Since 1995, Metasoft has helped more than 10,000 non-profit and charitable organizations throughout North America raise over $1 billion in funding. We listen closely and take pride in our commitment to clients. Here is what they have to say.

Siri Horvitz Director, Institutional Relations Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. "We made the switch to FoundationSearch about 8 months ago, and continue to be impressed by its ability to meet our high demands. Everything a grantseeker could hope for is available through this software-charts, graphs, current news articles regarding recent grants-Metasoft really understands the information that helps us get the job done. The Director Connections is a wonderful tool-it has cut our research time and made prospecting effortless. I also appreciate being able to access FoundationSearch online. It seems obvious in these technology-advanced days, but our previous research database only existed as a CD-ROM, and so our staff were restricted to using it only at their individual workstations, not to mention having to wait an entire year to get updated information on each prospective foundation. Now I can work from home with my new baby and still conduct the research I need to while he naps!"
Laura Lies Foundations Relations Manager Alpha USA http://www.alphausa.org "I wish that we could sign a contract FOREVER! I turn to Foundation Search for all my prospecting and research needs. Additionally, the My Prospect Manager keeps me organized and produces excellent reports for me to share with clients. My Calls keeps me on track with follow ups. I am grateful to have access to such a complete tool."
Wendy Edgar VP of Advancement Crown College "I worked with a non-profit organization for five years, and we used FoundationSearch for our foundation research. We found it especially helpful to look up 990s of the foundations we have been soliciting to see what their giving priority was. This enabled us to better focus our appeal to their main interests, resulting in larger gifts and better presentations. I just accepted the Vice President of Advancement role at a Christian college, and immediately checked to see what tools they were using for foundation research. Not being satisfied with what I found, I immediately called and ordered FoundationSearch. It is reasonably priced, great information, web based so I can access it from anywhere, and I like the varied search criteria available for identifying foundations. I plan to use it to identify foundations in our area that fund educational institutions. Thank you for making it so easy to get back on line with FoundationSearch!"
Jim Bower CEO Law Foundation of Silicon Valley "As someone who has used IRS 990's for years, I found Foundation Search a compelling tool to identify potential funders."
Mary Owen Grant Coordinator St. Vincent's HealthCare Foundation "We are a small shop, and as the only grant writer here, it can be difficult to find the time to do the research for new prospects. Research is only a small part of my job but carries with it a great deal of importance. I have used Foundation Search and BIG Online for many years. My experience has been excellent; the search engine and management tools are wonderful and the customer service has always a been professional and most helpful. Without this tool, my job would certainly be more difficult. When I need funding sources for our projects and need to have the most detailed information about those sources, this is where I go. I always wish that I had more time to use the system but it is essential for my work."
Courtney Garay Development Director The Children's Center "The Children's Center has been working with Foundation Search for four years. During that time using their resource we have been able to increase the number of our grant applications from 20 to 100. This has helped to establish critical funding during these challenging fundraising times. Also with their support we have recently completed a $13 million+ capital and endowment campaign. The program is so easy to use with excellent information available to me, which has helped me in writing successful proposals. We look forward to a long relationship."
Marianne Pohle Development Associate & Director of Grants Van Cliburn Foundation Texas "I love FoundationSearch I have it as a favorite on my menu bar so that I can access it easily anytime I come across a foundation I want to look up. My favorite tools on the database are My Prospect Generator, My Prospect Manager, and then one that I use all the time, Foundation Search. With both the Prospect Generator and Prospect Manager, I don't have to keep detailed hard copy notes (which I always put somewhere safe and then never find) to generate and manage the searches for the various programs that the Cliburn has. It makes it very easy to keep the searches and make notes on the research I've done, and saves trees in the process. Foundation Search is very easy to use and has been very helpful in determining whether a particular foundation gives in the area I am looking for. Then the Grant Analyzer helps me look for the nitty gritty of the foundation's grant making. I find this database to be very user friendly and full of valuable information!"
