I have only had great experiences every time I’ve visited the Foundation Center in Washington, DC. The Foundation Center is a library, resource hub, and training facility all rolled up into one. There are five locations across the United States.

You can use the Foundation Center in two ways, either in person (if you are fortunate to have a Foundation Center near you) or you can use it online. The Foundation Center has a database of funders that you can access for a fee. If you go into their offices, then you can use the system on a timed basis. There is always a staff person available to assist you with the research process.

The Foundation Center also offers classes on proposal writing, proposal budgeting, how to use the Foundation Center’s database, and many more. You can see a schedule of activities by visiting their website.

I found their Vision and Mission Statement to be on point, so I copied them here for your easy perusal.

Vision: A world enriched by the effective allocation of philanthropic resources, informed public discourse about philanthropy, and broad understanding of the contributions of nonprofit activity to civil society.

Mission: The Foundation Center’s mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy.

History: Established in 1956, and today supported by more than 600 foundations, the Foundation Center is the nation’s leading authority on philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and the grantmakers supporting them to tools they can use and information they can trust. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance philanthropy at every level. The Center’s web site receives more than 47,000 visits each day, and thousands of people gain access to free resources in its five regional library/learning centers and its national network of more than 340 Cooperating Collections.

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