Title: Foundation Grantseeking for Employment Networks
1Foundation Grantseeking for Employment Networks
- Jeanne Argoff, Ph.D.
- Disability Funders Network
- MAXIMUS Presentation
- February 20, 2007
2Disability Funders Network
- Mission to promote awareness, support and
inclusion of people with disabilities and
disability issues in grantmaking programs and
organizations. - Works to increase the extent and effectiveness
of grantmaking that benefits people with
disabilities by -
- increasing grantmakers' understanding that issues
affecting people with disabilities extend beyond
medical issues - increasing the availability of quality
information on disability as it relates to
grantmaking - enhancing the ability of grantseeking
organizations to communicate their current and
proposed efforts to benefit people with
disabilities to grantmaking organizations.
3DFN Helps Grantmakers to
- Integrate disability into their current programs.
- Incorporate questions about disability access to
programs and services in grant review processes
to encourage all grantees to be inclusive of
people with disabilities. - Learn about the context for disability funding
via comprehensive coverage of disability-related
public policy, profiles of members grants and
activities and trends.
4Inclusion DFNs Major Message and Work
- Help all funders to see that disability is
integral to all program areas - Cross Currents in the Mainstream examples of
inclusive grantmaking - Bridging the Knowledge Gap for nonprofits
working with foundations to attract disability
funding
5FINDING FOUNDATION FUNDING PART 1
- Employment Networks (ENs) elements that appeal
to foundations - Meeting Real Needs
- Visibility
- Small Investment, Big Return
- Sustainability
- Mentioning these value added factors
strengthens your submission
6What Are Foundations?
- Grantmaking foundations support for specific
causes and programs - Most have endowments
- 2005 statistics
- over 68,000 foundations
- Over 510 billion in assets
- Nearly 34 billion in grants
- Vary enormously in assets and staff
- Essential to know the type of foundation, the
issues it supports, and typical grant size.
7Types of Foundations
- Community foundations
- serve a specific geographic area
- raise money from donors
- donor advised funds
- fund broadly
- Public foundations
- like community foundations, actively raise money
from donors - small category of grantmakers
8Types of Foundations (contd)
- Family foundations
- from family wealth
- family members usually control the Board of
Directors - topics funded often reflect personal interests of
family members - Private or independent foundations
- often evolve from family foundations
- use the interest from their endowments to fund
programs - generally do not raise money from donors.
9Types of Foundations (contd)
- Corporate foundations and giving programs
- philanthropy an extension of corporation
- programs must match corporate interests
- corporate giving programs
- run by corporation directly.
- funded with a percentage of company profits
- corporate foundations
- usually have more stable programs
10Types of Foundations (contd)
- Operating foundations
- private foundations that use their resources to
- fund charitable programs of their own.
- very few make grants to outside organizations
11Types of Foundations (contd)
- 88.6 percent of all foundations are independent
or family - 3.8 percent corporate
- 1 percent community
- All but operating are targets for support
12What Foundations Fund
13Distribution of Grants for Special Population
Groups
- Dollar Value Number of Grants
- Group 2003 2004 2003 2004
- Aging 1.6 1.6 2.4
2.3 - Children Youth 18.0 20.6 22.1
22.8 - Economically Disadvantaged 15.1 20.3
17.6 19.1 - Ethnic or Racial Minorities 8.0 7.6
10.2 10.6 - Gays or Lesbians 0.1 0.2 0.3
0.5 - Immigrants Refugees 0.9 0.9
1.3 1.4 - People with Disabilities 3.0 2.9
4.9 5.0 - Women and Girls 7.3 5.2
6.4 6.5
14Foundation Funding by Subject Area, 2004 Overall
Funding
Topic Area of Dollars Amount Education
23.4 3.6 billion Health 23.2 3.4 Human
Services 13.9 2.1 Arts and Culture
12.8 1.97 Public Affairs/Society Benefit
13.0 2.0 Environment Animals 5.3 813
million International Affairs 2.7 420
million Science and Technology 2.9 454
million Religion 2.3 362 million Social
Sciences 1.4 214 million Other 0.1
9 million Total 100.0 15.5
billion Source Foundation Giving Trends, The
Foundation Center, 2006. Figures represent
approximately half of all US foundation giving
15Disability Funding by Subject Area
Topic Area Percent Dollars Education
12.2 56,240,286 Health 49.8
228,582,703 Human Services 31.7
152,127,606 Arts and Culture 0.8
3,757,879 Public Affairs/Society Benefit
0.2 769,756 Environment Animals
0.3 1,299,500 International
Affairs 0.3 1,224,471 Science and
Technology 0.1
673,600 Religion 0.2
814,500 Social Sciences 0.3
1,249,069 Other 4.1
12,524,793 Total 100.0 459,264,163 Sourc
e Grants for Physically and Mentally Disabled,
The Foundation Center, 2005/6 Note figures vary
from Foundation Giving Trends because of
different foundatiion samples and time periods.
