Association of Fundraising Professionals
“Advancing philanthropy through education,training and advocacy.” The Association of Fund raising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 30,000 members in 222 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy,research,education and certification programs.  The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fund raising profession.

Capital Quest, Inc.
A commercial site that provides free information about capital campaigns. This website includes samples materials, training guides and articles all related to managing a successful capital campaign. This website is dedicated to the discussion of capital campaign fundraising for non-profit organizations.

Grizzard Agency: The Power of Knowledge
Grizzard Communications Group is a nonprofit marketing and fundraising agency. We specialize in helping organizations like yours acquire and cultivate donors, build relationships and advocacy, spread brand awareness, and succeed in doing what you exist to do. Working with clients from The Salvation Army to Red Cross to National Parkinson Foundation to your local rescue mission, we have helped to fund raise for and support a wide range of projects, and we hope we can help yours.

Network for Good: Fund raising
Imagine what the world would be like if every time you were inspired to help someone or something, you could — with just a few clicks of a mouse, anywhere online. That’s the mission of Network for Good. We make it as easy to donate and volunteer online as it is to shop online, and we make it simple and affordable for all nonprofits, of any size, to recruit donors and volunteers via the Internet.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) provides a full listing of all Federal programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi- public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals.

A Guide to Funding Resources from the USDA Rural Information Center
Visit http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/fundguide.html for a guide that includes links to searchable databases offering funding opportunities from government and/or private sources. The federal links include: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is an Internet database containing information about all federal domestic programs; information is available on eligibility, application procedures, selection criteria, and deadlines. Click here.

Federal Funding Sources for Rural Areas Database for Rural Areas Database contains information about rural federal domestic programs including federal grants, loans, insurance, and training programs;information is available on eligibility, application procedures, selection criteria, and deadlines. Click here.

Save America’s Treasures
According to its website, “Save America’s Treasures grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and collections and on nationally significant historic properties. Grants are awarded through a competitive process and require a dollar-for-dollar, non-Federal match, which can be cash, donated services, or use of equipment. The grant and the non-Federal match must be expended during the grant period, generally 2 to 3 years, to execute the project. The minimum grant request for collections projects is $25,000 Federal share; the minimum grant request for historic property projects is $125,000 Federal share. The maximum grant request for all projects is $700,000 Federal share.” Example of activities supported by these grants may be found at www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures/search.htm including a searchable list of projects funded in 2008.   Save America’s Treasures Website

Preserve America
Preserve America grants are designed to support a variety of activities related to heritage tourism and innovative approaches to the use of historic properties as educational and economic assets. This matching grants program began October 1, 2005. Over $17 million in federal Preserve America grant funding has been awarded to date. These grants are intended to complement the bricks and mortar grants available under the Save America’s Treasures program, and fund research and documentation, interpretation and education, planning, marketing, and training. Eligible recipients for these matching (50/50) grants include State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, designated Preserve America Communities, and Certified Local Governments that are applying for Preserve America Community designation. Individual grants range from $20,000 to $250,000.

Further information on the application process, such as how to become a Preserve America Community, may be found at the National Park Service Web site. Here is a list of  grant guidelines, application, and related information, and grants awarded to date .

Preserve America Clearinghouse
Part of the Preserve America project is an effort to let communities know about existing federal resources. This information is compiled in a “clearinghouse,” which includes a wealth of information. For instance, you can learn how the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation and other federal agencies are working on heritage projects. Click here. 

The Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program
Provides financial assistance to furnish broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where such service does not currently exist. Grant funds may be utilized to deploy broadband transmission service to critical community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses and to construct, acquire, or expand, equip, and operate a community center that provides free access to broadband services to community residents for at least two years. Grants will be awarded, on a competitive basis, to entities serving communities of up to 20,000 inhabitants to ensure rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of telecommunications service as are available in urban and suburban communities. Community Connect Website

Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program
Rural Cooperative Development grants are made for establishing and operating centers for cooperative development for the primary purpose of improving the economic condition of rural areas through the development of new cooperatives and improving operations of existing cooperatives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture desires to encourage and stimulate the development of effective cooperative organizations in rural America as a part of its total package of rural development efforts. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htmfor moer information.

USDA Rural Youth Development Grants
According to the USDA: “Rural youth encounter economic and physical barriers that prevent them from receiving adequate care, services, or resources necessary for healthily development. The Rural Youth Development Grants Program is intended to breakdown barriers to participation, especially for rural youth; enhance opportunities for youth involvement in policy and decision-making; create safe and inviting environments for youth activities; and improve access to information and technology. The overall goal of the program is to provide opportunities for rural youth to improve their own lives and the communities in which they live.” FY ’09 Rural Youth Development Grants RFA (Note that deadline has passed. No word on funding for next year.)

Funding Sources for Rural Areas
This is a great clearinghouse of information about federal and private sources that fund rural development. Click here. Particularly interesting are the links to private foundations, which include major players such as:

Rural Development Strategies: Federal Funds and Development Policy
For another great federal clearinghouse, click here.

Forest Service Heritage Program
Click here USDA Forest Service Heritage Program

America the Beautiful Fund
America the Beautiful Fund® is a national non-profit organization started in 1965 to encourage volunteer citizen efforts and to protect the natural and historic beauty of America. Over 50,000 projects in all 50 states have been developed and assisted with America the Beautiful Fund®’s help. America the Beautiful Fund® is supported by donations and grants, including contributions from Federal workers and members of the Armed Service through the Combined Federal Campaign. A few examples of successful projects include Millennium Landmark Trees,  Artists for the Environment, and Rediscover America. As of June 2009, the organization’s website was still in development, but promises more details about eligibility and grants in the near future.
http://america-the-beautiful.org/

The Foundation for Rural and Economic Development
FRED offers a host of grants, detailed here.