Dan Gerber Director of Foundation Relations Fuller Theological Seminary "Thanks, again, for making this great service available. FoundationSearch is my definite go-to resource for foundation relations-I can't imagine being without it!"
Louise K. Haaker Grant Specialist Savannah State University "I wish you had contacted me a year ago! I understand the potential of using this database and search software which will certainly make my work easier and increase productivity. It is an amazingly user friendly program, particularly with the charts, matrix representation and tutorials. Data is easy to access and not overwhelming. Trust me, you have made my job easier!"
Caryn Gay Development Manager Boat People SOS "FoundationSearch has been exactly the resource I needed to move my organization's foundation fundraising to the next level. With the help of intuitive tools and up-to-date information my staff have been able to build relationships with potential grant making partners with more success than ever before. FoundationSearch keeps us educated and informed on particular grant makers, overarching trends, and changes in the field- and for that we are extremely grateful."
Mark Cole Executive Director Aspen Valley Ski/Snowboard Club "As the executive director of a non-profit organization, I am frugal when it comes to spending money. But I don't have to think at all when it comes to renewing our subscription to Foundation Search/BIG Online. This tool pays for itself many times over. It's utility for foundation giving is obvious: I can quickly see what foundations support organizations like us as well as what foundations support other organizations in our locale. But it is also helpful when meeting with individual donors, so many of whom direct their support from foundations. I am much more confident about an ask amount when I can first see the gifts of an individual's foundation over recent years. Finally, the folks at Metasoft are fantastic: they are so eager to help! I kick myself for not reaching out to them sooner."
Carol Morrow Consultant and Grant Writer Florida "I have been an independent grant writer for 25 years. The arena of grant solicitation has become increasingly complex and competition is fierce. I don't know what I would do without Foundation Search and Big Online. I have never experienced a more state-of-the-art system and they are constantly improving and adding dimensions. Foundation Search is probably my most critical tool, other than the writing. Another feature is well worth mentioning. Their customer service is excellent! We are so used to being ignored or insulted as a consumer. Not at Foundation Search. Their technical and customer support is wonderful. The response is quick, courteous, and effective. Without Foundation Search, I would be unable to provide the highest quality of grant writing that my customers deserve."
Katy Quigley Director of Grants The Jesuits of the New Orleans Province "We're very happy with FoundationSearch. We started our membership just before Hurricane Katrina, and I don't know what we would have done without it-it helped us raise $7.5 million to assist in the rebuilding efforts of several member agencies. It was also a great help that we were able to access the membership from any computer, because after Katrina flooded our offices we had to work from our evacuation locations for months-family members' homes, public terminals and other locations. I'm always telling other organizations that they need FoundationSearch-there is simply no comparison with other resources."
Eleanor Marsden Manager, Research and Prospect Management University of Southampton "We are very happy with FoundationSearch US - both Louise and I have used it frequently since our training and are very pleased with the information it has allowed us to mine so far."
Becky Pettengill Foundation Relations Officer University of Michigan-Flint "I love the reports I am able to create in 'My Reports' on FoundationSearch. My manager was quite impressed with what I was able to generate after only one review of the training tutorial on the site. Even though the site is intuitive to use, the tutorial showed me how to take the information to a higher level of analysis and create a concise, comprehensive list of prospective funding sources!"