16Different Patterns of Disability Funding Compared
to Overall Funding Patterns
- Overall Funding
- Education 23.4
- Health 23.2
- Human Services 13.9
- Arts and Culture 12.8
- Public Affairs/Society Benefit 13.0
- Environment Animals 5.3
- International Affairs 2.7
- Science and Technology 2.9
- Religion 2.3
- Social Sciences 1.4
- Other 0.1
- Total 100.0
- Source Foundation Giving Trends, The Foundation
Center, 2006
- Disability Funding
- Education 12.2
- Health 49.8
- Human Services 31.7
- Arts and Culture 0.8
- Public Affairs/Society Benefit 0.2
- Environment Animals 0.3
- International Affairs 0.3
- Science and Technology 0.1
- Religion 0.2
- Social Sciences 0.3
- Other 4.1
- Total 100.0
- Source Grants for Physically and Mentally
Disabled, The Foundation Center, 2005/6
17Disability FundingHuman Services Subcategories
- Dollar Amount
- Crime, justice public protection 0.7 3.3
million - Employment 4.0 18.5
- Food, nutrition agriculture 0.7 3.4
- Housing shelter 5.6 25.7
- Recreation sports 2.9 13.4
- Youth development 0.3 1.3
- Human services-multipurpose
18.8 86.4 - Of total disability funding
- Source Grants for Physically and Mentally
Disabled, The Foundation Center, 2005/6
18Disability Funding Trends
- Dollar Value of Grants
- 2003 2004
- 436,664,000 3.0 452,661,000
2.9 - Number of Grants
- 2003 2004
- 5,973 4.9 6,360 5.0
- Source Foundation Giving Trends, The Foundation
Center, 2006.
19Disability Giving by Size of Foundation
- The 100 largest foundations gave a smaller
percentage to disability than smaller grantmakers - Largest funders gave 2.2 of dollars and 4.1 of
their grants to people with disabilities - Smaller funders in Foundation Center database
gave more 3.9 of dollars and 5.5 of grants - Source Foundation Giving Trends, The Foundation
Center, 2006
20Disability Giving by Foundation Type
- Community foundations give more to disability
issues than other types 4.4 of dollars and 5.6
of grants - Independent foundations gave 3.0 of dollars and
5.3 of grants - Corporate foundations gave 2.0 of dollars and
4.1 of grants
21Disability Giving by Region
- Region Amount () Number of Grants ()
- Northeast 3.6 5.0
- Midwest 2.2 4.5
- South 3.5 5.7
- West 2.3 5.1
- Source Foundation Giving Trends, The Foundation
Center, 2006
22Summary of Foundation Funding of Interest to ENs
(2004/5 figures)
- Employment programs
- Fall under human services (6 of general human
services grants 126.5 million) - Less than one percent of all grants recorded in
Foundation Center (FC) system (approximately ½ of
all grants). - Disability programs
- Between 3-5 of foundation grants
- Almost 50 of that to health, research and mental
health - Employment 4.0 of disability grants in FC
system (18.5 million)
23ENs and Foundation Funding
- Family, community, and corporate foundations are
particularly interested in programs that improve
the lives of individuals within their communities - Many corporate foundations especially interested
in employment issues - Family and community foundations may have
particular funds set aside for people with
disabilities
24Foundation vs. Government Funding
25Differences Between Foundation and Government
Funding Processes
- Difference between fairness and stewardship
- Both fund best programs to serve the public good
- But foundations may fund well-known programs to
get an excellent product
26Government Fairness
- Government process emphasizes fairness
- written request for proposals (RFP)
- detailed, published review criteria
- outside objective reviewers
- designated government staff members assigned to
answer questions during the proposal process.
