Contact the program officer to see if the program fits with their current priorities. Top Make contacts One way to make contacts is to set up a meeting with a foundation staff person to discuss potential project ideas. Many large foundations simply do not have time to spend time with potential grantees because of the high volume of requests they receive. Especially with local foundations, chances are you or someone you know will know staff or board members of the foundation from which you want to request funding. Make it a habit of networking with people at work and non-work situations to identify potential contacts and funding sources.
Diverse perspectives bring breadth and depth to a project.
Demonstrating that you have meaningful and collaborative relationships between many diverse organizations will be seen favorably by funders. Funders want programs to benefit as many people as possible. Talk to collaborating organizations early and often about your proposed project, and encourage them to make a commitment to your project. A commitment of support in the form of in-kind services and dollar awards are valuable assets to a project. A working group can provide valuable ideas for project activities and evaluation methods.