Grant Resource Guide

Muncie Public Library has partnered with Candid as a Funding Information Network (FIN) location. The network has over 400 locations nationwide, and is the largest nonprofit organization providing resources for funding, grants, and philanthropy.
Muncie Public Library also offers individual instruction sessions on the Candid resources such as the Foundation Directory database, books on grant writing and nonprofit management, and more.
Click the other tabs in this guide to learn more about available resources.
News:
- The GuideStar "2022 Seals of Transparency are here!" webinar is now available to watch on Youtube at https://youtu.be/2ZEk0_y7dC8
- Be sure to check out Candid Learning for on demand courses and informative articles.
- Muncie Public Library can also assist you with searches directly. You may send us a search request, and a librarian will send you results from Foundation Directory Online (FDO) within 1-2 business days. Fill out the Grant Research Request form to begin.
Grant databases allow non-profit organizations, artists, researchers, and others to research grant opportunities available from foundations, corporations, and government agencies. Learn more about the databases by reading and viewing the materials below.
Foundation Directory Online Professional is a tool to research funders, build prospect lists, and find connections with key decision makers. FDO professional includes grantmaker profiles, grant records, recipient profiles, along with funder contacts, maps, charts, and more. Access is available at Maring-Hunt Library only, using the link on MPL’s Databases page.
FDO Tutorials and Search Strategies:
Visit the Philanthropy Classification System webpage for tips on how to navigate the philanthropy classification system that organizes Candid's databases.
Grants to Individuals Database includes profiles of 10,000 grantmakers with details on funders that provide scholarships, fellowships, grants, and a wide range of financial support to individuals such as students, artists, and researchers. Access is available at Maring-Hunt Library only, using the link on MPL’s Databases page.
The foundations in these directories typically fund only nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. These are organizations whose purposes are charitable, educational, scientific, religious, literary, or cultural. A small number of foundations will also make grants to individuals, usually to help pay for educational expenses, or support artistic or research projects.
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These databases are generally not where you will find funds to help with personal needs such as food, medical bills, housing, or debt relief. Instead, please call 211, or contact your elected officials such as your township trustee, to find government agencies and human/social service organizations near you, some of which may be able to provide temporary financial and other forms of assistance. Please also refer to the resources linked in the library's guide to Local Resources and Assistance.
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Additionally, these databases are generally not where you will find funds to help with a for-profit business. Please contact the Indiana Small Business Development Center for information about starting a business.
As a member of Candid’s nationwide network of nonprofit serving agencies, Muncie Public Library provides visitors with free public access to Candid’s applications and resources. At our location, you can access the database Foundation Directory, Grants to Individuals, and other resources to assist and strengthen your nonprofit organization.
Please explore these other resources from Candid available anytime, anywhere:
- Candid Learning is a learning community that helps nonprofits worldwide become more viable grant applicants and build
strong, sustainable organizations. Candid Learning offers online and in-person learning opportunities designed to develop skills, practices, and behaviors which best prepare people working in the social sector for success. - eBook Collection 400+ ebooks curated especially for the nonprofit sector, for free public use. First time users must click “User ID Help” on the Sign In screen to request access. Once you have obtained a digital library card from Candid, you can add it to the Libby app along with your Muncie Public Library card.
- GuideStar Nonprofit Profiles provide users with the information they need to make smart decisions, build connections, and learn from each other to achieve their missions. Nonprofits can update their profiles to amplify their stories and showcase their work.
- Philanthropy News Digest a daily news service of Candid, is a compendium of philanthropy-related articles and features culled from print and electronic media outlets nationwide as well as requests for proposals (RFPs) from foundations and job listings.
- Issuelab represents one of the largest platforms of social sector knowledge, containing more than 27,000 publicly available resources produced by nearly 7,000 organizations.
These community profiles will summarize the most common data, such as demographic and economic statistics, that you may need for your nonprofit’s case statements, long range plans, and grant narratives.
- Delaware County, IN Profile from the Muncie-Delaware County Indiana Economic Development Alliance and Chamber of Commerce
- Muncie Economy at a Glance from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Delaware County, IN Profile from the National Association of Counties
- Indiana Profile in the KIDS COUNT Data Book
More Data Sources
- County Level Data Sets from the USDA’s Economic Research Service
- Current Population Survey Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Indiana Economy at a Glance from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Indiana State Profile in the Aging, Independence, and Disability Program Integrated Database (AGID) from the Administration for Community Living
- KIDS COUNT Data Center
- National Center for Children in Poverty
- National Center for Education Statistics
- National Center for Health Statistics
- Opportunity Index
- Populations at Risk Data Tool by Headwaters Economics
- Measure of America by the Social Science Research Council
- Statistics by Topic from the Indiana State Data Center
- United States Economy at a Glance from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Building Better Neighborhoods Initiative page about Funding Resources
Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County
Edmund & Virginia Ball Foundation
George & Frances Ball Foundation
Indiana Historical Society Heritage Support
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Hamer D. and Phyllis C. Shafer Foundation
Contact Laura Janiga, Adult Services Supervisor and FIN Lead