27Foundations Stewardship
- Foundation world stresses stewardship
- often favors excellent programs already known to
the foundation - can make use of information that is not in the
grant application - may not have specific RFP or guidelines
- review and selection processes not open to public
- review criteria often not explicit
28How To Be A Successful Grantseeker
29Successful Foundation Grantseeking
- Each foundation is unique
- Target each proposal to one specific foundation
- be responsive to all foundation instructions
- One size fits all approach doesnt work
30Number 1 Think relationships
- Staff and trustees tend to support programs they
know and respect - Essential to work directly with the staff to the
extent possible - Enhance relationships by providing stream of
informationbut dont overload - Put foundation staff on mailing list
31Number 2 Become an Insider
- Be publicly successful
- People must know about your agencys success and
tell others about it - Requires systematic communication
- Communicate your successes as part of an overall
strategy
32Number 3 Do Your Homework
- Prevents wasting your own and foundations time
- A misplaced application creates a bad impression
- Homework tells you
- what the foundation funds
- criteria for selection
- process it uses to fund projects
33Do Your Homework (contd)
- Cardinal rule Never send identical proposals to
all prospects - Always tailor programs to foundations specific
needs and requirements - Sources for foundations information
- Foundation Center and other libraries
- Online collections and databases
- Foundation websites
- Annual reports and other written information
34Number 4 Look Locally
- Only one out of eight foundations gives
nationally - Over 60 of foundation funding come from local
foundations - Identify corporations with headquarters or major
operations in your area - Your board members and advisors can help with
local funders - A local grant makes national foundation support
more likely
35Number 5 Understand the Funders Needs
- Foundations have needs, too
- Reflected in mission statements and funding
criteria - Look at mission statement in light of recent
grants made - Grants show current emphasis and priorities
36Number 6 Simplify and Clarify Your Messages
- State the major elements of what you propose to
do in less than three minutes - Write out talking points and practice your speech
with others - Foundation staff might ask for a written
version-concept paper (2 pages max) - Prepare answers to the logical second tier
questions
37Number 7 Talk Before Writing
- Call and talk to a program officer
- Secretary/ receptionist might be empowered to
answer questions - Try to get beyond him/her
- Ask if there are community information meetings
38Talk Before Writing (contd)
- Talking to a Program Officer
- Briefly describe your project
- Ask if idea fits foundations priorities
- If not, are there some aspects of the work that
might fit your guidelines - Explore ways of strengthening your concept
- Never mistake a program officers enthusiasm as a
promise of funding
- Talk first, but listen carefully
- Give them a chance to give their feedback
- Especially because foundation priorities can
change - With new leadership
- Because of board decisions
- Economic climate
39Number 8 Write the Proposal
- Modify each proposal for each foundation
- Once specific sections modified, lots of material
can be used repeatedly - Provide information exactly as requested
- Make sure that methodology is sound
- Most important question to answer how will this
program make life better for people with
disabilities?
40Write the Proposal (cont'd)
- Answer the three What questions
- Do What?
- concise and clear statement of what proposal will
accomplish - So What?
- what difference would it make for population
- Then What?
- how will program be continued?
- evaluation and dissemination of results
41Number 9 Dont Give Up!
- Keep trying to make personal contact
- In some cases, direct communication is difficult
- Key is to be politely persistent
- Never harass or get angry at foundation personnel
- No, just means theres not a match
- Go on to your next prospect
- Remember your goals!
