Learn About Grantseeking

The CFG classroom includes several online education programs. It provides helpful and easily understood introductions to relevant subjects.

If you are new to grantseeking, or if you need a refresher course, this orientation class is right for you.

• Facts About Foundations
• Who Receives Grants
• Generating Potential Grantors

WELCOME TO CFG'S ORIENTATION TO THE GRANTSEEKING PROCESS

Upon completion of this orientation you will know:

• More about the services offered by CFG
• Several approaches to use when searching for grantmakers
• Helpful attributes of a potential grantee
• About grantmaker criteria and preferences
• How individuals can obtain grants; and
• What organizations are successful in obtaining grants, and to what degree

Facts About Foundations

Foundations are private entities that are funded for the purpose of making grants (primarily) to nonprofit organizations. They may be funded with a large, one-time gift or on an ongoing basis. Presently, there are more than 65,000 private and community foundations in the United States; this number is growing. There are several types of foundations, all of which have one primary activity-grantmaking. Of the following four types of foundations, the first three are private.

Family foundations (also called private foundations) are established by a (usually wealthy) person or family. Corporate (business) foundations are created and funded by business entities. Operating foundations are established to operate programs (i.e. research and social welfare) deemed worthy by the donor or the foundation's board. Operating foundations are often family or business foundations as well. Finally, community foundations are usually supported by, and operated for the benefit of, a geographical (Denver) or religious (Jewish) community.

For more information about foundations, see Types of Foundations.

CFG maintains a comprehensive database of foundations that have made, or are likely to make, grants for Christian programs and projects. Please remember that even within the Christian community, foundations differ dramatically in their giving interests. You should utilize various tools to identify foundations that may have a specific interest in supporting a project or organization like yours.

You will increase your chance of success by using one or more of the following three approaches in your research:

• The support type approach identifies foundations that provide specific types of support. Examples include: building funds, scholarships, or general operating support.
• The subject approach identifies grantmakers that have funded, or expressed an interest in funding, programs in your specific subject field. Examples of different subjects include: the Bible, children, education, or mission work.
• The geographic approach identifies foundations that fund programs in a particular city, state, or region. Although some may give nationally or internationally, many grantmakers limit giving to specific geographic areas.

By combining two or three of these approaches, your chances of success may be even greater. For example, if your program involves building homes for missionaries in Haiti, you may want to start by searching for foundations that have made grants for: mission work (subject), building shelters or homes (support type), and work in Haiti (geographic).

CFG's print and electronic publications database contains search criteria to facilitate these approaches.

Who Receives Grants

Nonprofit organizations that qualify as public charities under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code receive the vast majority of grants. These organizations are formed for the following purposes: religious, charitable, educational, scientific, literary, or cultural. As a general rule, grantmakers will request proof of your nonprofit status before considering you for funding.

Desirable Characteristics of a Potential Grantee

• Most importantly, foundations determine whether the purpose of an organization or project is compatible with their specific mission
• Evidence that it is reputable in the community
• Competent and committed employees and board members
• A viable project budget
• Evidence that the program or organization addresses an existing problem
• Successfully obtaining grants in the past
• Evidence of financial competency
• A history of successful recruitment of volunteers

Generating Potential Grantors

Using CFG's search engine and database generate a list of potential funders. Do this by examining each grantmaker's descriptive profile and recent grantmaking history. Look for foundations:

 

• that award the type of support you seek
• that historically have supported similar projects
• that are located in, or have awarded grants in, your geographic area

The CFG Directory covers over 4,500 Christian foundations across the country. Each entry includes the foundation's:

• Total Assets
• Geographical Areas of Concentration
• General Funding Categories
• Type(s) of Funding
• Officers, Directors, and Donor(s)
• Samples of Organizations Supported

Click here to view a sample entry.

The Christian Foundation Grants Directory is available on our website for an annual subscription fee. Click here to see a sample search screen.

The CFG Directory is indexed by:

• Foundation Location
• Foundation Type
• Types of Funding
• Geographic Focus