Table of Contents

• What does it mean to be "incorporated?"
• Why is being incorporated important for councils?
• How do I have my council incorporated?
• How do we obtain 501(c)(3) designation (tax-exempt status)?
• What guidelines should I follow to be sure my council operates efficiently?
• What type of information should be included in my council's bylaws?
• Sample bylaws

• I have just been elected president -- now what?
• What can I do to become a more effective leader?
• What are common responsibilities and duties of council officers?
• What records should council maintain? Who keeps them? Where? For how long?
• How do I run a meeting?
• How can I reduce the possibility of conflict during my meetings?
• Can I be an effective leader? What are my strengths? Weaknesses? (A worksheet)

• How many and what types of businesses are located in my neighborhood?
• How many and what types of schools, religious institutions, and social services agencies are here?
• What types of services or charitable activities do they provide to area residents?
• What do the residents of my neighborhood look like?
• What do they want and need?
• Who among them are potential council members and/or volunteers?
• How do we organize groups in my neighborhood?
• What are some points we should know before going door-to-door?
• What are Block watch groups? How are they formed?

This section includes a community-produced directory of important neighborhood contacts and resources, as well as a brochure and booklet listing key information about county and state departments and county-wide elected representatives. Also included is a segment devoted to special programs sponsored by the City of Cincinnati.

• What is the Grants Resource Center?
• How do I get started writing a grant proposal?
• How do I determine who to ask for funds?
• What are some do's and don'ts of grant writing?
• What is an RFP? How do I use it to prepare my proposal?
• What are my responsibilities if I get funded?
• Who can apply for an Invest Merit Grant?

Leadership Manual

Grant Proposal Writing

PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANTS RESOURCE CENTER

If you are a non-profit organization or individual interested in the area of philanthropy, fundraising, grantsmanship, or proposal writing, the Grants Resource Center has some information for you.

• A quick, easy starting point for using the Grants Resource Center is: The Foundation Center's User-Friendly Guide
• An introduction to grantsmanship and the world of foundations can be found in: Foundation Fundamentals: A Guide for Grantseekers
• A good beginning point for thinking about fundraising is: The Grass Roots Fundraising Book by Joan Flannagan
• For general and statistical information about trends for non-profit organizations, see: Non-Profit Almanac
• To locate information on specific foundations, we have a number of local and national directories, such as: The Cincinnati Foundation Directory and Guide to U. S. Foundations, Their Trustees, Officers & Donors
• If you need help with your proposal writing, try: The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing
• And, for an up-to-date look at the whole field of philanthropy, see the most current issue of: "The Chronicle of Philanthropy"

All of these sources and more are available at the Grants Resource Center in the Education and Religion Department. The librarians in that department are available to assist you at any time.

Brief orientations to the Grants Resource Center are held regularly. Two introductory workshops of two hours are also given each month. Please ask at the Education and Religion desk or call 369-6940 for more information.

PERIODICALS BIBLIOGRAPHY

Periodicals found in the Grants Resource Center

Chronicle of Philanthropy      Biweekly
The most comprehensive selection of articles on trends, studies, and regulations of interest to the non-profit sector. Includes updates on corporate and individual giving, foundation profiles, articles on non-profit management, taxation, volunteerism, fundraising, etc. Reports recent foundation grants and includes job listings.

Contributions      Bimonthly
Covering everything from direct mail to prospect research, this is a practical guide to all aspects of fundraising. It includes supplements on major gifts, who's who in fundraising, and other topics. More heavily focused on general fundraising than grants.

Corporate Giving Watch      Monthly
Contains current information on newly established and ongoing corporate giving programs. Analyzes corporate philanthropy, corporate sources of support, and fundraising ideas. Each issue profiles in detail selected corporate giving programs.

ERC News briefs (Ecumenical Resource Consultants)      Monthly
Lists funding information (government and non-government); deadline reminders; legislative information; and a variety of publication, conference, and program announcements. Not just for the religious grantseeker, this newsletter has short helpful notes on a wide variety of subjects.

Foundation Giving Watch      Monthly
Focuses on recent activities of large foundations. Considers patterns of foundation giving and other current issues. Lists recent grants and profiles of grantmakers.

Foundation News and Commentary      Bimonthly
Features articles about grantmakers, grantmaking activities, and trends in the field; includes book reviews; classified ads with job listings; and sections on international, corporate, and community foundations. A "must read" for trends in the world of foundations.

The Grantsmanship Center Magazine      Quarterly
Newsletter of the Grantsmanship Center. A compendium of resources for non-profit organizations, it includes articles of fundraising, grant writing, and volunteerism and covers trends in the philanthropic world. (Free copies available in Grants Resource Center.)

Nonprofit Times      Monthly
Contains articles on issues, developments, and happenings in the non-profit sector. Includes book reviews, calendar of events, and job listings.

Nonprofit World      Bimonthly
Journal for non-profit managers. Includes feature articles on fundraising, board development, current issues, administration, and volunteerism. Also includes job listings.

Other Periodicals of Interest to Grantseekers and Non-profit Organizations (ask at department's desk for assistance in locating).

Chronicle of Higher Education (Education and Religion Department)

Bottom Line: A Financial Magazine for Librarians (Education and Religion Department)

Federal Register (Government and Business Department)
(Best current source of federal funding, published daily)

Forbes (Government and Business Department)

Fortune (Government and Business Department)

Fund Raising Management (Government and Business Department)

Poets and Writers (Literature Department)

Washington International Arts Letter (Art and Music Department)

And do not forget professional journals for more general information in your particular field of interest, such as:
Communications News
Corrections Today
The Ecologist
Historical Preservation
Journal of Education

The Grants Resource Center also receives annual reports and newsletters from various foundations. Please ask at the Education and Religion Desk.

---»THE FOUNDATION CENTER