How can I find foundations in my home state?
True, a lot of foundations like to give locally, but more and more foundations are giving beyond their state borders. Thus, if you're trying to find funders for your project, focus on where a foundation gives instead of where it lives. You might find that some of your strongest prospects -- those that have given a lot of grants or dollars for work like yours -- might live elsewhere.
Foundation Directory allows you to search for funders based on where they like to give. Use your state as a term in the "Geographic Focus" field. To find funders located near you, use the "Location" field instead. Click here to learn more about using Foundation Directory and here for a handy guide.
Use Foundation Directory for free at all Candid partner locations or subscribe to use Foundation Directory anywhere. Eligible nonprofits with revenue or expenses under $1M can also gain a free year of access to Foundation Directory Essential through our Go for Gold! promotion.
Here are additional resources to find funders in your state:
- Foundation Directory Quick Start: Search for foundations by name, location, or EIN to get basic information (contact details, purpose and activities, and links to recent 990s).
- Requests for Proposals (RFPs): Announcements of funding opportunities. Subscribe to receive the weekly RFP bulletin email (under PND newsletters).
- Check Community Foundation Locator, sponsored and maintained by the Council on Foundations, to see whether there is a community foundation serving your local area.
- If you are in California, Candid also has a dashboard, updated daily, of giving in in your state, prepared in partnership with Philanthropy California. It has statistical information and top funders by region, subject and population served.
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