Get started with a webinar from the Foundation Center on "Grantseeking Basics. The webinar provides an overview of the grant seeking process, including what you need to have in place before you seek a grant, what you need to know about grant-makers and how nonprofits are supported, how to identify funding partners, and resources for your grant-seeking efforts.

The Foundation Center also offers an online tutorial about using their comprehensive online database, Foundation Directory Online Professional, available at Burton Barr Central Library. Learn how to create customized searches to develop targeted lists of foundations that will match your organization's funding needs.

When researching potential funders, remember to consider the following:

Choose prospective funders by examining their descriptive profiles and recent giving histories.
Look for funders that have already supported projects similar to yours, those that award the type of support you seek, and/or those in your geographic area (or that fund projects in your geographic area).
Look for funders with which someone on your board of directors has an affiliation.
Review annual reports, IRS returns (IRS Form 990-PF), and printed guidelines to analyze funders' giving patterns and trends.

The Library also provides several electronic resources to help you in your research. Visit our Money and Business page. Scroll down to the section headed "Nonprofits" to learn more about Arizona Guide to Grants and Foundation Directory Online (In Library Use Only).

Several print directories are available in the reference collection on the 5th floor of Burton Barr Central Library, including The Foundation Directory and National Directory of Corporate Giving.