Fund-Raising Resources

We have organized useful resources into the following categories. Click to choose a category.

Fund-Raising Training & Development

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 30,000 members in 200 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.

The Planned Giving Group of New England (PGGNE) is an association of charitable gift planning professionals representing the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster public support of education.

Women in Development of Greater Boston (WID) offers a variety of programs, services and opportunities for volunteer involvement. Members help one another develop and improve professional skills, share information about employment opportunities, and foster a climate which promotes professional achievement.

The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) is an international professional organization dedicated exclusively to developing the men and women who encourage charity in North America’s health care systems.

The New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (NEAHP) is a not-for-profit professional membership association for people engaged in the business of raising money for non-profit healthcare organizations. NEAHP is the New England regional affiliate of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP).

The Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) collects, evaluates, analyzes, organizes, packages and disseminates publicly available information in a way that maximizes its usefulness and enables accurate and educated decision-making for the fund-raising community.

The New England Development Research Association (NEDRA) is a non-profit association for professionals with an interest in prospect research. NEDRA promotes the professional status of researchers in the development community and provides educational, training, mentoring and networking opportunities to its members.

The Impact Foundry (Formally The Nonprofit Resource Center) was founded in 1990 to provide training, consulting, and print and online resources addressing the unique financial and strategic management issues of not-for-profit organizations and associations.

The National Council of Nonprofit Associations is the network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving more than 20,000 member organizations. By linking local nonprofit organizations across the nation through state associations, the National Council helps small and midsize nonprofits manage and lead more effectively, collaborate and exchange solutions, engage in critical policy issues affecting the sector, and achieve greater impact in their communities.

BoardSource strives to support and promote excellence in board service, is the premier source of cutting-edge thinking and resources related to nonprofit boards, and engages and develops the next generation of board leaders.

Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) is committed to advancing and strengthening Maine’s nonprofit sector. MANP is a membership organization offering professional skill development programs, affordable healthcare and benefits plans, discounts on related programs and services and advocacy resources, and is part of a national network of state associations.

The Giving Institute educates and engages members in the ethical delivery of counsel and related services to non-profits through research, advocacy, and best practices.

Lilly Family School of Philanthropy - Women's Philanthropy Institute A network that provides cutting-edge, empirical data and innovative programs that inspire bold, transformative philanthropy. Their research, events, services and network of members have helped increase both the amount of philanthropic dollars awarded to women and girls and the number of women working at all levels in the field of philanthropy.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance helps donors make informed giving decisions and advances high standards of conduct among organizations that solicit contributions from the public. The Alliance does not rank charities but rather seeks to assist donors in making informed judgments about charities soliciting their support.

The Resource Alliance is a UK registered charity whose mission is to build the fundraising capabilities of the non-profit sector worldwide.

Independent Sector is the leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community.

Fund-Raising Research

Guidestar gathers and publicizes information about nonprofit organizations, including 990 tax forms.

Portico – Web Resources for Advancement Professionals is a collection of web sites, containing publicly available information, compiled for the use of the advancement community.

Association for Research on Non-Profit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) is a neutral, open forum committed to strengthening the research community in the emerging field of nonprofit and philanthropic studies. Principal activities include an annual conference, publications, electronic discussions and special interest groups.

WealthEngine Wealth identification services. For more than two decades, WealthEngine has provided wealth intelligence solutions to help fundraising, marketing and business development professionals create strategies to extend their reach and build their prospect pipeline.

Philanthropy, Volunteering & Social Capital

Learning to Give educates youth about the importance of philanthropy, the civil society sector, and civic engagement.

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy  is dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy, improving its practice, and enhancing participation in philanthropy through its various programs and initiatives.

Volunteers of America is one the nation’s largest and most comprehensive human services organizations, serving more than 2 million people each year, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions.

Social Capital Gateway is a personal, nonprofit, initiative that provides useful resources for researchers, teachers, students, and practitioners interested in the study of social capital and other related topics, like poverty and development; and promotes discussion and ideas exchange on these topics.

BetterTogether.Org provides this list of 150 ways to build social capital, as well as other resources.

Philanthropic News

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is the newspaper of the nonprofit world. It is the No. 1 news source, in print and online, for charity leaders, fund raisers, grant makers, and other people involved in the philanthropic enterprise.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is the No. 1 source of news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators.

Foundations & Grants

The Foundation Center is a national nonprofit service organization recognized as the nation’s leading authority on organized philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and the grant makers supporting them to tools they can use and information they can trust.

The Maine Community Foundation currently manages $180 million in charitable assets, made up of more than 1,200 funds established by individuals, families and businesses. They awarded more than $15 million in grants and scholarships in 2008.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is among the oldest and largest community foundations nationwide. The NHCF is one of the few community foundations with a statewide span, and was one of the first to develop a regional structure.

The Vermont Community Foundation helps to build and manage charitable funds created by individuals, families, groups, organizations, and institutions to improve the quality of life in Vermont.

The Maine Philanthropy Center is a statewide association of grant makers working together to promote philanthropy and to increase its impact in Maine.

Associated Grant Makers, Inc. is the regional association of grant makers, both foundations and corporations with giving programs, serving in, or making grants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. AGM’s mission is to support the practice and expansion of effective philanthropic giving.

The Council on Foundations is a Washington, DC, area-based nonprofit membership association of more than 2,100 grant making foundations and corporations.