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Proposal Writing and Program Development
Foundation Directory | Federal Government Sites | State and Local Resources | Other Sources | Statistics | Subscription Databases for Grants | Writing Resources | Evaluating Free Web Material
Foundation Directory Online
This is an important source for locating private funding. It includes almost 80,000 U.S. foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmaking public charities. For some, extensive program details, detailed application guidelines and sponsoring company information for corporate givers is available. This service also includes a searchable file of more than half a million grants that have been awarded. You can search by the grantmaker's fields of interest for giving, geographic location, and more. Both the Search Foundations database and the Search Grants database are updated every week. You may add one or more of the following search strategies to your search.
- Suggested strategy to search for grants or funders for New York outside the New York City area: In the Geographic Focus or Recipient State box, enter New York. In the text search box enter
- NOT "giving primarily in New York City" NOT "metropolitan New York" NOT "giving limited to New York City"
- Suggested strategy to exclude grants or funders that say they don't accept applications or only give to pre-selected organizations: In the text search box enter
- NOT "pre-selected organizations" NOT "pre-selected entity" NOT "applications not accepted"
- Suggested strategy to find grants' or funders' records that have the word Syracuse or Onondaga in it:
At the end of other items you enter in the text search box, enter AND Syracuse OR Onondaga
- For example
NOT "pre-selected organizations" NOT "pre-selected entity" NOT "applications not accepted" AND Syracuse OR Onondaga
National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities "The Foundation Center's Grants Classification system uses the well-known National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) for its subject/field of activity term list."
Federal Government Websites
Federal sites for finding funding
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
This is the "ultimate" source for finding federal grant opportunites. CFDA gives you access to a database of all federal programs available to state and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals. You can search this database to find assistance programs meeting your requirements and for which you are eligible. You can then contact the office that administers the program and find out how to apply. The CFDA Web Site is updated as often as daily.
- To search for grants for your topic: Click "Search for Assistance Programs (HTML) " and click "Find a Grant"
- FedBizOpps
"Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) is the official single point of entry for parties interested in doing business with the Federal government." Notices for actions over $25,000 must generally be posted on the site.
- Search suggestions: Go to Vendors and Find Opportunities, then Advanced Search. Under "Classification code" you may want to use "G- Social Services." You may also limit your search by the relevant agencies, such as Department of Health and Human Services, National Council on Disability, and others.
- Grants.gov
The link for "Find Grant Opportunities" offers a search form that attempts to provide a one-stop shop for all information and communication relating to finding and applying for competitive grant opportunities. The Office of Federal Financial Management issued a policy directive (.pdf) requiring that all Federal agencies post grant opportunities online as of November 7, 2003. Not all of the grants listed in Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance appear to be included in Grants.gov
Specific federal government agencies' websites for finding funding
- GrantsNet
Links to agencies within the US Dept. of Health and Human Services that list funding opportunities on their websites. "HHS is the largest granting agency in the federal government, awarding approximately 60,000 grants each year." You will also generally find these opportunities listed in CFDA.
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- National Institute of Justice
- NIAAA - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
Other federal sites to know about
- LSU Libraries Federal Agency Directory
This site is not for locating funding resources directly. It is a directory intended for people who know the agency they need but don't know the web address (see FirstGov.gov to search by subject). The site lists current/active/existing U. S. Federal Government agencies as represented in the United States Government Manual. Indentations will inform the reader of the institution's place in the hierarchy. There are no annotations. The site is maintained by a partnership of Louisiana State University and the Federal Depository Library Program.
- USA.gov for Nonprofits
USA.gov is an interagency initiative administered by the U.S. General Services Administration. Offers links to some of the same resources you will get to from other resources on this page.
- Federal Register
"used by many Federal agencies to announce grant opportunities of interest to universities and nonprofits. When browsing the Federal Register, check for new grant opportunities under the heading Notices." - Office of Sponsored ProgramsState and local resources
- New York State foundations : a comprehensive directory
This directory is published by the Foundation Center. The 7th edition, published in 2001, is the most recent, and it is available in the on the first floor of Bird Library in the Reference area. Call number HV98.N7 N57
- Gorman Foundation
" The Gorman Foundation is a family foundation in upstate New York. It was established in January 2003 with a bequest from Alice M. Gorman who passed away from breast cancer in June 2002. "
- Rochester Area Community Foundation
"Rochester Area Community Foundation is a nonprofit grant making institution that helps preserve and enhance the quality of life in the Genesee Valley region of upstate New York."
- Rosamund Gifford Foundation
"The Rosamond Gifford Charitable Corporation is one of several charitable foundations dedicated to addressing the educational, scientific, social, and religious needs of the Syracuse and Onondaga County community."
- Snow Foundation
"The Foundation responds to the ever-changing needs of various segments of the population of Central and Northern New York State, especially to the needs of young people and people who are disadvantaged either physically or economically. "
- Community Foundation for Buffalo
"The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is a partnership of donors, nonprofit organizations, and the community working together to strengthen our region and find solutions to the pressing needs of Western New York."
