Creative Thinking = Good Grant Writing

You take out your list of foundations — that list so full of potential, so ripe with promise that you cannot wait to get started.

Your list
This list should include foundations relevant to your work gleaned not only from FoundationSearch.com or its equivalent, but also via:

• Word-of-mouth — use your network! Fellow professionals, fundraisers, grant writers and nonprofit people have lots of industry knowledge based on current and previous positions.
• Online searches — Google is your friend.
• Websites of organizations similar to yours that list their sponsors and supporters.
• Friends and family — they may not work for nonprofits, but they do read and hear things potentially relevant to what you are seeking.
• Newspapers, articles, blogs.
• Google Alerts that you have programmed with keywords relevant to your field.

Before typing the name of the first foundation into the space in your letter that currently says “X Foundation,” take a look at the additional information provided about the foundation.