Funder” Guide also so you know how to effectively evaluate grant prospects. To get it, fill out the form below and hit ‘I WANT IT’. I’ll send it to your inbox right away!