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Grant Funding Resources

The Funding Research Center (FRC) is located at the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher branch and is accessible during normal business hours. Specialized assistance may be provided upon request by calling the Adult Services department at 301-739-3250.

The Washington County Free Library is part of the Funding Information Network of the Foundation Center, the nation's leading authority on philanthropy. WCFL provides free access to grantmaker directories, guides, and books on nonprofit management from the Foundation Center and other materials relating to grants.

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The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center provides a content-rich website with a variety of free search tools, tutorials, downloadable reports and other information updated daily. The Foundation Center offers a free search tool, FDO Quick Start, providing free, public access to essential information about over 100,000 foundations and over 250,000 IRS forms 990-PF.

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GuideStar by Candid

Use GuideStar to look up a nonprofit and access the most complete data available.

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Grants to Individuals Online

Grants to Individuals Online A searchable database of more than 7,000 foundation and public charity programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grant-seekers.

Other Online Foundation Center Resources (Free)

  • The Foundation Center Candid Learning
    Resources for nonprofits including free webinars, videos, FAQ's and book recommendations.
  • The Foundation Center Philanthropy News Digest
    Source for Requests for Proposals from funders, news in the nonprofit community, and job openings.
  • Catalog of Nonprofit Libraries
    Contains citations and some abstracts from books found in the library collections at the five Foundation Center locations as well as select literature from other sources.
  • The Foundation Center Glass Pockets
    Focuses on transparency in philanthropy
  • Board Source
    Resource for nonprofit boards, including information and trainings for board members.

  • Grants.gov
    Source to find, apply for and track federal grants.
  • Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
    Assistance listings are detailed public descriptions of federal programs that provide grants, loans, scholarships, insurance, and other types of assistance awards.
  • IRS Charities and Non-profits webpage
    Source for information on obtaining tax-exempt status, 990's, and other non-profit tax-related information.

  • Maryland Association of Non-Profit Organizations (Maryland Nonprofits)
    Offers a wide variety of member services and encouragement to non-profits throughout Maryland.
  • Enoch Pratt Free Library Grants Collection
    Helpful research tools and links to resources for non-profits.
  • State of Maryland Attorney General
    Resources for organizations and donors including state laws, how to start a non-profit organization, and best practice policies.
  • Maryland Governor's Grants Office
    Helps state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations find, win and manage grants. Provides a vast amount of information and training materials about grants and users can search for available grants.

Library Events for Small Businesses

 
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WCFL offers a variety of financial planning, technology education, and other events and classes that might be useful to new business owners.  Visit the Events Calendar to view upcoming events. 

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