Is GrantStation Right For Me?

Is a Membership with GrantStation right for your organization today?

Effective grantseeking means having all the pieces in place to successfully secure grant awards.

Classification

Are you a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, educational institution, regional government, religious organization, tribal council, or an individual artist?

  • If so, then you will find grant opportunities in our search sections. Our profiles indicate the types of organizations that the grantmaker will fund. Check out a sample profile here.

  • If your 501(c)(3) status is pending, you can still join GrantStation and get started on your research in advance. Some grantmakers will even accept a request during this period.

  • If you are classified as a for-profit business, contact your regional Small Business Development Center. If you work with nonprofit organizations or are in service, you can also reach out to the Social Enterprise Alliance for resources.

  • If you are looking for scholarships, contact the financial aid department of the educational institution you are interested in.

Budget

Is your general operating budget $10,000 or more?

  • If so, then your organization’s budget is large enough that grantmakers will want to provide funding.

  • If your budget is less, we suggest you contact local businesses or your regional community foundation for funding opportunities. We also suggest you consider hosting a fundraiser, soliciting individual donations, and documenting in-kind contributions (including volunteer hours) before developing a grants program.

Mission

Does your organization have a mission which many grantmakers are interested in funding?

  • Check out our Search Terms. This is a list of all of the areas funded by the grantmakers in our search sections.

  • You can then try out our search sections to see how many grantmakers are giving in your area. When you purchase a Membership, you can then see the actual list of grantmakers in the results.

  • If you don’t see terms that fit your work, feel free to contact us.

Capacity

Do you have the people in place to perform grantseeking?

  • Do you have the time and capacity to use our tools to research grant opportunities, build your strategy, and write the proposals?

  • As part of your GrantStation Membership, there is a guide on how to establish a grantseeking team to perform this process.

  • We also have a guide on how to create the time for effective grantseeking.

  • If you don’t have the people in place for grantseeking, consider waiting before getting a Membership.

Documentation

Do you have the basic documents required for making an application to a grantmaker?

  • Mission Statement

  • Board of Directors biographies

  • Tax designation letter from IRS (this can be pending)

  • Operating budget for this year

Experience

Are you a new organization?

  • Many grantmakers do prefer to give to organizations with a proven track record, so you may want to wait until you have a history of fundraising and local support before joining GrantStation.
  • However, some grantmakers do provide startup funding, which is one of the search terms you can use in our search sections.