Rural areas of Nebraska, for the most part, are rich in natural resources, but are often lacking in economic resources. However, southwest Nebraska’s Butler Memorial Library in Cambridge is making a change to that statement. Earlier in the year Cambridge grant writer Rosie Stockton approached the library about the possibility of getting a Foundation Center cooperating collection site. She also sought the help of the Southwest RC&D for the project to submit a proposal to The Foundation Center for the Cambridge library to become a member of the network. The application was prepared by Stockton with the help of the RC&D and librarian Young and submitted in April. The library received notification in August that it was approved as a member of the Foundation Center’s Cooperating Collections Network.
The Foundation Center collects, organizes and communicates information on U.S. philanthropy. It also conducts and facilitates research on trends in the field, provides education and training, ensures public access to information and services through their Web site, print and electronic publications, five library/learning centers and a national network of cooperating collections. It is a key initiative of The Foundation Center to reach under-resourced and underserved populations throughout the United States, who are in need of information and training to become successful grant seekers. One of the ways they accomplish this goal is designating new cooperating collection sites in regions that have the ability to serve the nonprofit communities most in need of Foundation Center resources. These sites are funding information centers that provide a core collection of 24 printed and electronic Foundation Center publications and a variety of supplementary materials and services in areas useful to grant seekers. This resource gives everyone free access to information about and guidelines for grant applications to more than 80,000 private foundations.
It is a great achievement for western Nebraska for the Butler Memorial Library to become a member of the national network of cooperating collection sites, since at this time there are only two other official sites in the state, Omaha and Lincoln. Other locations have purchased individual portions of the core collection from The Foundation Center, but as a member, the library will receive the complete core collection at a greatly reduced price. This is a tremendous opportunity for organizations and individuals in this region, particularly in light of continued declines in government grant funds. Free access to this collection allows people and organizations to identify private foundations and corporate giving programs that could provide financial assistance to enhance our way of life. It is the hope that once people catch the vision of the financial resources that are available, it will make positive changes to this area.

Those involved in this project invite all organizations, non-profits, churches, charities, foundations, schools, quasi-governmental agencies and local governments to come and take advantage of this vital resource that will enhance the economic growth and well being of the region. SW RC&D and the library will be offering free training sessions later this fall to train individuals to efficiently use the new resource.
For more information about philanthropic resources go to The Foundation Center.