Ryan Kelsey Director of Resource Development The Resurrection Project "This year we are on schedule to submit 51 proposals. Of course we looked at many more than that, but we were making sure that we weren't chasing money all over. Instead, we selected only firms that were a real fit with our organization. Four of these 51 proposals represent organizations that we hadn't identified before. Most of these decisions will come in late fall. Using Foundation Search also helped us learn more about ourselves and to refine our proposals. For example, since we can see other awardees of these funders, we realize that we usually represent a certain part of their investment portfolio or strategy in partnership with other organizations. We realize how much more significant our affordable housing and financial literacy work is now. We have deeper conversations with our funder base. Some view our work as community development while others view it as education (financial) or even human services. The other significant advantage for us is the ability to make a reasonable ask. In some cases we were short-changing ourselves by requesting too little. It is easy to get anchored to a much smaller dollar figure with a funder and then spend several years working for incremental increases. For example, a nearby organization started with a $30,000 initial grant and parlayed it into a $100,000 after 10 years. Based upon our research in Foundation Search and better preparation, this same organization told us to request $100,000 (if they couldn't fund the full amount, they said it is likely that we could still receive $50,000 this year or next). This is a significant difference from starting out with a $30,000 request. I think of this approach helping us avoid two types of errors: Type I- Not applying to organizations that are a very likely fit with respect to our mission. Type II- Avoiding the Type I error, but selling ourselves short in the funding request. We become more efficient when we avoid these mistakes, too. We can maximize the work we do. Many organizations simply look to last year's award and ask at the same level or 10% more. Instead of looking at the data, they talk themselves out of the very work they are trying to accomplish. Funders might give you less than your ask. I have never heard of one giving more than the request. Instead, they may politely encourage you to increase the request the following year. We can’t be afraid to take the lead on this process. We outline a budget for the projects and programs. If the number is too high for them, they at least agree that this amount is well justified and necessary."
Michael O'Leary Office of Development Archdiocese of San Francisco San Francisco, CA "I find myself appreciating FoundationSearch the more I use it. Other similar products I've used were not as useful or intuitive - and I have found the customer support is extremely helpful at Metasoft Systems; they have done much to help me. When I am with my colleagues I share how FoundationSearch is a great resource for my fund raising work. FoundationSearch saves me time and I have come to depend on it as my initial and primary resource "
Ed Bostick Grant Writer The Denver Hospice "I wanted to let you know how valuable Foundation Search and Big Online have been for The Denver Hospice. The Development department uses Foundation Search and Big Online to prepare for weekly Solicitor's meetings in which prospects are screened and rated. The user-friendly interface and special search features have reduced critical research time that has been redirected into prospect cultivation and relationship building. The print to Excel feature makes information integration with other databases seamless. The special feature on recent Foundation News stories has expedited searches for relationships beyond posted 990's. I am especially eager to see your relationship mapping tool Director Connections out of Beta and in use for the broader marketplace. It has promising features that elevate the art of prospect identification. Customer service at Metasoft for error correction and follow up was rapid response and thorough. Finally, since we subscribed to FS & BOL, grant revenues for The Denver Hospice have increased 14% over this same time period last year. At this rate we can reasonably expect a 42% increase for the fiscal year! In this economic downturn, our most ambitious expectations for Foundation Search have been realized."
Sue Terry Grant Specialist Covenant Health System Foundation "As kids say, I am so NOT disappointed with Metasoft. Y'all are the BEST!!!!! Please pass along my words of appreciation to everyone who works to make Foundation Search the top dog!!!"
Heidi Roth Manager of Foundation Development WNED, Western New York Public Broadcasting Association Buffalo, NY "FoundationSearch has been invaluable to WNED's funding efforts. It's the first place we go when we need to find potential funders for a new project in development. The database is so easy to use and breaks down a foundation's funding history nicely with charts and graphs so it's clear to see what types of projects they've funded in the past and what geographic areas they tend to support. It has helped us focus our efforts on those funders most likely to support a particular project, and My Foundation Manager then helps us keep track of those prospects. Our organization serves a bi-national area, so FoundationSearch Canada is also a wonderful resource for us. It's never difficult to justify renewing our subscription to FoundationSearch. It is an exceptional tool as we continue to seek new revenue sources to support our services."
Dr. Patricia Mitchell Director of Economic Development Ashe County Government "As a one-person department in a small county government, I was doubtful as to the extent of my use and whether I would continue a subscription to FoundationSearch. Having recently received a $50,000 grant for our local library renovation and expansion program, an opportunity discovered through the use of FoundationSearch, the database has certainly proven itself as an important tool. The extent of information the database provides regarding a foundation's funding interests, contacts, and previous grants issued makes the database an excellent source for grant searches. I'm in process of subscribing for my third year."