42FINDING FOUNDATION FUNDING PART 2
43Researching Foundations
- 65 to 80 of proposals disqualified because they
dont match funders interests - Good research is essential
- Wealth of sources readily available
- Libraries
- Foundation Center collection
- Public libraries
- University libraries
- Online research
44Library Research Print Resources
45Library Research
- The Foundation Center
- Over 200 cooperating collections
- Local collections operated by groups of local
funders called Regional Associations of
Grantmakers (RAGs) - Other public and university library collections
46Library Research Types of Resources
- Directories of Foundations
- Specialized Funding Directories
- State and Local Funding Directories
- Grant Indexes
- Periodicals
47Directories of Foundations
- The Foundation Directory
- Foundation Directory, Part 2
- Annual Register of Grant Support A Directory of
Funding Sources - Guide to U.S. Foundations
- Foundation 1000
- National Network of Grantmakers (NNG) Grantmakers
Directory
48Specialized Funding Directories
- Grants for the Physically and Mentally Disabled
- Grants for Vocational Education A Guide to
Funding for School-to-Work, Job Training and
Adult Education - Directory of Grants for Organizations Serving
People with Disabilities A Reference Directory
Identifying Grants Available to Nonprofit
Organizations
49 State and Local Funding Directories (Examples)
- Guide to California Foundations
- California Foundation DataBook
- Guide to Greater Washington DC Grantmakers on
CD-ROM - Directory of Missouri Grantmakers
- Guide to Ohio Grantmakers
- The Michigan Foundation Directory
50Grant Indexes
- Foundation Grants Index on CD-ROM
- Directory of Grants for Organizations Serving
People with Disabilities A Reference Directory
Identifying Grants Available to Nonprofit
Organizations
51Periodicals
- Corporate Philanthropy Report
- Disability Funding News (as of January,2007 only
available online) - Foundation and Corporate Grants Alert
52Corporate Research
- Aspen Publishers
- Giving by Industry A Reference Guide to the New
Corporate Philanthropy - The Taft Group
- Corporate Giving Directory
- Corporate Giving Yellow Pages 2000
53Online Research Overview of Resources
54Online Research
- Learning how to use the Web efficiently is
crucial - Internet guides help structure research using
- searchable databases
- grantmaker websites
- online journals and periodicals
- discussion groups
- electronic mailing lists
- The Foundation Centers (FC) Guide to
Grantseeking on the Web
55Websites Providing Free and Fee-based Assistance
- Help find potential funders
- Lead you step-by-step through entire proposal
process - The Donors Forum of Chicago
- http//www.donorsforum.org/resource/grant
- Learning Lab and Researching Philanthropy pages
of FC site http//.fdncenter.org - Tucson-Pima Public Library http//www.lib.ci.tucso
n.az.us/grants -
56Online Directories/Databases
- Offer a variety of levels of access to
information on funders and grants - The Foundation Center
- GrantStation
- Others
57Websites of Philanthropy Associations
- Disability Funders Network
- Disability Funding in California
- Ticket to Work Forums for Grantmakers
- The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act Opportunities for Shape
Innovation Through Public Private Partnerships - California State Activities Relating to Work
Incentive Act Implementation - Regional Associations of Grantmakers
- Donors Forum of Chicago
58Other Regional and Local Sites
- Tucson-Pima Public Library
- http//www.lib.ci.Tucson.az.us/grants
- Michigan State University Grants and Related
Resources http//www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants
/grants.htm
59Corporate Information on the Web
- How to research corporate giving programs and
interpret corporate website - ü Foundation Centers Guide to Grantseeking
on the Web - Corporations/Execs section of David Lambs
Prospect Research Page http//www.lambresearch.com
/CorpExec.html - Hoovers Online
- http//hoovweb.hoovers.com/
- Internet Prospectors Corporations Page
- http//www.internet-prospector.org/company.html
60Stages in the Research Process
- Stage One Create initial list of prospective
funders - Stage Two Collect and organize prospect
information - Stage Three Refine list and conduct in-depth
research on most likely sources
61Stage One. Create Initial List of Prospective
Funders
- Geographical Search
- Type-of-Support Search
- Subject Search
- Foundation Search
- Grant Search
62Geographical Search
- One broad sweep to find a few likely national
funders - Then narrow search to foundations focusing on
your state or region - National databases
- Foundation Center database http//fdncenter.org
- State and local directories and databases
- FC Online http//fdncenter.org/learn/topical/sl
_dir.html - Guide to California Foundations
- California Foundation DataBook
63Geographical Search Corporations
- Corporations based in or with branch operations
in your area - Typically support communities where their
employees live and work - Corporate foundations included in foundation
directories - Many companies have giving programsnot
foundations - Separate directories for these
- Taft Publishers
- Aspen Publishers
64Type-of-Support Search
- Foundations also categorize grants by the kind of
operations they support - Types of grants commonly awarded
- Capital support
- Endowment
- General operating support
- Project support
- Seed money
- Technical assistance
- Over 50 of grants restricted to development and
support of discrete programs - Project support and/or seed money most suitable
for ENs
65Subject Search Print Resources
- General foundation directories and grant indexes
- start with disabled or handicapped
- Specialized disability sources
- check subject indexes
- employment
- vocational rehabilitation
- etc.
66Subject Search Electronic Databases
- Start with Foundation Search cross-referencing
disabilities, people with and employment - search foundations under disabilities, people
with - search foundations under employment
- Using Grant Search in the same database, use
employment and disabilities, people with - Other search terms include physically
disabled, blind and vision impaired, deaf and
hearing impaired, mentally/emotionally
disabled, and a number of specific conditions,
like multiple sclerosis
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73Subject Search (contd)
- Browse foundation annual reports and websites
- Make sure to check guides and other resources
focusing on health - Fundraising for Health A Resource List
- http//fdncenter.org/learn/topical/health.html
- User Aid for Health Care Programs and Research
- http//fdncenter.org/learn/useraidsm/health.html
74Stage One. Combined Approach
- Locates foundations that
- fund in your geographical area
- provide project support and/or seed money
- support employment related programs for people
with disabilities
75Stage Two. Collect and Organize Information
about your Prospects
- Collect basic information
- Mission statement and core values
- Main interests
- Special interests
- Geographic restrictions
- Giving patterns
- Typical grant size
- Organizations funded
- Populations served
- Limitations and exclusions
- Application guidelines
- Proposal deadlines
- Key decision makers
- Use print and online research materials and
foundation websites - Use prospect worksheet
76Stage Three. Refine your List Conduct In-Depth
Research Contact Foundation
- Refine your list
- Eliminate foundations that dont fund your type
of program or size of project - Pick best prospects. Funders with
- mission statements, philosophy and priorities
close to yours - that have supported similar programs to yours
- have funding cycles that match your needs
- Foundation proposals can take 6 to 18 months to
fund
77Stage Three. Conduct In-Depth Research
- Collect additional information on most promising
funding sources - Look at annual reports, application materials and
grant lists - Use form 990 PF for private foundations and form
990 for public charities when you cant find
other information
78Stage Three. Contact Foundation
- Determine if they will consider your EN proposal
- Get beyond receptionist
- Talk about foundation guidelines and how ENs fit
into them - Use Ticket to Work handout material for
foundations to educate funders
79Stage Three. Contacting Corporations
- Different companies may have their charitable
giving in different departments - Public affairs
- Community affairs
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Giving can be spread among two or more
departments - Departments can have different goals and separate
budgets - How to find contact people
- Annual report
- Phone
- Online
- Website
80Other Resources
81Other Resources
- Electronic Discussion Groups and Message Boards
- General Information Websites
- Special Purpose Websites
- Online Publications
- Instructional Books
- Instructional Websites and Pages
82Electronic Discussion Groups and Message Boards
- Benefit interactive
- post and respond to questions directly related to
disability, employment, etc. - Drawback need to filter information
- Charity Channel
- Grants
- listserv_at_charitychannel.com. subscribe grants
ltfirstname lastnamegt - archive on the Web at www.charitychannel.com/forum
s
83General Information Websites
- David Lambs Prospect Research Page
- http//www.lambresearch.com
- FundsNet
- http//www.fundsnetservices.com
- HandsNet
- http//www.handsnet.org
84Online Publications
- Internet Prospector
- http//www.internet-prospector.org/index.html
- Philanthropy News Digest (PND)
- http//fdncenter.org/pnd/current/index.html
- Philanthropy News Network Online (PNN Online)
- http//www.pnnonline.org
85Instructional Books
- Demystifying Grant Seeking What You REALLY Need
to Do to Get Grants - The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing
- Fundraising for Dummies
- Getting Funded A Complete Guide to Proposal
Writing
86FINDING FOUNDATION FUNDING PART 3
- DFN - FOUNDATION CENTER PROJECT ON DISABILITY
FUNDING
87Information Coming on Foundation Center Project