GiveToWestVirginia.org

Plan Your Personal Giving

Why Give to a
Community Foundation

Find Your Local
Community Foundation

For Professional Advisors

Create a WV Nonprofit

Information for Grant
Seekers

West Virginia Statistics

Grantmakers
Membership Forum

With very few exceptions, grantmaking institutions do not make grants to individuals. However, charitable 501(c)(3) A2 organizations, as well as churches, civic groups, and government agencies are frequently beneficiaries of grants. Most community foundations also provide scholarships for continuing education to high school graduates.

The first important step in seeking a grant is researching the giving interests, geographic focus, and financial range of grants that a grantmaker offers.

Helpful Resources
In West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Shepherd College Scarborough Library offers grantseeker research materials, publications, and a searchable database through the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection.

The Kanawha County Public Library, Charleston, WV, has materials and research materials for grant seekers, in partnership with The Foundation Center.

The WVU Parkersburg library is a host of Foundation Center information.

In northern West Virginia, Wheeling-Jesuit College Library has research materials for grant seekers, in partnership with The Foundation Center.

Southern West Virginia has access to The Foundation Center at The Craft Memorial Library in Bluefield.

The Foundation Center provides multiple publications to help grant seekers.

The Support Center in Washington, D.C., offers a multitude of fund raising and nonprofit management workshops at very low cost.

West Virginia Chapter Association of Fund Raising Professionals provides training and mentoring programs for fund raising staff.

Remember, corporate foundations and private foundations often have staff who are prepared to talk with grant seekers, answer questions, and provide feedback. It is often appropriate to initiate such a call. Be polite, and brief.

Use the time to ask questions about their grantmaking program, rather than to talk about your organization and its accomplishments, but do summarize your program and initiative and seek feedback. The more you know about a grantmaker's interests, deadlines, giving levels, and priorities, the better your chances of being seriously considered for a grant. Above all, use the Web and printed sources to research your prospective grantmaker before you call.

Talk with your local community foundation, too. They may have suggestions or have grantmaking resources that fit your program needs. Find your local community foundation on our site.

Plan Your Personal Giving | Why Give to a Community Foundation
Find Your Local Community Foundation | For Professional Advisors
Create a WV Nonprofit | Information for Grant Seekers
West Virginia Statistics | Grantmakers Membership Forum