About the Foundation Center

• What is the Foundation Center and what kinds of services and resources does it offer?
• ¿Qué es el Foundation Center, y qué tipos de servicios y herramientas ofrece?
• Is there a Foundation Center library or Cooperating Collection near me?
• What is the Foundation Center's Associates Program?
• Where can I find information on advertising with the Foundation Center?
• Where can I find Foundation Center issued e-newsletters?
• Are Foundation Center books from the Foundation Center's libraries available online?

Funding Resources

General

• Where can I find advice and information about fundraising in times of economic downturn?
• Where can I learn more about stimulus funding for nonprofits?
• Where can I find emergency funding ideas for my nonprofit?
• Where can I learn about how my board can help with fundraising?
• Can I get funding for my nonprofit while I am in the process of incorporating or getting tax-exempt status?
• What is microfinance? Where can I learn more about it?

Foundations

• What is a foundation?
• ¿Qué es una fundación?
• How do I find foundation grants for my nonprofit?
• Where can I find statistics on foundation and corporate giving?
• What is the difference between a private foundation and a public charity?
• Can you help me locate foundations in my home state?
• ¿Cómo consigo fondos filantrópicos para mi organización sin fines de lucro?
• What is a community foundation? Where can I learn more about them?
• What is a "payout requirement" for a private foundation and how much is it?
• Why do some foundations give only to pre-selected organizations? How can I approach them?
• ¿Por qué algunas fundaciones otorgan fondos solo a organizaciones preseleccionadas? Cómo puedo hacer para que consideren a mi organización?
• How can I find funders that offer a particular type of support?
• How many grantmakers have Web sites?
• How can I find foundations that accept proposals online?
• Where can I find information on starting a grantmaking foundation?
• Can non-501(c)(3) organizations get foundation grants?
• Can religious or faith-based organizations apply for foundation grants?
• How do I approach a foundation and build a successful grantee-funder relationship?
• What is a health conversion foundation? How can I learn more about them?
• What are donor-advised funds and how can I research them?
• Where can I find information on disaster grantmaking?
• Where can I find information on nonprofit capacity building?
• A foundation I'm researching has reported giving amounts greater than its assets. How is this possible?
• How do I learn about dissolving a private foundation?

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Corporations

• Where can I find information on corporate giving?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de las contribuciones corporativas?
• Where can I find statistics on foundation and corporate giving?
• What is the difference between a company-sponsored foundation and a corporate giving program?
• How can I find corporate sponsorship?
• ¿Cómo consigo patrocinio empresarial?
• What motivates companies to give through corporate giving programs?
• What is cause-related marketing?
• How can I find sources of in-kind gifts?
• What are employee matching gifts?
• Where can I find information about planning special events?
• Where can I learn more about workplace giving?

Government Funders

• Where can I find information about government grants?
• Where can I learn more about stimulus funding for nonprofits?
• Where can I learn more about workplace giving?

Individual Donors

• How much do Americans give to charity?
• How can I learn about researching and cultivating individual donors?
• Where can I find information on celebrity giving?
• How can I find out about the most generous philanthropists in the United States?
• Where can I find information on planned giving?
• Where can I find information about planning special events?
• Where can I find information on online fundraising?
• Where can I learn more about workplace giving?
• What is a giving circle?
• What are donor-advised funds and how can I research them?
• What resources are available for setting up a scholarship fund?
• Where can I learn about mobile giving?

Online/Virtual Fundraising

• How do I find foundation grants for my nonprofit?
• What are the features of the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (CNL)?
• How do I obtain the materials I've located in the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (CNL)?
• Are Foundation Center books from the Foundation Center's libraries available online?
• How many grantmakers have Web sites?
• Where can I find an electronic mailing list that focuses on fundraising?
• Where can I find information on online fundraising?
• How can I find foundations that accept proposals online?
• What do I do if I suspect that a charity is a fraud?
• Where can I learn about mobile giving?