Lisa Blackwelder Director of Development BETA Center Inc "We believe our subscription to Metasoft products has definitely been a good value. Our Development Staff use both Foundation Search and Big On-Line regularly to research prospects. What has made Foundation Search particularly helpful is its analysis capabilities. It's an amazing tool. We weren't interested in just broadening our prospects, we also wanted to better focus our efforts on the foundations most likely to be a good match for our programs. Foundation Search is such an efficient way to find out everything you need to know about a foundation's funding history . . . and Big On-Line has been helpful in securing corporate sponsorships for special events."
Nancy Hoganson Director of Community Relations Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado "Having worked in the development field for seven years, I have worked with three different search engines for grant research. Foundation Search is far and away the easiest, most effective way I know to get quality information on foundations. In preparing for a visit by over 30 Denver foundations to our area of Western Colorado this summer 2009, I was able to pull detailed information on each foundation for our staff. We used the information provided to research foundation funding priorities, board member information and previous funding history to build a strong presentation before talking with foundation staff. Since having Foundation Search, I've found several "new" foundations that are a possible fit and have received a $5,000 grant from one already. What a wonderful tool!"
Marcie McCleary Director, Foundation Relations Westminster College "Our foundation and corporate relations team opted to subscribe to FoundationSearch a few years ago, and have been pleased with our decision. We've found FoundationSearch to be current and complete in terms of content. Their client service is good, and they offer Big On-line for corporate grant opportunities."
Matthew VanHeynigen Director of Foundation Relations Western New England College "I've been using FoundationSearch for the past 3-4 years (at my current and previous institutions), and found it to be much more comprehensive and user friendly when I made the initial comparison. It continues to meet and exceed my expectations in this regard, and I would recommend FoundationSearch without reservation."
Andrea Farage Executive Director Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida "Foundation Search has given me the tools to successfully manage my grant writing for the Ronald McDonald House. Prior to signing up as one of their clients, I would spend multiple hours searching various free internet sites in hopes that one of the many candidates I identified would be a match. With Foundation Search, I can easily screen potential foundations and private trusts. Their software is well-thought and easy to navigate. It is extremely helpful to have hot links directly to foundation websites and the phone numbers and contact information provided regarding executives and trustees makes all the difference in screening potential matches for grant applications. Their software helped me obtain a $500,000 grant from a private foundation we had been trying to reach for over a year before we got the software!"
Jennifer Yaney Development Assistant Rutgers University "I prefer FoundationSearch and Foundation Manager over other fundraising resources. Their database is larger than most with more ways to search giving nationally, internationally and even globally. It has proven to be a very powerful tool."
Kristen E. Ortendahl Director of Academic Grants Geneva College "I highly recommend Foundation Search. I used it at my previous job, along with other resources, and found Foundation Search to be a superior research tool on many levels. My current institution is now using Foundation Search, per my request. The customer service is top-notch at Foundation Search"
Cherie Rayburn Director, Foundations & Corporate Relations Biblica "I am new to the foundation research game, and frankly, I was intimidated by the prospect. But Foundation Search America has made my introduction to research easy and productive. Our organization subscribes to a couple of research engines, but Foundation Search is definitely my favorite. I am learning new ways to use the site almost daily, and I appreciate the personal assistance that the staff has provided me. Thanks for helping a research novice succeed!"
Paula Moloff Grants Administrator City of Glendale "As the grants administrator of the city of Glendale Arizona I reviewed many public/foundation database products to ensure we found the best product for our needs at the best value for our citizens. Metasoft has surpassed our expectations in ease of use, efficiency, comprehensiveness and cost effectiveness. Our users database expertise varies from almost none to very high levels so we have made good use of both the online tutorials and the one-on-one service support. Some city departments deal only with governmental grants while others find most of their outside resources in the foundation and corporate grant sector. Metasoft gives us access to updated, comprehensive, accurate information in both areas. Help and system support is literally a phone call away. We have, and will continue to recommend Metasoft to our colleagues in municipal and county government as an excellent , user-friendly system that will meet our city's needs for many years at a price we can afford even in these difficult economic times. "
James W. Satterwhite CEO West Texas Boys Ranch San Angelo, Texas "I have used this software for foundation and corporation research in grant writing for a university and a non-profit corporation. I love this software. It makes grant research and writing much easier and saves an enormous amount of time. The staff are fantastic to work with! They take care of their clients. Thank you for providing such a wonderful tool for grant writers."
