Community Development Resources

Directory of Nonprofit Web Links
This directory presents selected online resources for Hispanics interested in developing a nonprofit community organization.

Agriculture Department Office of Community Development
The OCD provides support for development programs of the Rural Development mission area within the USDA, including rural Empowerment Zone communities. Site includes links to funding sources for rural areas and notices of funding availability.

Building Communities Together Federal Program Guide
Online version of a 131-page book outlining federal grant programs according to need: housing, health, business assistance, public safety, etc. This is a PDF file, meaning you will need Acrobat Reader or a similar program to download and read it.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Searchable, full-text listing of all federal funding opportunities. Listings cite authorizing legislation, agency charged with implementation, and specifications for funding. Site organized by the General Services Administration.

Corporation for National Service
The Corporation for National Service has three programs. AmeriCorps, a sort of domestic Peace Corps, helps students pay for college while tackling social problems. Learn & Serve supports projects to teach the value of community service in schools. Senior Corps works to utilize the talents of the elderly in community service.

Education Department Programs
The Guide to U.S. Department of Education Programs and Resources is a reference for information about programs and resources administered by the Department of Education. It covers financial assistance offered to state and local education agencies, institutions of higher education, post-secondary vocational institutions, public and private nonprofit organizations, and individuals.

Federal Register
The Federal Register is the official publication for government purchases, sales, and grant actions. The online version of the Federal Register allows searches by date and keyword. Results can be downloaded in text, PDF, or summary formats.

GrantsNet
Sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, GrantsNet is a tool for finding and exchanging information about selected Federal grant programs. It includes online access to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance but also details the administration of grants and the application process. A "Who’s Who in Federal Grant Management" provides contact information. The site emphasizes DHHS programs.

Housing & Urban Development’s Communities Page
This site functions as a guide for grass-roots organizers trying to put together neighborhood groups. It features extensive sections on becoming a community organizer, homeowner associations, think tanks, Empowerment Zones and job creation, environmental issues, and volunteer programs.

Justice Department Programs
Outreach programs under the auspices of Justice Department include training and technical assistance, community-oriented policing services, crime prevention, and community revitalization.

Nonprofit Gateway
Designed by a White House task force, Nonprofit Gateway functions as an Internet clearinghouse and search engine for federal grant opportunities. Explore grant programs by agency or keyword.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy
"The newspaper of the nonprofit world" has a Web site rich in advice and news. An extensive job market for organization professionals, it also has a searchable database of funding sources. A technology page features articles from the print Chronicle on how nonprofits utilize the Internet.

Community Online
Created to provide access to information and ideas covering all aspects of neighborhood revitalization, this network includes links to numerous agencies working on community development issues.

Community Resource Institute
Site hosts links to funding sources, based on type of grant-giving: educational, cultural, health, economic development, environmental, etc.

The Foundation Center
This organization offers training programs and publications to the nonprofit industry, including classes on how to find money online. Grant-seekers can gain new perspectives on the fund-raising process by visiting a special section of the Web site devoted to grant-makers. It also has research on trends and developments in funding.

GrantsWeb
Sponsored by the Society of Research Administrators, this site contains a large number of links to federal funding sources. Especially good for biotechnology and medical grants. Site includes a sizable list of links to corporate foundations.

Internet Nonprofit Center
This site features a search engine to locate nonprofit groups across the nation. Tax issues, board selection, and other management concerns for nonprofit executives anchor the site.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Fellowship programs, scholarships, and events. A directory of Hispanic members of Congress allows users to visit legislators’ Web sites.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
HACU is a national association of higher education institutions that collectively enroll two-thirds of all Hispanics in higher education. In addition to sponsoring various programs to enhance Hispanics’ educational opportunities, HACU works to build resources of HACU member institutions and to facilitate access to grants and other financial resources. Its Web site includes information on student internship programs and links to other Hispanic-related organizations.

League of United Latin American Citizens
A national advocacy group, LULAC works in the areas of civil rights, education, economic development, housing, and health care. The organization builds on councils (currently more than 500) that advocate on a local level.

National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials
Good resource for community groups eager to connect with local or state Hispanic officials. The site includes information about internships and leadership development programs.

National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) provides organizational and resource-development assistance to support and strengthen Hispanic community-based organizations. The Web site has information about programs and research publications as well as funding updates.

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
National organization for trade and economic development issues. It advocates the interests of nearly 250 local Hispanic chambers of commerce to federal government officials and Corporate America.