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Researching Grants and Funding Resources Online
When an agency asks an online volunteer to research grants and funding
resources online, what they are looking for are, usually:
- corporations and foundations that fund organizations with missions
and programs similar to their own agency
- awards and fellowships that come with a grant of equipment or
finances, that are given in recognition of the type of work the agency
does
- methods to accept donations online for the agency, either through
the agency's own web site, or through a third party web site
- e-commerce ideas that fit within an agencies mission, such as
creating ways for the indigenous people an agency serves to sell
their own native projects online
Agencies also often ask for online volunteers to write grant proposals
and strategic plans, based on the aforementioned research.
Fund-raising activities are some of the most popular tasks identified
for online volunteers, but they can be quite hard to engage in successfully.
Online volunteers can feel like they do a tremendous amount of service
in this area with very little "return." And, in the end, it is the
agency that must follow-up on what an online volunteer discovers and
produces -- the agency is who makes the actual contact with those the
volunteer identifies and solicits donations online, not the volunteer
his or herself.
First Steps
Before you engage in any online volunteering activity relating to
fund-raising, including online research, make sure you read materials
available about the agency you are assisting. This includes information
on the web, brochures, annual reports, newspaper articles, or internal
materials, such as previously-submitted grant proposals.
Then ask the agency for a definition of success: what is their ideal
end result they envision because of your service? Make sure it's an
expectation you can live up to! If it's not, consider further discussions
to define a goal you both feel is attainable and desirable.
Next...
Do not EVER contact any corporation, foundation or other organization
unless you have WRITTEN permission to do so from the agency sponsoring
this type of opportunity.
If the agency does give you such permission, write a draft of the
kind of email you want to send a corporation, foundation or other organization
on the agency's behalf, and submit it to the agency for pre-approval.
Ask the agency to identify the largest employers in their area (and,
perhaps, their entire country), other than government agencies and
NGOs. Use this list to start your research online; check out each company's
web site to see if there is grant or corporate volunteering information
posted on the site. Pass this information on to the agency you are
assisting.
Grants Research and Proposal Resources
There are many online resources you can use to find funding leads
for an organization. Among them:
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Offers an easy-to-read primer about Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),
what it means to be one, how they operate, etc. The basic objectives of the
Café are to assist NGOs in enhancing and improving their programmes
and activities; to effect a better understanding of NGOs in general; and
to enable NGOs to network at local, regional and international levels.
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This is a directory by the Northern California (USA) Community Foundation
of corporations and foundations with their grant information and application
process online. These are U.S. based companies, but some may have international
divisions, and may give to causes outside the U.S.
- CSC Non-Profit Resource Center
More than a thousand links to Foundation and Corporate Giving programs. These
are U.S. based companies, but some may have international divisions, and
may give to causes outside the U.S..
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This comprehensive web site provides a great deal of information about international
giving, including studies, reports and trends about international giving
by U.S. Foundations.
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Community of Science, Inc. (COS) provides tools and services to enable scientists
and researchers at more than 1,300 universities, corporations and government
agencies worldwide to communicate, exchange information and find the people
and technologies that are important to their work. The COS interface allows
you to search for grants from a variety of resources. Next to the "Keywords" section,
choose the "Browse" option and then type in the name of the country or
continent where the agency you are assisting resides, or the word "international".
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Established in 1989 by seven of Europe's leading foundations, the EFC promotes
and underpins the work of foundations and corporate funders active in and
with Europe. As part of its mission to promote philanthropy in Europe,
the EFC operates a number of projects and initiatives, including the Orpheus
Programme, a searchable database of over 650 funder profiles; the Community
Philanthropy Initiative; and the Corporate Citizenship Europe initiative.
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This is one of the largest national database of information on grants, awards, services,
and publications for artists in all disciplines
- (formerly known as The International
Fund Raising Group)
Seeks to enable people working in the voluntary sector throughout the world
to mobilize and support local resources for their causes. They have conferences
and fund raising workshops all over the world. They also sell The Worldwide
Fundraiser's Handbook: A Guide to Fundraising for Southern NGOs and Voluntary
Organizations by Michael Norton.
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A collaboration of the International Working Group and the National Network
of Grantmakers, Gw/oB works "to expand and enrich progressive international
philanthropy" by providing free advice, alternative sources of information,
and increased opportunities for communication among donors.
