Where to Find Grantmakers

Finding grantmakers is no longer as difficult as it used to be. With just a quick visit to a search engine such as Google, you can find thousands of websites listing available grants and who’s offering them. Many of those websites will explain what sorts of businesses these grants are available for, which will make it easy to determine with a quick glance whether or not your business can qualify. This ability makes searching quick and efficient, allowing quick compilations of grantmakers of interest.

Some popular sites for grantmaker searches can include government grant sites for those wanting to start up a non-profit, private search engines for those wanting to start up a business, and scholarship searches for those interested in scholarships for education or research.

What types of grantmakers are there? There are two general type categories: “General Purpose” otherwise known as “operating support” and “Program Development” or “project support.” General purpose grants play more into the concept people have of “free money,” they’re grants given to businesses that can be used for anything from program work to bills – generally the grantmaker is simply trusting the business to make good use of the money. Program grants, alternatively, are given for specific purposes and often with strict guidelines; these grants are to be used only for the program for which they were awarded. The most common program grants include: program planning, start-up, administration, facility/equipment, and endowments that are to be placed in accounts to generate interest which the non-profit can then use for projects. Sometimes, a business or non-profit seeking a grantmaker can research companies known to provide grants for their type of work, and simply gather resources that way. While this method may be more time-consuming, it allows the grant-writer to contact businesses directly and perhaps speak to the people that will be reviewing their application, a way to put a voice to the pages.

Can you find grantmakers for small businesses? Of course, there are all manner of grantmakers available. However, grants for businesses are a smaller subset and very competitive. A tactic that may reduce the competition slightly is avoiding the “generic” grantmakers and looking for those specific to your gender, ethnic group, state; any specifics that may give you an edge.

One place to start seeking business grants is directly at the government’s small business information website which has links by state to government grantmakers for small businesses.

A site with information for grantmakers specific to women starting small businesses can be found with a Google search and includes state-by-state and ethnic-centered searches for grants.

Don’t worry men, business grants specific to you can be found as well, there are several male-centered grant websites on the internet.

Minorities also have an edge in the world of grants, and searching for grantmakers based on your ethnic group may be a great way to find money that suits you.

Those with disabilities – from accidents, from birth, or disabled Veterans – can find multiple grant opportunities as well, through the federal government and private companies.

These are just some of the options available for a creative entrepreneur who wants to start a business and can think of special groups that he or she might fit into.

However, with something as great as the idea of grants, comes those who want to abuse the system. There are some people who have been scammed quite a bit of money, and you can search for their stories all over the internet to better arm yourself against these scammers. Places where you SHOULD look for grantmakers are free sites, easily accessible to everyone. No legitimate company is going to charge you to find their grantmakers; the idea of a grant is philanthropy, so any pertinent information is information that can be gleaned without charge. As with anything, always research before making any decision that involves giving out your credit card number.

Alternatively, many grant applications – just like college applications – have a small fee. Most of these fees are under $100, and processing fees are normal and not a sign of a scam unless they’re excessively high. Again, always exercise caution and research a company you intend to send an application to. Usually, people who are burned will immediately make a note of it on the Internet for a quick Google search to pull up, which will help you avoid any rotten apples.

Finally – one you find what you feel is the right grant to apply for, don’t hesitate to write a brief description of your business, and contact the company. You can do so via email much of the time, but don’t be surprised if yours gets lost in the shuffle. The most effective method is to contact the grant provider via telephone, and have a discussion with them. This way you don’t waste your time, energy, and money on an application fee for a grant that won’t be awarded to your project or company.