New Jersey State Library

GRANTS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following are questions asked often by users of the New Jersey State Library's Funding Information Center, a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection located in Trenton, New Jersey. For more FAQs on foundations, funding research, nonprofit organizations and related topics, visit the Foundation Center's FAQs site . Questions \| Answers
Questions What is the Funding Information Center? What is a Cooperating Collection? Can Funding Information Center books be borrowed? Do you have any electronic databases for finding grants? Can I search your funding databases from my computer remotely? Is there some book that lists all available New Jersey grants? What is a foundation? How do I start a nonprofit organization? Do you have grant application forms? What is a 990-PF? What is a 501(c)(3) and what is a 501(c)(3) organization? Are there grants for starting a business? Are there grants for medical assistance? Do you have information on grants for the disabled? Do you have information on federal government grants for individuals? Do you have information on how to write a grant proposal? Do you have information on grants for senior citizens? Do you have examples of common application forms? Do you have information on religious philanthropy (faith-based community programs, renovating a church, missions, etc.) Do you have information on grants for libraries? Do you have information on grants for undergraduate and graduate education?
Answers The New Jersey State Library's Funding Information Center is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center in New York City. The State Library's Funding Information Center maintains an extensive collection of materials on grantseeking and nonprofit management. The Center assists nonprofit groups and individuals in using these materials. The Center welcomes visits, mail, email and telephone requests; however, users must do their own research to find prospective grant sources. Funding Information Center New Jersey State Library, Level 4 185 West State St. (mailing address: PO Box 520) Trenton, NJ 08625 Click for directions and hours TELEPHONE: Voice: (609) 292-6220 Fax: (609) 984-7900 E-Mail: refdesk@njstatelib.org LIBRARIAN: Teri Taylor Return to Questions A Cooperating Collection is a member of the Foundation Center's network of libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit agencies that provides a core collection of Foundation Center publications and a variety of supplementary materials in areas useful to grantseekers. Founded in 1956, The Foundation Center is one of the leading authorities on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public. The core collection consists of: Board Members Book Corporate Foundation Profiles FC Search The Foundation Directory The Foundation Directory Part 2 The Foundation Directory Supplement The Foundation 1000 Foundation Fundamentals Foundation Grants to Individuals Foundations Today series Guide to U.S. Foundations, Their Trustees, Officers, and Donors The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing The Foundation Center's Guide to Winning Proposals National Directory of Corporate Giving National Guide to Funding... (series) The Foundation Center's Guide to Grantseeking on the Web Securing Your Organization's Future Return to Questions Collection Policy: Foundation Collection annual reports, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, statistical compendia, periodicals and IRS 990 Form aperture cards do not circulate. Remaining Foundation Collection materials circulate. Borrowing materials in person is possible for New Jersey residents. For more detailed information about borrowing, see Borrowing Materials Owned by the State Library. If you cannot visit the State Library in person, you may request circulating items on interlibrary loan through your local library. Foundation Collection titles can be searched using the Library Catalog. Return to Questions The Funding Information Center has three Foundation Center electronic databases that provide information about Grantmakers: FC Search, Foundation Directory Online Professional, and Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. For more about these databases, see the following Foundation Center tutorials: FC Search Guided Tour Foundation Directory Online Guided Tour Foundation Grants to Individuals Online Guided Tour. Return to Questions The Funding Information Center's three subscription databases, FC Search, Foundation Directory Online Professional, and Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, cannot be accessed remotely, however, other grants-related electronic resources may be accessed remotely from the State Library's Electronic Resources Grants Databases. Return to Questions No, but there are many directories that provide information about grantmakers by geographic area. A list of these directories can be found on the State Library's Grants Nonprofits Research Guide. In addition, the Foundation Center's FC Search and Foundation Directory Online Professional contain information about New Jersey grantmakers. Both databases are available at the State Library's Funding Information Center. Return to Questions The Foundation Center defines a foundation as an entity that is established as a nonprofit corporation or a charitable trust, with a principal purpose of making grants to unrelated organizations or institutions or to individuals for scientific, educational, cultural, religious, or other charitable purposes. For a more detailed definition, check out the Foundation Center's FAQ page: What is a Foundation? Return to Questions See The Foundation Center's FAQ: How do I establish a nonprofit organization? Return to Questions The Funding Information Center does not collect application forms, however, many grantmakers include grant applications on their web sites. Many of the Foundation Center's print and online directories provide grantmaker web site information. In addition to foundation web sites, the Foundation Center also lists downloadable Common Grant Applications. Return to Questions A 990-PF is a report (information return) to the Internal Revenue Service annually submitted by private foundations. The 990-PF includes detailed information on the foundation's financial holdings, income, and activities. Current 990-PFs can be viewed from the Foundation Center's 990-Finder, GrantSmart.org's GrantSmart, or the Economic Research Institute site. The Foundation Center provides a detailed description of this useful grants research tool: What are Forms 990-PF and where can I find them? Return to Questions 501(c)(3) is the section of the United States Tax Code that defines nonprofit, charitable, tax-exempt organizations; 501(c)(3) organizations are further defined as public charities, private operating foundations and private non-operating foundations. For a more information, see:IRS Charitable Organization Exemption Requirements. Return to Questions Grants for small business are rare. Foundations tend to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For