Prompt: Finish watching the Grantspace video. What else did you find interesting/helpful/beneficial?

Response: There were many things from the video that I found interesting. The first point that I found interesting was the fact that nonprofits rely mostly on individual donations rather than foundation/organizational funding. Most foundations that are willing to donate to nonprofits are typically small, so the amount of money that a nonprofit receives from them is also low. Individuals may have the means to donate large sums of money or multiple individuals may be able to donate some money that can add up over time. It was almost heartwarming to hear that nonprofits truly rely on people who care about them and believe that they can make a difference rather than just foundations and organizations that are required to give 5% of their assets. This brings me to my second point, which is that the IRS requires foundations to give a minimum of 5% of their assets away each year. I’ve never really known much about what the IRS requires of people and foundations, so hearing this was new information. It was also interesting to hear that since the IRS requires this, foundations also need to make their donations public information. The last thing I found particularly helpful was the proposal section of the video. While the proposal is incredibly important, it may not be the defining reason a foundation did or did not give a nonprofit money. Foundations sometimes won’t care about what the money will be used for, but how the money will impact the community that it is going to. It is also a good idea to form relationships between multiple foundations before applying for a grant, or even trying to foster a relationship with a foundation as you are applying. Creating relationships will not only bolster a nonprofit’s reputation, but it will also bring about mutual respect for all parties. Even if the relationship doesn’t end with a nonprofit receiving money, a relationship could lead to collaborations.