Proposal Preparation

The grant-seeking process begins with an idea. The following resources can be used as a guide or SPARC pre-award administrators can assist you to develop your idea to best appeal to funders. Next, use the grant databases to discover foundations and funding agencies that might be interested in supporting your program or research project.

Funding Search Databases

• Info Ed Spin
  SPARC subscribes to this database service which allows you to search for funding opportunities and receive customized funding alerts for opportunities that meet your search criteria. Your Drake email address will allow you to create a profile and access the database.
• Foundation Center
  The Foundation Center's database offers full profiles of foundation, including their funding priorities, past funded projects, and financial status. The site also provides learning opportunties to grow your fundraising skills and connect with other grant-seekers. The site can be accessed at specific locations, including the Des Moines Public Library's Central location.
• Grants.gov
  Federal grants can be found on this site, along with the complete posting and instructions for completing the grant application.

Additional Grant Resources

• Grants Resource Guide

Free Webinars Related to Pre-Award

• Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts
• How to Connect Your Work to the Sustainable Development Goals
• Introduction to Finding Grants
• Introduction to Fundraising Planning
• Introduction to Project Budgets
• Introduction to Proposal Writing
• Additional Webinars

 For assistance, contact the grants specialist.

Preston Miller
Senior Grants Specialist
515-271-2850
preston.miller@drake.edu