Foundations

How to Locate Foundations on the Web

• Foundation Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public.  The Foundation Center has a weekly funding alert service of recently announced Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from private, corporate, and government funding sources.
  http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/
   
• Click here for Top 100 Foundations

Difference between a Private and Public Foundation

• Private Foundation: A nongovernmental, nonprofit organization with funds (usually from a single source, such as an individual, family, or corporation) and program managed by its own trustees or directors. The funds and program are established to maintain or aid social educational, religious, or other charitable activities serving the common welfare, primarily through the making of grants. "Private foundation" also means an organization that is tax-exempt under Code Section 501(c)(3) and is classified by the IRS as a private foundation as defined in the code.
  
  
• Public Foundation: Public foundations are nonprofit organizations that receive at least one-third of their income from the general public. Public foundations may make grants or engage in charitable activities. The IRS recognizes public foundations, along with community foundations, as public charities. Religious, educational and medical institutions are deemed to be public charities. For example: American Cancer Society.

Guidelines for Submitting Proposals or Concept Paper to Private Foundations

• The University of South Carolina's strategy is to develop the most competitive proposals for submission to private foundations.
   
• Please complete this form if you plan to solicit a cash or in-kind gift in the amount of $10,000 or more, from an individual, corporation or foundation and return to Wendi Nance (wjnance@gwm.sc.edu) in the USC Development Office.