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Show Me the Money! $$$ Navigating the World of Family & Private Foundation Grants

Show Me the Money! $$$ Navigating the World of Family & Private Foundation Grants. Fred J. Markham, Executive Director Texas Pioneer Foundation Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE Advocacy In Motion. Agenda . Understanding the Foundation Landscape Statistics on Family & Private Grant Programs

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Show Me the Money! $$$ Navigating the World of Family & Private Foundation Grants

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  1. Show Me the Money!$$$Navigating the World of Family & Private Foundation Grants Fred J. Markham, Executive Director Texas Pioneer Foundation Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE Advocacy In Motion

  2. Agenda • Understanding the Foundation Landscape • Statistics on Family & Private Grant Programs • How the Process Works • LOI  Application  Board Decision  Report/Follow-up • Tips on finding the right Foundation • Find a Foundation near and dear to you • Effective techniques to approaching funders • Importance of Cultivation & Stewardship • Tools to Flex Your Grantseeking Skills

  3. Bookend Model of Success One-Time Donation to Program Investment • District & community-driven priority • Specific in ask – Early Childhood pilot • Targeted in outreach to funder

  4. Landscape of Grantmaking Entities • Types of Funding Organizations • Corporate giving programs • Community foundations • Grantmaking public charities • Private foundations • Family • Independent • Corporate

  5. Fascinating Facts on Foundations • In 2010 there were 88,800 active, private foundations in the U.S. • Over 90% (83,113) had endowments of less than $10 million with $88 billion in total endowments. • Most of these are family foundations. • Private foundations are required to make grants of at least 5% of their average assets annually. • 5% of $88 billion = $4.4 billion. • 70% make grants for educational purposes.

  6. How Foundations Operate Characteristics of small foundations: • Few or no staff • Keep a low profile • Tendency to fund locally • Don’t belong to associations or attend annual conferences of funders • Make grants to nonprofit organizations with which they are personally acquainted • Many do not consider unsolicited requests • Best to approach through personal relationships

  7. How the Grantmaking Process Works Letter of Inquiry (LOI) • Brief • Amount requested • Specific purpose of funds • Why it is needed • Who it will help & how many • What you hope to accomplish

  8. Importance of the Ask: People Give to People In a recent survey of family foundations by Foundation Source, 58% said it is very important that: “Someone I know and respect is closely involved or has asked me to support the project.”

  9. Finding Family & Private Grantmakers • Network locally • Online resources: • Foundation Center: www.foundationcenter.org • Guidestar: www.guidestar.org • Urban Institute: http://nccs.urban.org/statistics • CTEF Giving Profile: www.centraltexasedfunders.org • FC Cooperating Collections: http://foundationcenter.org/collections/cctx.html • 20+ Cooperating Collections around Texas • Electronic & Print Resources such as: • The Foundation Directory Online Professional • Philanthropy In/Sight • After the Grant: The Nonprofit's Guide to Good Stewardship (2010) • Board Member's Book (2003)…..and MUCH MORE!

  10. Quick Demonstration on finding Grantmakers Online National Center for Charitable Statistics • search by Texas County • view Board Members • see Past Grants (by IRS Form 990s)

  11. Urban Institute - NCCS

  12. Texas County Detail

  13. How to Apply Full Proposal • Many foundations have their own application. • Most small foundations do not want a long proposal. • Be direct and honest. • Be accountable to project goals and budget needs. • Cut the jargon talk. • State how your work differs from other similar organizations/programs.

  14. Target Prospecting Private Foundation Website • Grant guidelines & funding priorities • Grant process & timeline • Annual reports • Staff biographies • Grant success stories • General information/FAQ

  15. Tools to Refine Search & Outreach

  16. Timing of Grant Cycles Don’t Expect Quick Results • Often part-time philanthropists • Small or no staff • 3 or 4 funding cycles annually

  17. What to do if funder says “No.” Don’t Let a Rejection Discourage You • Rejection is part of the process of finding funding • Reasons for rejection may have nothing to do with the quality of your program or proposal: • Funding priorities may have changed • Reached annual quota for funding • Contact them again next year. Strengthen personal relationships and program awareness.

  18. Bookend Model of Success Importance of Relationship Building • Engaged funder in Foundation’s activities • Creative ideas to help keep Foundation top of mind, like offered school program tours, included in e-newsletter, authored press release • Overall, served as a direct liaison to ISD & priorities

  19. Questions & Comments Thank You! Fred Markham Erica V. Ekwurzel fred@texaspioneer.com erica@civicaim.com www.texaspioneer.comCivicAIM

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