How can I identify grantmakers that fund progressive causes?

The following print and online resources contain information about philanthropy for social justice and progressive causes, as well as the broader topic of social entrepreneurship.

• Barroso, Donzelina A. (ed.) Finding Philanthropy's New Sweet Spot: Powerful and Innovative Ideas for Grantmakers, Investors, and Nonprofits. New York, NY: Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. 2006. A collection of essays by leaders from the nonprofit and business sectors on how philanthropy can be directed to create social change. The authors focus on the combination of nonprofit and for-profit sensibilities to achieve social goals. Also available online.

• Fine, Allison H. Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. 2006. Fine turns attention in this volume to the online interconnectedness that is possible for organizations seeking to embrace social change in their communities. Using the term "connected activism" to describe the potential of newer technologies, the author provides guidance for fostering social networks. *Winner of the 2007 Terry McAdam Book Award.

• Funders of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Programs: A Directory for Grantseekers. 6th ed. New York, NY: Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues, 2004. Organized by state, the directory includes foundation name, full mailing address and telephone number, mission, grant types, limitations, geographic area, average grant, and contact person. Separate section on scholarship funds.

• Karoff, H. Peter and Maddox, Jane. The World We Want: New Dimensions in Philanthropy and Social Change. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press. 2007. The book is organized as a collection of interactions between Karoff and over forty social entrepreneurs, activists, nonprofit leaders, and philanthropists working in a variety of fields around the world.

• Klein, Kim. Fundraising for Social Change. 5th ed., rev. and exp. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. 2007. Explains community-based fundraising techniques for small nonprofit groups with budgets under $2 million. Recommends fundraising strategies that have been successful for low-budget groups. Divided into eight major sections: framework, strategies to acquire and keep donors, strategies to upgrade donors, fundraising campaigns, fundraising management, development staffing, budgeting and planning, and special circumstances.

• Lawrence, Steven (ed.) Social Justice Grantmaking: A Report on Foundation Trends. New York, NY: Foundation Center. 2005. The largest U.S. foundations provide 11 percent of their grant dollars to support structural changes aiding those least well off economically, socially, and politically. This first-ever study to benchmark foundation giving for social justice shows that support spans all areas of foundation activity, from promoting economic development in distressed areas, to ensuring access to health care for disadvantaged populations, to encouraging diversity in education. The report is published jointly by Independent Sector and the Foundation Center. A 4-page executive summary is available online.

• Morris, James McGrath and Laura Adler (eds.). Grant Seekers Guide: Foundations That Support Social & Economic justice. 6th rev. ed. Kingston, RI: Moyer Bell, 2005. Directory of 200 grantmakers that award grants to nonprofit organizations advocating social and economic justice programs. Entries include contact person, purpose, areas of interest, financial data, application procedures, grant limitations, and publications.

For other books and articles on progressive grantmakers, try searching our Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (CNL), the Center's bibliographic database. You could start searching on the subject "Grantmakers--social issues" and the keyword "Progressive".

Many of the books and articles found through CNL can be located in Foundation Center libraries and some Cooperating Collections. It is best to call ahead to verify a specific library's holdings. All articles, but not books, can be obtained through interlibrary loan at your local Cooperating Collection.

To identify funders that have shown an interest in contributing to progressive causes, use the Center's Foundation Directory Online or FC Search: The Foundation Center's Database on CD-ROM, which are available to the public at Foundation Center libraries and Cooperating Collections free of charge. These resources are also available for purchase through our Marketplace. When referring to the Foundation Directory Online or FC Search, you can search the Fields of Interest Index under the following headings (use the more specific headings under each of these, if necessary):

• Civil rights
• Community development
• Disabilities, people with
• Economically disadvantaged
• Economic development
• Environment
• Housing/shelter
• LGBTQ
• Minorities
• Immigrants/refugees
• Public affairs
• Venture philanthropy
• Women
• Youth development