ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries C&RL News ■ July/August 1999 / 543 Where to look when you need funding by Dawn Ventress K ig h t and Emma B radford Perry I n this technological age a n d o n th e eve o f th e n ew millennium, few libraries have the resources to purchase, m aintain, an d sup p o r all o f the program s a n d technological services offered at libraries, especially w ith escalating costs and declining budgets. It has becom e nec­ essary to identify creative ways to su p p o rt ex­ p a n d e d library services. Many libraries have so u g h t external g rants from local, state an d governm ent agencies, an d from corporate and private foundations. Identifying the right funding source to sub­ mit proposals to can becom e cumbersome. The value o f th e Internet in identifying funding sources can n o t b e underestim ated. T here is a plethora o f resources available o n the Internet that can significantly en h an ce o n e ’s ability to receive funding for libraries. Through a team approach, The John B. Cade Library at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been successful in identifying and writing technology and distance learning grants that have b een funded. A significant am ount of information, w hich has facilitated th e success­ ful com pletion of the grant process, cam e from the various W eb sites. This selected list o f searchable databases, electronic publications, foundations, go v ern ­ m en t agencies, an d new sgroups sh o u ld be of great interest to the beginner as well as the sea­ so n ed grant writer. These resources cover vari­ o u s a s p e c t s o f f u n d in g a n d s u c c e s s fu l grantw riting. t In terestin g starter sites • T h e S o c iety o f R e se a rc h A d m in istrator’s (SR A ) G r a n tsW e b . A research grant se e k e r’s heaven, SRA’S G rantsW eb provides links to various governm ent, foundation, a n d private funding resources. Access: http://w eb.fie.com / cw s/sra/resource.htm #us. • T h e G r a n ts K e y w o r d T h e s a u r u s . The Grants Keyword Thesaurus™ is a classification system for categorizing research opportunities. Initially funded by the federal governm ent, the Grants Keyword T hesaurus™ provides a struc­ tured m ethod by w hich agency personnel, fac­ ulty members, and research administrators may identify such opportunities. T he m ore than 3,000 keyw ords in th e 8th edition o f the th e ­ saurus have b een exam ined by professional li­ brary scientists to ensure consistency w ith lead­ ing discipline dictionaries in each research field listed . Access: h ttp ://w w w .r a m s - f ie .c o m / K eyw ord.htm . • S p o n s o r e d P r o g r a m s I n fo r m a tio n N et­ w o r k (SPIN ). This commercially produced da­ tabase o f funding o p portunities contains cur­ rent an d com prehensive inform ation on th o u ­ A bout the authors D aw n Ventress K ig h t is m a na g e r o f Systems a n d Technology, e-m ail: dawn@subr.cmq.com; a n d Emma B ra dfo rd Perry is dean o f libraries a t Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, e-mail: eperry@subr.cmq.com INTERNET RESOURCES Grant resources on the Web http://web.fie.com/ http://www.rams-fie.com/ mailto:dawn@subr.cmq.com mailto:eperry@subr.cmq.com 544 / C&RL News ■ July/August 1999 san d s o f fu n d in g o p p o rtu n itie s fo r p ro jects th a t c ro ss all in te re s t a re a s. W ith SPIN Ser­ vices a n d Links, th e u se r can lo cate fun d in g for research a n d d e v elo p m en t, international projects, collaborative projects, fellow ships, a c a d e m ic p ro g ra m s, e x c h a n g e p ro g ra m s, travel, endow m ents, equipment, outreach, and se rv ic e d e liv e ry p ro je c ts. Access: h t t p : / / spin.infoed.org/. Online databases—federal gran ts • T h e C o m m e r c e B u s in e s s D aily. This site lists n o tic e s o f p r o p o s e d g o v e rn m e n t p r o ­ c u re m e n t a ctio n s, c o n tra c t a w a rd s, sales o f g o v e rn m e n t p ro p e rty , a n d o th e r p r o c u r e ­ m e n t in fo rm atio n . Access: h ttp ://w w w .ld . com /cbd.htm l. • T h e F e d e r a l W e b L o c a to r. The Federal W eb L o cato r is a serv ic e p ro v id e d b y th e C en ter fo r In fo rm a tio n Law a n d P olicy a n d is intended to be th e one-stop sh o p p in g point fo r fe d e ra l g o v e rn m e n t in fo rm a tio n o n th e W eb . Access: h ttp ://w w w .law .v ill.ed u /fed - agency/fedw ebloc.htm l. • N o tic e s o f F u n d in g A vailab ility. Notices o f F u n d in g A vailability (NOFAs) a re a n ­ n o u n cem e n ts th at ap p e a r in th e Federal Reg­ ister, p rin te d e a c h b u sin e ss d ay b y th e U.S. governm ent, inviting applications fo r federal grant program s. This p ag e allow s you to g en ­ e ra te a custom ized listing o f NOFAs. Access: h ttp ://o cd .u sd a.g o v /n o fa.h tm . • F e d e r a l I n f o r m a t i o n E x c h a n g e (F E D IX ). T his site is a fre e o n lin e in fo rm a­ tio n re trie v a l serv ic e o f fe d e ra l o p p o r tu n i­ ties fo r th e education an d research com m uni­ ties. Access: h ttp ://w eb .fie.co m /fed ix /. • TRAM R e s e a r c h F u n d in g O p p o r t u n i ­ t i e s a n d A d m in is t r a t io n s . TRAM is a service initially dev elo p ed by th e Texas Research Ad­ m inistrators G ro u p (TRAM). It c o n ta in s a se a rc h e n g in e fo r lo c a tin g fu n d in g o p p o r ­ tu n itie s fro m m an y d iffe re n t a g e n c ie s. T h e f u n d i n g in f o r m a t io n is u p d a t e d d a ily . TRAM also c o n ta in s a s e t o f g ra n t a p p lic a ­ tio n fo rm s c o lle c te d fro m v a rio u s so u rc e s, as w ell as s ta n d a rd a g re e m e n ts fo r s u b c o n ­ tracts, non-disclosures, licenses, a n d links to o th e r serv ers re la te d to research funding and a d m in is tra tio n . A ccess: h t t p : / / t r a m . e a s t . asu .ed u /. • U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a tio n G ra n ts & C o n tr a c ts I n f o r m a t io n . This site provides d etailed inform ation o n g rant a n d o th e r p ro ­ gram s at the departm ent, applications, regula­ tions fo r adm inistering g ran t program s, an d inform ation for n e w grant-seekers. Access: h ttp ://g c s .e d .g o v /. Foundations • C o u n c il o n F o u n d a t io n s . This site pro­ vides information about research, publications, conferences, an d w o rkshops. T he follow ing links are available at this site: Community Foun­ dations, C orporate F oundations a n d Giving Programs, Family and Public Foundations, and In tern atio n al G ran tm ak ers. Access: h t t p / / w w w .cof.org/index.htm . • F o u n d a tio n C e n te r. This searchable da­ tabase serves as a gatew ay to philanthropy on W eb. It includes an online librarian, fo u n d a­ tion finder, fo u n d atio n profiles, an d m uch m ore. Access: h ttp ://fd n c e n te r.o rg /. • F o u n d a t io n s .o r g . This site is a directory o f charitable grantm akers. B row se the direc­ tory, ch o o se a foundation, a n d search the organization’s hom epage. Fundraising software and products are also available. Access: h t t p / / w w w .foundations.org/. • T h e N a tio n a l S c ie n c e F o u n d a tio n (NSF) G r a n ts & A w a r d s . T he NSF funds research a n d ed u catio n in science a n d engineering spin.infoed.org/ http://www.ld http://www.law.vill.edu/fed-agency/fedwebloc.html http://www.law.vill.edu/fed-agency/fedwebloc.html http://ocd.usda.gov/nofa.htm http://web.fie.com/fedix/ http://tram.east asu.edu/ http://gcs.ed.gov/ http://www.cof.org/index.htm http://fdncenter.org/ Foundations.org http://www.foundations.org/ C&RL News ■ July/August 1999 / 545 th ro u g h grants, contracts, a n d co o p erativ e a g re e m e n ts . Access: h tt p ://w w w .n s f .g o v / hom e/grants.htm . Electronic p u b lication s • T h e C h r o n ic l e o f P h i l a n t h r o p y . Fea­ tu rin g g ra n t-re la te d c o n fe re n c e s, sem in ars, a n d w o rk s h o p s . T h e jo u rn a l a ls o in c lu d e s cu rren t issues, fun d in g a n n o u n c e m e n ts, a n d a “G u i d e to G r a n t s . ” A c c e s s : h t t p : / / p h ila n th r o p y .c o m /. • CO S F u n d i n g N e w s . COS F u n d in g N ew s is p u b lish e d ea c h w e e k a n d includes a sa m p lin g o f n e w a n d u p d a te d a w a rd in fo r­ m a tio n fro m th e C o m m u n ity O f S cien ce F u n d in g O p p o rtu n itie s . COS F u n d in g O p ­ p o rtu n itie s is o n e o f th e m o s t c o m p r e h e n ­ sive sources o f funding inform ation available o n th e W eb . Access: h ttp ://fu n d in g o p p s 2 . co s.co m /n ew s/ • P h ila n th r o p y J o u r n a l O n lin e . This non­ profit publication pro v id es n ew s a n d n u m e r­ ous