Business Research Database Blog Series: Foundation Directory

The Emory community has access to a wealth of business research databases. This series highlights many of these great resources, including content and the best applications for classes and career prep.

What Will You Find?

Foundation Directory  helps answer the question “Who is giving money to non-profits, and how much?” IT does this by providing information on U.S. grantmakers and their philanthropic activities. Search by companies, grantmakers, grants and 990 filings.  Foundation Directory includes descriptions of more than 100,000 Community Foundations, Corporate Giving Programs, Operating Foundations, Private Grantmaking Foundations (independent and company-sponsored foundations), and Grantmaking Public Charities.

For research tips, use this cheat sheet: Foundation Directory: Creating Your Custom Search

Use for Class Projects

This can be helpful to identify sources of funds for experiential client projects.  If your class is working with a non-profit that is seeking to grow revenue,  you can make informed recommendations about different foundations, the amount of their average grant, and the types of non-profits they support. 

Use for Interview Prep

If you are considering working in a nonprofit or a corporate foundation, this directory is very helpful to identify lists of target firms, based on geography, funding strategy, and size of firm.  Of note, the data from the 990 will often include the compensation of key employees, which can provide insight for salary negotiation. 

Additional Business Resources

You can also use the Business Research Guide to locate additional business resources, locate tips for how to use them, and understand which are best for your specific research needs.

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