How do nonprofit organizations find grants?

Build your document folder first

• Tax exempt determination letter
• Board list and basic governance documents
• Organization budget and a separate project budget
• Most recent financial statements
• Numbers on who you serve and in what area
• One or two paragraphs describing each program you run

Where to look

• Federal and state agency programs in your field
• Community foundations in your county and region
• Corporate giving programs run by employers near you
• Pass through funding from larger nonprofits and local governments

What separates a funded application

Describe the plan, not just the problem. Say what you will do, who will do it, when it happens, how many people it reaches, and what it costs.

Then make every budget line trace back to something in that plan. A budget that does not match the narrative is the fastest way to lose a reviewer's trust.

Common questions

How do nonprofit organizations find grants?

Nonprofits find grants through government agencies, private and community foundations, and corporate giving programs. Before you apply anywhere, get your tax exempt letter, board list, organization budget, and program numbers in one folder. Most rejections come from a weak plan or a budget that does not match the story, not from a bad cause.