By law, all foundations operate on the basis of a charter. Their fiscal activities, as well as their charters, are a matter of public matter. To determine the likelihood of support from a foundation, it is important to consult the foundation s charter and, using other easily available resources, to review the foundation s grant record. All of the larger national interest foundations retain a professional staff to conduct their affairs. Many produce annual reports, distribute program announcements to the general public, and have staff members available for consultation.
Foundations tend to conduct business less formally than government agencies.
They rarely set program deadlines, opting instead to accept applications year-round, and they are usually anxious to collaborate with promising grantees in the preparation of formal requests for grant support. Typically, one initiates dialogue with members of a foundation staff by submitting a carefully tailored letter or concept statement briefly describing the proposed project and its significance. Nonprofit Organizations Support for university programs is available from a wide range of nonprofit, public service organizations. Some are special purpose organizations, such as the American Council of Learned Societies, the Social Science Research Council, the American Cancer Society, and the local Heart Association. Others are discipline-oriented, such as the Center for Applied Linguistics and the American Political Science Association.