What are the best sites for foundation funds and/or grant applications
for small nonprofit looking for grant money, RFP's (Requests for
Proposals)?  I know how to find main sites, but wonder how to refine
my search for the BEST places.

The organization works in the areas of:  drug and alcolhol
counseling,services to youth (teens), adults on probation or parole,
indivdual/family counseling in the East Bay Area of San Francisco.

Hi KayFrank!

If your organization is interested in using the web as a source for
fundraising, I would highly recommend the Foundation Center's (
http://fdncenter.org/sanfrancisco/ ) training course "Grant seeking on
the web." The description for the current course sounds like it
matches your needs: " At our Grantseeking on the Web Training Course
you will learn to develop an organized, focused approach to conducting
funding research on the Web. Pick up valuable insider tips and
strategies through a combination of PowerPoint presentations and
interactive learning exercises on the Web."
They are offering two trainings in San Francisco, the first on May
13th and the second on June 18th. For more information on the courses
visit:
http://fdncenter.org/marketplace/catalog/subcategory_training.jhtml?id=cat30005
Seminars are $195 per attendee and include continental breakfast, a
complimentary one-month subscription to The Foundation Directory
Online Premium and a copy of The Foundation Center's Guide to
Grantseeking on the Web and companion CD-ROM.


Next, I would recommend doing a funding search on the Compass Point (
http://www.compasspoint.org/index.html ) website. Compass Point is a
nonprofit training, consulting and research organization with offices
in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
I would search under "Social Services." Doing this will generate a
list of 100 organizations that fund social services in the bay area.
http://www.compasspoint.org/resources/silicon_valley_funders/index.html

Your organization may also find the information available on the Non
Profit Genie ( http://www.genie.org ) very helpful. The link below
will take you to their Fundraising FAQ:
http://search.genie.org/genie/ans_result.lasso?cat=Fundraising


Finally, The East Bay Community Foundation gives grants in the areas
of human services and is definitely worth looking at.
http://www.eastbaycf.org/
Foundations.org is a service of the Northern California Community
Foundation and it provides a fairly comprehensive list of funders in
Northern California, but it is just alphabetized.
http://www.foundations.org/grantmakers.html


The following links may also prove useful: 

The Chronicle of Philanthropy – General Nonprofit Resources
http://philanthropy.com/free/resources/general/nplinks.htm

Idealist.org – international website for non-profits, lots of tools
and information.
http://www.idealist.org/
 
Internet non-profit center, useful warehouse of information on
national resources:
http://www.nonprofits.org/ 
 
Management Assistance for Non-Profits: http://www.mapnp.org/   
They also have a section on fundraising:  
http://www.mapnp.org/library/fndrsng/np_raise/np_raise.htm 
 
The Fundraising Network  
http://www.fundraisingnetwork.org/ 
 
Non Profit Guides provides grant-writing tools: 
http://www.npguides.org/ 
 

Search Terms Used: 
east bay grants
human service grants east bay 
non profit social service 


Hopefully these resources will set you on the correct path for your
fundraising needs. If you have any questions, please feel to either
request a clarification or post another question.

Good luck with your fundraising!
Firefly

I suggest you contact the Foundation Center which has a location in
San Francisco.  They  can provide a wealth of information for you. 
Good luck!

http://fdncenter.org/sanfrancisco/

I have been to the foundation center site many times and receive their
e-newsletter.  I have not been able to locate what I need.
Thanks, Kay