Grant Opportunity Search Strategies
General Federal Government Search
If you want to use a phrase, put quotes around it, like “modern dance”. If you want to use a small word that might be found inside other words (e.g. dance is in accordance), use a complete phrase instead. There doesn’t seem to be a search operator option for “whole word.” Other search tips here. Best option can be to search by funding agency only (e.g. All National Endowment for the Arts). You may export your search results to a spreadsheet by clicking on the Export Results link on the top, right corner above your search results.
You can also access a complete listing of federal agencies and programs to find the CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) number to use in obtaining more information from grants.gov.
Specific federal agencies have their own search or grant advertising utilities:
Department of Education forecast; or listing of grant opportunities
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Humanities
U.S. Department of Transportation Recreational Trails
State of Montana
Department of Agriculture:
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation:
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Commerce
Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund
Private Search Engines (both Private and Government Opportunities)
InfoEd: SPIN/GENIUS/SMARTS AVAILABLE FREE TO MSU AFFILIATES
You can use this utility to search for all types of funders. If you are an MSU affiliate, log in first so the system will remember or retain your search (if you so request). If you are not an MSU affiliate you can use the service from any MSU computer and email yourself your search results so you don’t lose them when you leave that computer.
If you are an MSU affiliate, you can get on the e-mailing list with a profile that defines your search parameters.
SMARTS/GENIUS profile summary page http://www.infoed.org/genius_live/GeniusMain.asp
SPIN database search page https://spin.infoedglobal.com/Home/GridResults
Foundation Directory Online – AVAILABLE FREE TO MSU AFFILIATES
Has supplemental information about foundations including expert reviews, leadership bios, stories.
Also has a database of information about specific funded areas, with stories and rankings and descriptions of organizations working on those issues.
GuideStar http://www.guidestar.org/Home.aspx offers the ability to search for information about specific foundations, access to forms 90 and sometimes additional information.
Once you sign up (free) you can ask to receive its newsletter, and notices about webinars.
990s: Tell you the level of resources available to the foundation and recipients they've awarded to.
Click “preview report” and then “Forms 990 Received from the IRS”
Free Email lists:
MSU Funding Opportunities
MSU Research Funding Opportunities, Email fundingopportunities@montana.edu to be added to the list.
Sign up for notifications of new opportunities from Grants.gov.
National Institutes of Health
The Resource: News and Information
Montana Healthcare Foundation Newsletter
Centers for Disease Control Grant Funding Opportunities and emailed Announcements
Foundation Directory Online Newsletters
Philanthropy News Digest, including news, RFPs, reviews and commentary
The RFP Bulletin is a publication of Foundation Center. RFPs posted within the past week are listed above, sorted by topic. To search or browse all RFP postings, visit thewebsite — new RFPs appear daily.
Rural Health Information Hub. Note this site is useful for most rural-based projects, not just health per se:
Montana Rural Health Initiative
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
The Announcements from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy are distributed weekly. To be added to the distribution list, please send an e-mail with subject line "Subscribe" to Michelle Daniels at MDaniels@hrsa.gov
US Department of Agriculture:
Grants & Opportunities | Agricultural Marketing Service
National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Program
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Agricultural Marketing Service Funding Opportunities
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Other Ideas:
- Study other organizations in your field. Their websites and newsletters or annual reports will often show their funding sources. Or just ask. Most organizations will share this information gladly because the more organizations applying for funding in an area, the more likely the funding base itself is to grow.
- Do a Google or other search for your focus area. For example a search of “arts funding” turned up an Art Deadlines List.
- Associations in your field often will have grants listings. For example: National Trails Training Partnership
- There are a variety of books specific to grant-making domains, such as “The Complete Grants Sourcebook for Higher Education” MSU Library Call Number: Reference LB2336.B38 1995 .
- Individual government and private organizations often have opportunities to sign up for emailed updates. Search the organizations of interest to you.
