One of the most valuable parts of being a good grant writer is research. Where do you start looking for funders? What if you have a limited budget? Using an online research database helps narrow your research topic and gives you necessary background information to develop your proposal. Free grant research is available, if you know where to look. Other databases are available for a minimal yearly subscription fee (more on that topic soon).
There are several online databases that are easy to use and are free to access. They may not include the comprehensive information you will find in fee-based databases, but they are a good place to start or to verify giving information. My favorite FREE online sources are:
Remember that internet searching and online databases are only one part of a strong research strategy. Check with your local library, universities and subscription-based databases to fill in the gaps. Every area of fundraising also has affinity groups or specialized funder resources such as regional associations of grantmakers (RAGs).
Creating your own database of research information will speed up the process and allow you to keep key pieces of information close at hand.
~Cheers!
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