Are you new to grant proposal writing or want a quick refresher? This class will provide you with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation, including:
Visit our Funding Information Center webpage to learn more about the funding-related resources available through the New Jersey State Library.
Are you new to grant proposal writing or want a quick refresher? This class will provide you with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation, including:
Visit our Funding Information Center webpage to learn more about the funding-related resources available through the New Jersey State Library.
Are you new to the field of grantseeking? Discover what funders are looking for in nonprofits seeking grants and how to find potential funders in this introductory course. You will learn the 10 most important things you need to know about finding grants, including:
Those who attend the live webinar will receive log-in credentials to use the Foundation Directory database remotely for 48 hours following the presentation. Ample time will be given for questions.
Visit our Funding Information Center webpage to learn more about the Foundation Directory and other funding-related resources available through the New Jersey State Library.
The New Jersey State Library now provides free on-site access to GuideStar Pro, connecting you with the nonprofit information you need.
Candid’s GuideStar Pro is a directory of over 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations, and thousands of faith-based nonprofits. Its search features allow users to find information for nonprofits based on geography, subject, population served, IRS subsection, and financial capacity.
GuideStar User Guide (PDF)
Information found in GuideStar’s nonprofit profiles initially comes from the IRS’s Business Master File and Forms 990/990EZ/990PF. Nonprofit’s can then claim their profile to provide updated or additional data. Nonprofits earn seals of transparency from Candid based on the level of information they include on their profile.
You can access GuideStar Pro for free at the New Jersey State Library using our public computers. Unable to visit us in Trenton, NJ? There are over 400 Candid community locations nationwide that also provide access.
A limited version of GuideStar is also available remotely when you create a free account with Candid. However, GuideStar’s free version limits the number of searches you can perform and unique profiles you can view each month. A subscription version, like Pro, is needed to access all search criteria and view all sections of a nonprofit’s profile.
Thank you to the five panelists, listed below, for participating in our Winning the Grant : A Panel Discussion with Grant Recipients program. During the panel discussion, representatives from NJ nonprofit organization shared first-hand experience applying for and managing grants.
Some key insights shared during the panel discussion include:
Private foundations are 501(c)(3) nonprofits established to support a charitable purpose. Typically, they derive most of their revenue from one source, like a family or corporation, and most award grants to other nonprofits. Each private foundation is different, with its own mission and funding priorities.
As with any type of grantmaker, you should always thoroughly research a private foundation before approaching them for funding. Look for funders who have a track record of supporting the subject area and geographic region your organization serves.
Check to see if the private foundation has a website. Usually, this is where you’ll find the most up-to-date information. If a private foundation has a website, be sure to read through it closely. You should also check to see if the funder has a social media presence on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn.
Unfortunately, most private foundations don’t have websites, making researching them a bit more complicated. Luckily for researchers, the IRS strictly regulates private foundations. Each year they must file a Form 990-PF to report their charitable giving and other financials. These tax forms contain a wealth of information about the foundation and their giving priorities.
Form 990-PFs are freely available online. You can access them directly from the IRS’s website using their Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. Form 990-PFs are also found on other websites including:
“Demystifying the 990-PF“, an article from Candid, discusses the Form 990-PF in more detail and points out key sections where you can find valuable information.
Reading through tax documents can be time consuming. Thankfully, there are online tools created to make this process faster and easier. Some of these tools are accessible for free, including:
Grantmakers.io pulls data from electronically filed Form 990-PFs submitted to the IRS by private foundations. The information is organized into easy-to-read profiles for each private foundation. You can search profiles by Employee Identification Number (EIN), name, location, and trustee name.
Using the Grant Search, you can filter listings of over 4 million grants given by U.S. private foundations in the past. Grant listings include information about the grant recipient, funding foundation, award amount, award year, and a brief description of the grant’s purpose.
As a community location with Candid, the New Jersey State Library provides free on-site access to the Foundation Directory – Professional database.
You can use Foundation Directory to research private foundations based on their past grant awards. Foundation Directory – Professional contains over 240,000 grantmaker profiles with helpful information about a foundation’s giving limitations, application instructions, and funding interests. Information in this database comes from Form 990s and various other sources, including from funders who directly report their giving to Candid.
Visit the New Jersey State Library to research with Foundation Directory – Professional. Just come in or schedule a one-on-one tutorial with our staff. Contact Leigh Clark, lclark@njstatelib.org, to schedule an appointment.
Not local to Trenton? There are many other community locations that provide access to Foundation Directory for free.
Private foundations do not have to issue request for proposals (RFPs) and many do not. However, some private foundations do advertise when they’re accepting applications or proposals for specific grant programs. There are many websites and online tools that compile active RFPs, some of which are free, including:
Even if a private foundation doesn’t have a website or social media presence, performing a targeted internet search, using a search engine like Google, can generate some useful information. This can be a great way to supplement information missing from Form-990PFs.
A funder’s name often appears on other nonprofits’ annual reports and websites when being recognized as a donor. You may also find news articles and press releases containing detailed information about grants awarded by the foundation.
Thank you to Debbie Duncan, Director of Member Services at the Center for Non-Profits, for presenting the webinar: Non-Profit “Dos and Don’ts”.
The NJ Center for Non-Profits is the umbrella organization for all New Jersey 501(c)(3)s. Their mission is “to build the power of New Jersey’s non-profit community to improve the quality of life for the people of our state.”
Debbie provided a wealth of information related to non-profit governance, board responsibilities, ways non-profits can develop their resources, and key issues currently facing NJ non-profits.
Debbie began her presentation by addressing some misconceptions about what a nonprofit can and cannot do.
She then looked at what it means to be a “non-profit” at the state-level and a “tax-exempt” entity at the federal-level. She also reviewed the various 501(c) designations made by the IRS, explaining that only contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax deductible.
Debbie provided an overview of the common reporting requirements non-profits have at the state and federal level.
Basic Filing & Reporting Requirements for Non-Profits
Debbie then went on to summarize some regulations in NJ Statute Title 15-A, the statute that governs nonprofit corporations in NJ. These include that a nonprofit corporation must have:
As Debbie emphasized, no one owns a non-profit corporation. A non-profit’s board of trustees is responsible and accountable for all aspects of its operation.
Debbie recommended that all trustees be aware of:
In terms of financial resources, Debbie described a variety of revenue streams including individual donations, corporate funding, foundation grants, and government grants/contracts.
Debbie also emphasized how fees for service income can be a major source of revenue for nonprofits. See the graph on page 19 of the following National Council of Nonprofits report:
In terms of human resources, Debbie discussed the importance of staff and volunteer development, the use of in-kind gifts, and how nonprofits can partner to share services.
