I am a Peace Corps volunteer currently working in Guyana, South
America.  There are about 60 volunteers here in-country focusing on
IT, Health and Education.  I am trying to put together a website for
volunteers so that we can easily figure out which methods exist or
organizations are out there so to donate funds, resources (like food
and clothes) and general help.  We do alot of secondary projects which
require us to figure this stuff out on our own, this can be very
difficult.

I am looking for an extensive list of information so that I can add it
to this site that is being developed.

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 04 Jun 2004 14:01 PDT

Smokeymischief --

There's an organization called the American Association of Fundraising
Counsel in Glenview, IL that has a document naming foundations and
giving.  It has a cost of $65 but would be useful in building a
database:
"Philanthropic Giving Statistics," (JBF777-GA, June 3, 2004)
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=349641

There's also something called the Foundation Center for Individual Grant Seekers:
http://fdncenter.org/for_individuals/

There's also a group called Independent Charities of America:
http://www.independentcharities.org/

The Gale Group (Thomson-Gale Publishing) does an International
Encyclopedia of Associations, which is available in many public
libraries.  You may have it at an American Cultural Center in your
country -- or may want to seek the assistance of a friend/relative to
help assemble key contacts:
Thomson-Gale
Encyclopedia of Associations
http://www.galegroup.com/servlet/BrowseSeriesServlet?region=9&imprint=000&titleCode=EA4&edition=

There are other services which provide information on grants and
fundraising, including Guidestar, which reportedly indexes and tracks
more than 680,000 grants:
http://www.guidestar.org/services/index.jsp

And Grant Select:
http://www.grantselect.com/

If projects have a true investment potential, you might consider one
of any number of groups that seek out socially-responsible
investments.  These investment firms are on par with venture
capitalists or mutual funds, but seek investments to help grow a local
economy:
"Makers of Socially Responsible Investments" (Pafalafa-GA, May 24, 2004)
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=351219


Google Answers search strategy:
Use Google Answers to search for questions on foundations + funding 

If you use GA in this fashion, you'll find more specialized groups
doing non-profit funding (for community development, Christian
organizations, schools, etc.)

If you find this comment acceptable as an answer, I'd recommend
expiring this question so that you're not charged.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA
RPCV, Congo/Zaire 1973-1975

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Clarification of Question by smokeymischief-ga on 08 Jun 2004 09:57 PDT

This is along the lines I was looking for but it looks like I have to
pay for the services of about half of these.  Free is more in the
direction I am looking.