Grants, Grant Writing, and Nonprofits
Flint Public Library is a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection. A Cooperating Collection is a funding and philanthropy information center that contains a core collection of Foundation Center publications and a variety of supplementary materials and services in areas useful to grant seekers.
Listed below is a select list of materials, books, and web sites organized by subject. While this bibliography is aimed at nonprofit organizations, a small section for individuals seeking grants and loans is included.
Grants and Grant Writing / Fundraising / Sources
of Grants: Foundations /
Sources of Grants: Government / Nonprofits / Grants
for Individuals / Charities
GRANTS AND GRANT WRITING
PRINT RESOURCES:
The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal
Writing
Development consultant Geever guides nonprofit
grant seekers through the entire process of grant proposal writing—from
setting funding priorities through contacting potential funders and responding
to their
decisions.
Foundation Center’s Guide to Winning Proposals
Assembles actual grant proposals that have garnered money for non-profit
organizations as a guide to newcomers to grant writing.
Grant Writing: Strategies for Developing Winning Proposals
Discusses the major phases of grant development, from finding potential
funds to preparing successful proposals.
Models of Proposal Planning and Writing
Contains samples of successful grant proposals.
The Everything Grant Writing Book: Create the Perfect Proposal to Raise
the Funds you Need
Learn how to write the perfect grant proposal.
***Please see The Foundation Center’s Core Collection List for additional resources on grants and grant-writing.
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WEB SITES:
The Foundation Center
http://foundationcenter.org/
Proposal writing, fundraising, and budgeting
basics are just a few of the topics covered on this web site.
EPA Grant Writing Tutorial
http://www.epa.gov/ogd/recipient/tips.htm
Geared towards those seeking grants from the Environmental Protection
Agency, but all users will find it useful as the information is universal.
Grant Seeking in Minnesota
http://www.mcf.org/mcf/grant/writing.htm
As the title suggests, this site is geared towards those seeking grants
in the Minnesota, however, most of the information contained on the site
is universal and applicable for Michigan grant seekers.
Grantproposal
Assists both experienced and novice grantseekers in writing winning proposals.
Guide for Writing a Proposal
http://learnerassociates.net/proposal/
Contains proposal writing hints and examples from a Michigan State University
professor.
Proposal Writing and Government Contracting
http://proposalwriter.com/
Excellent commercial site with extensive information
on grants and grant writing. Site contains a comprehensive FAQ’s
section.
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FUNDRAISING
PRINT RESOURCES:
Essential Principles for Fundraising Success
Provides answers to fundraiser’s most
commonly asked questions in an easy to understand question and answer
format. Annual and direct
mail campaigns, and special events planning are covered.
Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits
Contains tips and techniques for planning
special events, seeking bequests and planned gifts, creating brochures
and annual reports, and designing
a website that complements an organization’s mission and fundraising
goals.
Fundraising Mistakes that Bedevil all Boards (and Staff too): A 1- hour
Guide to Identifying and Overcoming Obstacles to your Success
Fundraiser’s top mistakes are revealed
by an expert grant writer.
Fundraising for Dummies
A simple, straightforward guide that lists proven tips and strategies
on grants, direct mail, special events, and more.
How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters
Learn how to write effective fundraising appeals
from the nation’s
premier direct mail expert, Mal Warwick.
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WEB SITES:
The Foundation Center: Special Events Fundraisers
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/special_events.html
Lists web sites and books that will help nonprofits plan their next special
events fundraiser.
On Philanthropy: Special Fundraising Events: Time to Shine
http://www.onphilanthropy.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6221
A summary of the key elements of a successful special event fundraiser.
The Nonprofit Times: Special Report: Fundraising Ideas that Work
http://www.nptimes.com/Mar03/sr1.html
Discusses and gives examples of innovative
yet cost-effective fundraising ideas.
The Nonprofit Times: Thriving through Unorthodox Events
http://www.nptimes.com/Feb03/npt1.html
Discusses the unusual, creative, and successful fundraising techniques
and projects of the 11-10-02 foundation.
The Nonprofit Times: Unusual Fundraising can Bring New Donors
http://www.nptimes.com/dme/Jun04/dme_1.html
Not only can unusual fundraising events raise money for organizations,
but they can also raise community interest and spirit which often generates
additional support.
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SOURCES OF GRANTS: FOUNDATIONS
PRINT RESOURCES:
The Foundation Directory
This directory, the classic guide to America’s top funders, features
key facts on the nation’s top 10,000 foundations and contains over
41,000 descriptions of selected grants.
Foundation 1000
Contains detailed information on the nation’s
top 1,000 foundations.
The Michigan Foundation Directory
With over 2,000 entries, this directory is the most complete resource
of Michigan grant making. Entries include sample grants, indexed by city,
types of support, subjects, donors, officers and trustees.