additional information, see the Foundation Center's Frequently Asked Questions page, "Where can I find information on funding to start a business?" . While the *Federal Government* does not provide grants for starting a business, the Federal Government offers many programs to assist you in starting a business. There are a few programs which offer direct loans or guaranteed/insured loans for specific purposes but there are many more programs offering a wide variety of services directed at enhancing business and commerce and aid to small businesses. To learn about available federal financing, see the Small Business Association's Federal Grant Resources and Financing a Business Frequently Asked Questions . Return to Questions Information on foundation grants for individuals is available in two formats: The print annual, Foundation Grants to Individuals Call #: F200 F771 and the electronic Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. Both are available at the State Library's Funding Information Center. For a more detailed explanation of resources specific to funds for medical expenses, see the Foundation Center's FAQ: Where can I find information on grants to help pay for emergency medical expenses? Additional information see: MSU Libraries: Grants for Individuals - Medicine Govbenefits.gov Return to Questions Information on foundation grants for individuals is available in two formats: The print annual, Foundation Grants to Individuals Call #: F200 F771 and the electronic Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. Both are available at the State Library's Funding Information Center. For a more detailed explanation of resources specific to funds for disabilities,see Foundation Center's Reference Guide for Individuals with Disabilities Additional Sources: DisablityInfo.gov the federal government's disability information page MSU Libraries: Grants for Individuals - The Disabled Return to Questions Two starting points for locating information about federal government funding for individuals are: GovBenefits.gov GovBenefits.gov helps citizens access government benefit eligibility information through a free, confidential, and easy-to-use online screening tool. After answering some basic questions, the user receives a customized report listing the benefit programs for which the user, or person for whom he or she is entering information, may be eligible. USA..gov's Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid USA.gov is the official U.S. gateway to all government information. Return to Questions Yes, the State Library's Funding Information Center' has books on grant proposal writing. You may search the State Library's Catalog using the following keyword phrase: Proposal writing for grants. Also, the Foundation Center has a free online tutorial: Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Short Course . For additional information, see the Foundation Center's Frequently Asked Questions page: How Can I Learn About Proposal Writing? Return to Questions Information on foundation grants for individuals is available in two formats: The print annual, Foundation Grants to Individuals Call #: F200 F771 and the electronic Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. Both are available at the State Library's Funding Information Center. Information on federal government funding sources for senior citizens can be found on both USA.gov for Seniors and Govbenefits.gov . New Jersey Statewide Benefits for Older Persons. This is a guide to programs and services offered to older persons by the State of New Jersey Return to Questions While the Funding Information Center's holdings do not include actual grant proposals, the Funding Information Center does have many circulating books that contain grant proposal samples like the The Foundation Center's Guide to Winning Proposals / Sarah Collins, editor, The Foundation Center. New York. 2003 Call #: F 750 F771 Location: Level 4 Additional Sources: Non-profit guides and Grantproposal.com Return to Questions The Funding Information Center's print collection includes two subject-specific directories that provide information about funding in religion: National Guide to Funding in Religion Foundation Center. National Guide to Funding in Religion for detailed fundraising information on grantmakers that have proven their commitment to the subject by funding churches, synagogues, and mosques, as well as building preservation, humanitarian aid, missionary societies, religious schools, welfare, youth groups, and many other religious-affiliated programs. Call #: F380 F771.1 Location: Level 4 Grants for Religion, Religious Welfare & Religious Education Foundation Center. Descriptions of 13,128 recent grants of $10,000 or more in the field of religion. Covers grants to churches, synagogues, missionary societies, and related religious bodies in the U.S. and abroad for religion, religious education, and religious welfare. Call #: F380 G763 Location: Level 4 In addition, The Funding Information Center subscribes to: FC Search: The Foundation Center's Database on CD-ROM. A CD-ROM database of over 78,300 foundations and corporate grantmakers and their associated grants. Searchable by fields of interest, including religion. Foundation Center. Location: Level 4 For information regarding federal funding, see: White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives or Foundation Center's FAQ Where can I find information on government grants for faith-based organizations? Return to Questions The Funding Information Center's print collection includes several library-specific print funding directories: National Guide to Funding for Libraries and Information Services Foundation Center. Call #: F363 F771.7 Location: Level 4 The Big Book of Library Grant Money Prepared by the Taft Group for the American Library Association. Call #: F363 B592 Location: Level 4 Grants for Libraries and Information Services Foundation Center. Call #: F363 F763 Location: Level 4 In addition, the Funding Information Center subscribes to: FC Search: The Foundation Center’s Database on CD-ROM. The Foundation Center. Location: Level 4 A CD-ROM database of 80,000 foundation and corporate grantmakers and their associated grants. Searchable by fields of interest, including libraries. Updated twice a year. Foundation Directory Online Professional The Foundation Center. Location: Level 4 Provides detailed information on 80,000 U.S. foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmaking public charities, with links to current foundation 990-PF tax returns. The grants awarded database gives details on over 500,000 grants, including the purpose, amount, and recipient. Updated weekly. Additional Sources: Institute for Museum and Library Services The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. MSU Libraries: Grants for Nonprofits - Libraries Return to Questions Yes, the Funding Information Center has information on grants for undergraduate and graduate education. For a listing of our main resources, see the State Library's Research Guide: Grants Students. Return to Questions

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