How to Apply for Foundation Grants

Foundation grants are like gifts to be used for specific purposes.

Foundation grants are funds set aside by foundations to fund individual, community, scholarly or business ideas. Some foundation grants are channeled through a university system and used to fund research projects by students and faculty of that particular university, while others are private grants that are awarded to individuals, businesses or research units. Foundation grants vary in application criteria as well as in award amount.

Instructions

1. Determine your needs. Before you even begin trying to apply for a foundation grant, you need to be clear on what you will be using the money for and how much you need. Foundations usually give out grants that are in line with their missions; knowing what you will be using the money for determines how you organize your grant search.

2. Find appropriate foundation grants. This step is crucial because there is not one source for foundation grants. Use the services of your local or university library, the Web and community organizations to locate possible sources of funding. Finding available grants is just the beginning: you need to match the available grants to your need and apply to the most promising even if they may not fully fund your project. It is possible to apply for more than one grant at the same time, although the application requirements vary.

3. Prepare the application. Applying for a foundation grant usually involves writing a grant proposal. A grant proposal is the key document that is sent to the foundation for review. As with most types of applications, it helps to get a successful grant application sample that can serve as your model.

4. Be mindful of a foundation's specific application requirements. Every foundation has its own criteria for the documents that they require, and you may have to rework your materials or rewrite them entirely if you want to send a competitive application. Also, take note of special mailing instructions, deadlines, other required documents and restrictions before you prepare and submit your grant application.

5. Submit the grant proposal and wait for the results. If you are applying through a university, be aware of its specific application guidelines, which you can find out by contacting the grant office. If you do not get the grant on your first application, the experience you acquire serves you well on another application cycle or with another funding agency.

References

• Tufts University: Guidelines for Grant Proposals to Foundations
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Tips for Applying to Private Foundations for Grant Money; Peter Feibelman
• University of Kansas: Applying for a Grant: The General Approach