LibGuides: Robert Hilbert Nonprofit Resource Center: Grant Writing

Nonprofit Librarian

Olivia Logan

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Penrose Library
20 N. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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Helpful grant resources for beginners

NonprofitReady.org
Learn how to find the right grants for your nonprofit and write great grant proposals. Some free and fee-based courses. Eligible for CFRE Continuing Education Credits.
A to Z Grantwriting with UCCS
This course provides students with the hands-on experience and knowledge they need to successfully begin the planning process for projects in need of grant funding. Instructor-led and self-paced options.
Introduction to Proposal Writing - Candid Learning
Video and documents from Candid going over the basic elements of a grant proposal.

Assessment can be required if you are applying for many grants, especially large federal grants. Here are resources to help you define assessment and evaluation.

Colorado Nonprofit Association - Resource Library
The Resource Library is a members-only learning repository with a variety of how-to and educational videos, templates, articles and additional content related to best practices.
Council on Foundations
Is a nonprofit leadership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. It provides the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance and sustain their ability to advance the common good.
Introduction to Measuring Your Impact - Candid Learning
In this introductory course for beginners, learn the basics of shifting focus from your nonprofit’s activities to its outcomes.
National Institute of Justice Journal
Plan for program evaluation from the start
Types of Assessment from MIT
Provides a brief description of the different types of assessment.

NonprofitReady.org
Learn how to find the right grants for your nonprofit and write great grant proposals. Some free and fee-based courses. Eligible for CFRE Continuing Education Credits.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) offers an outline on how to manage your grant.

Additional grant resources can be found at the following websites.

Association of Fundraising Professionals
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 30,000 members in over 230 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.
BoardSource
BoardSource is the premier location for any nonprofit management and board training needs. There is fee to join; it does offer workshops and trainings, with member discounts. In their learning center, they offer community resources that can be downloaded for free, regardless of membership. Topics include board basics, performance, etc. You can also subscribe to their e-newsletter for free.
Candid Learning
Colorado Nonprofit Association
The Colorado Nonprofit Association educates and informs Colorado nonprofits about new ideas, best practices, and pressing public policies. They are located in Denver, host trainings and workshops on a variety of nonprofit topics for a fee. Members can have access to their nonprofit help desk and pro bono legal advice. Their website also provides sample policies and forms.
Council on Foundations
Free and members-only information on grant evaluations.
GuideStar
GuideStar provides information on nonprofits in the United States. The free search will usually provide you with enough basic information on a nonprofit. In order to locate nonprofits, create a new account, select Advance Search, and input the city and state you wish to search. It has merged with the Foundation Center and is now under Candid.org
National Council of Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits (Council of Nonprofits) is a trusted resource and advocate for America’s charitable nonprofits. They identify emerging trends, share proven practices, and promote solutions that benefit charitable nonprofits and the communities they serve. There is a fee for membership. They provide Tools and Resources on a variety of nonprofit topics, from starting a nonprofit to ethics that can be read for free. They offer a blog that does not require membership.
Rural Health Information Hub
Provides links to various rural health related grants by state.
Grantsmanship Center
Offers free and fee-based training on a variety of grantseeking topics and funding sources.
CDW Education Funding
Is a free and fresh grant-finding resource, dedicated to helping educators and institutions identify the funding they need in budget-tight times. GetEdFunding hosts a collection of thousands of grants and opportunities culled from federal, state, regional, and community sources and is available to public and private preK–12 schools, districts, and educators; higher education institutions; and nonprofit organizations that work with them.
Inside Philanthropy
This will give you the names of who is giving in six different areas. There is a limit of five (5) free records.

Do You Need to Search for Grant Opportunities?

You can use the databases listed below to find grant funding opportunities for your nonprofit organization.

Colorado Grants Guide
This database is available in-house at Penrose Library and Library 21C. You may access it by logging in with your library card and PIN. The Colorado Grants Guide Online is a comprehensive database of funders that support Colorado-based community organizations.

Candid - Foundation Directory Professional
You can access Candid’s (candid.org) Foundation Directory Online through the Robert Hilbert Nonprofit Resource Center and at the Penrose Library complex. This is the professional subscription to Foundation Directory, providing access to over 140,000 grant makers and over 5.6 million grants.
**THIS DATABASE IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE PENROSE LIBRARY**

CLCT Colorado State Grant Database for Nonprofits
Communities Lead, Communities Thrive (CLCT) is a Colorado-based coalition that advocates for more equitable access to public funding for small, community-rooted nonprofits. They also run a publicly accessible Colorado State Grant Database to help under-resourced nonprofits find relevant funding opportunities.

Colorado-Specific Grant Resources

Bee Vradenburg Foundation
The Bee Vradenburg Foundation funds arts and culture organizations in the Pikes Peak region. Grantseekers can apply for funding focused on capacity building, community impact, and creative initiatives.
Caring for Colorado Foundation
Caring for Colorado is a statewide foundation that funds community-led work to improve the health and well-being of Colorado’s children, youth, and families. They focus on advancing equity and strengthening opportunities across the state.
Colorado Creative Industries' Colorado Creates
Grants for cultural organizations.
Colorado Department of Education Grants
Colorado Department of Higher Education Grants
Colorado Department of Public Health Grants
Colorado Health Foundation
Colorado Nonprofit Association
The Colorado Nonprofit Association educates and informs Colorado nonprofits about new ideas, best practices, and pressing public policies. They are located in Denver, host trainings and workshops on a variety of nonprofit topics for a fee. Members can have access to their nonprofit help desk and pro bono legal advice. Their website also provides sample policies and forms.
Colorado State Library
The Colorado Trust
The Colorado Trust is a private foundation dedicated to advancing health equity across Colorado by supporting community-led initiatives and systems-change efforts.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
The Division of Local Government (DLG) oversees Public Facilities. Eligible uses of funds include acquisition, design/engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of public improvements or public facilities.
Community Resource Center
Community Resource Center creates opportunities, tools and strategies to develop nonprofits and community groups to strengthen Colorado. They host the Colorado Grants Guide, which PPLD subscribes to, offers workshops on a variety of nonprofit topics across the State of Colorado. They publish a Starting a Nonprofit workbook.
Great Outdoors Colorado
Grants for outdoor initiatives.
History Colorado
The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) administers the U.S. Department of Interior's Historic Preservation Fund Program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).