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A project of the U.S.-based Council on Foundations, World Initiatives for
Grantmaker Support is a network of more than 40 grantmaker support organizations
devoted to strengthening philanthropy around the globe.
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Includes general fundraising information, how to craft a technology funding
proposals, example proposals, and profiles of potential givers (foundations
and corporations). Also, includes a variety of information on technology
resources for Non Profits.
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The latest grant announcements by tech funders, government and trade associations
for technology and non-technology related initiatives for nonprofits, social
service providers, towns & cities and schools & universities. There
are grants here by technology funders teaching the math and science of
technology, steppingstones to technology for children with disabilities,
digital divide, women, after-school programs, economic development, literacy,
environment, conservation, partnership funding etc.
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provides a profile of charities based in Australia, and information about
donations.
- German sites relating to fund raising and fund research include:
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Community empowerment, management and development resources to support volunteers
of Seattle Community Network (SCN) in Washington state, USA. The web site
includes the Handbook for Generating Wealth: principles and a method for
fighting causes of poverty, including tips for starting and sustaining
a micro-enterprise.
Look for additional International resources about fund raising and fund
research for International organizations at and
You can find a list of books relating to NGO management, including
fund raising, at .
If you are in the U.S., your nearest nonprofit development center/support
center can also help. These centers, which are nonprofit organizations
themselves, often have a free library you can use to search for grant
opportunities for an NGO you are assisting. You can compile this information
in-person and then send it electronically to the agency for their review
and consideration. To find the nonprofit center nearest you, contact
your local United Way central office, or visit the .
Online Donations
There is much information online that can help you learn about setting
up systems for users to donate directly to NGOs via the Internet. There
is also a growing number of companies that offer nonprofits and NGOs
that offer fee-based services to allow Internet donations.
- is
an excellent guide, by About.com's Stan Hutton, that provides a good
primer about online donations, as well as links to key web sites
that can help you pick the right avenue of online donations for a
nonprofit/NGO.
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An article by Marc Lee, Affinity Resources, that outlines how online donations
work, including a chart outlying basic information about several different
vendors.
- Resources for Fundraising Online by Putnam
Barber, editor of the Nonprofit FAQs, provides information about
online and print guides to online fundraising, as well as an alphabetical
listing of resources for online fundraising. Currently it is provided by Idealist.org.
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By Doug Jamieson, who says, "Fundraising has always been about relationship-building,
whether it's with single donors, volunteers, the media or funding agencies.
Successful organizations are built on healthy relationships with people at
all levels. The Internet is emerging as an essential tool for building these
relationships..."
By Martine Johnson. An overview about fund raising and the Internet for mission-based
organizations.
E-Commerce / Online Markets for Indigenous Products
There are numerous companies and initiatives that can help and support
native artisans and indigenous peoples to sell their products online.
Below is a list of just a few; an agency might ask an online volunteer
to review these web sites, and research online to find even more, to
help choose the right one for a particular area or effort (NOTE: UNV
in no way endorses the following organizations or their services; this
information is provided for research purposes only):
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An association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose
members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities
to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide. FTF directly
links low income producers with consumer markets and educates consumers
about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products which support
living wages and safe and healthy conditions for workers in the developing
world. FTF also acts as a clearinghouse for information on fair trade and
provides resources and networking opportunities for its members. "By adhering
to social criteria and environmental principles, Fair Trade Organizations
(FTOs) foster a more equitable and sustainable system of production and
trade that benefits people and their communities."
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Advocates for indigenous self governance and assists in the delivery of culturally
appropriate economic development. Its goals are: To assist with financial
and technical resources in order to strengthen and facilitate indigenous-controlled,
culturally appropriate development projects, programs and intermediaries;
To facilitate and foster equitable environmental, legal and economic participation
for indigenous peoples; To create an information clearinghouse and mutual
self-help database called the Indigenous Network for Global Linkages (INGL);
and To advocate for indigenous self-governance.
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A non-profit research, education, and action center, founded in 1988, promoting
people-to-people ties around the world. Global Exchange's Fair Trade Program
provides a sustainable model of international trade based on economic justice. "We
offer consumers the opportunity to purchase beautiful, high quality gifts,
housewares, jewelry, clothing, and decor from producers that were paid
a fair price for their work. We tell the stories of the cultures and families,
primarily indigenous peoples and women, that created these amazing crafts
from Bali, South Africa, Haiti, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Cambodia, Nepal,
Thailand, as well as the United States." Fair Trade means an equitable
and fair partnership between marketers in North America and producers
in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
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A not-for-profit organization established in 1974 to support the ethical
promotion and protection of authentic Native American art and culture.
