Search for Funding:
Foundations & Corporate Giving

Limited Applications

Foundation giving is more relationship-driven than federal funding. Before submitting an application, researchers should contact the Jefferson Foundation, which coordinates applications to foundations. The Foundation staff can provide useful advice and help researchers develop a more effective proposal.

• Not all foundations accept applications; some use other means to identify recipients. Find out before submitting an application what method the foundation uses.
  
  
• Some foundations limit the number of proposals that may be submitted from a single institution.
  
  
• Foundation funding is usually for a short period of time and nonrenewable.
  
  
• Depending on the foundation application guidelines, research the foundation and consider contacting the Program Officer and discuss the appropriateness of your application before submitting a letter of inquiry.

Foundation Information

Foundation Center
While the Foundation Center is the most comprehensive publisher of resources about foundations, most of their information is not free. Foundation information is available in print format (Scott Library Reference Collection) or online in fee-based databases (see Scott Library's Search Service). Basic foundation information, including grantmaker 990s and RFPs, is freely available on the Center's Web site:

Foundation search: if you know name of a foundation you'd like to research.

IRS 990-PF filings: for detailed information about Board, mission and previous year's grants.

Current awareness: FC offers various free electronic updates, including a weekly RFP Bulletin featuring Requests for Proposals from private, corporate and government funding sources. Opportunities can also be reviewed by topic.

Funded research: Philanthropy News Digest News by Category includes announcements of funding initiatives by category (Aging, Disabled, Education, Medical Research, etc.).

Other features: The Foundation Center site is loaded with useful information about foundations and grantsmanship. Tutorials on funding searches, proposal preparation, etc.

Regional Foundation Center - Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch
Comprehensive provider of free and subscription resources, including Search FCSearch: The Foundation Center's Database on CD-ROM

GrantSmart
Database of private foundations by foundation name or location, or grantmaker Web sites by textword. Includes 990-PF forms. Operated by Canyon Research foundation, with funding and support from the J.C. Downing Foundation.

Corporate Giving

Information about corporate giving programs that are not part of a corporate foundation can be located.

• Search the Internet, using comprehensive search engines
  
• View the corporation's Web site and annual reports
  
• Print Resources, Scott Memorial Library Reference Collection
  
  • National directory of corporate giving
    HV89N277
    
  • Corporate 500
    HV41 C82