Researching Sources for Support

1.   National 

Federal Agencies:  The following Federal Agencies are major sources of support for human service agencies and arts and humanities organizations.  Despite the continuing cutbacks, these agencies should be considered for potential program support.

Private Foundations:  The major national foundations tend to support programs which are pilot projects likely to demonstrate something new which can be duplicated elsewhere in the country.  Smaller organizations would spend their time more wisely looking for more local support.  However, it is worth checking with your Trustees and with local community leaders for possible personal ties with foundations.

National Corporations:  National corporations give much of their support to their home community and to national organizations.  They also give support in areas where they have plants and operations, however.  Check the Taft Corporate Foundation Directory and Corporate Foundation Profiles for corporations with operations in your area (both directories have geographic indexes).

2.   State

State Legislature:  From time to time, State Legislatures make special appropriation grants to non-profit organizations.  For assistance in having a bill introduced on behalf of your organization, contact your local delegates (preferably a year in advance and at least by January of the year in which funding support is sought).

A variety of information about foundations can be found at any of the national network of foundation library reference collections established by the Foundation Center.  Among many reference materials, these libraries have microfiche copies of the annual reports filed by foundations in your state with the Internal Revenue Service.

3.   Local

1. Who are your current or past supporters?  The chances are greater to gain increased support from encouraging current supporters (members and volunteers) to increase their giving than from gaining new supporters.

2. Who uses your services?  Those who visit your facility or use your services are likely prospects to contribute to your cause.  Devise a simple, consistent means of getting the names and addresses of those who use your services.

3. Who serves the same public?  What arts organizations in your community already have mailing lists?  Ask to share them.  Check annual reports and newsletters of other arts organizations for names of donors.  Have volunteers look up addresses in the telephone book.

4. Who are the community-minded citizens who are known to support community organizations?  Check membership lists or directories or newsletters of the Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations.  Who are the local supporters of the YMCA, the YWCA, the League of Women Voters, the Legal Aid Society, the Urban League, the Junior League; who belongs to Rotary, to country clubs, to the Little Theater; who gives to the local United Way?  to the Arts Council?

5. Who are the leading businesses in the community?  To whom do they already contribute?  What do they support?  What contacts do you or your board have with them?  Can you get some key business leaders to join your board?  Can you give evidence that employees of a given business use your services?  Can you say that they volunteer their services to your organization?  If not, can you create opportunities for them to do so?  How can you make your organization be their organization?

6. Check listings of local Chamber of Commerce and Rotary and other civic clubs.  Businesses that have something in common with your organization are likely candidates for support.  Look for opportunities for in-kind support (volunteers, equipment, expertise, etc.).

7. What do your staff and your board contribute?  Since they have the greatest interest in the success of your organization, they should be encouraged to support it fully.

8. Who is your single greatest donor?  Who are his/her friends?  Business contacts?  Who would contribute to your organization in order to honor your donor?

4.  A basic library for individual prospect research

• City Directory -Every city has an annual city directory which lists basic information about individuals, including name and address of spouse and children, and names of neighbors.  One publisher of many city directories is:      R. L. Polk and Company, P. O. Box 27546, Richmond, VA,  23261.  Tel. (804) 359-6001.

• Biography and Genealogy Master Index -A master index to more than 440,000 biographical sketches in over 70 current and retrospective dictionaries.  Published annually by Gale Research, Inc., 835 Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI, 48226 -4094.

• Who's Who in America - Approximately 80,000 biographies of living Americans, this is one of 16 directories published by Marquis Who's Who, MacMillan Directory Division, 3002 Glenview Road, Wilmette, IL, 60091.

• Martindale -Hubbell Law Directory - A sixteen volume set, published annually, which provides biographical information about lawyers, including their representative clients.  Published by:  Martindale-Hubbell, P. O. Box 1001, Summit, NJ, 07902-1001.  Tel. (908) 464-6800.

• Public Library - Most public libraries have a division devoted to the history of the state and the city.  These frequently include clipping files on individuals and businesses.  Most are accessible by telephone for inquiries about individual biographical information.

• Membership Directories - Individuals are listed in a variety of local and regional directories, including alumni directories, Rotary Club and professional organization directories, Junior League directories, church directories, and club membership directories.