Larissa A. Potiomkin Manager, Development Information Houston Grand Opera "People respond to colors and shapes, that is why I frequently include graphs and charts generated by Foundation Search as a section of my prospect reports. The export capabilities of the service allows for effortless analysis of funding categories specific to a project, offering a comprehensive list of grant recipients, amounts, designations and locality. Foundation Search is a valuable tool in our research and prospecting efforts, assisting us by quickly and efficiently displaying information that might otherwise take a great deal of time to collect."
Kimberly Humphries, CFRE Development Director Irving Cares http://www.irvingcares.org "A check arrived today from a foundation that "does not accept unsolicited proposals." I sent them a LOI just four months ago. It is for $15,000! Woo-hoo, The subscription paid for itself and much more! and it came two days before my annual review. It turns out that the person (trustee) who sent the check from the foundation was once the boss of our Executive Director, about 20 years ago. He credited her leadership in his cover letter. A very nice example of relationship circles which would not have been discovered without Foundation Search. This success has inspired me to get back at it!"
Duncan Libby Director of Development Evergreen Healthcare Foundation "While in the beginning stages of a $11 million capital campaign, our hospital foundation has already discovered several granting organizations we never would have found without FoundationSearch. Both in terms of gift ranges and geographical reach, we are reaching farther and more efficiently. We simply wouldn't have had the staffing resources to find these new organizations through traditional search methods. Using FoundationSearch, we are identifying granting organizations whose giving priorities match with our projects. I definitely see FoundationSearch as being an integral part of our capital campaign and future fundraising efforts."
Viena Howe Foundation & Government Relations Manager Miami City Ballet "FoundationSearch saves us time in our research efforts and helps us develop proposals that are more focused on the funder's interests. When evaluating our best opportunities for funding, we use the information available in the FoundationSearch database."
Davis L. Goodman, Ph.D. President Harvester's International Mission "I have found Metasoft, Bigdatabase, and FoundationSearch to be excellent sources for information to help raise funds for non-profit organizations. My experience has been very good in reference to finding the information needed. The people are great! They are eager to serve you and it is a joy to call and be able to talk to a live person. There is a lot of stuff available to the fund seeker who wants information that will help them find the foundation that would be interested in their need, produce the best proposals, write the best letters and support for other fund raising needs they may have. It doesn't get any better than this when it comes to fundraising. Whether you are a novice or experienced fund raiser, you will find the folks at Metasoft, Bigdatabase and FoundationSearch ready to serve you. Just give them a call!"
Kathleen Warren, Ph.D. Director, Foundation Relations WSU Foundation "Washington State University has switched to FoundationSearch, and we love it. It provides excellent analysis capabilities especially for funding patterns, sortable by geographic region, grant size, category (i.e. can be filtered just for grants to universities and colleges, or just for health grants, etc.), which enables us to make predictions on likelihood of funding, contact previous grantees, assess our success against competing organizations, etc. It also includes BIG Online, which is a database of top grant making corporations, and most recently it is beta testing a global search tool. Individuals from our large institution are buying their own IDs and passwords to give each unit search capabilities, alleviating the pressure on our central team to analyze their requests or provide additional lists. Both online and phone help is easily accessed, online courses are available at reasonable fees (I haven't tried these yet, but will be doing one soon), the database of news articles and searchable 990's (archived as well as current) is comprehensive and easy to use. You can print profiles for clients, but they also have links to the Websites, which are always where one has to go ultimately anyway to assess current priorities and RFP regulations. Within the FoundationSearch profiles, however, there is a quick link to the stated 'limitations' of the organization, so that you don't have to search through the Website for those and can avoid making elaborate plans to submit only to find out too late that the organization has limits that disqualify you."