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The Funding Research Process

Definitions and Clarification

• What is a foundation?
• ¿Qué es una fundación?
• Where can I find a glossary of foundation, nonprofit, and fundraising terminology?
• Is there a difference between the terms "nonprofit" and "not-for-profit?"
• What is the difference between a private foundation and a public charity?
• What is the difference between a company-sponsored foundation and a corporate giving program?
• What is Form 990 or 990-PF? How can I learn about using them?
• What is an EIN?
• What is fiscal sponsorship? How do I find a fiscal sponsor?
• ¿Qué es el patrocinio fiscal? ¿Cómo lo consigo?
• What is an RFP?
• Why do some foundations give only to pre-selected organizations? How can I approach them?
• What is a program-related investment?
• What is a health conversion foundation? How can I learn more about them?
• What is courtesy advertising?
• What is cause-related marketing?
• What are employee matching gifts?
• What is social enterprise?
• What is a giving circle?
• What are donor-advised funds and how can I research them?
• What is CFRE?
• What is a case statement? Where can I learn more about it?

Fundraising Planning

• Where can I learn more about fundraising planning?
• What is a case statement? Where can I learn more about it?
• How can I learn more about ethics in fundraising?
• Where can I learn about how my board can help with fundraising?
• Where can I find information about planning special events?
• Can I get funding for my nonprofit while I am in the process of incorporating or getting tax-exempt status?
• Where can I find emergency funding ideas for my nonprofit?
• Where can I find advice and information about fundraising in times of economic downturn?
• Where can I find training in fundraising?

Proposal Writing

• How do I write a grant proposal? Where can I find samples?
• ¿Cómo redacto una propuesta para obtener aportes filantrópicos? ¿Dónde encuentro ejemplos de propuestas?
• What should be included in a letter of inquiry? Where can I find samples?
• Should fundraisers be paid a fixed fee or a percentage of the money raised?
• Where can I find Common Grant Application forms?
• What is an RFP?
• How do I write a proposal cover letter? Where can I find samples?
• Where can I find technical assistance or a consultant for my nonprofit?
• Where can I learn more about hiring a consultant?
• What percentage of proposals to foundations are actually funded?
• How do I write a grant proposal for my individual project? Where can I find samples?
• How do I become a nonprofit consultant or grant writer?
• Where can I find demographic information about my community?
• Where can I learn more about nonprofit audits?
• What is a case statement? Where can I learn more about it?
• Will foundations fund overhead or administrative costs for nonprofits? What is an acceptable overhead rate?

Forms 990 and 990-PF

• What do nonprofit organizations need to know about the new Form 990?
• What is Form 990 or 990-PF? How can I learn about using them?
• Where can I find an organization’s Form 990 or 990-PF?
• How long does it take for Forms 990 to appear on the Center's Web site?
• Where can I find historical tax returns and annual reports for foundations?
• Can nonprofit organizations file IRS Form 990 electronically?

Statistics

• Where can I find statistics on foundation and corporate giving?
• How much do Americans give to charity?
• How many nonprofit organizations are there in the U.S.?
• What is the percentage of grant proposals that foundations actually fund?
• How many people are employed in the nonprofit sector?
• Where can I find demographic information about my community?

Training

• How can I find degree or certification programs in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit management?
• Where can I find training in fundraising?
• Does the Foundation Center offer Raiser’s Edge® training?

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Nonprofit Management

Establishing a Nonprofit Organization

• How do I start a nonprofit organization?
• ¿Cómo creo una organización sin fines de lucro en los Estados Unidos?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of becoming a nonprofit organization?
• Can I get funding for my nonprofit while I am in the process of incorporating or getting tax-exempt status?
• What is the "public support" test? How do I calculate it?
• What are nonprofit bylaws? Where can I find samples?
• What are articles of incorporation? Where can I find examples for nonprofits?
• Where can I find examples of nonprofit budgets?
• Where can I find examples of business plans for a nonprofit organization?
• How can I learn about developing my nonprofit's board?
• Where can I learn about nonprofit mission statements?
• Where can I find information on starting a grantmaking foundation?
• What resources are available for setting up a scholarship fund?
• What do nonprofit organizations need to know about the new Form 990?
• How can I find board members for my nonprofit?
• What is social enterprise?
• What is an EIN?
• Can my organization have a subsidiary?
• Where can my U.S.-based nonprofit learn about international operations?
• Can I convert my for-profit business into a nonprofit organization?
• How do I learn about dissolving a private foundation?
• How do I learn about dissolving my nonprofit?