USA.gov for Nonprofits
Find information and services for nonprofits, including grants, loans, assistance, taxes, management and more. Begin here.

DCED
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is a strong supporter of locally driven economic development projects. The department offers a well maintained website that describes is programs at www.newpa.com. One of the best features is a searchable database that allows visitors to specify whether they are interested in business, community or local government grants.

DCED also has specific resources available for people interested in community redevelopment.  For instance, it includes this list, taken directly from the site:

  • Community Revitalization Guide – This guide, available as an interactive e-book or a downloadable .pdf file, provides a comprehensive model for community revitalization based upon 30 years of successful redevelopment efforts. It includes a three-step process for attracting private investment to spur new economic growth.
  • Main Street/Elm Street Programs – These programs were created to revitalize Pennsylvania’s business districts and older historic neighborhoods.
  • Housing – There are many ways to improve housing, from weatherization and other assistance programs to factory-built structures.

Communities particularly interested in broadband expansion can click here.

DCNR

Pennsylvania’s DCNR has been a long-time supporter of conservation and recreation projects and other programs associated with the Pennsylvania Wilds. Here is a list of featured DCNR grants that give a sense of the kinds of projects supported. Here are some Fast Facts regarding DCNR’s C2P2 Grants program:

For a more full list of funded projects, here is a list of November 2008 C2P2 Grants. Applications for 2009 grants are closed, but this will give you a sense of what got funded:

PHMC

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission maintains a website that details what grants it offers and how to apply. Many of these programs are specifically geared towards community character preservation. Click here. For even more details about SPECIFIC grants, click here.

Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Welcome to PHC, Pennsylvania’s only statewide organization dedicated to the humanities. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians are engaged by our book discussions, speakers bureau, arts and culture TV show with PCN-TV,grant funded projects and other public programs.

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts offers a series of grants for individuals, organizations, insitutions and local governments. These are arranged by “tracks,” which the PCA’a website organizes as:


Lumber Heritage Region

The LHR is the largest of the state’s 12 heritage areas, with 15 counties, and includes the PA Wilds within its borders. LHR works collaboratively with partners in the region on projects that preserve, relate and enhance the history and heritage of the people and their relationship with the forests. Many of these projects create new or enhance existing assets that will enrich the visitor’s experience and impact the quality of life of the local residents. The LHR has supported a variety of projects that include the Elk & Nature Tourism Study, Mt. Jewett Cultural Mural, Smethport Mansion Walking Tour, Gateway Interpretive signage, West Branch Map and Guide Book, CCC History DVD and much more. LHR grants are only available to non-profit organizations and municipalities and require a cash match. To learn more about LHR and their grant program, visit them online here. www.lumberheritage.org.


The Northern Tier Cultural Alliance
(NTCA) offers a wide variety of grants, particularly for folk groups and traditional artists, particularly in Bradford, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties. For more info on what’s available, click here. http://www.ntculturalalliance.org/grants.html


PA Partners in the Arts

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, NTCA facilitates the PA Partners in the Arts (PPA) Program and Project Streams for Potter, Clinton, Cameron, Lycoming, and Northumberland Counties. This funding opportunity provides grants of up to $3,000, to eligible organizations or individuals to conduct arts projects.

Program Stream: Applications must be submitted via eGrant (http://pca.egrant.org) by Friday, February 13, 2009. Hard copies of the PPA Program Stream Application and PACDP materials should be mailed to the NTCA office in Towanda. PDF versions of the applications are available here: 2009-2010 Program Stream FULL application

Main Street Programs

Main Street is a comprehensive, community-based revitalization approach, developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980. Communities across the country apply its four key components (design, promotion, organization, economic restructuring) with great success to revitalize their down towns. The five-year program encourages revitalization by leveraging private dollars and requiring ongoing, local support evidenced by the establishment of an organization and documented financial commitment from the community. Several communities in the PA Wilds have Main Street programs. To view a list of participating municipalities or to learn more visit the Pennsylvania Downtown Center by clicking here.

Tourism Promotion Agencies

Each county has a designated Tourism Promotion Agency (often called visitors bureaus or associations). The goal of these organizations is to increase overnight stays and attract new visitors. They do this through publishing materials, attending travel shows and other efforts. Eight TPAs serve the 12 counties of the PA Wilds. Community leaders who are trying to promote a festival or event or engage in tourism-related revitalization efforts are encouraged to reach out to their TPA to see if they can help in the efforts. Click here to find the TPA serving your area.


Database of Local Funding Sources

The Grantsmanship Center offers a searchable database of Local Funding Sources in Pennsylvania, including top grant-making foundations in PA, community foundations, and corporate giving programs. Click here.

The Council on Foundations

This organization offers a searchable list of community foundations, with a total of 40 in Pennsylvania. Click here.

Idealist

The Idealist allows you to search more than 40,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 165 counties by city, state, keyword, etc. Click here

The Heinz Endowments

The Heinz Endowments offers more than $10 million in annual grants, with a particular focus on arts and the environment. The organization focuses mostly on southwestern Pennsylvania but has, on occasion, sponsored projects in the PA Wilds region. For mor information, click here.

Route 6 Heritage Corridor

Route 6 Heritage Corridor is one of 12 “Heritage Areas” maintained by DCNR. The historic road basically bisects the Pennsylvania Wilds, so it is often a good place for communities located nearby to turn for funds and ideas. As of right now, the heritage corridor is accepting applications to become a Rt. 6 Heritage community. Applications are due August 30, 2009. For more information, click here.