Discussion: Funder Search

This Discussion will be available from Day 1 through Day 7 of this week. You are required to submit your initial post by Day 3. You are encouraged to post early. Once you have submitted your initial post, start responding to your colleagues. You must begin responding to your colleagues by no later than Day 5 and should continue to interact frequently with your colleagues through Day 7. Part of what makes a discussion a discussion and not a lecture is the back-and-forth, in-depth, animated interaction of at least two people. If you start a topic and none of your peers are responding to your post, consider what you can do to get the conversation going. Include something that would elicit further thoughts and different opinions from peers. Validate your opinions with references and links to the sources you used so that your peers can read them for themselves. See your Discussion Rubric in the Course Information Tab for specific grading requirements.

You have determined a project idea and are ready to begin the research to find the RFP that is the best match your project.

There are many viable approaches to searching for and locating project funding, but the most effective are those that utilize appropriate technologies. With the specifics of your project in mind, look for RFPs using the state, federal, and foundation grants databases/search engines listed in this week’s Learning Resources. This is an important step, so take your time in identifying grant providers that issue grant awards that align to your organization’s specific cause or need. Bookmark these websites to your own computer and keep notes in the Process Development Template. Each website offers a wealth of varied information for grant seekers that can greatly enhance your developing understanding of grantsmanship.

When reviewing RFPs, look specifically for the following information:

• Who is eligible to apply?
• How many awards/grants are being given?
• Dollar amount of the grant/award
• Collaboration/partnership requirements
• Length of the grant period
• For private funders, who is on their board and does the applicant have any existing relationships with anyone?

Keep in mind:

• RFPs that refer to online applications may tend to be less complicated.
• RFPs for multi-year projects will be more complicated than those for a one-year time period.

Note: For purposes of this course, please adhere to the following parameters:

• Do not use RFPs for a research project.
• Do not worry about submission dates that appear on the RFP.

As you examine various sites, document where you searched and the keywords you used. Keep in mind that if you do not find an appropriate and applicable RFP (there isn’t always a funder for every project), you may need to adjust your project or your project plan. Assess your project honestly to determine whether or not you need to explore another course of action.

For this Discussion, analyze your search results for state, federal, and foundation grants, and select the RFPs that best match your project.

By Day 3

Post a link (URL) for each of the three RFPs that best align to your project. Include a brief summary that provides a rationale for each of your choices. The rationale should address the alignment of the RFP to your project idea as well as alignment of the funder itself. Why is this a good match?