Finding Funding: Search Strategies

Resources on this Web site

The following are resources that will aid in your search for funding. There are several sites that offer materials the public can access.

• Bibliography of funding resources - Lists directories, resources, materials you can interlibrary loan from the State Library through your local public library. Many good materials on actual grant writing and identifying funding sources.
• Internet sites for funding information - Start on the general Web sites and then chose the folders from the left.   The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Federal Register and Grants.gov are good federal sites to begin your search. The Iowa Grants Information Management System (GEM$) was established to aid Iowa state agencies. The University of Iowa site provides many links to federal agencies and Iowa foundations.
• Directory of foundations, corporations and organizations - Specific subheadings provide contact and web information about certain agencies. Many state agency contacts are also listed. Though listed because of funding possibilities for libraries, these foundations and corporations also fund others areas. Call the contacts and ask for guidelines. Read guidelines to see if your project fits their criteria or interests.
• Recent funding announcements of interest to libraries - Lists current announcements of available funding or programs. This list is meant to provide general information and does not suggest eligibility for all libraries nor does it suggest that Iowa libraries will be funded.
  
  

Pathfinders - a list of helpful resources on a specific topic:

• Locating Funding Resources
• Grant Proposal Writing
  
  

Visit a Foundation Center Cooperating Library:

• Cedar Rapids Public Library
• Southwestern Community College
• Public Library of Des Moines
• Sioux City Public Library
• Council Bluffs Public Library

Cooperating Collections are free funding information centers in libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit resource centers that provide a core collection of Foundation Center publications and a variety of supplementary materials and services in areas useful to
grant seekers.

If you live near one of these libraries, search core collections funded by the Foundation Center. Each also has a file of Iowa private foundation IRS 990-PF forms that list a foundation's recent grants. FC Search is a database in CD-ROM or online formats that include foundations and corporate givers. They are also available at the libraries.

Visit Larger Libraries

Many public libraries have large collections with foundation/corporation directories, newsletters, etc.

Visit Local Academics - Library and Sponsored Programs Office

Staff at universities and colleges must get funding for research; they have huge collections of materials, books, newsletters and electronic databases. Check their grant offices (some call it sponsored programs office).

Search Electronic Resources

Many academics and larger libraries have subscriptions to electronic databases that can be searched by keyword, funding source, geographic area, etc. These are paid for by the agencies, but they usually allow you to reserve time and search at the institution. Ask agencies if they have any of the following:

Foundation Directory Online (located at Public Library of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Southwestern Community College, Council Bluffs and Sioux City)

GrantSelect Offering more than 10,000 funding opportunities and the largest collection of sponsored research opportunities, Grant

COS (Community of Science) is the leading global resource for hard-to-find information critical to scientific research and other projects across all disciplines.

Prospector' Choice presents comprehensive data on 10,000 foundation and corporation giving programs.  CD Rom product

Chronicle Guide to Grants The Chronicle's Guide to Grants is an electronic database of all corporate and foundation grants listed in The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Dialog - the worldwide leader in providing online-based information services to organizations seeking competitive advantages in such fields as business, science, engineering, finance and law. Our products and services, including Dialog® and Dialog DataStar®, offer organizations the ability to precisely retrieve data from more than 1.4 billion unique records of key information, accessible via the Internet or through delivery to enterprise intranets.

SPIN (Sponsored Programs Information Network Database) At University of Iowa.- If you make appointment, you can search there.

IRIS (Illinois Researcher Information Services) for funding opportunities in every field from agriculture to zoology, or view upcoming deadlines in 25 subject areas.

Local and in-state resources

Check with local businesses. There is always a better chance of getting local funding than federal grant funding. Most federal grants programs are very competitive.

State agencies

Check with state agencies that have like interests, (e.g., Dept. of Public Health; Economic Development, which has some community grants; and Cultural Affairs. Many state or local agency staff may have leads on grant sources relevant to your problem/need. Many state agencies receive state block grant money from federal grants which they in turn distribute as state grants.