Whether you are working from home or working in your socially-distanced cubicle, the Regional Foundation Center at the Free Library is here to support you virtually. Check out some of our favorite resources that can be accessed from anywhere!

Foundation Directory Online Essential 
Many of you know us because we offer access to Foundation Directory Online (FDO) Professional, a comprehensive database for researching funding opportunities. We are excited to make a pared-down version of this database available to you remotely! Foundation Directory Online Essential allows you to search for funders that may be interested in supporting your work. New to this resource? Check out the recording of our Introduction to Foundation Directory Online Essential class and view this short YouTube video we created to demonstrate how to run a search. If you need additional assistance, you can schedule a virtual appointment with a librarian or contact us at nonprofit  @ freelibrary.org, send us your search criteria, and we can send you additional results only available in FDO Professional.

Virtual Grant Writing Series
Are you new to grant seeking or need to brush up on your skills? Our popular grant writing series will be held virtually this August. This three-part series will cover how to find grants, the basics of a grant proposal, and intermediate grant writing. Sign up for one or all of the sessions!

• Tuesday, August 11: Introduction to Finding Grants  
• Thursday, August 13: Introduction to Proposal Writing
• Tuesday, August 18: Intermediate Grant Writing

Data Tools for Nonprofits
Does your organization effectively use data to tell a compelling story? Take advantage of powerful data tools such as Simply Analytics and Policy Map to find demographics data, visualize trends in your community, and create maps and charts. 

Simply Analytics is a web-based mapping, analytics, and data visualization application that makes it easy for anyone to create interactive maps, charts, and reports. It offers more than 75,000 data variables related to demographics, employment, housing, businesses, and public health. The Simply Analytics team just added COVID-19 data at the national, state, and county levels from USAFacts.org, which is updated daily with the latest numbers. This resource is available remotely while the Free Library is closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Free Library card is required to access this resource.
 

Policy Map is a data and mapping tool for accessing data on demographics, real estate, health, jobs, and more about communities across the U.S. They released a publicly available application focused on answering crucial questions faced by communities dealing with the COVID-19 virus. Free access to the Public Edition is available from anywhere. 

Chronicle of Philanthropy
Need to stay current on reliable nonprofit news? Take advantage of the Free Library’s subscription to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Chronicle of Philanthropy is a news source for charity leaders, fundraisers, grantmakers, and other people involved in the philanthropic enterprise. Full-text coverage is available from May 18, 2000 to the present.  A Free Library card is required to access this resource.

GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Update
Grow your online identity and tell your organization’s story! You have the power to choose what tens of millions of people see about your organization each year. Take advantage of your free profile and share up-to-date information about the good work you are doing. GuideStar profiles are viewed by funders, donors, and volunteers. Once you have claimed your profile you can: update your organization's information (mission, board, programs, etc.), send fresh information to 200+ charitable sites (including AmazonSmile, Facebook, and Network for Good), add a donate button directly to your profile, save time on your grant applications, celebrate your diversity and share your staff and board’s demographics. Earn a seal of transparency by providing key information about your nonprofit, so funders can make educated decisions about the work you do to make the world a better place. Get started updating your profile or email the Regional Foundation Center at nonprofit @ freelibrary.org with questions.

Racial Equity Resources
Now, more than ever, nonprofits are doing some serious reflection and asking tough questions about their role in racial equity. Below are some resources that explore funding, data, and online learning opportunities related to racial equity.

Funding for Racial Equity
In an effort to get you the information you need to understand the issues surrounding racial equity, Candid has compiled continuously updated data as well as news, analysis, and perspectives from the field. You will find news, funding statistics, blog posts, professional development opportunities, and more on this frequently updated page.
 

Issue Lab: Race and Policing
Issue Lab provides access to free research papers and publications on a variety of topics and nonprofit sectors. This special collection on race and policing includes research from nonprofits, foundations, and university-based research centers, who have not only described and documented the issues, but who also provide much-needed recommendations for addressing this chronic and tragic problem.

BMAfunders
This resource provides research, data, and insights on Black Male Achievement. BMAfunders highlights the role of philanthropy in supporting Black men and boys. BMAfunders strives to facilitate engagement, catalyze collaboration, and promote strategic decision-making in the field of Black male achievement, serving as a resource not only to funders, but also to nonprofits, policymakers, and anyone else interested in fostering Black male achievement.

Looking for information not listed here? A Regional Foundation Center librarian is only an email away at nonprofit @ freelibrary.org! Reach out to us with your research questions and we can point you in the right direction. Stay in touch with the Regional Foundation Center on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.