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 Funding Information Network locations or subscribe to use Foundation Directory anywhere.
Here are additional resources to find funders in your state:
- Foundation Directory Quick Start: Search by name, several types of location fields, or EIN to get basic information (contact details, fields of interest, links to recent 990s).
- Requests for Proposals (RFPs): Announcements of funding opportunities. Also available as an RSS feed or free weekly e-newsletter.
- 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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