Grant Writing For Dummies, 5th Edition

Chapter 6

Researching Potential Private Sector Funders

In This Chapter

Conducting a private sector search the right way

Utilizing the Foundation Center’s resources and other online databases

Paying attention to the funder’s criteria

Organizing your potential funder’s list

The earlier chapters in this Part focus on grant-making agencies in the public sector. In this chapter, I take a look at the other segment of funding possibilities: private sector grant makers. Private sector funding comes from foundations and corporations. This philanthropic well represents corporate and foundation grant makers whose endowments (the funds that start each giving entity) came from individuals, families, and for-profit corporations or businesses. These funders are plentiful at the local, state, national, and international levels.

How do you find out who these philanthropic organizations are and what they like to fund? In this chapter, I take you on a treasure hunt to find out. But rather than hunting for endless flowing water in a philanthropic well with a divining rod, you’re hunting grant-maker ...