- Central New York Community Foundation
"Servicing a full spectrum of opportunities and needs, the Central New York Community Foundation seeks to construct a strong network of engagement throughout Onondaga and Madison Counties with our grantseekers. In addition to competitive grants awarded quarterly, the Foundation administers a number of special initiatives and training opportunities."
- Grants available in New York State
Points to grant opportunities in education, criminal justice, disability assistance, health, alcoholism and substance abuse services, etc.
Other Sources of grant information on the free web
- Council on Foundations(COF) is a membership organization of more than 2,000 grantmaking foundations and giving programs worldwide. It "provides leadership expertise, legal information and networking opportunities - among other services - to our members and to the general public."
- Foundation Center Online This organization produces and sells the FC Search CD-ROM, which is available in the library, as listed above. It also offers several resources for free on the web, including the following:
Finding Funders 990-PF Search You can find a copy of 990-PF tax form and amount of assets for a particular foundation. "The IRS requires that every private foundation file a 990-PF each year. IRS returns provide basic financial data, a complete grants list, the names of the foundation's trustees and officers, and other information on the foundation."
Anatomy of the Form 990-PF This shows where on the 990-PF you can find useful information.
Foundation Finder If you know the name of a foundation, you can find additional basic information about it here.
FC Stats Offers statistics such as geographic distribution of grants awarded and
grant dollars received by state, top 10 states by foundation grant dollars received, distribution of grants by subject categories, and grants by population served.
- Grantsmart.org GrantSmart is an operating non-profit 501(c)3 foundation. Its purpose is to facilitate communication between grantmakers and grantseekers by making public records filed by grantmakers available for public view. Unlike individual or corporate tax returns, Federal tax returns filed by non-profit organizations such as private foundations and charitable trusts are public records. GrantSmart is staffed by information technology professionals on a volunteer or reduced-fee basis.
- Philanthropy News Digest- Request For Proposals Bulletin
Philanthropy News Digest is a news service from Foundation Directory. "The RFP (Request for Proposals) Bulletin is published every Friday afternoon. Each RFP listing provides a brief overview of a current funding opportunity offered by a foundation or other grantmaking organization. Interested applicants should read the full RFP at the grantmaker's Web site or contact the grantmaker directly for complete program guidelines and eligibility requirements before submitting a proposal to that grantmaker."
- Funders for Gay and Lesbian Issues
Includes a funding directory which "provides information on potential funders for organizations and projects working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. All of the organizations listed have provided financial support to LGBT programs. However, the extent of support varies greatly, from exclusive funding of LGBT projects, to awarding a single grant to a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender organization."
- The Grantsmanship Center- Funding Sources
Offers another way to search much of the same information you can find from other resources listed on this page. Under Funding Sources tab, you can get a list of top grantmaking foundations by state, community foundations by state, and corporate giving programs by state. Also lists international funding sources.
- Guidestar
Search for copies of an organization's 990-PF here. Free registration is required. "The IRS requires that every private foundation file a 990-PF each year. IRS returns provide basic financial data, a complete grants list, the names of the foundation's trustees and officers, and other information on the foundation."
- National Center for Charitable Statistics The National Center for Charitable Statistics is the national clearinghouse of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. NCCS is a program of the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy (CNP) at the Urban Institute.
- University of Michigan School of Social Work - Grants, Etc
"You'll find gateways to American and Canadian government, foundation and corporate sources, as well as access to nonprofit funders, international funding sources, individual donors, and matching services."Statistics and Demographics
- By geographic area
Links maintained by SU Government Information librarians
- By subject
Links maintained by SU Numerica Data Services LibrarianSubscription Databases for Grants and Associations
(You need to go through the SU Library website, for example, use the links from this page, to access the subscription databases. If you are off campus, you will be asked to enter your SUID. From off campus, these databases are accessible to SU students, faculty, and staff only.)
- Associations Unlimited
Describes over 440,000 U.S. national, regional, state, and local, nonprofit membership organizations, covering all fields and subjects. Provides full-text of association materials such as brochures, pamphlets, and application forms.
- Gale's Ready Reference Shelf
This database integrates 14 of Gale's most popular reference directories. Includes more than 320,000 listings for associations, research centers, publishers, publications, databases, television and radio stations, and more. Users can limit their search to just research centers (or any other type) by using the Extended Search (Organization) option.
- Illinois Researcher Information Service (IRIS)
The IRIS Database currently contains over 8,000 active federal and private funding opportunities in 25 subject areas in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Many of these opportunities are geared toward academia, but some are also relevant for social services. The IRIS Database is updated daily. Other components include the IRIS Expertise Service and the IRIS Alert Service.
- To search for funding by topic: Click "The IRIS Database" at the top of the left column
- Grant Advisor Plus
This database is available on campus. Many of the funding opportunities listed are geared toward academia.
- To search for funding: Click "Subscriber pages." Click search database.
Writing Resources
Evaluating Free Web Material
"Material we find "for free" on the Web can vary widely in quality and reliability. It is up to the user to read and cite carefully, especially when using this material for assignments or coursework. Here are useful sites for evaluating Web materials."
