Funding Sources for
Tangible Love Ministries
In your search for funding sources, do not overlook local people,
businesses, civic or service organizations, foundations, and community
agencies. Develop a relationship through community networks and professional
office visits to explain your presence in the community (not to ask for
money--yet). Participate in the local speakers' bureau by presenting programs for civic,
religious, service, or professional organizations such as Rotary, Chamber of
Commerce, Professional Business Women, Lions, 4-H Clubs, or other community
invested groups.
Sell who you are and what you do for the community target population (those
you serve). DO NOT provide just statistics. Tell anecdotal and success
stories; invite their members to volunteer and learn more from a hands-on
perspective. Have a wish list of items or per person costs, in case someone
asks how they can help. Friend-raising for your program and not
strictly fund-raising results in the best long-term benefits.
Research community foundations, corporations, United Way and similar local
or regional agencies, community block grants through the city or county
government, HUD neighborhood or other governmental agencies and learn their
current priorities of focus. Talk with officials of the court systems and
other social service entities in your area to explore who might be interested
in your program concept and would desire to partner with you, thus bringing
with them additional resources.
One advantage to local networking is the opportunity for personal contact.
Visit the local Target, Wal Mart, or Marshalls retail stores and ask for
information about their funding priorities. If you are a novice in funding
nonprofit programs, begin locally and develop success before tackling large
national foundations or federal grants. Be alert to the phrases or “buzz
words” of the grantors. Right now, for example, “faith- and
community-based organizations” are magic phrases for funds. However, DO NOT
realign your program to “fit” the current words. Churches have been
serving communities for many years with a variety of terms besides
faith-based.
When you grow into searching the Internet or other resources to find
granting opportunities, be sure to check the geographic area(s)
where funders offer grants. If you are interested in foundations or grantmaking
nonprofits, you can learn to whom they give and how much by looking at their
990 tax forms. An excellent source for that information is
http://tfcny.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/esearch.php
Links to funding sources are arranged by category. Red
font indicates funders that only accept
proposals from specific geographic locations.
Categories
