The internet is a wealth of information regarding grants, how to find them and apply for them. There are hundreds of companies on the internet that will offer their services in finding grants and will help you apply for them. Unfortunately, not all of these companies are completely honest and may just be trying to earn a profit for themselves.

If you choose to try to locate and apply for grants on your own there are numerous government agencies that can assist you in this.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is one of these agencies and you can visit their site online and search for grants that are currently funded by the U. S. Government. The requirements of the grant, contact information and how to apply is usually provided on this site.

The Small Business Administration is also an excellent resource when looking for information regarding grants. The Federal Commons is another nice internet resource that can offer you a wealth of information regarding grants and how to apply for the ones that you are eligible for.

Getting grant funding for a non-profit is a lot easier than getting grant funding for a for-profit business. And getting grant funding for an existing non-profit is also a lot easier than getting grant funding to start a new non-profit.

However, saying it’s “easier” doesn’t mean it’s easy to get this funding, because there are countless existing non-profits out there all competing for the same pot of money.

Not only that but, with very few exceptions, the grants that are available are not designed to give you all the money you need to start and/or run a non-profit. Plus the few grants that do provide full support are available only for extremely specific non-profit entities that are clearly defined and non-competitive, such as Independent Living Centers (CIL). These types of grants are also usually federal or state grants…the hardest type of funding to get, particularly if you are an inexperienced grant writer.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get funding for your non-profit.

The first thing you have to understand, though, is that you’ll need to be a 501(c)(3) or other IRS tax exempt non-profit designation to have much of any chance of being successful in attracting non-profit grant funding.

Just calling yourself a non-profit isn’t sufficient. Funders expect their recipients to be serious about the project, and that means being incorporated, having a Board of Directors and By-Laws at the very least. So don’t expect to apply for grant funding for an adult daycare center when it’s just a dream you have and you’re hoping for funding to get it started. That simply won’t happen. A non-profit is a business…it just doesn’t make a profit!

Once you legally exist as a non-profit, however, local, private and corporate foundations may be interested in supporting various aspects of what you do. Just like the government, though, don’t expect them to pay for everything. This funder may be willing to pay for social activities while that funder may be willing to pay for a van while a third funder may will willing to provide support for adult education.

You won’t know until you start looking, but expect to have to look in many places and apply for many grants…as well as consider community fundraising to support the ongoing efforts of your non-profit. When looking for funding for a non-profit, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is sound advice.