Most of the larger, staffed foundations accept applications from grantseeking nonprofits, but many others, particularly smaller unstaffed foundations, do not. In some cases the foundation's original legal instrument specifies certain grant recipients; in other cases, the trustees select grantees based on the donor's or their own knowledge of, or involvement with, specific nonprofit organizations. For more information, see our FAQ "What does a foundation mean when it says that it only 'makes grants to preselected organizations?'"
Use the following techniques to limit your searches to foundations that accept applications:
Foundation Directory Online:
If you are using Foundation Directory Online, simply click the check box located directly below the Keyword Search field on the Search Grantmakers Screen that says "Exclude grantmakers not accepting applications."
FC Search: The Foundation Center's Database on CD-ROM:
In the "advanced grantmaker" search mode of FC Search, go to the "Text Search" field and enter one of the following:
"applications not accepted"
or
"contributes only to preselected organizations"
(You must include the quotation marks and the word OR.) Then go to the drop-down menu to the left of "Text Search" and change it from the default AND to NOT. Now, by clicking on "Search", you will eliminate those foundations that have stated that they do not accept applications, or those that say they give only to preselected grantees.
Foundation Directory Online or FC Search is available for free use at the Center's five libraries and at Cooperating Collections throughout the United States.
For more strategies on Foundation Directory Online and FC Search, see our Foundation Directory Online Guided Tour and our basicand advanced FC Search Guided Tours. You can also attend our free one-hour classes, Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online and Getting Started with FC Search and/or our fee-based Foundation Funding Research and Funding Research with FC Search.
Can't find the answer you're looking for in our FAQs? Ask our Online Librarian.
