Nonprofit Grants

Need help searching the Foundation Directory Online database for potential nonprofit grants funding?

The Library has classes for that. 

• Grants Research Lab: Introduction to Foundation Directory Online virtual class (monthly)  
• Advanced Funder Research Lab virtual class (every other month) 

And free training videos. Access these helpful video resources from Candid Learning for free at the following links:  

• Find grants by searching on Foundation Directory training video (2 minutes) 
• Identify potential funders using Foundation Directory search results training video (3 minutes) 
• How to know if a funder is right for your nonprofit with Foundation Directory  training video (3 minutes) 

And live Chat Services, too.  

Candid’s Nonprofit Librarians are available to answer your questions live via chat on the Foundation Directory Online Database and Candid Learning Monday – Friday, 9:30-5 p.m. EST (schedule is adjusted during holidays).

To access the chat, on the Foundation Directory, please click on the black “Chat” icon on the top right corner of the page. This will open a chat window in the bottom left corner of the page. Fill out the questions (name, email, what your question is regarding) and press “Start Chatting.” This will connect you with one of Candid’s staff who can assist you. 

• If Candid’s support team is unavailable to chat live, the chat icon in the top right corner of the page will still allow you to contact Candid’s staff with your questions by email. When you click on the chat icon, a form will pop out in a new window. Fill out the form with your name, email, and questions, and they will get back to you shortly (usually within two business days.)  You may notice a black button on the bottom right of the screen. This button works in the same way as the chat icon in the top right corner of the page. When Candid’s support team is available to chat, this button will read “Chat with Candid.” When they are unavailable, the button changes to “Contact Candid.”  

While CHPL’s Grant Research resources are specifically geared for the research portion of the grant-seeking process, Greater Cincinnati is home to a wealth of organizations and resources that are here to help nonprofits with each step of their journey. 
To get further nonprofit grants help locally, take a look at the following resources:

• OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence

• • Furniture Bank
  • Marketplace
  • Common Good Voucher Program
  • Online Shopping
  • Meeting Rooms for Nonprofits

• United Way Greater Cincinnati

• • Funding Resources and Opportunities

• Greater Cincinnati Foundation

• • Request for Proposals
  • Resources for Nonprofits

• Grant Professional Association - Greater Cincinnati Chapter

• • Consultant Directory

• Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Cincinnati Chapter
• • Fundamentals of Fundraising Course

• Leadership Council for Nonprofits
• Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio

• • Legal Services for Nonprofits
  • Resources for Nonprofits (2025)

• Kenton County Public Library - Grant Research Sources
• Cincinnati ToolBank

Specifically looking for help with writing?  

Access the Writing Lab in CHPL’s research database Homework HelpNow (it’s for adults, too!) with your library card for free! The writing lab allows you to upload your writing and a writing expert will provide feedback usually within one business day. Note: you will need to sign up for a free account to utilize this service. 

• Homework HelpNow database

Interested in starting a nonprofit, but don’t know where to begin?

Try one of these resources!

• Candid has Nonprofit Startup Resources! The questions in this assessment will assess background knowledge, capital, and work experience that are relevant to starting a nonprofit. The results of the completed assessment will provide customized resources to guide you in your next steps.   
• Access a free, self-paced training from Candid Learning: "Is starting a nonprofit right for you?"
• The State of Ohio also has a helpful resource: "Ohio Secretary of State’s Guide to Starting a Nonprofit."

Need help searching the Foundation Directory Online database for potential grants for an individual?  

The Grants to Individuals database is now included in the Foundation Directory Online database. 

 To learn how to search the Foundation Directory Online for funding for individuals, please follow the steps outlined in Candid’s how-to guide below: 

• Find your next scholarship, fellowship, or grant on Foundation Directory Professional how-to guide 

 Are you an artist seeking grant funding?  

There are a few additional avenues for funding or services than those for individuals above. To learn more, please refer to the following article from Candid:  "Where can I find grants for individual artists?"

CHPL’s Grant Research resources are specifically geared for nonprofits. To research funding for for-profit or small businesses, please visit the following resources:

• CHPL.org/small-business 
  
  

• CHPL.org Business Events 
  
  

• SCORE Cincinnati 
  
  

• City of Cincinnati Department of Economic Inclusion 
  
  

• 513Relief - Small Business 
  
  

• Hamilton County Economic Inclusion and Equity Department 
  
  

• The Ohio Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) at the Urban League Greater Southwestern Ohio
   

• Women’s Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) 
  
  

Local Chambers of Commerce

• Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce 
  
  

• African American Chamber 
  
  

• Hispanic Chamber 
  
  

• Human Services Chamber, opens a new window 

CHPL’s Grant Research resources are specifically geared for nonprofits. To research funding for education scholarships, visit the resources listed below. 

For an overview regarding educational funding, please refer to the following article from Candid: “Where can students find information about financial aid and scholarships?” 

Databases 

• Peterson's Career and Test Prep Database (specifically for undergraduate education funding) 
  

• Homework HelpNow (live tutors can help with the FAFSA) 

Cincinnati State’s College Access Program 

• Cincinnati State’s College Access Program is a free service on Cincinnati State’s campus that is for prospective and current college and high school students (not just Cincinnati State students.) They have several programs that can support students with finding funding and achieving their academic goals.  

 Suggested Books 

• Peterson's How to Get Money for College 
  
  

• Peterson's Scholarships, Grants & Prizes
  
  

• The Ultimate Scholarship Book 

Funding for graduate education 

• Financial aid office: Scholarships for graduate school are very hard to find in general. The single best place to look for graduate studies funding is the financial aid office of the school (or schools) the applicant is interested in. The advice recommended by higher education funding experts is to contact the financial aid office directly and immediately.  

• Professional organizations for the applicant’s desired field of work/studies will sometimes provide access to grant/scholarship opportunities exclusive to members. Something to note is that membership to professional organizations is rarely free. So, the applicant will want to contact them to see if funds are guaranteed upon their paid membership, or if, like general scholarships, not everyone who applies gets money. Sometimes these organizations also have discounted membership rates or even financial help for students who cannot cover the membership fees. 

We are sorry to hear that your nonprofit is experiencing financial challenges.  

While CHPL’s resources do not cover this area, Candid provides some guidance, advice from professional consultants, and further resources in this article: “Where can I find emergency funding for my nonprofit?”