Philanthropy Front and Center-San Francisco

From the Answer Desk: How can I find a pro bono lawyer for a Bay Area nonprofit organization?

Answer: The San Francisco Library lists several local organizations that provide pro bono legal help on its Community Resources page.

For even more resources to help you find an attorney, please read our FAQ: "Where can I find pro bono legal assistance for my nonprofit organization?"

Before consulting an attorney, it's always good to research your questions thoroughly and come well-prepared to the meeting. Find answers online at Stay Exempt, the IRS's web-based training covering tax questions for exempt organizations. You'll also find excellent legal handbooks in our library, including 650 Essential Nonprofit Law Questions Answered (John Wiley & Sons, 2005) and other legal books you can find yourself by searching the Foundation Center's Catalog of Nonprofit Literature.

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From the Answer Desk: How often is the Center's Foundation Giving Forecast updated?

I found the Foundation Center's 2009 Foundation Giving Forecast to be extremely informative. How often is it updated and from what sources? Also, how would I find similar giving forecasts for foundations not included in the chart?

Answer: Our 2009 Foundation Giving Forecast is updated dynamically whenever new information is made available, and is compiled from public announcements of foundations, related news from the Center's Philanthropy News Digest, and other sources. It is available free of charge and can be found at http://foundationcenter.org/focus/
economy/forecast.html

To find current news and information for foundations not included in Foundation Giving Forecast, check the news section of Philanthropy News Digest (PND). For example, PND publishes a Community Foundation Update on a weekly basis with leadership changes and funding and program information for community foundations across the country. You can also search for the latest news on specific foundations using the "search news" option.

You might also check The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which is now periodically publishing lists of recently awarded grants targeting the economic crisis. Though these lists are not available free online, the San Francisco library/learning center provides access through our subscription to this publication. Another option is to sign up for alerts from nonprofit news wires such as PNN Online and Philanthropy Journal.

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(Thanks to Rob Bruno, reference librarian, Foundation Center - New York, for sharing this post.)

From the Answer Desk: Where can I find examples of conflict of interest statements for nonprofit organizations?

A: Since this is a board related issue, and policies such as these are spelled out in an organization's bylaws, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions on these subjects.

Where can I find information on nonprofit boards? provides links to online and print resources held by our libraries. One resource listed, BoardSource, is an excellent site for this type of information.

Where can I find information on bylaws for nonprofits? is helpful as well, as it links to specific examples of bylaws posted on the Internet.

You can do a keyword search of the Center's Catalog of Nonprofit Literature using the phrase "conflict* of interest" to create a list of items available for your review in our San Francisco library.

For those of you who haven't visited us in person, the San Francisco library/learning center is located at 312 Sutter, Suite 606 and is open to the public without charge. Look here for directions and hours.

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