Place your bids to foundations and corporate giving sources

In 1984, Dr. Leroy Ervin had a vision. After decades of teaching at various colleges and universities, he was frustrated that so few minority students were pursuing doctorates in science and mathematics, and, that even fewer were choosing university teaching careers. To remedy this problem, he founded the nonprofit National Consortium for Educational Access (NCEA). With generous support from foundations and corporate giving sources, the NCEA has provided 189 minority scholars with fellowships over the past ten years. Many of these scholars have already received their doctorates and are teaching in colleges and universities around the country.

Like other nonprofit executives, Dr. Ervin has learned that foundations and corporations can be valuable sources of funding. Last year, foundations and corporations gave about $20 billion in grants to nonprofit organizations around the country for a wide variety of projects ranging from literacy campaigns to feeding the hungry to museum exhibits.

Before rushing to write a proposal, however, a nonprofit organization should ask itself four basic questions:

• Have you identified foundations and corporations that might support your programs?
• Have you tried to establish relationships with your potential funders before writing a proposal?
• Are you willing to devote the time and energy necessary to submit a competitive proposal?
• If you are awarded a grant, can you carry out an excellent program and show results that will please your funder?

The following five-step process will help you find the answers.