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Finding Sponsors and Planning Proposals 1 With Chapter 3, our attention turns to finding pri- vate funds from foundations and corporations. We identify five different types of foundations and suggest how approaches to them might differ. Presently, there are more than 100,000 private foundations that award grants. Information about private foundation funding priorities and past grant support is generally accessible, and we point to multiple print and electronic sources that will help you select likely sponsors of your proj- ects. In contrast, information about corporations is less accessible, and successful grantseekers must be espe- cially resourceful in their quests for funding. We show you the tips that the professionals use when seeking corporate funding. By the time you have completed your search of public and private funding sources, you have a list of potential “suspects” who might fund your proposal— but you don’t know for sure. In Chapter 4, we prescribe a four-step process to convert these “suspects” to “pros- pects” by talking with program officers, past grant win- ners, and past grant reviewers before you start to write your next proposal. Engaging in preproposal contact substantially increases your likelihood of getting funded. OVERVIEW OF PART I Tens of thousands of grantmakers give away more than $400 billion annually. How do you find those sponsors who would fund your projects? Part I gives you the basic print and electronic in- formation sources to identify a list of public and pri- vate sponsors who might fund your projects. With a little research time, you can narrow down that initial suspect list and identify those grantmakers who have a high probability of funding your organization. Chapter 1 helps you get ready to begin your grant- seeking journey. It examines the individual and orga- nizational attitudes held by successful grantseekers. It offers an overview of the grantseeking process—from start to finish. It suggests some ways in which you can help build your own internal infrastructure for success- ful grantseeking. In Chapter 2, the focus is on finding public grants from federal and state agencies. Most federal grant- making agencies provide online information that is readily accessible. We present some efficient ways of identifying federal grant dollars. State agencies, on the other hand, lag in making grant information available. Accordingly, we offer some strategies for ferreting out state-level grant funds. Part I Finding Sponsors and Planning Proposals