A consulting firm with online and print products that assist community, educational and nonprofit agencies in obtaining grant funding has become a tenant of the Purdue Research Park.
Schoolhouse Partners LLC was founded in 2003 by Louis S. Schafer and Anita Schafer. Lou is the editorial director; Anita is the client services director. The company previously had been based in Nashville, Ind.
"We research and compile information about grant programs worldwide, and then publish this information in electronic and print formats," Lou said. "Our main focus is grant programs in the United States, but we also have clients in Canada and Europe who purchase our directories."
Each year the company publishes nine grant directories that fall into broad categories of focus, including research, biomedical and health care, the arts and humanities, and K-12 education. The firm also develops grant proposals, researches funding prospects, and operates and maintains GrantSelect (http://www.grantselect.com), an online database of funding opportunities.
Anita said that Schoolhouse Partners' clientele spans a broad range.
"Our clients include institutions such as colleges, universities, municipalities and public libraries. The general public is another primary client, since GrantSelect and our directories are made available in public libraries," she said. "The majority of the records in GrantSelect are intended for research, but we also include grants from all sectors for all purposes."
Lou said that despite the current economic climate, foundations will continue to offer grants for projects and programs that align with their missions.
"Organizations seeking grants have little room for error and guesswork," he said. "Grant seekers have to double check that they are approaching funders that clearly have an interest in their proposed program or project. Their proposals must be expertly crafted in order to offer the best persuasive argument in clear, concise language. This, in essence, is why our services can be so beneficial."
Anita explained why Schoolhouse Partners decided to become a tenant in the Purdue Research Park.
"By moving our office to the Purdue Research Park, we will be in closer proximity to the clientele that we serve," she said. "The incubator services offered by the Purdue Research Park are invaluable to a small company such as ours. As business owners, Lou and I will be able to direct more of our attention toward the growth aspects of our business and its processes."