National Directory of Corporate Giving
Find detailed profiles on nearly 4,100 foundations and information on
more than 1,200 direct corporate giving programs, including application
information, giving limitations, financial data, and descriptions of
over 7,000 recently awarded grants.
Directory of Matching and Endowment Grants
Lists foundations that award either matching grants (grants that are
made to match funds provided by another donor) or endowment grants (grants
in which the principle or endowed funds remain untouched and only the
return on investments can be used to provide support for an organization).
Directory of Operating Grants
Lists foundations that award operating grants to nonprofit organizations.
Operating grants assist nonprofits in underwriting salaries, rent, mortgage
payments, utilities, and other overhead expenses.
***Please see The Foundation Center’s Core Collection List for additional directories.
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WEB SITES:
Foundation Center: FC Stats
http://foundationcenter.org/fc_stats/index.html
Provides access to national, state, and metropolitan area data on U.S.
foundations and their grants.
Foundation Center: Foundation Finder
http://lnp.foundationcenter.org/finder.html
Provides basic facts on more than 65,000 private and community foundations
in the U.S. Users must know at least part of the foundation's name to
search the database.
Philanthropy News Digest: RFP Bulletin from
the Foundation Center
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/index.jhtml
The Foundation Center's weekly news digest
contains brief descriptions of funding opportunities with links to additional
information.
Community Foundation Locator
http://www.communityfoundationlocator.com/search/index.cfm
Provides contact information and links to community foundations located
throughout the United States, including Michigan.
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
http://www.cfgf.org/
Awards grants to qualified tax exempt organizations for proposals designed
to enrich the lives of Genesee County residents.
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
http://www.mott.org/
Private foundation based in Flint that makes grants in the U.S. and selected
regions internationally. Grant programs include Civil Society, Environment,
Flint Area, and Pathways out of Poverty. Please see web site for additional
information about each of these programs.
Council of Michigan Foundations
http://www.cmif.org/
Provides clear, concise explanations of the different types of foundations
and links to member web sites.
GrantSmart.org
http://www.grantsmart.org/
Contains tax returns filed by more than 100,000
private foundations and charitable trusts.
Guidestar: National Database of Nonprofit Organizations
http://www.guidestar.org/index.jsp
Provides information on all tex exempt non-profits
registered with the IRS, including 900+ police charities, and 118,000+
private foundations. Users must complete a short registration process
to access information.
Ruth Mott Foundation
http://www.ruthmottfoundation.org
A Flint based family foundation that awards grants in the areas of the
arts, beautification, and health promotion. Projects must be in the City
of Flint or Genesee County.
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SOURCES OF GRANTS: GOVERNMENT
Print Resources and Web Sites:
Government Assistance Almanac
Provides information on over 1,400 government assistance programs, including
assistance ear-marked for distribution to consumers, children, businesses,
etc. Includes all programs found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
in a more accessible format.
Guide to Federal Funding for Governments and Nonprofits
Gives users key facts on more than 750 federal grant programs.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Annual federal publication that lists information on all federally funded
programs and projects. Can also be accessed on the Internet at the following
address: http://www.cfda.gov/
Directory of State Administered Grants
Lists grants available through State of Michigan departments and agencies.
The latest edition is also available at the following Internet address:
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDFs/grants05-06.pdf
Federal Register
Published every business day, this publication
includes federal grant announcements. Each issue of The Federal Register has a table of contents
organized alphabetically by agency. Look for the agencies that will most
likely sponsor the types of grants you are seeking. The Federal Register can also be accessed on the Internet at the following address: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
You can also search via an index and table of contents at http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/the_federal_register/indexes.html
Grants.gov
http://grants.gov
A one-stop electronic grant portal where potential grant recipients will
receive full service electronic grant administration.
Grants for Nonprofits
Compilation of grants and funding sources for non-profit organizations.
Both government grants and foundations are listed.
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NONPROFITS
PRINT RESOURCES:
Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide
Offers information on virtually every legal aspect of starting and operating
a nonprofit organization.
Public Relations Handbook for Nonprofits: A Comprehensive and Practical
Guide
Learn how to manage an effective public relations campaign which will
help nonprofit organizations achieve the recognition and support needed
to fulfill their mission.
Publishing the Nonprofit Annual Report: Tips, Traps, and Tricks of the
Trade
Producing a quality annual report, on time and on budget, has never been
easier.
Boardsteps: The Framework for Effective Nonprofit Governance
Boardsteps will help nonprofits build an effective
governing board, understand the director’s responsibilities, and design a system to assess
the organization’s impact on the community.
Understanding Nonprofit Financial Statements
Teaches board members to understand an organization’s
financial statements and ensure that adequate resources are available
and effectively
managed.
Nonprofit Essentials: Endowment Building
A well organized guide to building successful endowment programs.
WEB SITES:
Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
http://www.urban.org/center/cnp/index.cfm
Conducts and disseminates research on the role and impact of nonprofit
organizations and philanthropy. Contains many free reports on homelessness,
housing, health care, etc.