	Marie Beichert Development Service CFRE http://www.granthelper.com "I switched to Metasoft's FoundationSearch & BIG Online a few months ago. I'm delighted. The search capabilities and drill down are great, and their features are clean and easy to print and file. I especially like their download to Excel feature. BIG Online is great for corporate search. They seem to be very busy making improvements and updating their files. Tech support is immediate."
Daniel A. DiDonato, FAHP VP, Development Shepherds Ministries "The staff and volunteers that I have working with the FoundationSearch software have found this resource to be the most comprehensive they have used to date. Searches and navigations using this online software are easy to learn and use. We have successfully added a significant number of new foundations to our prospect list as well as deleted others that we found were not viable as a result of the information found through using the software. We are planning a major 50th Anniversary campaign and are thankful that we have this valuable resource to assist us in making our grant proposal activities efficient and effective. In addition, Metasoft has provided valuable training to those on my staff using the software and provides excellent customer service as well as regular follow up to assist us in the most effective use of FoundationSearch software. We would highly recommend FoundationSearch as a most valuable and cost effective resource in expanding the foundation research and grant proposal function of a fund development program."
Tim Halpern Managing Partner Comprehensive Prospect Research http://www.prospectresearch.org "FoundationSearch has fundamentally changed one critical aspect of strategic fundraising: new prospect identification. Specifically, the firm's use of OCR and other, related technologies has enabled end users to get past one problem that haunts most non-profits: effective lead generation. FoundationSearch's full text coverage of multiple years of 990 returns is impressive; and its intense use of Boolean logic resoundingly beats the competition. And one need not be a technical specialist to use the product to its full advantage. In short, no serious fundraising operation can afford to be without the product. If you're not using this product effectively, the probability is high that your organization is over soliciting the same old prospects."
Cara Rosson Prospect Research Analyst Bradley University "I am pretty enamored of the product. The variety of ways that you can search for information is my favorite aspect. You can search by state, by amounts, by interest, for your organization specifically. The ways to drill down into the specific information are also great. The profiles they provide for each foundation are about as comprehensive as I've seen. The information is, on the whole, very current. Their customer service was great too. I certainly like it better than what we used before. There is a great deal more information in FoundationSearch's profiles"
Linda M. Frisch Director of Grants & Major Gifts Carroll Hospital Center Foundation "FoundationSearch is the most comprehensive and user friendly tool that I have used to research grant prospects. I especially like the capability to export lists of prospects and non-profits who have received funding from a particular foundation. The searchable 990 is helpful to identify Trustees, application specifics and recent recipients of funds. The FoundationSearch links will take you directly on the page of the 990. Very time effective. I have also used the upcoming grant deadline link which is also extremely beneficial. I would highly recommend FoundationSearch to the beginning grant writer as well as the most experienced."
Michael S. Campbell Director, Grants Department Edison Schools http://www.edisonschools.com "FoundationSearch has been an invaluable funding research tool for us at Edison Schools. From day one, Metasoft has provided our Grants Staff with hours of extra training and support, guiding us through complex searches. This is our main resource for seeking the best funders for our 100+ schools across the United States and abroad."
Tracey Martin Director of Development Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York "I use FoundationSearch a lot and have found it a useful tool. Fortunately, the first grant we applied for that we found on the software more than made up for the price we paid. FoundationSearch is very flexible, easy to use, and produces detailed information that has been very helpful in locating and applying for new funds."
Kerstin Leonard Prospect Researcher Northwestern College "Very easy to use, easy to search. We previously had a subscription to another resource. I like FoundationSearch better."
Maureen S. Martin Director, Foundation Relations University of Michigan "We do all love this database. It's awesome."
Lisa Wilson Director of Foundation Relations Belmont University "About 90% of what we've received so far came from using BIG Online, with the remainder being proposals already in process. Every proposal I currently prepare is a result of or is enhanced by my research with BIG."
