HOW TO APPROACH YOUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- Do your homework: each community foundation is different.
- The foundation’s website is a good place to start.
- What are their geographic restrictions?
- What other funding guidelines and deadlines apply?
- Who are the staff and whom should you contact?
- Contact the foundation to introduce yourself.
- An initial phone call or brief e-mail is fine.
- Introduce your organization: your mission, the community need you address.
- State the project (program or capital) for which you seek funds.
- Ask what your next step should be: may I schedule a meeting with you or someone on your staff?
- Work well in advance.
- Seek advice and introduce your nonprofit ahead of a specific proposal.
- Build a relationship, take advantage of technical assistance, attend meetings convened by the foundation.
- Remember that some community foundations need time to present your proposal to individual donors.
- Engage local funders in the development of new projects so you are not asking for an endorsement at the last minute.
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