General Purpose Grant: A grant made to further the general purpose or work of an organization, rather than a specific purpose or project. (See also Operating Support Grant.)

In-Kind Contributions: Contributions of equipment, supplies, or other property as distinguished from monetary grants. Some companies may also donate space or staff time as an in-kind contribution. With government grants, they will often ask for a minimum specified amount of in-kind contributions.

Independent Foundation: A grantmaking organization usually classified by the IRS as a private foundation.  Independent foundations may also be known as family foundations, general purpose foundations, or private non-operating foundations.

Matching Grant: A grant that is made to match funds provided by another donor. It may also be called a Challenge Grant.

Operating Support Grant: A grant to cover the regular personnel, administrative, and other expenses of an existing program or project.

Private Foundation: A nongovernmental, nonprofit organization with funds (usually from a single source, such as an individual, family or corporation) and program managed by its own trustees or directors that was established to maintain or aid social, educational, religious or other charitable activities serving the common welfare, primarily through the making of grants.

Proposal: A written application, often with supporting documents, submitted to a foundation or corporate giving program in requesting a grant. Preferred procedures and formats vary.

Query Letter: A brief letter outlining an organization's activities and its request for funding sent to a foundation or corporation to determine whether it would be appropriate to submit a full grant proposal. Many grantmakers prefer to be contacted in this way before receiving a full proposal.

RFP: Request for Proposal. When the government issues a new contract or grant program, it sends out RFP’s to agencies that might be qualified to participate. The RFP lists project specifications and application procedures. Foundations occasionally use RFP’s in specific fields, but most prefer to consider proposals that are initiated by applicants.

Seed Money: Grants to start, establish, or initiate new projects or organizations; may cover salaries and other operating expenses of a new project. Also called "start-up funds".

Special Purpose Foundation: A private foundation that focuses its grantmaking activities in one or a few special areas of interest. For example, a foundation may award grants only in the area of cancer research or child development.