Mission:
To facilitate strategic giving by allowing philanthropists to explore a broad range of giving opportunities and connect with nonprofit organizations on their own terms.

Background:
A project of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Giving Library aims to help donors more efficiently examine a range of philanthropic opportunities and enhance their strategic giving, and to help nonprofit organizations increase their visibility and connect with potential donors. An online video archive provides a quick look at a wide variety of nonprofits, including short overviews of their work as well as interviews with their founders or executive directors.

Outstanding Web Features:
Visitors to the site can browse the video interview archive by broad issue area category — criminal justice, education, environmental, governmental (including veterans and research orgs), health, humanitarian, or by smaller sub-category — and/or search for organizations by keyword. Browse results can be displayed by organization name, newest/oldest, most viewed, most recommended, and most bookmarked. In addition to the videos, each nonprofit's profile page includes an organizational description, contact information, a link to its Web site, and a list of other organizations in the Giving Library with similar objectives. By registering to create an account, users also can access the Connection Center, which enables potential donors to communicate one-on-one anonymously with nonprofits, or, if they so choose, to identify themselves and communicate directly with a nonprofit. Registered users can also bookmark specific nonprofit profile pages, save search preferences, and "recommend" organizations. Nonprofits can apply to be included in the Giving Library by filling out an application form and uploading the required documents.