You can begin by downloading the foundation’s past year Form 990.  Every foundation is required by law to fill out a Form 990 each tax year. Within this form, you will find a wealth of information.  You can identify the giving areas for previous years as they will list some or all of the following information: Name of Organization’s funded, Types of Programs, and the Dollar Amount Awarded.

Your research of the Form 990 is one way to know if the foundation is likely to give toward your type of project.  Although it takes time to do this research, it actually saves time in the long run.  You want to approach foundations that will be a good match for your funding need.

There are several places you can find the Form 990.  I’ve mentioned these two Web sites in the past:

• GuideStar http://www2.guidestar.org/
• The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/

Guide to Grants Plus recommends these two sources, because there is a beginner’s level at no charge which allows you to find the Form 990.  Finally, narrow your search for funding opportunities by using the tools that are available to grant writers.

© 2013, Guide to Grants Plus. All Rights Reserved.

Left shows the unaffected Pine Trees & right shows the trees burnt in the Bastrop fire 2011.

by Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia

CEO/President, GtoG+

On Nov. 24, 2011, I took a tour of the Bastrop State Park where 96% of the pine trees burned during the 2011 Bastrop fires. I found the extent of damage severe with clear implications for the ecosystem.

My tour guide said that the seeds of the pine trees are unique to the region; therefore, they have to wait for the existing trees that remain to drop their seedlings in order to preserve their existence.

I found several homes in the rebuilding process and FEMA trailers as temporary homes for others. In my photo journal, you will find photographs of the burnt pine trees and some untouched natural habitat to compare the state of the situation.

According to news reports, the fire originated from an electrical short. The conditions in the dry atmosphere, the long drought in the region along with the high winds created the perfect conditions for this devastation.

On my visit to Bastrop, Texas, I took time to listen to some of the stories about the ways people came together as community to help one another. Over all, I found the people in Bastrop determined to rebuild and to protect the natural habitat surrounding their homes. They are a model of the strength of the human spirit.

This short clip made available by the Texas Parks and Wildlife shows how rapid the fire spread with the dry conditions and wind experienced in Bastrop, Texas.

If you are interested in supporting the rebuilding efforts, here are some charities you might consider giving toward.*

http://www.givingcityaustin.com/2011/09/06/how-to-help-victims-of-central-texas-fires/

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Guide to Grants Plus (c) 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

*GtoG+ does not endorse any one charity but is merely making this information available.

The following foundations, for instance, gave at the highest levels in 2008:

1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, total giving $2.8 billion
2. AstraZeneca Foundation, total giving $612 million
3. The Ford Foundation, total giving $474 million
4. GlaxoSmithKline Patient Access Programs Foundation, total giving $438 million
5. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, total giving $408 million
6. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, total giving $379 million
7. The Susan Thompson Beffett Foundation, total giving $347 million
8. Lilly Endowment, Inc., total giving $336 million
9. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, total giving $301 million
10. Silicon Valley Community Foundation, total giving $291 million

The total giving levels include grants, scholarships, and employee matching gifts, excludes set-asides, loans, PRIs, and program expenses.

Health was ranked as the top field of giving by share in 2008 grant dollars at 22.9% whereas in 2007 Education was the top ranked field at 22.8%.

Regardless of how the investments of foundations fluctuate, they remain generous. By giving to the non-profit, health, and education sectors of society, they also keep the economy alive and thriving.  Foundations, therefore, continue to contribute to the over all health of the economy and the well-being of society.

Guide to Grants Plus will share the latest reports when they become available.

Data Source: The Foundation Center

GRN was founded under La Promesa Foundation, a non-profit organization established in May 1996 by a group of lay Catholics. The Foundation chose the name ‘La Promesa’ because in the beginning, the Incorporators made a promise in their mission statement, requesting the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Radio remains an effective means of communicating to a mass audience,” said Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia, CEO & President of Guide to Grants Plus. “The Guadalupe Radio Network has a strong case for funding, because of their loyal listener-base and their use of effective and relevant programming in order to reach people’s minds, hearts and souls through the use of radio.”

GtoGPlus will write proposals in order to support the South Texas Radio 89.7 FM KJMA San Antonio and 1380 AM KWMF (Español). To learn more on how to support the Guadalupe Radio Network, visit: http://grnonline.info/

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Issued 9/19/2010

Latina Entrepreneurs: Opening Your Own Business

Facilitated by Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia, NHLI 2004 alumna
Founding Chief Executive Officer of Guide to Grants Plus

Wednesday, September 29 at 12:00 p.m. (central) / 1:00 p.m. (east)

Click here to register. Space is limited. Cost is free.

Women own 70% of small businesses in the United States and Latinas are starting businesses at 6 times the national average, which means that over 750,000 businesses are owned by Latinas.

You as a Latina have the potential to start and run a successful business. By applying your entrepreneurial valuable skills and knowledge you can become a successful Latina entrepreneur.

Latina entrepreneurs will discover effective methods and techniques for starting and growing a business. Examples will be provided of how to go from an idea to charting your course with a business plan; and how to effectively use the internet, social media and social networking to start and grow your own business.

