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Our Knowledge Base serves up the best answers to your social sector questions.

The Funding Research Process

Definitions and Clarification

Q: How can I find funders that offer a particular type of support?

Q: What is a community foundation? Where can I learn more about them?

Q: What is an NGO? What role does it play in civil society?

Q: What is earned income and how do I learn more about it?

Q: What is microfinance? Where can I learn more about it?

Q: What is risk management? Where can I learn more about it?

Q: Where can I find a glossary of foundation, nonprofit, and fundraising terminology?

Q: Is there a difference between the terms "nonprofit" and "not-for-profit?"

Q: What is a foundation?

Q: What is the difference between a private foundation and a public charity?

Q: What is the difference between a company-sponsored foundation and a corporate direct giving program?

Q: What is Form 990 or 990-PF? How can I learn about using them?

Q: Why do some foundations say, "Applications not accepted"? How can I approach them?

Q: What is fiscal sponsorship? How do I find a fiscal sponsor?

Q: What is an RFP?

Q: What is a program-related investment?

Q: What is a health conversion foundation? How can I learn more about them?

Q: What is courtesy advertising?

Q: What is cause-related marketing?

Q: What are employee matching gifts?

Q: What is social enterprise?

Q: What is a giving circle?

Q: What are donor-advised funds and how can I research them?

Q: What is CFRE?

Q: What is an EIN?

Q: What is a case statement? Where can I learn more about it?

Training

Q: Where can I find training in fundraising?

Q: What is CFRE?

Q: How can I find degree or certification programs in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit management?

Q: Does Foundation Center offer Raiser’s Edge® training?

Statistics

Q: Where can I find statistics on foundation and corporate giving?

Q: How much do Americans give to charity?

Q: How many nonprofit organizations are there in the U.S.?

Q: How many people are employed in the nonprofit sector?

Q: Where can I find demographic information about my community?

Q: What is the percentage of grant proposals that foundations actually fund?

Forms 990 and 990-PF

Q: What is Form 990 or 990-PF? How can I learn about using them?

Q: Where can I find an organization’s Form 990 or 990-PF?

Q: Can nonprofit organizations file IRS Form 990 electronically?

Q: How long does it take for Forms 990 to appear on Foundation Center's website?

Q: Where can I find historical tax returns and annual reports for foundations?

Proposal Writing

Q: How do I write a grant proposal?

Q: What should be included in a letter of inquiry?

Q: Where can I find Common Grant Application forms?

Q: How do I write a proposal cover letter?

Q: How can I find foundations that accept proposals online?

Q: What is the percentage of grant proposals that foundations actually fund?

Q: Where can I find demographic information about my community?

Q: What is a case statement? Where can I learn more about it?

Q: How should I cite sources in a grant proposal?

Q: What is an RFP?

Q: Where can I find technical assistance or a consultant for my nonprofit?

Q: Should fundraisers be paid a fixed fee or a percentage of the money raised?

Q: Where can I learn more about hiring a consultant?

Q: How do I become a nonprofit consultant or grant writer?

Q: Will foundations fund overhead or administrative costs for nonprofits? What is an acceptable overhead rate?

Q: Where can I learn more about nonprofit audits?

Q: How do I write a grant proposal for my individual project? Where can I find samples?

Questions by Category