General Resources

The Foundation Center
”Nation's leading authority on philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and the grantmakers”

• Online and classroom training for grant seekers
• “Foundation Finder” database searchable by name and location
• Low-cost short-term access to Foundation Directory Online database which “allows grantseekers to quickly research prospective funders”
• Low-cost short-term access to Foundation Grants to Individuals Online database to find “foundation and public charity programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grantseekers”
• “Ask Us” free service for getting questions about foundations answered by their staff
• Statistics about foundations and philanthropy
• For an overview of the website, go to the Site Index

Urban Institute Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy
“Conducts and disseminates research on the role and impact of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy”

Council on Foundations
“Supports grantmakers in various aspects of foundation management”

• Information about foundation and grantmaking basics
• List of selected web sites on finding and applying for grants

GrantSmart
Only includes private foundations or charitable trusts that fill out the IRS form 990-PF Excludes churches, hospitals, schools, or publicly supported organizations that file IRS form 990.

• Database of IRS 990-PF tax returns searchable by name, location, asset size, and EIN (employee identification number). These forms list all groups and individuals receiving grants from each organization
  

Guidestar

• Free access to “GuideStar Basic” database searchable by name, keyword, and location (requires free registration)
• Tutorial on understanding the IRS form 990

Internet Prospector
“Produced by a network of volunteers who mine the Net for prospect research nuggets”

• Keyword search for web sites that this group has reviewed and selected for inclusion
• List of selected web sites on national and international grants/foundation news and other information

Government Websites

California Attorney General's Office - Registry of Charitable Trusts
All charities must file the Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report, and those with gross revenue or assets of $25,000 or more must file annual Form 990 financial reports with the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts.

• Charities Search provides descriptive information about the charity as well as financials
• CFR Commerical Fundraiser Financial Database provides financial disclosure of fundraisers
• Resources lead to information for individuals seeking assistance in establishing, operating and managing nonprofits
• Forms, Laws/Regulations are also available

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Official source for the many grant programs from the federal government

• Database of all Federal programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals
• Detailed description of types of assistance available and how to file applications
• Guidelines for developing winning grant proposals
• List of top programs and new programs in the catalog

Federal Register
First place to look for Federal agencies’ announcements of grants and other funding opportunities

• Search Daily Table of Contents for “Grants and cooperative agreements”

Firstgov.gov For Nonprofits
Government information for grant-seekers as well as nonprofits

• Grants, loans, and other assistance
• Nonprofit management and operations
• Tax information

Grants.gov
“Your source to Find and Apply for Federal government grants”

• Search for grants by keyword, category, or agency
• Fill out your application online and track the progress of your application

Local Southern California Sources

California Community Foundation
“Supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture and other areas of need”

• Find grant programs as well as an application online

Center for Nonprofit Management of Southern California
Sponsors a variety of programs for training and assisting nonprofit organizations

• Resource library subscribes to several databases that are free to use at the Center
• Free online copy of the Grant Seeker’s Handbook

Grantsmanship Center
Sponsors training seminars primarily in the field of government grant applications

• "The Grantsmanship Center Magazine" is free and can be read and ordered online
• Federal Register funding announcements displayed in a convenient format are available with free registration

Southern California Grantmakers
“Provides information about effective philanthropic practices”