Grants Collections

This guide is a starting point for grants research.

Do I really need a grant, or something else?

Foundations typically award grants to nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These are organizations whose purposes are charitable, educational, scientific, religious, literary, or cultural. 

Although some foundations do award grants to individuals, for the most part, foundations do not make grants to for-profit enterprises. Your specific purpose will determine where best to look for information on financial assistance. Grant money may be available from a variety of Federal, state or local government agencies to support your program. You may also find useful information about alternative sources of funding through scholarships or loans by using the library’s print or online resources.   

There are thousands of grants covering hundreds of different subjects. Researching and identifying potential funding opportunities for your particular need takes a lot of time and effort.  Here are tips and links to some of the more reliable resources.

Funding for: