HERO-Information Office

Chambers, like all businesses, investigate ways to bring in funding. Grants are one funding stream to look at. Our Chamberpedia page on Grants and Contracts addresses starting points for grant research. Federal grant and contract money can be another viable source of chamber income. However, seeking and securing these funds can be time consuming and expensive. The acquisitions process is typically heavy in administration. Once an agreement is reached, a chamber must be diligent in avoiding conflicts of interest with the government agency. However, many believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. Grants and contracts can provide funds that greatly accelerate community development in areas such as tourism, infrastructure, business and other special projects. Where to start learning about grants? Read ACCE's whitepaper on Chamber Revenue Models. See specifically the section on grants in these chapters: Convention and Visitors Bureaus chapter and Economic Development Funding chapter.

Dive in to grant resources and databases:

• Foundation Center - Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide.
• Foundation Center's Funding Information Network - The Foundation Center provides free funding information through more than 470 Funding Information Network locations at libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit resource centers located across the U.S.
• Foundation Center's Top Funders - A list of the top 100 U.S. Foundations by Total Giving
• Grants.gov - Grants.gov is the centralized place to find and apply for federal grants.
• GrantStation - GrantStation.com, Inc. is a for-profit service that offers nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies the opportunity to identify potential funding sources for their programs or projects as well as resources to mentor these organizations through the grantseeking process.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Free Grant Database - This free resource requires sign-up to search for educational and non-profit organization grant opportunities. The database is continuously updated.
• Small Business Administration Loans & Grants - Resources and directories on finding grants

Facing a disaster? See these specific grants for disaster assistance

• Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) - Assistance through HUD.gov
• CDBG Active Disaster Grants
• Disaster Assistance from FEMA
• FEMA Grants
• Disaster Assistance from SBA.Gov
• Disaster-related grants through Grants.gov
• See the Disaster Preparedness Chamberpedia page for more on disaster recovery efforts.

Have a few minutes? Read articles from the Chamber Executive archvies with great grant ideas:

• The Wright Way to Restore a Hotel and Revive a City, Chamber Executive magazine (Winter 2013)
• After the Headlines series, Chamber Executive magazine (Fall 2011)
• After the Headlines: Chamber Execs Lead Disaster Recovery Work, by Katherine House
• After the Headlines: Disaster Relief Success Stories, by Katherine House
• After the Headlines: Tips for Before and After Disaster Strikes, by Katherine House, Chamber Executive magazine article (Fall 2011)
• Legal Matters: Grants & Federal Contracts Requirements, Chamber Executive magazine article (July/August 2006)
• Grants and Federal Contracts Requirements: Strict, Complex, Specific, by Rebecca E. Pearson, Esq., Chamber Executive magazine (July/August 2006)
• Government Money: Gift or Gift Horse?, by Patricia Lee, Chamber Executive magazine (July/August 2006)
• Grant's Anatomy, by Gail Vertz, Chamber Executive magazine (July/August 2005)

Has your chamber had success with grants? Tell us about it! Comment here or tell us more about the resources you used. Email HERO@acce.org.

Tags: Grants, HERO, Grant research