Brittney Nelson Grants Northside Independent School District "The BIG Online database is very helpful and I'm very glad we have a subscription for this resource. Thanks also for all your help! You're very knowledgeable!"
Pamela Gignac JMG Solutions "As a fundraiser and a prospect researcher for over 15 years, I have found that BIG Online takes you to the next level of research and enables me to focus on fine-tuning the details they provide and get out there to fundraise. BIG remains true to their commitment of boiling down information for you into a profile format and the links to other sources of information on the internet are great!! I highly recommend adding BIG Online to anyone's repertoire of research sources."
Frances Jones Donna Independent School District "If there's something I'm looking for and can't find, I just call Susan (her BIG Online Fundraising Support representative)."
Maria Machado Executive Director Shared Housing Center "I must admit that at first I was hesitant about the investment, but I know it was the right decision. It has made that part of my work responsibility so much easier. FoundationSearch offers so many "easy" ways to use the database that you really don't have to bother the support team. But when you do complicate the research, the staff is there to support you and your needs. We have raised over $50,000 in new Foundation money and now with the new management component- I know we can do more (I won't have to keep looking for the post-it notes I scribbled on!). I rave all the time about FoundationSearch to my Board and colleagues."
Maria Semple Principal The Prospect Finder, LLC http://www.TheProspectFinder.com "I have found FoundationSearch to be very comprehensive in locating funders. Nonprofits of all sizes can benefit from their easy-to-use search features, export capabilities and their Foundation Manager. They also make it easy to locate newly established foundations so you can find your community's newest philanthropists."
Turk (John) Thacher President Baker Industries PA "I love your application/program. Darned if I didn't find a foundation where one of the trustees was married to a college classmate of mine--needless to say we received a very nice grant from them."
Sheba Laser Lux Owner GrantSage LLC "As the owner of a Grant Writing company, I utilize Foundation Search almost daily. The site is easy to use and allows me to sort through and organize large amounts of information quickly. From prospecting for new funding, to updating Foundation information, to preparing lists for Board members regarding new foundation trustees -- Foundation Search should be a part of every non-profit Development Department. And the price is well worth it -- Foundation Search saves me hours each week while giving me the most important, up to date information on almost every U.S. Foundation that provides grant funding"
Nancy E. Pearsall Grant Writer KLRU-TV, Austin PBS "Your service is far and away the most invaluable to the work we do; the investment is truly worthwhile."
Joshua Friedel Director of Resource Development Life of Mississippi "In just three short months upon using Foundation Search, our organization obtained a grant for $34,110.32 from a foundation that we had never contacted previously and knew nothing about us. This grant will make a significant difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities - as it will allow them to maintain their independence and remain active in their communities! We are thrilled with Foundation Search and look forward to the next grant we are able to obtain to make a difference!"
Karen Hatcher Planned Giving Officer Gaylord Hospital Wallingford, CT "Foundation fundraising is no different from asking for gifts from individuals: you need to identify a foundation with an interest in your type of organization and your specific project, and which makes grants in the amount you need. It also helps a lot if a person with the foundation has a connection to your organization. FoundationSearch lets me look for and compile all of that information easily and efficiently. The comprehensive search form allows me to narrow the field as much as I need to. Once matches are identified, I can just click on a summary profile and find the data to decide whether to choose this foundation as a prospect. I can then organize and save my prospects into folders for each different project- so that I can easily go back to it when I need to. The Director Connection is also a great tool Quickly identifying directors, and finding out what other organizations they might be affiliated with, is an easy way to identify a critical personal connection to a new funder. I now also use it to learn more about our existing donor organizations. I think FoundationSearch is a valuable resource for raising funds from foundations."
Paul McNabb Development Officer Ronald McDonald House at Stanford "As we just renewed our contract with FoundationSearch, it was an opportunity to review the value of the service. After signing on with you, I found an abundance of foundations that are funding like organizations. We increased our proposal submissions by over 50% and received two significant grants in just the first round. Not only were we able to raise new funds in the first year and pay for the service, but have received new funding in each subsequent year. It was an easy decision to continue with our Foundation Search subscription and can't imagine being without this valuable resource now."