National Center for Charitable Statistics
http://nccs.urban.org
National clearinghouse of data on the nonprofit sector.
Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
http://nonprofit.about.com/
Comprehensive site that contains articles and resources on various aspects
of nonprofit organizations, including starting and managing a nonprofit
organization,
The Nonprofit FAQ
http://www.nonprofit-info.org/
Based on questions and answers about nonprofit organizations exchanged
on the Internet since 1994.
Non-profit Start-Up Guide
http://www.gvsu.edu/forms/jcp/pdf/npstartup.pdf
A guide which will help readers establish nonprofit organizations.
Life Cycle of a Private Foundation
http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=127912,00.html
Explains the numerous interactions a private foundation will have with
the IRS during its existence.
Help Filling out your 501(c)(3)
http://form1023help.com/
Designed to help new nonprofit organizations complete the application
for Exempt Status Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS
**The majority of grants are awarded to non-profit
organizations; very few grants are available to individuals, except in
the area of education
(scholarships). For information on scholarships, see FPL’s
College Information on the Web or visit FPL’s COPE section at the Main
Library.
Foundation Grants to Individuals
A print publication with a listing of more
than 6,000 foundations that give financial assistance to individuals
in the areas of education, arts and culture, general welfare and research
and professional support.
Foundation Grants to Individuals Database
Database version of the above listed book.
Also contains information on more than 6,000 foundations that give financial
assistance to individuals. Updated quarterly
Emergency Services: State of Michigan Department of Human Services
http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5531---,00.html
The State Emergency Relief program (SER) helps low-income households
meet emergency needs such as heat and utilities, home repairs, relocation
assistance, home ownership services, and burial through a combination
of direct financial assistance and contracts with a network of nonprofit
organizations.
GovBenefits.gov
Allows users to find federal and state government benefits that they
may be eligible for.
Grants for Individuals: By academic level, by population group, by subject
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3subject.htm
Compilation of grants and funding sources for individuals.
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--Starting a New Business
Patrons frequently ask if there are grants available from the government
or foundations for starting a new business. According to The
Foundation Center, the answer is no, in most cases. For complete information,
please click on the link above.
Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce
http://www.growthalliance.com/gamain.html
Details economic development assistance for companies locating or expanding
their businesses in Genesee County.
Government Loans and Financial Resources
http://proposalwriter.com/govtloans.html
Commercial site that contains information
on the most common government small business loans, other small business
loans, state and local government economic development programs, etc.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
http://medc.michigan.org
Contains a variety of information, including
financing, for small business owners or those looking to start a business.
For detailed information,
read "Starting a Business in Michigan: Financing a Business",
an 89 page booklet.
Michigan Renaissance Zones
http://medc.michigan.org/services/sitedevelopment/renzone/#
Portions of the City of Flint have been designated
as Michigan Renaissance Zones. Small business owners who locate a business
in these areas will benefit from a virtually tax free status.
Renewal Communities (RC) and Empowerment Zones (EZ)
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rc/index.cfm
Tax incentives and regulatory relief are available for businesses located
in renewal communities.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
National and local chapters of the Small Business Administration provide
current and future small business owners with a variety of information,
including financing, counseling, and training resources.
Small Business & Technology Development
Center
(Regional site for the City of Flint
and Genesee County)
Provides counsel and training to small business owners and entrepreneurs
throughout Michigan at no cost or low cost. Visit the regional site for
information pertaining to the City of Flint and Genesee County.
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--Home Buyers and Homeowners
There are loans and some grants available for
home buyers and home owners through the government and several nonprofit
agencies, if home buyers
and home owners meet certain criteria. See Flint
Public Library’s
Home Buyers’ Resources web page for information.
--Charities
American Institute of Philanthropy: Charity Watch
http://www.charitywatch.org/
A nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help
donors make informed giving decisions. Lists top rated charities and
includes tips for giving wisely.
Charitable Giving: Michigan Attorney General’s
Office
http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,07-164-17334_18095---,00.html
Find lists of licensed Michigan charities, police and fire groups and
their fundraisers, and articles and brochures on wise charitable giving.
If you have questions about donating or would like financial information
about a Michigan based charity, call the Charitable Trust Section at
(517) 373-1152.
Charity Navigator
http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Evaluates nonprofit organizations that have been granted tax exempt status
under section 501 (c) (3) in order to allow donors to give more responsibly.
FTC: Charity Fraud
http://www.ftc.gov/charityfraud/
Find useful tips on donating to charities
Give.org: BBB Wise Giving Alliance
http://www.give.org/
In conjunction with the Better Business Bureau, the Giving Alliance reports
on nationally recognized charitable organizations that are the subject
of donor inquiries. Its goal is to offer guidance to donors so that they
may make informed decisions when it comes to making donations to charities.
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