Members include Native American artists, wholesale and retail dealers,
museums, collectors and others who support the goals of the organization. IACA
supports and works for the protection of indigenous art worldwide.
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Identifies market outlets for handicrafts made by women's cooperatives, assures
that all profits go directly to the artisans, and provides training for
indigenous women in project management, accounting, and the use of revolving
credit funds.
- Indigenous Arts Service Organization (IASO)
A non-profit society formed in 1995 to support and serve Indigenous artists
in all artistic disciplines in the province of British Columbia. IASO's
mandate was to promote and increase exposure of Indigenous artists' works
on a provincial, national and international level, by empowering them with
information and access to existing services and resources within the provincial
arts community. The non-profit is no longer available, however the Canadian Government supports the ideals and mandate IASO created .
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Aims to help entrepreneurs in developing countries understand new information
and communication technologies, and their application in business. The handbook
covers four areas: an introduction to ICTs in small business; guidance for
particular types of small business; advice sheets on communicating with customers;
and advice sheets on using the new technology.
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For Oxfam, Fair Trade is Trade which promotes sustainable development by
improving market access for disadvantaged producers. It seeks to
overcome poverty and provide decent livelihoods for producers through a
partnership between all those involved in the trading process: producers/workers,
traders and consumers. Oxfam Fair Trade is both a development program
and a business which: Helps people earn a living from their skills; Pays
them a fair price; Links producers and consumers; Helps people towards
a better future through support and training.
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Centered on the Foundation's Laikakota Cultural Complex in La Paz (which
includes the Children's Museum, Craft Development Program and Museum
of Bolivian Arts and Culture), Quipus is a non-profit organization
established in 1985 and is concerned with the promotion and preservation
of the cultural and artistic expressions of Bolivia's diverse ethnic
groups. The Quipus Craft Development Program (QCDP) highlights and promotes
the richness of ethnic and popular art, and stimulate its production through
marketing, design, promotion and training.
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An NGO supporting organisations that provide financial support to the world's
poorest. Direct clients are microfinance institutions and other organisations
that provide banking services for the poor and the very poor. "PlaNet Finance
does not aim to compete with banks, but to help them to develop their activities
in this new field as efficiently as possible." Web site is available in
English, French and Spanish, and provides lots of resources and and updates
about microfinance in developing countries. The site also provides a lot
of basic information about what microcredit programs are, and how they
can help bring people out of poverty.
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A nonprofit association serving about 70 community-based groups of artisans
from all regions of Thailand. Helps craft workers to achieve self-sufficiency
by providing income generating opportunities and developing marketing skills.
The aim is to preserve and make broadly available the beauty of traditional
Thai handicraft skills. The Association is operated by a dedicated
team of volunteers with the help of two producer liaison staff.
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(formerly SELFHELP Crafts), this is a nonprofit alternative trading organization
that provides vital, fair income to Third World people by selling their
handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages
works with artisans who might otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.
This effort helps improve the economic situations of an estimated 50,000
artisans by providing income that can pay for nutritious food, education,
health care and housing. Thousands of volunteers in Canada and the United
States contribute to this organization.
- UNiTradeS.Net Standards for Electronic Business
This project provided background material regarding e-Business in transitional
economies, resources regarding legal aspects of e-Business, and a list
of e-Business market sites and trading portals. UNiTradesS.Net was a project
of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, now no longer available.
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Founded in 1964, this is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization (NGO)
working to strengthen the status of crafts as a vital part of cultural and
economic life, to promote fellowship among the craftspeople of the world
and to offer them encouragement, help and advice. WCC members take part
in a wide range of domestic and international activities, such as seminars, workshops,
exhibitions, competitions, exchange programs and specialist conferences.
Members contribute to programs in diverse ways, including sending
experts to meetings or workshops, and entering craft works in exhibitions.
Microfinance
Many NGOs need assistance in educating themselves about micro-finance
and educating the communities they serve about microfinance. A UN resource
that can help you support these efforts by learning more:
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