Here are links to other websites and information sources related to fundraising, research, training and professional development, and other resources that can assist faith-based community organizations. If you have suggestions for other resources to list here, please contact us

FUNDING SOURCES

Urban Ministry Grants
A searchable directory that includes hundreds of Christian grant opportunities, faith-friendly foundations, in-kind donations, and nonprofit discounts.
http://www.urbanministry.org/grants

Federal Funding
Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs available through 26 federal agencies. Grant programs fall into 21 categories and provide access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards. Registration with Grants.gov is required. Note that federal grants typically require a significant amount of detailed preparation.
http://www.grants.gov/

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships forms partnerships between government at all levels and non-profit organizations, secular and faith-based, to more effectively serve Americans in need. It does not directly administer or manage Federal grants, however the Office makes sure that community organizations are aware of grant opportunities that may be relevant to them throughout the Federal Government.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ofbnp/resources

USAspending.gov allows you to identify federal grants and contractors have been awarded to entities in your community.
http://www.usaspending.gov/

Foundation Center's "Foundation Finder"
This search tool allows you to get basic information on thousands of private and community foundations in the U.S. You can search for foundations by name, city and state.
http://lnp.fdncenter.org/finder.html

Southern California Grantmakers
SCG is a membership association of private-sector grantmakers in Southern California and supports effective philanthropy. The website provides links to the websites of the many local foundations that are SCG members.
http://www.socalgrantmakers.org/

GRANT WRITING AND FUNDRAISING

Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Short Course
This free online resource provides a concise introduction on writing grant proposals, giving helpful tips on the major sections of most proposals. Also available in Spanish.
http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html

Grant Seeker's Handbook
Harvey Chess' Grant Seeker's Handbook has been updated and made available online for free by the Center for Nonprofit Management. The handbook emphasizes the importance of careful research and planning when raising funds for nonprofit organizations.
http://www.cnmsocal.org/resources/articles/grant-seekers-handbook-intro.html

Grantsmanship Center
A national organization with headquarters in Los Angeles, the Grantsmanship Center offers training and resources (for a fee) on researching and writing grant proposals and earned income strategies for nonprofits.
http://www.tgci.com/

PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING COMMUNITIES

CCDA is a national association made up of over 3,000 individuals and more than 500 organizations that are redeveloping under-resourced communities using the principles of Christian Community Development. CCDA holds a major annual training and networking conference and also offers a Certificate in Christian Community Development.
http://www.ccda.org/

FASTEN
The Faith and Service Technical Education Network (FASTEN) offers informational resources and networking opportunities to faith-based practitioners, private philanthropies, and public administrators who seek to collaborate effectively to renew urban communities.
http://www.urbanministry.org/about-fasten

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Center for Nonprofit Management
The Center provides classes, initiatives and networking opportunities crucial in developing and maintaining nonprofit leadership and management skills at all levels of the organization. Fees are at a sliding scale.
http://www.cnmsocal.org/

Passing the Mantle: University of Southern California, College of Letters, Arts & Sciences
The Passing the Mantle Institute trains African American church leaders to change governmental policies and unhealthy neighborhood cultures within Southern California communities. PTM is designed to equip pastors, clergy, faith based non-profit leaders, and church board members for better mission conceptualization, civic engagement models, strategic planning, and partnership building with the public and private sector.
http://crcc.usc.edu/initiatives/ptm/

DATA AND RESEARCH

American FactFinder
The U.S. Census Bureau's gateway for accessing population, housing, economic, and geographic data
http://factfinder.census.gov

American Religion Data Archive
The Association of Religion Data Archives includes data on churches and church membership, religious professionals, and religious groups from American and international collections. Data included in the ARDA are submitted by the foremost religion scholars and research centers in the world.
http://www.thearda.com/

Healthy City
This site allows users to search for and map social service and nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County. Also maps demographic information, helping users identify areas of disparity. Useful for documenting community assets and needs.
http://www.healthycity.org

United Way of Greater Los Angeles
United Way of Greater Los Angeles conducts, coordinates, and publishes research on social conditions in Los Angeles County. Examples include the bi-annual State of the County Report and reports on the socio-economic status of Latinos, African Americans, and Asians in Los Angeles County.
http://www.unitedwayla.org

RESEARCH CENTERS

Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
A non-partisan clearinghouse of information on the intersection of religion and public policy that includes reports on surveys conducted by the Forum and links to publications on a wide array of topics, including faith-based initiatives.
http://pewforum.org/

UCLA Center for Civil Society
Located in the UCLA School of Public Affairs, the Center is the focal point for the school’s programs and activities in nonprofit leadership and management, grassroots advocacy, nongovernmental organizations, and philanthropy. Includes links to recent studies by the Center on the nonprofit sector in Los Angeles.
http://www.sppsr.ucla.edu/ccs/

USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
Creates, translates, and disseminates scholarship on the civic role of religion in a globalizing world. CRCC engages scholars in Los Angeles and around the globe, linking academics and the faith community to empower emerging leaders. Provides helpful resources for faith-based organizations.
http://crcc.usc.edu/

USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy
Conducts research on philanthropy, volunteerism, and the nonprofit sector and communicates the findings and their implications for the public, private and nonprofit sectors through forums, roundtables, and a distinguished speakers series.
http://cppp.usc.edu/about/

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
LAFLA provides free or reduced-fee legal services for organizations that serve and are made up of low-income persons. It has six neighborhood offices and several courthouse clinics in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Monica.
http://www.lafla.org

Public Counsel
Public Counsel is the public interest law firm of the L.A. County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations and it provides free legal and social services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Public Counsel also assists nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities with information resources and seminars on nonprofit management.
http://www.publiccounsel.org