Nonprofit Employment/Volunteering

• Where can I learn about job openings and working in the nonprofit sector?
• ¿Dónde consigo información sobre oportunidades de empleo en el sector sin fines de lucro?
• Where can I find salary information for nonprofit jobs?
• Where can I find information on writing a resume for a nonprofit job?
• Where can I find examples of nonprofit job descriptions?
• How many people are employed in the nonprofit sector?
• Where can I find or post volunteer opportunities?
• What is the monetary value of volunteer time?
• How can I learn about involving youth in volunteering and philanthropy?
• Where can I learn more about recruiting and managing volunteers for my nonprofit?
• How can I find board members for my nonprofit?
• Where can I learn about executive transitions in nonprofits?
• How do I become a nonprofit consultant or grant writer?

Nonprofit Boards

• How can I find board members for my nonprofit?
• How can I learn about developing my nonprofit's board?
• Where can I find information on a board’s legal duties?
• Where can I learn about how my board can help with fundraising?
• Where can I find information about establishing an advisory board for a nonprofit?

Accountability

• How can I find information about a particular (non-grantmaking) charity?
• Where can I find out who has donated money to a particular nonprofit organization?
• Can a nonprofit organization do fundraising activities in multiple states?
• What do I do if I suspect that a charity is a fraud?
• How can I recognize and avoid grant or scholarship scams?
• Where can my U.S.-based nonprofit learn about international operations?
• How long should nonprofit organizations retain business-related records?
• What do nonprofit organizations need to know about the new Form 990?
• Where can I find information on a board’s legal duties?
• Where can I learn about nonprofit program evaluation?
• Where can I learn more about nonprofit audits?
• How can I learn more about ethics in fundraising?
• Will foundations fund overhead or administrative costs for nonprofits? What is an acceptable overhead rate?

Consultants

• Where can I find technical assistance or a consultant for my nonprofit?
• Where can I learn more about hiring a consultant?
• Where can I find "pro-bono" legal assistance for my nonprofit organization?
• Should fundraisers be paid a fixed fee or a percentage of the money raised?
• How do I become a nonprofit consultant or grant writer?
• What is CFRE?

Sustainability

• Where can I find information on nonprofit capacity building?
• Where can I find examples of nonprofit budgets?
• Where can I find examples of business plans for a nonprofit organization?
• How much should my nonprofit have in its operating reserve?
• What's the difference between contingency and scenario planning? Where can I learn more about these topics?
• What is risk management? Where can I learn more about it?
• Where can I find information about collaboration and other kinds of strategic alliances?
• ¿Dónde consigo información sobre las colaboraciones y alianzas estratégicas en el sector sin fines de lucro?
• Where can I learn more about disaster planning for my nonprofit?
• Where can I learn about executive transitions in nonprofits?
• Where can I learn about how my board can help with fundraising?
• What is social enterprise?
• What is strategic planning? Where can I learn more about it?
• What is earned income and how do I learn more about it?

Researching Nonprofit Organizations

• How many nonprofit organizations are there in the U.S.?
• What is the monetary value of volunteer time?
• How can I find information about a particular (non-grantmaking) charity?
• Where can I find online quotations regarding the value of philanthropy?
• How can I locate charities that provide disaster relief?
• Where can I find demographic information about my community?

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Other Nonprofit Management Issues

• Can public schools apply for grants from private foundations?
• Where can I find nonprofit software reviews?
• What information should be in a gift acknowledgement letter? Where can I find samples?
• What is a gift acceptance policy? Where can I find examples?
• Can non-501(c)(3) organizations get foundation grants?
• Where can I find information on nonprofits’ responsibilities in regards to the USA PATRIOT Act and terrorism?
• Where can I find information on nonprofit capacity building?
• Where can I learn about nonprofit program evaluation?
• How do I learn about dissolving my nonprofit?

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Resources for Individual Grantseekers

General

• Where can I find information on grants to individuals?
• How do I write a grant proposal for my individual project? Where can I find samples?
• How can I recognize and avoid grant or scholarship scams?
• Where can I find information about grants to individuals with disabilities?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de asistencia financiera para personas con discapacidades?
• Where can I find help with emergency housing costs, medical bills, or personal debt?
• ¿Dónde consigo ayuda para cubrir costos de urgencia, tales como la vivienda, los gastos médicos, o deudas personales?
• How do I find funding for my research?
• Where can I find funding for an invention or patent?

Artists

• Where can I find funding as an individual artist?
• Where can I find grants for film or videomakers?
• Where can I find grants for musicians?
• Where can I find grants for performing artists?
• Where can I find grants as a visual artist?
• Where can I find grants for writers?