Deb Wood Managing Director artsfifthavenue.org Fort Worth, TX "To Whom It May Concern ...and it SHOULD concern every 501c3 regardless of size! If you are looking for a tool to insure continued grants, you should investigate FoundationSearch by Metasoft. In the Fall of 2010, I received a phone call from a representative of Metasoft and took a tour of the FoundationSearch software. I was immediately struck by their honest and straightforward approach and the unbelievable wealth of information on funding sources and resources the software contained. Honestly, at first I thought this was too much information for a non-profit with an annual budget of less than $200,000! However, I quickly came to my senses and realized we could and should explore this fabulous opportunity further. Several members of our Board of Directors took the same online tour and were as taken with the potential offered as I was. Unfortunately, we were unable to take advantage of the wonderful end-of-the-year pricing offered...due to budget constraints!! So I waited until the New Year. I realized as 2011 sped by if we wanted to take the next step and move into being a larger organization, we had to secure funding and we had to look outside our own backyard...this is why I chose to go to our Board of Directors and basically tell them that as state, local and national grant resources were cut or eliminated, it was imperative we look to some sort of tool that would enable us to tap into resources we only dreamed of in the past. I also made the decision that regardless of whether or not the Board voted to purchase the FoundationSearch software, I would, if need be, pay for it out of my own pocket. I believe in the mission of and positive effect Arts Fifth Avenue has on our community and I believe that FoundationSearch will enable us to establish additional funding sources and secure our future. However, let me make it clear that I do not expect FoundationSearch to do the work...a tool is only good if you use it and use it correctly. I am confident FoundationSearch has the staff and online resouces to help us use it to maximum effect. If you are still asking why FoundationSearch? The company has a 20+ year history, and FoundationSearch provides detailed information on funding sources, and if all the employees are half as knowledgeable and customer oriented as the representative I worked with, I am confident we will have multiple grants coming within 6 months and I am already planning on purchasing a full 5 or 7 year contract in 2012! Take the tour, ask questions, research similar software if you like - one of our Board members did and quite frankly there was no other service that even really compared...but if you still ask why did I chose FoundationSearch... the bottom line is people. The staff at FoundationSearch stuck with me, encouraged me, made themselves available to me but they did not try to simply "sell" me. I feel the people at FoundationSearch care and will help us succeed - it's really as simple as that."
Catherine DeTerra VP, Marketing & Grants Development Old Colony YMCA Massachusetts "We were approached in 2005 by Metasoft Systems to preview their Foundation Search online grant research product, and I must admit that at first I was skeptical. I had always used other products for conducting research, and had grown comfortable with the abilities and limitations of those products. However, once I took a tour of Foundation Search, I was sold. Not only could I get the information available to me through the other products, but I could get even more detailed search responses and access it all in one place! Foundation Search uncovers the prospect information we need to make informed decisions, and has increased our ability to target grant requests in ways that were not possible before. We have received more funding, uncovered new grants, and had great success with this product!"
Ann Mckinley Senior Development Officer Twin Cities Public Television "We've been using FoundationSearch at TPT for over six years now, and I love this tool! The flexible searching options, ability to export to MS Excel, and all-in-one-place access to everything I want to know about a foundation make it far superior to the other services I've used. I love the interactive graphs-they make FoundationSearch into a thinking tool as well as a research tool! I've been very happy with the customer support and training, both on the phone and by email. If you're using a competing service, you need to check FoundationSearch out. It's better! "
Peter Georgi President Carriage Museum Santa Barbara, CA "I wanted to thank you for contacting me about Foundation Search. After your demonstration we elected to purchase a one year subscription. I sent our an initial request for funding to 23 local foundations and I am pleased to inform you I have heard from several of them (8) with the promise to seriously consider our request for grant. I want to thank you and let you know the Foundation Search truly works and we are pleased with the initial results.We received our first grant check today $10,000!!!! More than paid for your services! We have signed up for some training with Valentina. Thanks Again."