Resources for Nonprofits

Looking for books, training, and tools to build, grow, and sustain your nonprofit organization? Doing research for grant applications? Learn more about library collections, workshops, community partners, and additional resources from trusted websites and sources in this special topic guide curated by MPL librarians.

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Muncie Public Library partners with Candid, a nonprofit that helps other nonprofits serve their communities. Our patrons can access Candid's databases to research local nonprofit organizations, connect with grantmakers or foundations to secure funding, and discover new partners for collaboration.

Muncie Public Library offers free public access to Candid’s key tools including Foundation Directory Professional and GuideStar Professional. Effective January 1, 2024, you can access these tools at all four Muncie Public Library locations. Database access requires being at the library, and we welcome appointment requests if you need more intensive help.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can use Foundation Directory Professional to research funders, build prospect lists, and find connections with key decision makers. Use Foundation Directory Professional at all Muncie Public Library locations during regular business hours. For access, you must be on a library computer or a personal computer connected to the library’s wi-fi.

Selected tutorials and search strategies for getting started:

Check our calendar for upcoming classes and workshops hosted by the library. Please keep in mind, the grant workshops only happen a few times per year, so we invite you to contact any Information Desk to request a tutorial or to invite a librarian to speak to your group.

Starting a nonprofit can be a rewarding way to support your community and help those in need. However, it's crucial to understand the steps involved before proceeding, as incorporating a nonprofit organization is a legal process with numerous steps, and developing and sustaining a nonprofit often requires years of effort and persistence.  

Read an overview and find additional resources in the article, “How do I start a nonprofit?” from our trusted partner Candid. Candid also maintains a hub of links to regional nonprofit startup resources, including some specific to Indiana

You can find further information in books and articles within the library’s collection of books, ebooks, and online resources. Some useful search terms for this topic include:

  • nonprofit organizations
  • incorporation
  • tax exemption
  • fundraising

More: 

The community profiles below summarize demographic and economic data for our area, which are among the most common types of data that you may need for your nonprofit’s narratives, long range plans, and other reports.

Additional data sources recommended by our librarians:

We welcome your questions and can advise on further research. Call us at Maring-Hunt or Kennedy, or use the Contact Us form to send an email. 

While most foundation grants are given to nonprofit organizations, there are a few notable exceptions such as scholarships for post-secondary education and grants or fellowships for professional artists. 

For a step-by-step demonstration of the process of searching Foundation Directory for funders who have a proven history of funding individuals, refer to Candid’s article, “Find your next scholarship, fellowship, or grant on Foundation Directory Professional.”

We encourage individuals seeking scholarships for their education to explore the following resources beyond Foundation Directory Professional:

  • Search the Catalog for suggested books on Scholarships.
  • The online resource LearningExpress Library [link to Online Resource record] includes a Scholarship Finder Tool.  Requires a free account.
  • Learn More Indiana's Indiana Scholarships Guide [Link to Community Resource record]
  • Contact your college, university, or trade school’s Financial Aid office directly.

Artists seeking grant funding should read Candid’s article, “Where can I find grants for Individual Artists?” and see further resources at the end of the article.

Muncie Public Library’s grant research resources are mainly geared for nonprofits. To research funding for small businesses, explore the following resources:

The library resources such as the Foundation Directory and GuideStar databases specialize in grants to nonprofits organizations, so they will not include where you will find help with personal needs such as food, medical bills, housing, or debt relief. Instead, please explore these two pages:

Staff Picks for Nonprofits

Cover art for "Palaces for the People" including overhead photo of people playing a sport, a timelapse photo of a public library exterior, and an overhead photo of people swimming laps.

Palaces for the People

“A comprehensive, entertaining, and compelling argument for how rebuilding social infrastructure can help heal divisions in our society and move us forward.”—Jon Stewart

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • “Engaging.”—Mayor Pete Buttigieg, The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

We are living in a time of deep divisions. Americans are sorting themselves along racial, religious, and cultural lines, leading to a level of polarization that the country hasn’t seen since the Civil War. Pundits and politicians are calling for us to come together and find common purpose. But how, exactly, can this be done?

In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg suggests a way forward. He believes that the future of democratic societies rests not simply on shared values but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, churches, and parks where crucial connections are formed. Interweaving his own research with examples from around the globe, Klinenberg shows how “social infrastructure” is helping to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges. Richly reported and ultimately uplifting, Palaces for the People offers a blueprint for bridging our seemingly unbridgeable divides.

LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION

“Just brilliant!”—Roman Mars, 99% Invisible

“The aim of this sweeping work is to popularize the notion of ‘social infrastructure'—the ‘physical places and organizations that shape the way people interact'. . . . Here, drawing on research in urban planning, behavioral economics, and environmental psychology, as well as on his own fieldwork from around the world, [Eric Klinenberg] posits that a community’s resilience correlates strongly with the robustness of its social infrastructure. The numerous case studies add up to a plea for more investment in the spaces and institutions (parks, libraries, childcare centers) that foster mutual support in civic life.”The New Yorker

Palaces for the People—the title is taken from the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s description of the hundreds of libraries he funded—is essentially a calm, lucid exposition of a centuries-old idea, which is really a furious call to action.”New Statesman

“Clear-eyed . . . fascinating.”—Psychology Today

Internet Resources for Nonprofits

Candid Learning

Candid Learning

Candid Learning offers training, webinars, and guides to help nonprofit organizations with fundraising processes and professional development goals. Candid is a nonprofit that helps other nonprofits serve their communities and Muncie Public Library is a Candid Partner.

Muncie Public Library is not responsible for the content at these sites, nor are we endorsing any of these sites. We have briefly reviewed them and believe they contain helpful and useful information.
Grants.gov

Grants.gov

Centralized location for organizations to learn about federal grants and apply for government funding opportunities. Does not publish personal financial assistance benefits.

Muncie Public Library is not responsible for the content at these sites, nor are we endorsing any of these sites. We have briefly reviewed them and believe they contain helpful and useful information.
Indiana Youth Institute Data Hub

Indiana Youth Institute Data Hub

Data and research on economic, education, health, and community factors for child well-being, including the Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book.

Muncie Public Library is not responsible for the content at these sites, nor are we endorsing any of these sites. We have briefly reviewed them and believe they contain helpful and useful information.