What do you people know about applying for grants?

[Suu]

Seriously.

I was assigned to look for and apply to a grant that can help my newspaper expedite their 501 (c) 3 status. Long story short, we got an official letter from the IRS today saying, "Yeah, about that...you're at the bottom of the pile. Yes we know it's been 2 years, but suck it up. Don't call us, we'll call you. KTHX."

So my boss wants me to find money to help us cover legal fees to get this rolling faster and to help us cover our taxes which we still have to pay until we finally get approved to be a non-profit. I'm overwhelmed and lost at the same time. I can't find shit, and I'm Google-Fu'ing the fuck out of the internet with no avail.

Tips?

Tricks?

[AFK]

Hire/work/partner with someone who is really good at writing grants. 

It is tough thing though because many grants, at least in my world, require you to be a 501(c)3 entity.  My organization actually isn't even a 501(c)3 but we are attached to a hospital so we're still able to apply. 

But I don't think Google is going to help you much.  You need to locate some kind of organizations or associations in your field that are clearinghouses for the kind of grants that would fund your organization.  I would ask other people in your area of work, particularly those who've been around for awhile, where they go for grants. 

Time to do some networking. 

[Suu]

Okay, thanks. I had a feeling that there's some sort of backdoor secret squirrel way around this shit.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

There are also grantwriting services who are skilled at seeing out grants.

[AFK]

Okay, thanks. I had a feeling that there's some sort of backdoor secret squirrel way around this shit.

Good luck. 

[Suu]

There are also grantwriting services who are skilled at seeing out grants.

Yeah, we just got info on some of those.

It wouldn't be free to get free money, would it?  

[LMNO]

Okay, thanks. I had a feeling that there's some sort of backdoor secret squirrel way around this shit.

Companies with lots of money already tend to be given more grants.

[AFK]

There are also grantwriting services who are skilled at seeing out grants.

Yeah, we just got info on some of those.

It wouldn't be free to get free money, would it? 

I honestly wouldn't waste the money on that.  If you talk to other people in the field you will likely get just as good information, if not better.  So this is to start up a non-profit newspaper?  I haven't been around, obviously, so I'm a little foggy on the details.  But are there similar organizations in your area that you could talk to?  Someone who's been in the biz for awhile surely would know where to look.  

I mean, if I wanted to find what is out there for grants for my field I know I'm going to go to SAMHSA, NIDA, NIH, Maine Assoc of Non-Profits, etc., etc., You just need to find those kind of organizations for your area and your field.  I don't think you really need to pay someone to do that.  You can get that info through a few phone calls/e-mails and such.