ASHBURN, VA—Nonprofits in Loudoun County, Va., seeking additional resources and assistance have access to the most comprehensive, searchable grant database on the Web, a collection of publications focused on grant proposals, and the first series of free Foundation Center courses.

The George Washington University Virginia Campus Library is housing one of the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collections, a funding information center that offers detailed profiles of more than 92,000 U.S. private and corporate foundations and charitable organizations and a variety of materials and services to grantseekers.

The first Foundation Center basic courses are now being offered free to the public.  The Cooperating Collection at the Virginia Campus Library offers access to the center's electronic resources, the Foundation Directory Online Professional and the Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, which will assist grantseekers and others in locating funding opportunities and scholarships. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Grantseeking Basics and Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online
Friday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
A hands-on introduction to the Foundation Center's comprehensive Web subscription databases of foundations and grants, the course shows how to create customized searches and develop lists of prospective donors that match your organization's funding needs. This class also includes a brief demonstration of new tools, Search 990s and Search Companies, available through Foundation Directory Online Professional.

Finding Foundation Support for Your Education
Saturday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday Jan. 9, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This one-hour class explores finding financial aid for your studies. Librarians will discuss different sources of funding, what you need to know before approaching foundations, how to create a personal profile to attract a funder, and electronic resources that provide information on scholarships from foundations.

The Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants, and operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance philanthropy. With more than 400 Cooperating Collection sites, thousands of people gain access to free resources in its five regional library/learning centers and its national network of Cooperating Collections. 

To register for a course, call the GW Virginia Campus Library at 703-726-8230 or E-mail the library at Virginia@gwu.edu. Library hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.  The library is closed Sunday.

The Virginia Campus Library, one of the Foundation Center’s Cooperating Collections, is part of The George Washington University Gelman Library System. Librarians are available to introduce grantseekers to the system. Guests must present a picture ID and sign in at the lobby of Academic Building 2, 44983 Knoll Square, Ashburn, VA 20147.

The GW Virginia Campus is the university's research and technology campus, with nearly a dozen research centers of excellence and laboratories, and offering more than 20 graduate degree programs and certificates. The 100-acre campus is located in the Dulles business and technology corridor at 20101 Academic Way in Ashburn, Va.

For more information about the Foundation Center Cooperating Collection, call the GW Virginia Campus Library at (703) 726-8230.

For more news about The George Washington University Virginia Campus, visit www.gwvirginia.gwu.edu


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