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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 .
- 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?
- Do you have information on grants for home repairs?
- Where can find out which organizations and local governments received federal funds?
1. 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
Phone: (609)278-2640 Fax: (609) 278-2647
E-Mail: refdesk@njstatelib.org
Librarian: Andrea Simzak Levandowski
The core collection consists of:
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
- The Foundation Directory Online Professional
- Foundation Grants to Individuals Online
- Philanthropy In/Sight
PRINT RESOURCES
- After the Grant: The Nonprofit's Guide to Good Stewardship (2010)
- America's Nonprofit Sector (2012)
- Board Member's Book (2003)
- The Foundation Directory (2012)
- The Foundation Directory, Part 2 (2012)
- The Foundation Directory Supplement (2012)
- Foundation Fundamentals (2008)
- Foundation Grants to Individuals (2012)
- Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates (2012)
- Foundations and Public Policy (2009)
- The Grantseeker’s Guide to Winning Proposals (2008)
- Guía para escribir propuestas (2008)
- Guide to Funding for International and Foreign Programs (2012)
- Guide to Proposal Writing (2012)
- International Grantmaking IV (2008)
- Key Facts on Social Justice Grantmaking (2012)
- National Directory of Corporate Giving (2012)
- Securing Your Organization’s Future (2001)
- The 21st Century Nonprofit: Managing in the Age of Governance (2009)
3. 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.
4. The Funding Information Center has three Foundation Center electronic databases that provide information about Grantmakers:
Foundation Directory Online Professional, Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, and Philanthropy In/Sight. For more about these databases, see the following Foundation Center tutorials:
Foundation Directory Online Guided Tour
Foundation Grants to Individuals Online Guided Tour
Philanthropy In/Sight Demo
5. The Funding Information Center's three subscription databases, Foundation Directory Online Professional, Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, and Philanthropy In/Sight cannot be accessed remotely, however, other grants-related electronic resources may be accessed remotely from the State Library's Electronic Resources Grants Databases.
6. 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 Foundation Directory Online Professional contains information about New Jersey grantmakers. Both databases are available at the State Library's Funding Information Center.
7. 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?
8. See The Foundation Center's FAQ: How do I establish a nonprofit organization?
9. 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.
10. 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 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?
11. 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.
12. 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. For more information, see the official business link to U.S. Government at Business.gov.
Additional federal financing information can be found on the Small Business Association's Loan Programs and Grants pages.
13. 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 help with emergency housing costs, medical bills, or personal debt?
Additional information see:
- MSU Libraries: Grants for Individuals - Medicine (Emergency Medical Assistance) : Provides links to programs and services nationwide.
- Medline Plus – Financial Assistance : Covers various sources of assistance for different diseases, types of treatment, and populations.
- NeedyMeds: Provides information on programs to help people find low- or no-cost prescription medications
- 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.
14. 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 the Foundation Center's FAQ: Where can I find information about grants to individuals with disabilities?
Additional Resources:
- DisablityInfo.gov the federal government's disability information page
- MSU Libraries: Grants for Individuals - The Disabled
15. 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.
16. 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?
17. 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.
18. 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, such as:
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:
19. The Funding Information Center subscribes to the Foundation Center database, Foundation Directory Online Professional which is available at the
New Jersey State Library's Funding Information Center on Level 4. This powerful tool provides detailed information on over 100,000 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 2.2 million recently-awarded grants, including the purpose, amount, and recipient. Searchable by fields of interest, including religion. Updated weekly.
For information regarding federal funding, see:
Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
20. The Funding Information Center's collection includes the library-specific digital grant guide:
Grants for Libraries and Information Services
Prepared by the Foundation Center
Location: Level 4 (ask a librarian for access)
In addition, the Funding Information Center subscribes to the online database:
Foundation Directory Online Professional, which provides detailed information on over 100,000 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 2.2 million grants, including the purpose, amount, and recipient. Searchable by fields of interest, including libraries.
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
- The Library Grants Center-Prepared by Salem Press
21. 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.
22. There are several Federal and State programs to help Americans, especially seniors, people with disabilities and families with young children. GovBenefits.gov provides information about programs that assist citizens in preparing for seasonal changes and obtaining energy assistance. A full listing of housing related programs can be found by using the quick category search for "Housing" on the Govbenefits.gov homepage.
Example programs:
- Disaster Housing Assistance Program
- Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants program
- Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons
23. USAspending.gov allows users to search for information about federal assistance, including grants, loans, insurance, etc.
Comments and questions may be directed to refdesk@njstatelib.org
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