Organizations

• Council on Foundations
  COF is the international membership organization for grantmaking foundations and corporations. From the Services & Programs list on their homepage, select Family Foundations for a comprehensive listing of resources, publications and conference information. The website also lists 37 organizations in their Affinity Group Network for foundations interested in specific topics, e.g. environment, health care, aging, evaluation etc.
  
  
• Maine Philanthropy Center
  Your local grantmaker association offering opportunities to meet with others around topics of mutual interest & to access a library of philanthropic publications and resources.
  
  
• National Center for Family Philanthropy
  A nonprofit organization formed by a group of family philanthropists as a resource center to help families or individuals create and sustain effective giving. Their website lists workshops, publications and information about consultants & offers a useful electronic newsletter.
  
  
• Association of Small Foundations
  A membership association for foundations with few or no staff offering technical assistance, national networking opportunities and member benefits on insurance and grants software.

Other websites

• The Foundation Center
  The oldest & most comprehensive listing of foundation information with an easily navigated website. There is a special section for grantmakers but don’t overlook the Philanthropy News Digest to see how philanthropy makes the news daily. The Maine Philanthropy Center library is linked to the Foundation Center to make research possible for nonprofits in 6 Maine communities.
  
  
• Guidestar
  Did you know that you could look up information on any nonprofit organization on this website? Did you know that your 990-PF (the document filed annually by private foundations to the IRS) is accessible on this website?
  
  
• Giving Forum
  The website for the Forum of Regional Association of Grantmakers with an easy way to find local grantmaker associations throughout the country.

A sampling of publications available in the MPC Library

• Splendid Legacy The Guide to Creating Your Family Foundation
  Published in 2002 by the National Center for Family Philanthropy, a comprehensive and user-friendly reference with examples and testimonials on every topic relevant to starting or operating a family foundation.
  
  
• Small Can be Effective, Paul Ylvisaker
  In this occasional paper published by the Council on Foundations, Ylvisaker describes 20 generic philanthropic functions for foundations (assets of less than $10 million) in four categories: financial, catalytic, conceptual & community-building.
  
  
• Wealth in Families, Charles Collier
  Reflecting on his work with families at Phillips Academy and Harvard, he avoids the technical aspects about tax planning vehicles that lead to philanthropic structures. Rather, he writes about the conversations he encourages families to pursue around money and values and how that produces a more effective expression of philanthropy.
  
  
• Robin Hood Was Right: A Guide to Giving Money for Social Change, Chuck Collins and Pam Rogers
  A publication for individuals and families interested in investing in advocacy grantmaking that brings about social change.
  
  
• The Guide to Small Foundation Management: Groundwork to Grantmaking, Elaine Gast
  An easily referenced resource published in 2002 with a variety of sample documents and listings of organizations, print and web resources.
  
  
• The Guide to Successful Small Grants Programs – When a Little Goes a Long Way, Caroline D. Avery
  A useful guide published in 2003 by the Council on Foundations to help foundations maximize their grantmaking when the typical grant is $10,000 or less.
  
  
• Top Ten Ways Family Foundations Get Into Trouble, Ellen Bryson and John Edie
  Extremely practical information about legal quandaries balanced with humor.
  
  
• Grantmakers Salary and Benefits Report
  A Council on Foundations publication based upon their annual survey of all types and sizes of foundations in different regions of the country. An excellent resource to determine compensation ranges for your foundation.
  
  
• Family Foundations and the Law: What you Need to Know, 3rd edition, John Edie
  Another excellent Council on Foundation publication updated regularly.