Many major corporations and other entities give back to their communities by awarding grant funding to various projects and programs through foundations and non-profit organizations. Getting grants from these organizations requires following a few specific steps.
Instructions
1. Obtain a 501 c 3, the official federal designation of non-profit status, from the Internal Revenue Service. This is a complex and time-consuming process and most organizations require attorney assistance to complete it. The 501 c 3 ensures donors that their gifts to the organization are tax deductible. Nearly all non-profit organizations require IRS documentation of this tax status at the onset of the grant application process.
2. Start your grant search close to home. Non-profit grantor organizations typically give the bulk of their funds in the communities where they are located. For example, The Lego Children's Fund gives preferential treatment to applicants in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
3. Research each prospective grantor thoroughly. Different organizations have different funding criteria. For example, the ASCAP Foundation funds music education and performer development programs exclusively. The closer your needs are to the grantor non-profit organization's giving focus, the more likely your proposal is to be awarded funding.
4. Ensure you adhere to the submission requirements of each grantor's non-profit organization. No two agencies are identical and incorrect packaging will cause your request to be immediately rejected. Some grantors want a letter of interest. Others want you to complete an eligibility questionnaire and wait for an invitation to submit a complete proposal.
5. Determine whether you will write your grant proposal and package your funding request yourself or hire a professional. Consider the size of the award you are applying for as well as how intricate the grantor non-profit organization's process is. You likely will not need a professional to complete a short form application to win an award of a few hundred dollars. But the investment in a professional grant writer may be well worth it if the grantor organization's process is complicated or you are requesting substantial funding. Once your grant proposal is submitted, you must wait for the grantor non-profit organization to determine whether it will fund your program or project.
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