Periodically the Center publishes the Foundation Directory , presently in its 13th edition. The Directory is an index to foundations and grants. In recent years, the Foundation Center has offered a computer service for a fee, enabling researchers to contract for an individualized search and computer printout listing those foundations who made grants during the period and for the purpose specific in the search. These local foundation libraries are reference libraries about foundations together with copies of Internal Revenue 990 forms filed annually by foundations. These local collections provide the service of a librarian familiar with these references and trained to demonstrate their use.
Most large foundations publish annual reports describing their grants and mission or purpose.
These annual reports generally are a good source of grant information because they are produced by foundation writers as the foundation's description to the public of its mission. Readers can review grants and grant amounts to determine the foundation's priorities, noting what percent of the year's total grants were contributed to women's groups or causes. You can call or write prospective foundations requesting a copy of their latest annual report. A telephone call to each foundation listed offers you the chance to question foundation staff directly about their grant interests, enabling you to decide which foundations really are good prospects. So, concentrate your fundraising effort on the creation of a correct prospective foundation list.