Grant Prospect Research

Find the right funders before you write a single word — saving time, protecting your reputation, and dramatically improving your success rate.

The most common mistake nonprofits make in fundraising isn’t bad writing — it’s applying to the wrong funders. Submitting proposals to foundations that don’t fund your sector, your geography, or your population wastes months of staff time and chips away at your organization’s credibility with funders you’ll want to approach again.

Grant Prospect Research is the foundation of every successful grant strategy. Before a single proposal is written, RDB Consulting identifies the funders most likely to say yes — based on their stated priorities, past grantees, funding geography, grant size history, and alignment with your mission.

Why DIY Prospect Research Falls Short

What most nonprofits run into on their own

Free databases like Foundation Directory Online are expensive, complex, and require training to use effectively
A funder's website often doesn't tell the full story — past 990s, program officer priorities, and informal networks matter just as much
Staff time spent on research is staff time not spent on programs — an opportunity cost most small nonprofits can't afford
Without sector knowledge, it's easy to miss niche funders who are a perfect fit — and waste time on prominent ones who aren't
Research without relationship context produces a list of names, not a fundable strategy

The RDB difference

Four decades of funder knowledge that no database can replicate.

Databases tell you who a funder is. Randall knows who they actually fund — and why. After four decades of working alongside foundations and corporate funders in Chicago and Detroit, he brings firsthand knowledge of funder priorities, program officer relationships, and giving patterns that go far beyond what any research tool can surface. When RDB Consulting hands you a prospect list, it’s not a database export — it’s a curated, relationship-informed strategy built specifically for your organization.

What You Receive

Qualified funder prospect list

1

A prioritized list of foundation, corporate, government, and individual funding prospects — screened for mission alignment, geographic focus, funding history, and grant size range relevant to your organization.

Funder profiles

2

For each top prospect — a detailed profile covering their stated priorities, recent grantees, typical award amounts, application requirements, deadlines, and any relationship context Randall can provide from his network.

Cultivation recommendations

3

Guidance on how to approach each funder — whether through a letter of inquiry, a direct introduction, an event invitation, or a relationship-building conversation before a formal application.

Grants calendar

4

A 12-month grants calendar mapping prospect deadlines, letter of inquiry windows, and cultivation touchpoints — so your team always knows what’s coming and when to act.

Strategic recommendations

5

An honest assessment of your organization’s fundability — including gaps to address before approaching certain funders, and sequencing recommendations to maximize early wins.

Every Funder Type — One Research Engagement

Private & Family Foundations

Community, independent, and family foundations in Chicago, Detroit, and nationally — including small local funders most nonprofits overlook.

Federal & Government Funders

Corporate funders aligned with your mission, geography, and population — including both foundation arms and direct corporate giving programs.

Federal & Government Funders

Federal agencies, state programs, and local government funding — including HRSA, U.S. Dept. of Education, Illinois DCFS, and Michigan state funding programs.

Individual & Major Donors

High-capacity individual donors and philanthropists in your community — identified through prospect research and Randall's existing network of relationships.

This Service Is Right for You If...

You're launching a new program and need to identify funders quickly

Your current funder list is stale and you're not sure where to look next

You're spending too much staff time on research with too little to show for it

You serve underserved populations in Chicago or Detroit and want a consultant with local funder knowledge

You want to approach federal funders but don't know where to start

You're ready to pair research directly with proposal development for a complete grant strategy

Stop Applying to the Wrong Funders.

The right prospect list doesn’t just save time — it changes your success rate entirely. Let’s build yours together, starting with a free consultation.