Who is....? Free Resources and Information for Grants Managers

Helpful OrganizationsThere are many organizations producing information useful to grants management professionals.  Here are a few we’ve identified that we hope you find helpful.  

The National Grants Management Association (www.ngma.org)
The NGMA is a networking and collaboration organization geared toward professionals who manage government grant funds. Most members are employees of government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions. Resources include:

  • Job listings
  • The semiannual NGMA Grants Management Journal
  • Information on the Federal Financial Accountability & Transparency Act (FFATA)
  • Industry links

 

Council on Foundations (www.cof.org)
CoF is a field-wide membership organization that supports the work of over 2,100 foundations and corporations.  Its website includes resources for members and nonmembers, including job listings, best practices and ethics publications, topical news articles, and legislative action alerts. The website is also available in Spanish.

The Communications Network (www.comnetwork.org)
TCN highlights the communication aspects of philanthropy, focusing on how transparency and new media tools can help grantmaking organizations accomplish their missions. Resources include:

  •  “Jargon Finder” - a tool to help eliminate jargon from foundation documents. Provides examples from Tony Proscio's “Bad Words for Good”
  • Reports and presentations on general communications, using new media, and advertising grant opportunities; an “ideas” section for best practices and recommended reading; and an archived webinar series
  • Dedicated blog that discusses philanthropic and communications issues  on a daily basis 

 

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (www.geofunders.org)
A coalition of grantmakers committed to building strong and effective nonprofit organizations, GEO is currently focusing on leadership development, organizational leadership, and the change agent project, which gathers resources on overcoming longstanding barriers to change.  Most resources are available with a free 30-day trial membership, including a searchable content database with shared articles and reports, a member calendar to share events, and downloadable action guides for grantmakers and nonprofits.

GrantCraft (www.grantcraft.org)
A project of the Ford Foundation, GrantCraft is a professional development resource center for grantmaking.  Centered on the “how” of grantmaking, the project produces guides, case studies, and videos on different topics in the field.  All resources are free to download with one-time registration (there is a small cost for hard copy guides as well as videos on DVD).  Contributors include grantmakers, grantseekers, and philanthropic advisors from a wide range of organizations.

Publications include:
“Advocacy Funding: The Philanthropy of Changing Minds”
“Roles@work”: A card deck with activities relating to different aspects of grantmaking
Video: “Building a Network”

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (www.ncrp.org)
NCRP is an independent organization that provides oversight to foundations and the philanthropic field.  The committee conducts research on accountability, transparency, and increasing funding for underserved communities.  Its reports and other publications are available on its website, in addition to a blog discussing NCRP’s focus areas and a quarterly newsletter.

Are there other organizations you look to for information and resources?  Share them with your colleagues in GMN's member community!