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The Foundation Center
The Berkeley Public Library is a Cooperating Collection of the nationally known Foundation Center. We provide free access to their directories, books, and two electronic databases: Foundation Directory Online Professional and Foundation Grants to Individuals Online.
Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the nation's leading authority on organized philanthropy. They offer free help (email or chat) via their Online Librarian service, which can answer questions about foundations, philanthropy, and fundraising research.
Training / Consultants
These groups help with specific needs or projects by placing experienced professionals with nonprofits. This may be fee-based or free; free consultants are usually volunteers or are grant-funded.
- Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT) Training and consulting to strengthen nonprofits, with a social justice emphasis.
- Harvard Business School Association of Northern California Volunteer consultants.
- Mary's List Helps nonprofits and consultants find each other.
- Net Impact - Service Corps Program Volunteer consultants.
- OrgSpaces.org Helps nonprofits stay in California.
- Stanford Business School Alumni Consulting Team Volunteer consultants.
- Taproot Foundation Screens and matches pro bono consultants with nonprofits.
- Techsoup: The Technology Place for Nonprofits Their name says it.
- The Berkeley Group Free help from UCB students who devote a semester to local nonprofit projects, from business analysis to organizational development to marketing.
Accounting & Legal Services
Free or low-cost assistance with particular areas of nonprofit management.
- California Lawyers for the Arts
- Clearinghouse for Volunteer Accounting Services (CVAS)
- Volunteer Legal Services Program A service of the Bar Association of San Francisco, offering business-law help from volunteer lawyers.
Other Organizations
These organizations' goals are to support and strengthen nonprofits, and to improve philanthropic work. See the Training/Consultants box on this page for help with specific needs or projects. See the Staff Development box for help with career development, continuing education, mentoring, etc.
- California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) Statewide membership association of almost 2,000 diverse organizations, with a mission to strengthen and expand the professionalism, governance, influence, and effectiveness of California nonprofit organizations.
- CompassPoint Training, research, and consulting especially in the areas of planning, boards of directors, finance, and executive transition.
- Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) This is an association for the givers, not the recipients, of grants. With a broad goal of increasing the effectiveness of philanthropy, NCG offers workshops, programs, and referrals to help its members develop their grantmaking skills.
Staff Development
These local groups support the growth and career development of workers in the nonprofit sector. Some are specifically focused on fundraising/development work.
- Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Gate Chapter
- Development Executives Roundtable (DER) Educational and collegial resource for Bay Area fundraisers.
- Fundraisers Anxiety Busters (FAB) For intermediate and experienced fundraisers.
- Grantwriters Anxiety Support Program (GASP) For new to intermediate fundraisers.
- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) - Bay Area
Finding Volunteers
These organizations connect volunteers and organizations. Also, search for local nonprofits in BIN (Berkeley Information Network, from the Library) and Bay Area Progressive Directory, and see the Volunteers section of Craigslist.
- Hands On Bay AreaIncludes a separate section for "15 and under."
- Idealist.org
- The Volunteer CenterNotice their newsletter specifically for youth.
- Volunteer MatchNotice the option for "Virtual Opportunities."
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