The first step in securing funding is to find those foundations whose interests are a good match with your work. If you don t already have relationships with local foundations, and you don t know which might fund children, youth, and family issues, go to your public library.
Most libraries have foundation directories which list foundations by region and funding interests.
The reference librarian can offer assistance in your search. After you identify potential funders, call the foundation office and ask for funding guidelines. Approach any request for funding as pqrt of an overall process of creating working relationships with potential funders and not merely as a one-time application for funds. Even if you are not successful in securing funding to attend the conference, there may be other parts of your work that interest funders. Remember that foundations are run by people, and all the decisions are made by people who are trying to best use the assets of the foundation to meet its mission.