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Grant & Nonprofit Support
General Grant Information
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library offers a collection of materials and services in support of nonprofit organizations. Our staff is ready to help you:
- Find funding
- Start a nonprofit
- Research prospective donors
- Develop a strategic or fundraising plan
Need help getting started? Email our Business & Workforce Department or call 419.214.6131 to set up an appointment.
Local Resources
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (Northwest Ohio Chapter)
- Center for Nonprofit Resources
- DOVIA
- Enpuzzlement
- Grant Professionals Association
- Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Starting a Nonprofit
Grant Funding Resources
- Government Funding:
- Individual Funding:
- No Free Money
- Grants for Individuals, compiled by Michigan State University Libraries
- Grants to Individuals by Candid (Main Library Only)
- Benefits.gov
- Private Funding:
- Foundation Directory Online (Main Library Only)
- Foundation Center's Request for Proposals
Business Book Summaries
Business Book Summaries provides concise yet comprehensive summaries of the best business books. With these summaries, professionals and students can keep up with the latest information in the business world and learn more effectively. Summaries also available in Chinese, French, German and Spanish.
Third-Party Provider: EBSCO
Foundation Directory Online
Foundation Directory Online covers information on all 189,000 U.S. Foundations. It's the smartest, fastest way to win more funding by providing the most exhaustive and up-to-date knowledge and insight on the social sector to fuel any fundraising mission.
Gale Legal Forms
Provides a wide selection of state-specific (and multi-state) legal forms across the most popular areas. Includes real estate contracts, wills, pre-marital agreements, bankruptcy, divorce, landlord tenant and many others. Also includes a comprehensive attorney state directory and a dictionary of legal definitions explained in laymen's language.
Third-Party Provider: Gale
Lynda.com
Offers more than 3,000 courses that include more than 130,000 videos. Courses cover a variety of topics including design, business, office software and personal and professional goals.
Third-Party Provider: Lynda.com
Mergent Intellect
Mergent Intellect offers a unique opportunity to access private and public U.S and international business data, industry news, facts and figures, executive contact information, the ability to access industry profiles and much more. The database is searchable by advanced criteria and resources are able to be downloaded and printed.
Third-Party Provider: Mergent Inc
Reference USA
Contains detailed information on millions of companies located in the U.S. and Canada as well as international companies in OneSource. It also includes job postings, U.S. and Canadian White Pages, healthcare providers and information on homeowners and lifestyles.
This database is built to be used with Chrome Browser or FireFox Browser.
Third-Party Provider: Infogroup
Small Business Builder
Get a step-by-step guide to creating and completing a business plan. Explore entrepreneurial interests and opportunities, learn about the nonprofit sector and how to grow and position your business for long-term success and more.
Third-Party Provider: Gale
Small Business Reference Center
Watch videos and browse sources on a variety of business areas from accounting to marketing to operations. Get industry information by small business type and learn business basics.
Third-Party Provider: EBSCO
Nothing is more challenging for nonprofits than continuously asking for money. Fundraising is essential to every nonprofit agency, but fundraising is also the most difficult and competitive part of operations. You’ll find some individuals that love it and are very successful fundraisers, while others would rather get a root canal than solicit money from strangers (or worse – people they know).
Continue Reading: Elevate your nonprofit: FundraisingI often mention to Library customers that grant writing is a holistic process in which the entire nonprofit organization is evaluated from its leadership to its long-term sustainability and everything in between. More than just the grant proposal is considered in the funding decision.
Continue Reading: Elevate your nonprofit: Leadership and managementFundraising is difficult, no matter who you are. I’ve done it both as my job and as a board officer and neither is easy. What helps the most is preparation - know your talking points and your organization’s strengths and highlights. But more importantly, know your prospect. Being able to reach your donor in a meaningful way will ensure you are not wasting both your time and the donor’s.
Continue Reading: Elevate your nonprofit: Prospect ResearchGrants Collection
Work Space
at Main Library
Looking to start or grow your small business? Need a space to create and work on your next project? Our Work Space offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to establish a home base for up to 3 months.
There currently aren't any openings for the Work Space. Please feel free to call David Topoleski, manager of the Business and Workforce Department, at (419) 259-5214 or emailbwref@toledolibrary.org with questions.
