Tips on using the Organization Finder

For help finding organizations that match your interests, scroll down or click a link:
Search | Select | Evaluate & Act!

"Search" Tips

How do I find organizations?
On the Search form:
  1. Select the 3-5 issue areas that your Roundtable has chosen.
  2. Select the borough where your school is located.
  3. Choose which kind of grant you want to make. If you want to do a service project *and* make a cash donation to the same organization, select "Both."
  4. Click the "Search" button.
How do I look up a specific organization?

If you know the name of the organization, scroll down the Search form to the place where it says "Already know who you're looking for?" and type in the name in the field below it. Then click the "Find" button.
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"Select" Tips

What if I have too many results?
Be more picky! Use your browser's "BACK" button to go back to the search form and try one or more of the following:
  • Check an additional issue that you're interested in. (The more issues you check, the fewer results you'll get.)
  • For the location, select a borough or "Greater New York" (not "Anywhere").
What if I have too few results?

Be less picky. Use your browser's "BACK" button to go back to the search form and try one or more of the following:
  1. Uncheck one or more issues. (The fewer issues you check, the more results you'll get.)
  2. For location, choose "Anywhere."
What do I do after I get search results that I like?

Read through the list and decide which organizations you would like to learn more about. Click on the organization name or the "select this organization" button to view their entire page. Read it, print it and share it.
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"Evaluate" & "Act" Tips

How should I choose between organizations?
Read their pages and compare their answers -- particularly to these questions:

What we do - This is where organizations tell you how they help the community.

Our wish list - Here, they list specific grants and projects that you can fund as a Roundtable. Remember: Community Grants and Service Projects are different. Community Grants are when you give money directly to an organization. Service Projects are when you volunteer to help an organization.

How we can help you learn more about us - Here, they list how they can tell you more about your community and their organization.

How we'd like to keep up the relationship with your school - Here they list how they can help organize a service project or tell your school and community about the grant!

Let's Talk! - This will help you learn more about the organization's staff and who you can talk to. You will also be able to find out the best time and way to contact him or her.

What do I do once I find an organization that I like?
  1. First, print the page. To do this, click the "print page" link, which will open a print-friendly version in a new window. Then click the "print" link on that page.
  2. Share the printed copies with the Roundtable. You can make a presentation to the other students or have them read the page individually. If you make a presentation, remember to communicate what makes this organization stand out.
  3. Check out how the organization responded to "how we can help you learn more about us" and ask your teacher about ways to work with the organization.
  4. Contact the organization to set up an interview. An interview is a good chance to ask questions about the organization and learn even more about what they do and whether you want to give them money or work with them on a service project.
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