Finding grant opportunities for your nonprofit can be one of the most frustrating aspects of your work. You can lose hours of time – a precious resource in the nonprofit world – without ever uncovering a solid lead. Or you find the perfect opportunity, only to realize you just missed the deadline and the next grant cycle is 12 months away. Here are a few simple ways you can save time and get better results when searching for grants.
Google Search
A great tool for finding that perfect grant is with a Google search. But don’t go to the home page and type in a string of words to find what you need. Instead, use Google’s advanced search option to get more tailored results. You can search for exact words or phrases, by regions and domains, and even by the date of the site’s last update. No more wasting time reading a request for proposal from 2016!
Google Alerts
Creating simple Google Alerts is the perfect way to keep up-to-date on news from foundations and other funding sources, including new grant opportunities. Enter the name of a foundation, for instance, and Google Alerts will email you a notification when that foundation is mentioned in the news, blog posts, online discussions or whatever criteria you choose. You can decide if you want your notifications immediately or in a periodic digest to avoid clogging up your inbox.
Email Updates
Don’t forget to sign up for email updates and newsletters from foundations and government grants sites. This only takes a few seconds. Indeed, these updates can prove helpful in learning about their programs, funding strategies, and changes in staffing. For example, you might read in a foundation’s newsletter that a former colleague has been named as their new vice-president. Now you have an inside contact that could help get your proposal before their board of directors.
Learn More About Finding Grants
Of course, all of this still takes time. If you continue to find you’re not getting a satisfactory return on your investment, Mainstream Nonprofit Solutions is always ready to help you find grants that will take your nonprofit’s work to the next level. We can help clarify your funding needs, give guidance on strategy, monitor grant opportunities, and provide advice on cultivating funder relationships. Please contact us and we will be happy to discuss how we can work together to help your nonprofit achieve its goals.