Assistance for grant research available at JWCC

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Area nonprofits and community members now have access to a wealth of resources that will help them search for funding sources.

The West Central Illinois Philanthropy Center opened today in a dedicated area of the John Wood Community College Library, which is in the Learning Center on the campus at 48th and Harrison. JWCC partnered with the Quincy-based Center for Effective Nonprofits and the Chicago-based Donors Forum to establish the center.

The Philanthropy Center will provide access to the Donors Forum's numerous online and print materials, including the Illinois Funding Source, a searchable database of grants and grant makers in Illinois.

The Illinois Funding Source database lists about 3,000 Illinois grant makers and about 90,000 grant awards, said Claudette Baker, vice president for library and nonprofit services for the Donors Forum.

The Donors Forum, formerly Donors Forum of Chicago, has four other philanthropy centers. This is the first outside the suburban Chicago area.

"The Donors Forum board has made the decision to become a statewide forum" to maximize limited resources and serve new populations, Baker said.

A nonprofit membership association of grant makers, donors and advisors, the Donors Forum is the premier resource for networking and education and leadership on behalf of philanthropy in Illinois.

"By opening the West Central Illinois Philanthropy Center with partners John Wood Community College and the Center for Effective Nonprofits, we are able to provide area nonprofits a huge variety of sector-specific resources — on leadership and governance, as well as prospect research," Baker said. "This can greatly increase their capacity and ability to continue their good work."

The Center for Effective Nonprofits was founded through the collaborative efforts of Quincy University, the Tracy Family Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, John Wood Community College, United Way of Adams County, and the University of Illinois Extension. The group promotes excellence within area nonprofits and provides services which improve the effectiveness of community organizations.

The Center for Effective Nonprofits previously partnered with JWCC on the acquisition of the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection. The Philanthropy Center will house this existing collection of nonprofit resources for those seeking information on national grants and donors.

The Center for Effective Nonprofits is constantly seeking ways to build capacity within the nonprofit sector of our area," said director Laurie Assell. "This new partnership will provide additional opportunities for agencies to locate and apply for new funding sources."

All of the resources will be available to the public free of charge, and community members are encouraged to use them.

"It is appropriate that the Donors Forum philanthropy resources are housed here in the community college, since they will benefit the entire community," said Pat Woodworth, JWCC's director of library services.

Patrons will have access to two linked computers, as well as the new print publications. Free orientation sessions for the center and its resources will be offered.

"Any individual from the community can access the resources on JWCC's main campus, during the hours the library is open," Woodworth said. "They will receive instruction on how to use both the print and electronic materials, and a professional librarian will be available to assist with research."

The library is open 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

For more information on the Philanthropy Center, call Woodworth at (217) 641-4535.

Contact Staff Writer Kelly Wilson at kwilson@whig.com or (217) 221-3391