Nonprofit Grant Research with the Library

Nonprofits, you are on our minds. At a time when the communities you serve need you the most, you are experiencing the impacts of COVID-19 along with the rest of us. Sources of revenue like fundraising events and programs have been put on hold, staff and volunteers are under stay-at-home orders, and you’re navigating the many challenges of telework.

The Seattle Public Library is here to help with at least one task that is likely on your list: seeking grant funding! Whether you are an experienced grant researcher or just starting this fundraising strategy out of necessity, our resources and services can help with the process of finding those opportunities.

Foundation Directory Online (FDO) is the most comprehensive database of U.S. grantmakers available. Use this tool to search for grantmakers who have funded organizations working on causes and with communities similar to those you serve. While we usually provide access to FDO only from our Central Library, during the closure we have two remote access options available to everyone:

• • • Select Foundation Directory Online – Essential from our list of Online Resources to search over 100,000 grantmaker profiles. No log-in or library card is required to access this resource. Customize your search by location, subject, support strategy, grant amount, and more. To get started on your own, the Regional Foundation Center provides an orientation in its nine-minute video, FDO Essential Search.
    • Make a virtual appointment with a librarian to access the more robust version of the database, Foundation Directory Online – Professional. In addition to over 189,000 grantmaker profiles, FDO Professional includes detail about 800,000+ grant recipients and specific grants awarded. During the appointment, we will provide an orientation to FDO Professional and help you tailor a search to find the best grant prospects for your organization. Send us an appointment request using this form. No library card is required for this service.

For a quick illustration of how Foundation Directory Online works, let’s look at funding for food banks in Seattle.

Here are the number of records for that search, at a glance:

The top foundations funding food banks in Seattle, by number of grants awarded in the past few years, are:

Recent top recipients of that grant funding are:

If you want to learn more about the Seattle Foundation based on their record of giving to food banks, their grantmaker profile provides further detail that will help you assess whether they are worth reaching out to:

In addition to Foundation Directory Online, several organizations are maintaining their own lists of new COVID-19 relief funds and grants. We are tracking some of the best online resources in our guide to COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits.

It has been so encouraging to witness the innovative ways nonprofits have responded to this crisis in order to continue to benefit their communities, as well as the outpouring of support that nonprofit assistance organizations and government agencies are providing to help nonprofits make it through this time.

To highlight a few from our list of COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits:

• • • National Council of Nonprofits is helping all of us understand how the latest federal coronavirus relief bills apply to nonprofits through free webinars and legislative analyses.
    • Washington Nonprofits is offering free online training, up-to-date guidance, and advocating for inclusion of nonprofits in financial relief legislation.
    • 501 Commons partnered with Tech Impact to create the website Prepare.Respond. Serve. to help nonprofits figure out remote work technology and HR solutions during COVID-19.
    • Council on Foundations has facilitated a pledge that many grantmakers have signed, promising to ease the restrictions and requirements of their grant funding.
    • City of Seattle has implemented a number of relief strategies that apply to both small businesses and nonprofits, including emergency funding and utility payment relief.
    • The federal government passed the massive economic relief bill called the CARES Act. See our list of resources to learn more. This is something every nonprofit needs to know about.

Many other organizations are stepping up to help nonprofits with resource lists, up-to-date information, and free online educational events and services. Check our list of Nonprofit Assistance, Networking, and Educational Organizations to discover your full support network.

We’re here for you, Seattle nonprofits!

~posted by Chris