Getting a grant is difficult enough, but finding a grant source can be a task in itself.

The Daviess County Community Foundation, along with the Carnegie Public Library in Washington, is helping non-profits find the grant funding they need through a database run by the Foundation Center.

The web-based database has over 92,000 grant makers and programs designed to give money for a variety of programs. Carnegie Outreach Services Librarian Betty Norris recently gave a presentation to local non-profit leaders on the Foundation Center.

“When Jeannie (Fields, DCCF director) first got us interested, the number was 80,000 grant makers,” Norris said. “And then I went for my training, it was 88,000 in June and now the online materials say there are 92,000 grant makers.

“It’s more all the time,” Norris said.

Norris said Washington is one of few in Indiana to have access to this database.

“I knew that we were the ninth,” Norris said. “It’s really impressive that Washington got this because the other cities are Anderson, Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Muncie, Terre Haute, Valparasio and us.

“We are by far the smallest but they said in June they are making an effort to get into rural areas,” Norris said.

On the database, the New York-based Foundation Center tracks gifts given to organizations based on 12 categories based on size, geographic location, type of funding or organization purpose. Visitors to the site can also find tax information for foundations and giving.

The Web portal and training for Norris was paid through the community foundation. Although the main information is for grant funding, individuals can also use the database for scholarships.

Although the database is Web-based, it can only be accessed at the library where a librarian will assist with the login and passwords. Printed materials of grant makers are also available.

The foundation Web site is available in the reference computer lab. The library’s hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, contact Norris at the library, 254-4586 or Fields at the community foundation, 254-9354.