Foundation Center - Funding Information Network
Welcome to Springfield City Library - Funding Information Network Newsletter
 
At a time when the competitive landscape for grants is so high we can work together to help build the capacity and fundraising skills of nonprofits in our local community.
 
Please consider contributing to this effort as we work to build a newsletter that will provide information on resources, tools, classes, and events across Western, MA.
 
"When you share your knowledge, you open a world of possibilities"
- Foundation Center
 
New Tools
Foundation Center's new Interactive mapping tool brings philanthropic data to life so you can see who is funding what and where. Available FREE for In-Library use at the Central Library.
See our  hands-on workshops below.
Community Training & Events
Springfield City Library
 
Funding Information Network - Grant Writing 101 series
Location: Central Library, Springfield
Fees: Free
 
INTRODUCTION TO FINDING GRANTS
March 20, 2018 | 2-4 pm - Free
 
Is your non-profit organization looking for grant funding?
 
Learn the 10 most important things you need to know about finding grants including: who funds nonprofits and what are their motivations; what do funders really want to know about the organizations they are interested in funding; and how to identify potential funders and make the first approach. This introductory course will explore what funders are looking for in non-profits seeking grants.
 
Registration is required. Click HERE
 
SEARCHING FOUNDATION DIRECTORY ONLINE
March 22, 2018 | 2-4 pm - Free
 
Are you new to Foundation Center?  Learn the Tips & Tricks to searching the NEW Foundation Directory Online?
 
In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to identify grant makers most likely to fund your project. Designed specifically for non-profit organizations seeking grants this class will introduce you to the most comprehensive online prospect research tool with over 140,000+ grantmaker profiles.  We will demonstrate how you can use the database tools to refine your search for funders using keywords, subject areas, and population served. Augment your search with an introduction to the Foundation Center’s interactive mapping tool, Foundation Maps.
 
Registration is required. Click HERE 
 
INTRODUCTION TO PROPOSAL WRITING
March 27, 2018 | 2-4 pm - Free
 
Is your non-profit organization looking for grant funding?
 
This class will provide a quick overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation which will include: the basic elements of a proposal; the “do’s” and “don’ts” of writing and submitting a proposal; and how to follow up whether the answer is yes or no. NOTE:  This class will not cover applying to government entities for funding.
 
Registration is required. Click HERE
 
SEARCHING FOUNDATION DIRECTORY ONLINE
March 29, 2018 | 2-4 pm - Free
 
This class is a repeat of the March 22 program described above.
 
Registration is required
 
Human Service Forum
 
Spring Supervisory Skills Certificate Series
Location: Delaney House, Holyoke
Fees: All five workshops ~ HSF Members - $445; Not Yet Members - $890
*Single workshop (subject to availability) ~ HSF Members - $130; Not Yet Members - $220
 
*NOTE: Due to the popularity of this series people interested in attending single workshops need to contact Meghan at mperson@humanserviceforum.org for space availability before registering.
 
The workshops are highly interactive, with realistic scenarios, hands-on skill practice, and in-depth experiential activity. Also includes personalized instructor problem-solving during the workshop or by phone one-on-one. Must attend ALL 5 workshops to receive certificate.
 
Includes:
#1 – March 1 | 9 am – 3:30 pm - Management Fundamentals
#2 – March 8 | 9 am – 3:30 pm - Communication, Motivation, & Conflict Management
#3 – March 22 | 9 am – 3:30 pm - Employment Law 101
#4 – March 29 | 9 am – 3:30 pm - Performance Feedback & Management
#5 – April 12 | 9 am – 3:30 pm - Team Building & Engagement
More Info
 
SCORE
 
Get Found on Google Search and Maps
January 24, 2018 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, Palmer
Fees: $10
 
Connect with customers when they search with Google Search. Connect with customers when they search on Google Maps. Having a website is not enough. This low cost workshop will help you claim your local listing on the spot. More Info
 
