Legislators are an important audience for the Foundation Center. We have many free resources that may address your needs as a policymaker and help you answer inquiries from your constituents about fundraising for their nonprofit organizations and their personal needs.
Ask Us! A Foundation Center Online Librarian can answer questions at no charge about grantmakers, philanthropy, and fundraising research. The librarian, however, will not provide lists of grantmakers that will fund specific activities. You or your constituents can submit questions in different ways: E-mail us anytime, participate in a live chat when a librarian is online, or contact the Foundation Center office nearest you.
Constituent Services: Nonprofit Grantseekers
When your constituents contact you about funding for nonprofit organizations, you can refer them to:
- Cooperating Collections (Funding Information Centers)
These locations provide your constituents with free access to the Center's premier subscription database, Foundation Directory Online, to Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, and to a core set of the Center's print resources. Staff at these sites also provide reference service and training opportunities that help nonprofits more effectively research funding opportunities. There are more than 450 of these colections throughout the United States — many in public libraries or local nonprofit technical assistance centers. You may call (800) 424-9836 or search online for Cooperating Collections in your area.
- Training Opportunities, Online Programs and Speakers
Your constituents may ask where they can learn about fundraising. Refer them to GrantSpace — a free service of the Foundation Center. At GrantSpace, grantseekers can receive online training and/or find out about live training sessions (free and fee-based) offered by the Foundation Center. GrantSpace provides information on fundraising and nonprofit management through FAQs, sample documents, podcasts, and more.
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Staff from the Foundation Center or from your local cooperating collection may be available to present training that you organize for your local nonprofit community.
Constituent Services: Individual Grantseekers
Inquiries About Funding for Individuals
When your constituents contact you about funding for individual needs, scholarships, travel,creative activity, etc., you can refer them to:
Policy Development
You may find these free resources helpful as a policymaker:
- Glasspockets
Identify first-rate examples of grantmaking organizations that communicate openly about their work.
- Fact Finder
Fact Finder includes:
- Foundation Finder
Includes basic contact information on U.S. grantmakers.
No grantmaker application information is available on this tool.
- 990 Finder
IRS returns for nonprofit organizations and private foundations.
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Trend Tracker
Review individual grantmaker data or compare up to five grantmakers.
- PubHub
Find publications produced or sponsored by grantmakers on a wide variety of policy issues as well as foundation annual reports.
- Philanthropy News Digest (PND)
Keep current with the grantmaking world with PND, the Center's daily e-news service, providing summaries from nationwide media outlets. It also offers a variety of electronic notification services. It is a mobile app.
- Focus on Economic Crisis
Access news, commentary, podcasts and interactive maps on how the economic recovery is affecting both grantmakers and grantseekers. Included is a national map that allows you to link to the best American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (i.e., stimulus) funding resources for each state.
- Philanthropy In/Sight®
Create maps to visualize the reach of philanthropy. Available for free use at Cooperating Collections.
- Free Newsletters
Sign up for free e-newsletters and news, jobs, and RFP alerts.
- Grantmaker Statistics
Lists of largest funders in your state and metropolitan areas.
- Grants Statistics
Lists of largest grants and grant recipients in your state and metropolitan areas.
Other Helpful Nonprofit Resources
There are many other local resources that you may find useful when serving your constituents. See our listing in our Nonprofit Resources section.
National clearinghouse organizations can also help you locate local resources. See chart below.
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