Small Business Grants for Women in West Virginia

Six Steps to find a grant:

1. Analyze Your Organization?s Needs & Determine:

• The problem or need you want to address
• The audience or target beneficiaries you will serve
• The amount & types of support you need
• The resources & commitment your group brings to the project
• Potential partners in the community

2. Research Foundations & How They Operate:

• Learn as much as possible about corporate, civic, and private foundations

3. Look for Funding Matches By Considering Funders Who:

• Are able or likely to fund projects in your geographic area
• Have a similar core mission or goals
• Have already supported similar ventures or projects

4. Compile A List Of Prospects:

• By Geographic Location (city, state, region)
• By field of interest or program subject

5. Refine Your List & Eliminate Sources That:

• Do NOT fund in your state
• Do NOT fund your subject
• Do NOT fund the type of support you need (See Types of Funding Support)
• Fund your type of organization
• Fund your size project

6. Select The Most Appropriate Funding Sources & Research In Detail

• Contact funder directly for annual report and other publications
• Search newspapers and the Internet for former grant recipients and contact them for advice or tips, why they felt they were successful as opposed to other applicants

Helpful links for women in West Virginia:

• Private donor and foundation grants
• Federal Department of Education grants
• State level NCLB and education grant competitions
• Federal Department of Health grants
• National Science Foundation grants
• WE Magazine 125 Grants, Loans and Scholarships for Women