Start with funding fit
Compare the foundation’s stated priorities, recent grants, typical recipients, geography, restrictions, grant size, and application approach with the program you actually want to fund. A broad mission statement alone is not enough to establish fit.
Look at grant patterns, not isolated grants
Recent grants can reveal what a foundation actually funds, typical award ranges, whether it supports general operations or specific programs, and which geographies or populations receive repeated attention. Patterns are more informative than a single high-profile grant.
See DonorFoundry in action
Search across individual, company and foundation prospects, prioritize the strongest matches, and turn research into a usable fundraising pipeline.
See annual plans →Map relationship paths
Board members, staff, grantee networks, professional connections, community coalitions, and local partners may provide context or a warm path to engagement. Relationship data should be used carefully and as a way to understand context, not to pressure a funder.
Prioritize foundations by readiness
A useful shortlist should separate strong-fit funders from possible-fit funders and long-shot funders. Consider whether the foundation accepts unsolicited applications, has an upcoming cycle, has funded similar organizations recently, and offers a realistic award range for the campaign.
Prepare a funder brief before outreach
Summarize the funder’s priorities, relevant grants, typical grant range, application process, deadlines, known relationships, and the specific reason your program fits. That gives leadership and grant writers a consistent starting point.