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Database gives non-profit groups help to find grants

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 11:50am — john
By Nate Smith, Staff Writer
Washington Time Harold

Getting a grant is difficult enough, but finding a grant source can be a task in itself.

The Daviess County Community Foundation, along with the Carnegie Public Library in Washington, is helping non-profits find the grant funding they need through a database run by the Foundation Center.

The web-based database has over 92,000 grant makers and programs designed to give money for a variety of programs. Carnegie Outreach Services Librarian Betty Norris recently gave a presentation to local non-profit leaders on the Foundation Center.

“When Jeannie (Fields, DCCF director) first got us interested, the number was 80,000 grant makers,” Norris said. “And then I went for my training, it was 88,000 in June and now the online materials say there are 92,000 grant makers.

“It’s more all the time,” Norris said.

Norris said Washington is one of few in Indiana to have access to this database.

“I knew that we were the ninth,” Norris said. “It’s really impressive that Washington got this because the other cities are Anderson, Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Muncie, Terre Haute, Valparasio and us.

“We are by far the smallest but they said in June they are making an effort to get into rural areas,” Norris said.

On the database, the New York-based Foundation Center tracks gifts given to organizations based on 12 categories based on size, geographic location, type of funding or organization purpose. Visitors to the site can also find tax information for foundations and giving.

The Web portal and training for Norris was paid through the community foundation. Although the main information is for grant funding, individuals can also use the database for scholarships.

Although the database is Web-based, it can only be accessed at the library where a librarian will assist with the login and passwords. Printed materials of grant makers are also available.

The foundation Web site is available in the reference computer lab. The library’s hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, contact Norris at the library, 254-4586 or Fields at the community foundation, 254-9354.

Comments

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 9:55am — Anonymous

Grant Database

Its interesting that you have printed this very important information.

At the GAKCI meeting (which was open to the public) last week the Washington Library grant source was discussed at length and was given high praise as a very valuable tool in seeking grants.

So GAKCI is aware and I'm sure will make use of the opportunity.

Anyone in Knox County who is interested in writing grant applications is welcome to join GACKI with a $15 membership fee.

Workshops and other assistance are planned to help grant writers be successful.

If a city has already hired or contracted for a percentage a company to secure grants unless their contracts are for EXCLUSIVE rights for grant applications, the cities would be welcome to GAKCI. And even if they are exclusive like real estate contracts are the cities may have to pay the cities grant companies their fee even if they didn't procure the grant.

This sounds like a city definitely wouldn't be interested but if you get to think about it even a discounted grant would be better than no grant at all.

So I'm not speaking for GAKCI but it seems to me that we would welcome cities on board.

I'm sure the Bicknell Good Start will be making efforts with the help of GAKCI resources to try to secure funding for needed projects. (The youth center is a possibility).

Our local Peggy MaGill of TLC Computers has worked hard to help set up GAKCI and deserves a lot of thanks from the entire county.

Donna Clinkenbeard, Jennifer Holscher and others also have put a lot of effort into this.

Something that GAKCI has stressed from the start is that Knox County has only been securing about 20% of possible grant money and we hope to turn that around.

Ron Ackman