New London Library Provides New Center for Eastern Connecticut Nonprofits

Times are tough for nonprofit organizations but the 900 that call New London and Windham counties home have a new resource to go to for assistance.

Located in the Public Library of New London’s Adult Reading Room is the Cooperating Collection, a new nonprofit resource center consisting of two computers with databases along with approximately 170 books and periodicals.

Library Head of Reference Ellen Paul said that books and periodicals help nonprofits on a variety of topics including fundraising, marketing, grant writing, management planning, boards, and taxes. There is also a collection for students, artists, musicians, photographers, painters, researchers and other individual grant seekers. 

The computer databases consist of 100,000 grant makers geared toward non-profits and individuals ranging from the Dime Bank Foundation to the Kellogg Foundation. 

Databases also provide access to Philanthropy In/Sight Foundation Center mapping tools showing where money is going and how it is being used. 

Information from the databases comes from the Liberty Bank Foundation, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and the Foundation Center of New York. 

The center opened June 6 and has assisted at least 80 people so far.

Paul said she can schedule one-on-one sessions with representatives from nonprofit organizations of all sizes. The center also hosts workshops. 

At the center’s kick-off breakfast, attorney Priya Morganstern, Director of the Pro Bono Partnership, talked about the ABC’s of Nonprofit Law. Attendees also learned about the importance of effective social media strategies for non-profits. 

Just recently, an individual used the center to seek assistance in purchasing a truck for sustainable agriculture.

An organization that recently utilized Cooperating Collection is the Foundation Center for Camp Harkness who sought to write more effective fundraising letters that led to increased contributions for the camp, which assists disabled children.

“It’s really having a great impact on non-profits in our area,” Paul explained. 

Previously, non-profits in Eastern Connecticut seeking a Cooperating Collection resource center had to drive to libraries in Middletown and New Haven. 

The center is open the same hours as the library and Paul can give those interested a tour of the facility as well as answer any questions they may have.