topics, such as “Fundraising, Foundations, C orporate G iving,” etc. Access: h ttp ://p h ila n - th ro p y -jo u rn al.o rg /. • RAMS F e d e r a l I n f o r m a t i o n E x c h a n g e N e w s l e t t e r . T h is fu n d in g o p p o r t u n it ie s n e w sle tte r fo c u se s o n fed eral ag en cy , fo u n ­ d atio n , a n d legislative fu n d in g issues affect­ in g th e a c a d e m ic a n d re s e a rc h c o m m u n ity , in c lu d in g E lectro n ic R e se a rc h A d m in istra­ tio n d e v e lo p m e n ts a n d o th e r issues th a t im ­ p act th e grants adm inistration process. Access: http://www.rams-fie.com/seminars/newsletter/. Electronic mail lists and new sgroups • A m e r i c a n P h i l a n t h r o p y R e v i e w D i s ­ c u s s i o n F o r u m s . This fo rum allow s yo u to join m o re th a n 15,000 o f y o u r c o lle a g u e s to discuss such topics as grants a n d foundations, th e law o f tax ex e m p t organizations, college a n d university advancem ent, health care p h i­ la n t h r o p y , a rts a n d s o c ia l o r g a n iz a tio n f u n d r a i s i n g , i n t e r n a t i o n a l f u n d r a i s i n g , m e n t o r i n g , a n d m o r e . A ccess: h t t p : / / philanthropy-rev iew .co m /fo ru m s/. • G ran ts-1. Prom otes external funding for education an d research. Access.- h ttp ://tile.n et/ lists/g ran tslto . h tm l. • OVCR-CG. In di­ viduals involved in a d ­ ministration o f research contracts an d grants. A c­ cess: http://tile.net/lists/ ovcrcg.html. • N IH G D E -E . A m ail list c o v e rin g NIH guide to grants a n d contracts. Access: h ttp :// tile.net/lists/nihgdel.htm l. • N a t i o n a l S c i e n c e F o u n d a t i o n N e w s g r o u p (m o d e ra te d ): N ational Science F o u n d a tio n g ra n t in fo rm a tio n . N ew sg ro u p server: g o v .us.fed.nsf.grants • G r a n t O p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r R e s e a r c h ( m o d e r a t e d ) . N ew s p ertain in g to g ran t o p ­ p o rtu n itie s fo r re s e a rc h . N ew sg ro u p server: gov.us. topic, grants .research G ra n t w r it in g • T h e B o d y H e a r t & S o u l o f G r a n t W r i t i n g . J u d ith P reb y l ta k e s a n in - d e p th lo o k in to grantw riting. C overing to p ics su ch a s “W h a t is a G r a n t,” “T h e S e a rc h F o r G rants,” a n d “T h e R F P /A pplication.” Access: h ttp ://w w w . friendcalib.org/f3grant.htm . • A P r o p o s a l W r i t i n g S h o r t C o u r s e . P u b lis h e d b y T h e F o u n d a tio n C en ter, this site o ffers e x c e lle n t tip s a n d s tra te g ie s for g ra n tw ritin g . A ccess: h tt p :/ /f d n c e n te r .o r g / o n li b /s h o r tc o u r s e /p r o p 1. h tm l. • P r o p o s a l W r it in g T ip s . W ritten by the U n iv ersity o f W isco n sin , O s h k o s h , O ffice o f G ran ts, th is d o c u m e n t o ffers u se fu l in ­ fo rm atio n in g ettin g sta rte d a n d d ev e lo p in g th e p r o p o s a l c o n c e p t . A c c e ss: h t t p : / / w w w . u w o s h . e d u / d e p a r t m e n t s / g r a n t s / tip s.h tm l. • P o la r i s G r a n ts C e n t r a l. This site p ro ­ v id e s th e fo llo w in g in fo rm a tio n : g ra n ts r e ­ so u rc e s; g ra n ts fu n d in g re s o u rc e s; g ra n ts links; grants publications a n d bo o k s, includ­ in g th e b e stse llin g G ra n ts e e k e r’s T o o lk it from J o h n W iley a n d Sons, p u b lish ers; p e ri­ o d icals; g ra n ts in fo rm a tio n s o u rc e s fo r K - 12 e d u c a tio n , c o lle g e s, a n d u n iv ersities; g ran tsm an sh ip hints; p ro p o s a l w riting g u id ­ a n c e from Polaris G rants Central, a n d m ore. Access: h ttp :/ /w w w .p o la r is g r a n ts c e n t r a l. net/index.htm l. S tr a te g y . This site covers strategies in the proposal-w riting process. An excellent h o w ­ to g u id e th a t d e fin e s p ro p o s a l stru c tu re . Access: h tt p :/ /w w w .m o n t c la i r .e d u / p a g e s / O R S P /stra te g y .h tm ■ http://www.nsf.gov/ philanthropy.com/ http://fundingopps2 cos.com/news/ http://philan-thropy-journal.org/ http://philan-thropy-journal.org/ http://www.rams-fie.com/seminars/newsletter/ review.com/forums/ http://tile.net/ http://tile.net/lists/ http://fdncenter.org/ http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/grants/ http://www.polarisgrantscentral http://www.montclair.edu/pages/