Foundation Center: philanthropy info galore from JD Lasica on Vimeo.

If you’ve spent some time in the world of nonprofit philanthropy, you’ve no doubt heard of the Foundation Center. The venerable organization, which has been around for more than 50 years, is a nonprofit library and learning center that provides information about U.S. philanthropy and helps organizations and individuals learn how to apply for grants through a rich foundation database.

Best of all, it’s free — just like a public library.

At the recent Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC), I ran into Sarah Jo Neubauer, assistant librarian at the center’s San Francisco Library, who provided a brief overview of the center’s offerings.

You can find out how to write a grant proposal to any of the 92,000 profiled foundations. If you’re a student, you can learn how and where to apply for financial aid. (This is, after all, Education Month.)

More resources are available here:

• Focus on the Economic Crisis
• Free webinar training
• Use Foundation Center resources for free at these locations.

You can access the Center’s resources at one of their libraries around the country, online through a live or recorded webinar, or by directing your questions to a research expert via live chat or email.

Here’s our 4 1/2-minute interview:

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Download video in original H.264 from Archive.orgJD Lasica works with nonprofits, social change organizations and businesses on social media strategies. See his profile, visit his business blog, contact JD or leave a comment.