When a funder says "no unsolicited proposals"

What it means

Many private foundations choose their grantees themselves and don't take applications from organizations they haven't invited. The IRS form they file each year, Form 990-PF, has a box for this. A foundation checks it if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and doesn't accept unsolicited applications for funds."

An invitation-only foundation is still a real prospect. It still makes new grants. It finds new grantees through people it trusts and its own research, not through an application.

What to do

1. Look for a connection. The 990-PF lists every officer, director and trustee. Share the names with your board, staff and close supporters, and ask who knows someone. An introduction from a person the foundation trusts is the most common way in.
2. Look at who it already funds. The 990-PF also lists the grants it paid that year, by recipient. If you work with one of those organizations, ask how their relationship with the funder started, and whether they would mention your work.
3. Make a light first contact, if the funder allows it. If the foundation lists a contact and doesn't say otherwise, send a short email: who you are, one sentence on your work, and whether it fits their priorities. Don't attach a proposal or ask for money. If it says no calls or emails, respect that.
4. Make your work easy to find. Keep your website, annual report and public profiles current. Your own Form 990 is public too, so make sure it describes your programs clearly.
5. Check again once or twice a year. Policies change. If the website and the 990 disagree, trust the website, because a 990 covers a year that has already ended.
6. Don't send a proposal anyway. It is usually returned or ignored, and it can make a poor first impression.

In GrantAssembly

On a foundation's page, Past grantees shows every organization it paid in the years on file, so you can spot ones you know. Set Where it stands to Researching or Reached out, add a Next follow-up date, and log each call, email or meeting under Activity. See Foundations.