The Webinar will be followed with an online discussion at www.GuidetoGrantsPlus.com/blog.

Join and subscribe in advance!

REGISTER: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/915422755

or  VISIT: www.nhli.org/webinars

An Essay by Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia, CEO, Guide to Grants Plus

As a member of the delegation – sponsored by The Hope, Courage and Justice Project to deliver direct relief items to the Haitian people as part of their continuing work through it’s “Sugar Babies” film project – my role was to walk around distributing a balloon to a member of every household to be later exchanged as a token for a bag of rice, beans, powdered milk and more. A simple balloon token became a family’s ticket to coming to the centralized location where all the food items were being distributed by the delegation.

The items had been carefully packed by our team the night before, and destined to feed a family for about a week.

The balloons served as tokens for the distribution of the relief items.

As I distributed the balloons, it became apparent to me that every household had many members young and old.  I saw and heard women who were sick in bed.  Are these women receiving medical care? I witnessed very young children who were roaming around alone and without any supervision. Where are the children’s parents? There is a distant stare in the people’s eyes. Perhaps they are merely coping with their life circumstances. Is anyone nourishing their souls? These were just a few of my unanswered questions.

Throughout my distribution of the key to their food supply, I touched at least one hand from every household. I cannot put into words what this felt like for me. That is, to have made direct contact with the Haitian people in this manner. My flesh touched their flesh. I was reminded of communion service in my Christian tradition as I placed a balloon in each person’s hand. Some hands felt rough and looked worn down by heavy labor. The Sugar industry is huge in this region, grueling, and therefore, many of the men’s hands were bluish-black. I saw burning red flesh in some of their hands.

Our field guide assigned a village gatekeeper to accompany me and another delegate at both distribution sites. The first gatekeeper’s name was Claudia and she wore a peach nightgown.

Her attire may not have been the norm by our standards, but she was pregnant and this may have been her only piece of clothing to accommodate her pregnancy. Claudia demonstrated great leadership skills in how she gave direction to the members of every household. Claudia spoke Creole to the families. Although I have never formally studied the language, I can honestly say that as I listened to her with my heart, I eventually understood her consistent instructions to each household.

A Haitian woman receives her food and relief items.

Mireilla was the gatekeeper at the second village’s distribution site. She spoke Spanish to everyone. As we proceeded in distributing the balloons, she loudly projected her voice. It silently occurred to me that her voice might call out the entire village all at once.

Slowly, people began coming up to me from all directions – even from other nearby villages.

The situation eventually got out of control. Too many people came all at once and it became too chaotic.  I became suddenly surrounded by men, women and children begging and putting their hands out to me in desperation.

I cannot express in words the pain that I felt in that moment and still feel now as I write these words at having to draw a line between us.

I no longer felt safe and knew that I must cease distributing the seven balloons that I held in my hand.  More than seven hands were reaching out to me begging for the key to the food supply. I cued the delegate that I had paired up with that it was time to go back to the distribution center. There was regrettably not enough for everyone else that came from

A young Haitian boy carries his family's relief items.

other villages also in need.

As I reflect back to those brief encounters, I think about how something as simple as a balloon gained value that day. I only had enough balloons on me to represent the food we were able to buy and assemble to feed 2 villages. Although I am deeply grateful for what our delegation was able to accomplish and what our donors made possible for us to purchase and distribute, now, I clearly see how the need is greater than I could ever have imagined, and I am humbled by it all.

I will never forget the feeling of my hand touching their hands.

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The delegation went to the Dominican Republic on March 26-29, 2010 to deliver direct humanitarian relief items to the Haitian people. Another relief mission is being planned for the autumn season when the need for food is at its greatest.

To make a charitable contribution for future humanitarian relief missions, contact:

The Hope, Courage & Justice Project

PO BOX 51355

New Orleans, Louisiana 70151

E-mail: HCandJProject@aol.com

NOTE: When you send your donation, let us know that you heard about it from this article.

The “Hands” Essay was first published in the Hope, Courage and Justice E-Newsletter, April 2010.

Julie and Greg Alexander, founded the non-profit organization, in response to their own marriage crisis in 1999 while performing in depth research on God’s plan for marriage, based on the teachings of the Bible and the Catholic Church.

In the ten years since its inception, The Alexander House has accumulated an astounding success rate, helping over 1200 couples considering divorce renew their commitment to each other and to God’s plan for their marriage. The success rate is attributed to the core message, “God is committed to your marriage.” Furthermore, this beautiful ministry encourages couples to implement practical tools for everyday life, with the knowledge of God’s plan for marriage, enabling them to nurture their love for each other as they continue to grow in their own relationship with Christ.

In “The Sanctity of Marriage,” a document written by the Bishops of the United States, it states, “A total sharing of a life of love and concern is not possible apart from God…in the life of the Church, God gives the possibility of continual progress in the deepening of human relationships. By opening the eyes of faith to the vision that these relationships have as their goal, God offers a more intimate union with himself.”

To learn more about this non profit organization visit: www.thealexanderhouse.org.

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