Students

• Where can I find information about grants to attend college, graduate school, or beyond?
• Where can I find financial assistance for students attending a private elementary or secondary school?
• Where can I find scholarships and fellowships for international students?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de becas para estudiantes internacionales?
• How can I recognize and avoid grant or scholarship scams?
• How do I find funding for my research?

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Fiscal Sponsorship

• What is fiscal sponsorship? How do I find a fiscal sponsor?
• ¿Qué es el patrocinio fiscal? ¿Cómo lo consigo?
• Where can I find examples of policies, procedures, and guidelines for fiscal sponsorship agreements on the Web?
• ¿Dónde se consiguen ejemplos de procedimientos, requisitos, y guías para establecer un arreglo de patrocinio fiscal?

For-Profit Enterprises

• Where can I find funding to start a business?
• ¿Dónde consigo información sobre apoyo financiero para empezar un negocio o pequeña empresa?
• What is a program-related investment?
• What is social enterprise?
• ¿Qué es el emprendimiento social?
• Where can I find funding for an invention or patent?
• How can I recognize and avoid grant or scholarship scams?
• How do I become a nonprofit consultant or grant writer?
• What is microfinance? Where can I learn more about it?
• ¿Qué son las microfinanzas? ¿Cómo puedo aprender más acerca de este tema?
• Can my organization have a subsidiary?
• Can I convert my for-profit business into a nonprofit organization?

Training

• How can I find degree or certification programs in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit management?
• Where can I find training in fundraising?
• Does the Foundation Center offer Raiser’s Edge® training?

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Resources for Non-U.S. Grantseekers

• Can our international NGO raise funds in the U.S.?
• Where can I find information on grants to non-U.S. organizations?
• ¿Cómo consigo aportes de fundaciones donantes estadounidenses para una organización internacional?
• Is there a Canadian organization similar to the Foundation Center?
• Is there a European organization similar to the Foundation Center?
• Where can my U.S.-based nonprofit learn about international operations?
• Where can I find scholarships and fellowships for international students?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de becas para estudiantes internacionales?
• What is microfinance? Where can I learn more about it?
• ¿Qué son las microfinanzas? ¿Cómo puedo aprender más acerca de este tema?

Preguntas y respuestas en español

• ¿Qué es el Foundation Center, y qué tipos de servicios y herramientas ofrece?
• ¿Qué es una fundación?
• ¿Cómo consigo fondos filantrópicos para mi organización sin fines de lucro?
• ¿Cómo consigo fondos de fundaciones donantes estadounidenses para una organización internacional?
• ¿Por qué algunas fundaciones otorgan fondos solo a organizaciones preseleccionadas? Cómo puedo hacer para que consideren a mi organización?
• ¿Cómo redacto una propuesta para obtener aportes filantrópicos? ¿Dónde encuentro ejemplos de propuestas?
• ¿Cómo se escribe la carta de presentación de una propuesta? ¿Existen ejemplos o modelos?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de las contribuciones corporativas?
• ¿Dónde consigo información sobre las colaboraciones y alianzas estratégicas en el sector sin fines de lucro?
• ¿Cómo creo una organización sin fines de lucro en los Estados Unidos?
• ¿Puede mi organización conseguir apoyo filantrópico mientras estemos en proceso de incorporación y de clasificar como organización exenta de impuestas?
• ¿Qué es el patrocinio fiscal? ¿Cómo lo consigo?
• ¿Dónde se consiguen ejemplos de procedimientos, requisitos, y guías para establecer un arreglo de patrocinio fiscal?
• ¿Qué hago si sospecho que una fundación u organización caritativa es fraudulenta?
• ¿Cómo consigo información sobre una organización de beneficencia pública en particular?
• ¿Cómo consigo patrocinio empresarial?
• ¿Dónde consigo información sobre apoyo financiero para empezar un negocio o pequeña empresa?
• ¿Qué son las microfinanzas? ¿Cómo puedo aprender más acerca de este tema?
• ¿Qué es el emprendimiento social?
• ¿Dónde consigo información sobre oportunidades de empleo en el sector sin fines de lucro?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de becas para estudiantes internacionales?
• ¿Dónde consigo ayuda para cubrir costos de urgencia, tales como la vivienda, los gastos médicos, o deudas personales?
• ¿Dónde consigo información acerca de asistencia financiera para personas con discapacidades?

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