How to Research a Foundation Before You Apply

The most expensive mistake in grant seeking is writing a full application to a funder who was never going to fund you. Twenty minutes of research up front prevents most of those wasted hours. Here is what to check before you decide a funder is worth a proposal — and what each thing tells you.

Check the giving record first

Before anything else, look at who the foundation has actually funded. Its Form 990-PF lists every grant by recipient. Scan for organizations like yours, in your geography, at amounts near what you would request. If the recent giving record shows no work resembling yours and no grantees in your area, stop here — the rest of the research will not change that answer.

Confirm geographic eligibility

A large share of foundations fund only a specific city, county, or state. This is the most common reason a well-written application is rejected unread. Confirm the funder gives where you operate before going further.

Check the application process

Find out whether the funder accepts applications at all, and if so, how — letter of inquiry first, full proposal, online portal, or invitation only. The 990-PF and the funder's website usually say. If the funder does not accept unsolicited proposals, your task shifts from 'write a proposal' to 'build a relationship.'

Size the grant

Look at the range of grant amounts in the recent giving record and plan to ask within it. Note the funder's overall scale, too — total annual giving tells you whether you are looking at a funder that gives a few thousand dollars or a few million.

Note deadlines and cycles

Find the funder's deadlines or board-meeting schedule. Foundations often review grants only once or twice a year, so a missed cycle can mean a six-month wait. Build the timing into your plan.

Look for a connection

Finally, check the foundation's trustees and officers, listed in public filings. A personal connection — a board member, a shared contact, a peer grantee who can introduce you — changes everything, and is especially important for funders that do not take open applications.