Gift acknowledgement letters are important for two reasons. First, they provide proof so donors can claim a U.S. tax exemption. Second, they let you thank donors for their generosity, helping you build a relationship for future support.

Candid defines a private foundation as a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization having a principal fund managed by its own trustees or directors. Public charities generally derive their funding or support primarily from the public, receiving grants from individuals, government, and private foundations. Grantseekers should know the difference.

Generally, yes. However, some foundations may exclude public agencies or individual schools from eligibility based on their giving priorities.

It is essential for nonprofits to know about the public support test, because receiving the majority of funding from a single source could change a nonprofit’s IRS status from public charity to private foundation.

The simple answer is yes. Foundations prefer to give to applicants with 501(c)(3) exempt status, and places of worship, including churches, mosques and synagogues, and faith-based organizations generally qualify for 501(c)(3) status.

Bylaws are your organization's operating manual. State nonprofit laws usually address nonprofit governance matters. However, you can choose different rules, as long as they don't violate state law and are included in your bylaws.

Incorporation is typically the first formal step in creating a nonprofit organization. To incorporate your nonprofit, you will need to file articles of incorporation with the appropriate state agency.

The decision to convert from for-profit to nonprofit status involves more than simply filing to become tax-exempt.

The cover letter often is your proposal's first chance to connect your project with the reader's philanthropic mission. It goes on top of a proposal, but it is not the same as an executive summary, which states your proposal's key points.

Most forms of assistance for housing, medical bills, or other personal expenses such as debt relief will come from charitable organizations or government assistance programs, rather than grants from foundations.

This article provides selected grant resources to help you. But to get an overview of funding information and resources available to artists of all types, start by reading our Knowledge Base article: "Where can I find grants for individual artists?"

This article lists resources for researching an organization's individual and foundation donors.

To get an overview of funding information and resources available to artists of all types, start by reading our Knowledge Base article: Where can I find grants for individual artists?

There are public sources available to assist in determining whether a specific charity is legitimately registered with the appropriate state and federal agencies.

Please be aware that fiscal sponsorship policies and guidelines are unique to each fiscal sponsor and project.

Most forms of assistance to individuals for housing, medical bills, or other personal expenses like debt relief will come from charitable organizations or government assistance programs, rather than grants from foundations.

State nonprofit associations, online salary calculators and lists of nonprofit job openings in your area are all sources of information about salaries.

Cause-related marketing (CRM) is designed to promote a corporation's sales and a nonprofit's cause, so both sides benefit from the marketing effort.

Capacity building is a broad term that encompasses "actions that improve nonprofit effectiveness", in terms of organizational and financial stability, program quality, and growth.

Your goal is to make it easy for your readers to find and refer to your original source, so that they can confirm the information that you presented and judge its quality for themselves.

To get an overview of funding information and resources available to artists of all types, start by reading our Knowledge Base article: Where can I find grants for individual artists?

Foundations typically fund nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status as defined by the Internal Revenue Code.

Keeping cash in reserve for a "rainy day" may seem like a luxury, but maintaining a nest egg can ensure your organization's long-term financial health.

To get an overview of funding information and resources available to artists of all types, start by reading our Knowledge Base article: Where can I find grants for individual artists?

Most forms of assistance for housing, medical bills, or other personal expenses such as debt relief will come from charitable organizations or government assistance programs, rather than grants from foundations.

We suggest that you start your search with a visit to your college or university's financial aid office, as it may be able to connect you with resources that specifically target non-U.S. residents.

You might consider hiring an experienced attorney or accountant to fill out the forms or at least look them over before you submit them. If that's beyond your budget, a board member might be able to recommend an experienced professional, or you might find free or low-cost help at a local law school or student-run legal clinic.

Workplace giving contributes an estimated $5 billion to U.S. charities each year. Many companies not only encourage their employees to give to and volunteer time to nonprofits in their communities, but also will match those efforts with dollars and other means of support.

Program-related investments (PRIs) are investments made by foundations to support charitable activities that involve the potential return of capital within an established time frame.

Every April, Independent Sector publishes an estimated national value of each volunteer hour. This page includes historical national data and the value of volunteers’ contribution by state or territory.