Fund Development
CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE:
What We Can Learn from the New Breed of Donors by Patricia P. LaCroix
Nonprofit management and organizational development consultant Patricia LaCroix has served a diverse range of organizations, from colleges and schools to social service agencies to cultural institutions. She has been assisting the California Alliance in its fundraising efforts over the last six years. Read Ms. LaCroix’s timely article about what arts education nonprofits can learn from the new breed of philanthropists about pooling our collective intellectual capital and shared values to attract more people and money to our donor circles?
FundDev_LaCroix_08.pdf [PDF: 76K]
Cultural Funding: Federal Opportunities
The Cultural Funding web site, developed by the National Endowment for the Arts, includes a chart of arts education organizations in several states, including California, outlining how each organization accessed federal monies for their programs.
http://arts.endow.gov/federal.html
eSchool News School Funding Center
Information on up-to-the-minute grant programs, funding sources, and technology funding.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/funding
Foundation Center
The Foundation Center provides access to funding opportunities through the Foundation Center Grantmaker Search, research and training on the fund development process.
http://www.fdncenter.org
Fundraising Planner
This step-by-step guide is designed to help your organization construct an operational plan that serves your funding needs. From meeting deadlines and scheduling special events to creating an overall fundraising plan, this book will help you to design activities so that they work together as a whole to support all your programs. Available through Americans for the Arts bookstore: http://store.yahoo.com/americans4thearts/funplan.html
Fundsnet Online Services
A comprehensive web site dedicated to providing nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities with information on financial resources available on the Internet.
http://www.fundsnetservices.com
Grant Seeker's Handbook Online
Back in 1990, the California Community Foundation published Harvey Chess‚ Grant Seeker's Handbook to emphasize the importance of careful research and planning when raising funds for nonprofit organizations. In 2004, the Center for Nonprofit Management completely edited and updated the handbook and has made it available online. The Grant Seeker's Handbook touches on nearly every aspect of grant research. To access the handbook online, go to: http://www.cnmsocal.org/Grantseekers/intro.html
Grantionary
The Grantionary is a list of grant-related terms and their definitions.
http://www.eduplace.com/grants/help/grantionary.html
Grant Spy
Grant Spy locates grant funding for public programs nationwide. Daily bulletins keep members informed of the latest federal, state (CA), and foundation grants, while its website database enables members to conduct focused research for specific programs and funding categories. The site offers a free weekly bulletin with information on recent grants.
http://www.grantspy.com
Grant Writing Tips
SchoolGrants has compiled an excellent set of grant writing tips for those
that need help in developing grant proposals.
http://www.schoolgrants.org/grant_tips.htm
Guide to Securing Major Gifts
Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Volunteers, and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift is a step-by-step guide to the process of securing a major gift, from getting the appointment to how to ask for the gift. The book supplies sample letters and responses to roadblocks that potential donors put up in order to avoid agreeing to a face-to-face solicitation. To order this publication, call 508-359-0019.
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
The NEA provides national recognition and support to significant projects of artistic excellence, thus preserving, enhancing, and making more widely available our nation's diverse cultural heritage. The agency is also committed to helping children and youth acquire knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts as the foundation for a lifetime of arts experience.
http://arts.endow.gov/
Public Funding for the Arts at the Local Level
For anyone interested in arts and local public funding--from elected officials and arts leaders to community activists and public administrators--this Monograph offers practical advice on the use of taxes, fees, and other public sources to support the arts. This Monograph discusses a number of factors that decision-makers consider when evaluating public funding for the arts. It presents an overview of policy strategies with examples from around the United States and describes the innovative efforts of local arts advocates to restore, sustain, and increase public support for the arts. It is a concise tool to learn what other communities are doing and what options might work in your region. Cost: Americans for the Arts member: $6.95 / nonmember: $9.25. To order this publication, go to: http://www.AmericansForTheArts.org/bookstore or call 800-321-4510.
Replacing Initial Grants
A challenge for sustaining new programs is to find financial support after initial funding has been spent. To help nonprofits maintain these budding programs, the Finance Project published this 47-page report that suggests tapping into local business and civic resources, building a broad base of community support, and expanding in-kind donations. Although geared toward after-school programs, the lessons are applicable to any initiative needing grant funding.
http://www.financeproject.org/fptips.htm
School Grants
A collection of resources and tips to help K-12 educators apply for and obtain special grants for a variety of projects.
http://www.schoolgrants.org
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education offers funding for arts education through such programs as Title I and the No Child Left Behind act.
http://www.ed.gov/