Building stronger nonprofits takes a village! ACT is committed to providing resources that ensure Alexandria’s nonprofits are strong. Did you know that there are many free resources to support your organization’s mission? From establishing policies to researching additional funding opportunities, these resources are among our top recommendations to explore.
Center for Nonprofit Advancement – https://www.nonprofitadvancement.org/
National Council of Nonprofits – https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
GuideStar – https://www.guidestar.org/ – A valuable resource tool to help build and strengthen nonprofits and is also a resource that many donors use to learn more about a nonprofit. Be sure to update your organizational profile and financial information to improve your rating!
Foundation Directory – https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/ – Expand your access to more funding opportunities! The Candid – Foundation Directory is a paid subscription but can be accessed for FREE at any Alexandria library. You can inquire about the login details at the information desk at each location.
Charity Navigator – https://www.charitynavigator.org/ – A research tool that offers resources to both donors and nonprofit organizations. Be sure to check out your organization’s rating here.
TechSoup – https://www.techsoup.org/ – A global nonprofit organization that offers deep discounts and technology solutions for nonprofits.
Candid – https://candid.org/ – Candid’s Foundation Directory is a comprehensive database that provides detailed information on U.S. grantmakers and their funding activities. Designed to assist nonprofits, researchers, and grant seekers, the directory offers access to profiles of foundations, corporate giving programs, and public charities. Users can explore funding opportunities, track grant histories, and identify potential donors through advanced search filters and tailored recommendations. With its extensive data and user-friendly interface, Candid’s Foundation Directory is an invaluable resource for those seeking to secure funding and build strategic partnerships in the nonprofit sector.
Accessing Candid’s Foundation Directory:
If your organization has a Candid account and subscription plan, log in to the Foundation Directory using your credentials, and use the search tools and filters to explore grantmakers, funding opportunities, and grant histories relevant to your organization.
If your organization does not have a Candid subscription, many Alexandria public libraries provide free access to the Foundation Directory.
If your local library offer access to Candid’s Foundation Directory follow these instructions:
- Go to any Alexandria Library
- Find the computer lab of the library and use your library card to log-in, if you do not have a library card if you can ask a librarian for a day pass
- Once logged-in click “Chrome”
- Click “Databases”
- Click “Category”
- Under the Business & Finance section find “Foundation Directory by Candid” – There is also on option of “Guidestar by Candid” which is a resource to search nonprofits to support
- Use the search tools and filters to explore grantmakers, funding opportunities, and grant histories relevant to your organization
Free Candid Courses:
Introduction to Grantmaking
Introduction to proposal writing
Make Your Grant Application Stand Out
Introduction to Fundraising Planning
ACT Resources
Alexandria Council of Human Service Organizations
Statement of Purpose: The Alexandria Council of Human Service Organizations improves human services through cross-sector collaboration to benefit the entire Alexandria Community resulting in an innovative and integrated human services model.
Overview: Created in 2006, ACHSO brings together high-level City and nonprofit organizations and their leaders for the benefit of the larger Alexandria community. ACHSO provides a forum to network, share best practices, build relationships, and leverage resources. From assessing the community needs to present-day collaborative efforts to strengthen the human services network in the city, ACHSO has been a leading force in creating an innovative and integrated human services approach for our community.
The Council meets on a quarterly basis around a topic of mutual interest and is important for the organizations and agencies in membership. Working together, ACHSO seeks to expand existing resources and develop new services for those most in need in the city. Working to deliver a “one vision and one voice” approach, ACHSO has, in a relatively short time, made a difference in the delivery of services to others in the community.
For more information, please visit www.achsova.org
Join ACHSO along with a network of more than 60 human-service agencies. Download and fill out the ACHSO Membership Form.Contact Information: For information regarding membership, please contact Marion Brunken at mbrunken@volunteeralexandria.org.
For information on upcoming meetings or if you would like to be a guest speaker at the next ACHSO General Meeting, please contact Vannice Evans at vannice.evans@actforalexandria.org.
ACT’s Approach to Grantmaking
Through ACT’s commitment to trust-based philanthropy, we are working to reimagine the role funders can have in building a more just and equitable society. We believe our philanthropy will be more strategic, rewarding, and impactful when we approach our relationships with nonprofit partners from a place of trust and collaboration rather than compliance and control.
The trust-based framework encompasses 6 practices. While we are not in a place to practice all of them right now, our proposed grant process aims to simplify and streamline paperwork by taking a more relational approach which will ultimately save time for the nonprofit and help us gain a deeper understanding of the work through deeper and more interactive relationships with nonprofits. One way we are streamlining paperwork is asking for a Letter of Inquiry and then rather than asking applicants to complete a 2nd step application, we would like to invite applicants to have a conversation with us about their request.
We want to connect with you and learn more about your work. Please email grants@actforalexandria.org if you’d like to meet with one of our program team members.