THE GRANT SEEKER’S HANDBOOK
A GUIDE TO FINDING FUNDS

Written by Harvey Chess
Edited by Lauren Kay
Edited and updated by the Center for Nonprofit Management, August 2004

INTRODUCTION

The Grant Seeker’s Handbook was developed to emphasize the importance of careful research and planning in considering ways to support your organization or efforts. The handbook is only good, however, if it leads you to save time for yourself and for funders by doing grant research before submitting proposals.

The California Community Foundation and author Harvey Chess originally intended for this publication to help grantseekers use the Foundation’s Funding Information Center. However, in July 1998 the Center for Nonprofit Management acquired the collection, providing the start for what is now the Nonprofit Resource Library located in downtown Los Angeles.

The Nonprofit Resource Library is open to the public, free of charge and staffed by trained librarians experienced in research and reference. The focus of the Nonprofit Resource Library is to provide nonprofit leaders, managers and volunteers information they need to better server their mission and to help grantseekers at all levels learn to identify and research potential funding sources and to develop effective proposals. The Nonprofit Resource Library offers a free two-hour class called Grantseeking Basics and a low-priced, hands-on class called Grants Database Searching. Links to the schedule and online registration can be found on the library page at http://www.cnmsocal.org/library/.

Specializing in information of prime interest to the nonprofit community such as grants, proposal preparation and fundraising and a host of management areas, the Nonprofit Resource Library has one of the most comprehensive collections in the region. Emphasis in our grantseeking materials is on private foundations, but the information available goes well beyond this area. A wide selection of books, periodicals, newsletters and other materials in the collection addresses subjects such as forming a nonprofit organization, writing effective proposals, developing a board, program evaluation and many other topics. The collection is very broad and appeals to a great variety of patrons — from board members and seasoned development professionals to grassroots organizers and novice community volunteers.

Grantseekers outside of Los Angeles should try to identify a library in their area with funding information. First, check to see whether there is a Foundation Center Library or Cooperating Collection in the vicinity by going to http://fdncenter.org/collections/. Second, check the provider search page maintained by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management at http://www.allianceonline.org/Provider_Search/. Here, grantseekers can look for a center that provides information to nonprofits in their area.

At our Nonprofit Resource Library, trained staff members are always on hand to provide assistance to visitors. Hours are: Monday and Tuesday, 12 noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, closed. You can obtain general information by calling (213) 623-7080, extension 11, or by emailing library@cnmsocal.org.