Basics of Starting and Operating a Non-Profit
January 31, 2018 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: TD Bank, Greenfield
Fee: $10
 
Starting a Non-profit business requires more knowledge, skills, perseverance and planning than meets the eye. This workshop will help you clearly understand the details, challenges, opportunities and rewards of owning and operation your own non-profit business, It’s a must for new non-profit business owners. More Info
 
Women in Philanthropy
 
Fundraising and Social Media
February 13, 2018 | 8-9:30 am
Location: Delaney House, Holyoke
Fees: Basic, Student – $25.00, Non-member – $33.00
 
Your nonprofit has incredibly heartfelt stories that move supporters to take action. But what's the best way to tell those stories on social media? More Info
 
Troublesome Board Members: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
March 13, 2018 |  8-9:30 am
Location: Delaney House, Holyoke
Fees: Basic, Student – $25.00, Non-member – $33.00
  
This session will discuss the governance and management implications of difficult board members and how to work with them. More Info
 
 
Grant & Fundraising Opportunities
American Library Association
 
Revisiting the Founding Era: Public libraries are invited to apply for Revisiting the Founding Era, a nationwide project that will use historical documents to spark public conversations about the Founding Era’s enduring ideas and themes and how they continue to influence our lives today.
 
Application deadline January 31, 2018.  More Info
 
Community Foundation
 
Mission Grants: Mission grants provide support for a wide range of programs and projects, administered by nonprofit organizations that address the diverse needs of residents of the Pioneer Valley. More Info
  • Application open: January 5, 2018
  • Schedule call with Mission Program Officer: Prior to February 9, 2018.
  • Submission deadline: February 16, 2018
May 1, 2018 is Valley Gives Day! Registration for fiscally sponsored entitites is now open. Deadline: March 5 at noon. More Info

National Endowment for the Humanities
NEH’s new Infrastructure and Capacity-Building Challenge Grants program seeks to strengthen the institutional base of the humanities in the United States through matching grants to libraries, museums, archives, colleges and universities, historic sites, scholarly associations, and other cultural institutions for efforts that build institutional capacity or infrastructure for long-term sustainability.
 
Deadline March 15, 2018. More Info
Resources
Foundation Directory
Learn more about FREE access to the professional version of this online database available at the Central Library.
Springfield City Library
Learn more about the Funding Information Network and the resources you can access at the Central Library.
GrantSpace.org
Sign up with an e-mail and password for FREE access to all GrantSpace.org has to offer - right from the comfort of home.
Books
The Grants Coaching Handbook : Successful Techniques for Creating and Conducting Grants Coaching Programs
by David G. Bauer

This book will teach you how to couple proactive grant strategies with a consistent and reinforced plan that will guide your coachees through the proposal development process. It will provide you with everything you need to develop, implement, and evaluate a grants coaching program. Once you become involved in grants coaching you will never again rely solely on grants seminars to increase grants success because you will be amazed by the results achieved by your individualized grants coaching program.
Lessons for nonprofit and start-up leaders : tales from a reluctant CEO
by Maxine Harris

Businesses start and fail all the time, but the secrets to starting and running successful businesses can help entrepreneurs succeed in the for-profit or not-for-profit sector. This work discusses how to avoid pitfalls, overcome challenges, and address issues like hiring, decision-making, problem-solving, power, and more in the business arena.
Collaborating with strangers : facilitating workshops in libraries, classes, and nonprofits
by Bess G. de Farber

Working together to plan and actualize projects stimulates creativity and maximizes the collective impact of combined assets. This guide is designed to help you initiate collaborative relationships that would otherwise likely never materialize. Workshop strategies allow participants to share hidden assets, move project and people forward, and share personal and professional interests.
Stay Connected
Have something to share? SEND US your programs, news, and upcoming events.

Contact: Kim Sheridan - ksheridan@springfieldlibrary.org
 
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