How to Find Foundation Grants for Your Nonprofit

Private foundations represent a massive funding opportunity — over $90 billion in grants annually. Here's how to find and win foundation funding.

Understanding Foundation Types

Private Foundations

• Created by individuals, families, or corporations
• Must give away 5% of assets annually
• Often have specific focus areas
• Examples: Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation

Community Foundations

• Serve specific geographic areas
• Pool donations from multiple donors
• Often more accessible for local nonprofits
• Examples: Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Chicago Community Trust

Corporate Foundations

• Funded by corporations
• Often align with company business interests
• May prefer employee involvement
• Examples: Walmart Foundation, Google.org

Family Foundations

• Created by wealthy families
• Often smaller and more personal
• May have narrow focus areas
• Decision-making often informal

Finding Foundations That Fit

Step 1: Know Your Priorities

Before searching, define:

• Geographic focus: Where do you work?
• Issue area: What problem do you solve?
• Population served: Who benefits?
• Project type: Programs, capital, general support?
• Amount needed: What's your target?

Step 2: Research Tools

Free Resources:

• Foundation Directory Online (limited free access)
• GuideStar/Candid (foundation profiles)
• State attorney general databases
• Foundation websites
• GrantNavigation Foundation Search

990 Form Research: Every foundation files Form 990-PF with IRS, showing:

• Grants made (recipients, amounts)
• Officers and directors
• Assets and giving trends
• Application information

Find 990s at:

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
• Foundation Directory Online
• GuideStar

Step 3: Analyze Giving Patterns

Look for foundations that fund:

• Your issue area — Do they fund your type of work?
• Your geography — Do they fund in your area?
• Your size — Do grant sizes match your needs?
• Similar organizations — Have they funded orgs like yours?

Step 4: Check Eligibility

Common restrictions:

• Geographic limitations
• 501(c)(3) requirement
• No grants to individuals
• Specific program areas only
• Invitation-only applications

The Application Process

Before You Apply

1. Verify you're eligible — Check guidelines carefully
2. Research thoroughly — Know the foundation's priorities
3. Make initial contact — If allowed, introduce yourself
4. Review past grants — See what they've funded

Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Many foundations require an LOI before full application:

Typical LOI includes:

• Organization overview (1-2 paragraphs)
• Problem statement
• Proposed solution
• Amount requested
• Brief budget
• Contact information

LOI tips:

• Keep it concise (1-2 pages)
• Lead with impact
• Match their language and priorities
• Follow their format exactly

Full Proposal

If invited to apply:

Standard components:

• Executive summary
• Organizational background
• Need statement
• Project description
• Goals and objectives
• Evaluation plan
• Budget and budget narrative
• Attachments (990, board list, financials)

Building Foundation Relationships

Why Relationships Matter

Foundation giving is often relationship-based:

• Program officers remember good grantees
• Referrals from other nonprofits help
• Site visits build trust
• Multi-year relationships develop

How to Build Relationships

Before applying:

• Attend foundation events
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Ask for informational meetings
• Get introduced by mutual contacts

After receiving a grant:

• Submit reports on time
• Exceed expectations
• Keep them informed of successes
• Invite them to events

After rejection:

• Thank them for consideration
• Ask for feedback (politely)
• Stay in touch
• Apply again when appropriate

Common Mistakes

❌ Applying everywhere — Focus on best fits

❌ Ignoring guidelines — Follow instructions exactly

❌ Generic proposals — Customize for each foundation

❌ Asking for too much — Match their typical grant size

❌ No follow-up — Maintain relationships over time

Foundation Grant Timeline

Stage	Typical Timeframe
Research	1-2 months
LOI submission	Varies by foundation
LOI review	2-8 weeks
Full proposal (if invited)	2-4 weeks to prepare
Review period	2-6 months
Award notification	Varies
Grant period	1-3 years typically

Maximizing Success

1. Start Local

Community foundations and local family foundations are often more accessible than national funders.

2. Build a Pipeline

Research multiple foundations simultaneously. Apply to 5-10 well-matched opportunities rather than 1-2.

3. Track Everything

Maintain a database of:

• Foundations researched
• Applications submitted
• Outcomes and feedback
• Follow-up dates

4. Learn from Rejections

Every rejection teaches you something. Ask for feedback and improve.

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Ready to find foundation funding? Search our foundation database or check your eligibility.