Information searches are only as good as their search terms.
The internet is a powerful tool for grant writers and those looking for funding. However, a general search may not generate the best results. As with all things digital, if you’re not working with Google to increase your Search Engine Optimization (SEO), you’re less likely to be found. This is true for searching for funding — a grant seeker has to be savvy in how and where they look for requests for proposals (RFPs) and funding announcements.
1. Grant Databases
There are many grants databases out there that crawl the internet for RFPs, funding announcements, and any information about grant opportunities. Some of these are free but many are a paid service. We have used different services to cover a wide variety of issues, grant opportunities, and funders. Here are a few:
- Philanthropy News Digest: this digest includes funder and RFPs categorized by topic and issue. Many Philanthropies post announcements, jobs, and other information in this digest. You can subscribe to this as a weekly email digest.
- GrantWatch: this website provides upcoming grant opportunities and allows seekers to customize their search by topic, geographic area, and funding source type. We get a weekly digest of just Florida grants in our inbox!
- Grants.gov: looking for federal grants? This is a one-stop shop for research, administrative, and programmatic grants for every federal agency and department in the United States.
2. Funder Newsletters
Another easy way to search without much effort is subscribing to the newsletter of philanthropies or funders of interest. Many times these organizations will announce funding opportunities in an email newsletter with additional information about deadlines, contacts, and a summary of what they are looking for. This takes the onus off of you, the grant seeker, and may shed some light on the funder’s priorities, partners, and other relevant information.
We’ve subscribed to funders like the Ford Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Kresge Foundation to get grant announcements.
3. Program Officers
Sometimes picking up the phone and calling the program officer is a great way to gain access to funding opportunities not found online. These relationships can make a significant difference when you are being considered for funding. If the program officer knows what kind of project, research, or issues you’re organization is working on, they may be more likely to let YOU know when an opportunity is available. Don’t be afraid to call them — this is a part of their job.
4. Google Search Alerts
Did you know that Google will let YOU know when something comes up? This is where good search terms are crucial to finding funding. Google provides a very straight forward guide to creating an alert for different topics. Here are some alert search terms to consider:
- public health grants
- arts request for proposals
- funding opportunity announcement
- affordable housing rfp
You will have to let Google know what alert results aren’t “relevant” to help it learn what you’re looking for. This may take some time, but it is an easy, painless way to let technology do the work for you.
5. Smart Searching
If you’ve ever just entered “grants” into Google, you know that the result is a list of confusing, generalized chaos that may or may not be what you’re looking for. That’s why it is important to understand how to look for grants using search engines like Google. Using modifiers (or
For instance, if you’re looking for grant funding for local mural art you may want to consider searching for “grant funding and arts and mural.” Adding “and” ensures that results include all of those terms. However, you could also search “grant funding or opportunity and arts and mural” to ensure that “grant funding” or “opportunity” are included but do not have to be together. If this seems confusing, check out
