Volume 14, Number 2: August 8, 2007
FUNDING TIPS
Foundation Giving Increases
The Foundation Center (FC) has released its Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates: Current Outlook (2007 edition), which analyzes the spending of U.S. foundations. It provides a first look at 2006 giving and directions for 2007 giving, together with aggregated actual 2005 giving and asset figures for more than 71,000 U.S. grantmaking foundations.
The report cites a record $40.7 billion in foundation spending, an estimated 11.7 percent increase from last year. The rise is attributed to strong gains in the stock market as well as the establishment of new foundations. Almost one-third of the foundations surveyed reported awarding more grants in 2006 than in the previous year, and almost 60 percent of the foundations in the survey said they expected to increase their giving in 2007.
Although this information is promising to researchers seeking foundation money, the FC cautioned that foundation giving could slow if natural or man-made disasters cause the stock market, and foundation assets, to drop.
GrantSource Library Foundation Page Updated
The GrantSource Library has updated the Private, Community, and Corporate Foundations webpage. This page provides information about locating private funding for your research, including:
- foundations that have funded UNC-Chapel Hill researchers in the past;
- the top 50 North Carolina foundations by assets and by giving; and
- foundations awarding grants in specific subject areas.
The library also provides a number of funding databases, such as COS, Foundation Directory Platinum Online, and others to search for potential foundation sponsors. For assistance in using these resources, contact the GrantSource Library at 962-3463.
Customized Workshops on Identifying Funding Sources
The GrantSource Library offers customized group training sessions on how to identify potential funding sources for research, training, and other scholarly endeavors.
In each session, a GrantSource Librarian demonstrates online resources for identifying funding opportunities, how to set-up a funding alert, conduct a search for targeted grant information, and find Carolina internal funding sources. Other topics include tips for conducting a funding search and an overview of resources available through the GrantSource Library.
Please contact the GrantSource Library or call 919-962-3463 to schedule a workshop for your research team or department.
Graham Foundation Announces New Grant Guidelines and Application Process
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts has announced new grant guidelines and a new online application process, which begins with its fall 2007 giving cycle. The foundation provides project-based grants to individuals and institutions working to address issues in architecture and the built environment. It makes research and development grants to individuals, and production and presentation grants to individuals and organizations. The deadlines are September 17 for individuals and February 25 for organizations.
Ford Foundation’s New $5 Million Native American Arts Initiative
The Ford Foundation announced that later this year it will launch a new Native American arts and culture fund with an initial endowment of $5 million, designed to strengthen philanthropic networks of tribes, foundations, corporations, and individuals. The fund will extend the work of the IllumiNation program and its commitment to Native American arts.
To receive updates about these and other Ford Foundation grant programs, click here.