The Alamance County Public Library can be an important resource for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits. We'll share information, helpful databases, local and online resources here.
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05/22/2025
Tyler James
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MasterFILE Premier is your go-to research tool for business, nonprofits, and more—ideal for market research, grant writing, and trendspotting. Free with your Alamance County Public Library card through NC LIVE.
Starting a business is tough, but with SCORE’s free mentorship program, you get expert guidance, valuable connections, and personalized support to help your business thrive. Unlock your potential and set your business up for success with SCORE today!
Create contracts, waivers, HR forms & more with Nuwav Legal Documents—free with your library card. This easy-to-use tool gives businesses and nonprofits quick access to customizable legal templates that save time, money, and stress.
10 Searchable Databases
• U.S. Businesses
• U.S. Historical Businesses from 2003 to present
• Canadian Businesses
• U.S. Jobs/Internships
• U.S. New Businesses
• Physicians and Dentists in U.S. Healthcare
• U.S. Consumers/Lifestyles
• U.S. New Movers and Homeowners
• U.S. Standard White Pages
• Canadian White Pages
Helps users of all kinds search for jobs, research U.S. businesses, create marketing and small business plans, locate specific people and more.
Did you know there's an app too? Get it today!
Here's how:
1. On your mobile device, navigate
to the App Store® (iOS) or Google Play™ (Android) application icon.
2. Search for Data Axle Reference Solutions application and download it on your mobile device.
3. Click the Data Axle Reference Solutions icon on your mobile device.
4. Enter your library’s 5-digit ZIP Code, and then click Find Library.
5. Select your library in the list.
iOS: Scroll to your library, and then click Done.
Android: Select a library from the list.
6. Enter your library card number, and then select Remember Me
(optional).
7. Click Proceed.
You are now logged into the application on your mobile device.
https://referencesolutions.data-axle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/bookmark-mobile-app.pdf
Here are some business periodicals that can be found electronically or at the library. Electronic access requires your library card and PIN.
Barron's
Bloomberg Businessweek
Business North Carolina
Business Today
Consumer Reports
Ask for this at the reference desk.
- Library Catalog (In-Library Use Only)
- Magazine Website
- NC Live Magazine Access
The Economist
Entrepreneur
Forbes
- Library Catalog - Print
- Magazine Website
Fortune
Library Catalog - Print
Home Business Magazine
Inc.
Investor's Business Daily
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Money
Start Your Business Now
Triad Business Journal
Value Line (In-Library only)
Wall Street Journal
- Library Catalog - Print
- Magazine Website
Libby offers access to many other business magazines! Find them all here: https://alamancelibraries.overdrive.com/library/magazines/search?query=business&page=1&sortBy=relevance&mediaType=magazine&mediaTypes=magazine
Resources about volunteering:
- United Way of Alamance County - The United Way provides a volunteer matching service and posts notices about volunteer opportunities.
- Where can I learn more about recruiting and managing volunteers for my nonprofit?
- Why Track Volunteer Time?
Idealist.org - A project of Action Without Borders, site includes: a searchable database of over 40,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 165 countries, thousands of volunteer opportunities, & a nonprofit career center with job & internship listings.
Business and manufacturing guides and directories suited to the needs of jobseekers, investors, entrepreneurs, small businesspeople, students, and other interested parties are available for use in the Reference Department of May Memorial Library.
NC Department of the Secretary of State - Forms and instructions for incorporating your nonprofit in North Carolina
The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro - The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro supports and promotes the NC Triad. It includes a link to The Alamance Foundation that encourages charitable activities in Alamance Co.
North Carolina Network of Grantmakers - Membership organization created to provide networking opportunities and news for the NC philanthropic community
NC Center for Nonprofits - Network of 1500 nonprofits in NC with advice for nonprofits and a yellow pages directory
Philanthropy Journal - Recent news of NC nonprofits & more
IRS Tax Information for Charitable Organizations - Federal tax information for nonprofits
BBB Wise Giving Alliance - Annual reports on national charitable organizations from the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. This site is similar to Guidestar.org
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Website of the Association of Fundraising Professionals including a directory of professional consultants
NC Triad Chapter, Association of Fundraising Professionals - Website of the chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals that serves the North Carolina Triad area.
Grants.gov - Central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards.
How to Start a Non-Profit in North Carolina - North Carolina Nonprofit Startup Guide
- 501 Commons - Features an excellent document entitled: “Guide to Starting a Nonprofit.” It takes one from whether and why to start a nonprofit through all the legal steps and includes links to many of the organizations that one must deal with to start a nonprofit organization.
- How to Read the IRS Form 990 - The IRS Form 990 gives public information about nonprofit organizations. This Web site helps you understand how to interpret the form.
- IRS -Tax Information for Charitable Organizations - Information regarding requirement for tax-exemptions, including how to apply for tax-exempt status and annual filing requirements.
- National Center for Charitable Statistics - The Center gathers statistics nationally concerning nonprofit organizations. Some state data is available.
- The Unified Registration Statement - Organized by the National Association of State Charities Officials and the National Association of Attorneys General to consolidate information and data requirements of all states requiring registration of nonprofit organizations that perform charitable solicitations within their jurisdictions. Its aim is to standardize and simplify compliance with the various states’ solicitation laws.
Resources for Management Advice:
- Alliance for Nonprofit Management - Information on board development, financial management, strategic planning, fundraising & risk management.
- Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations - Contains electronic forum to facilitate rapid sharing of issues concerning nonprofit organizations.
- BoardSource - Formerly called National Center for Nonprofit Boards, this is an excellent source to help develop effective nonprofit boards. They publish books, booklets, videos, and CDs, and offer workshops, training and consultants.
- Non-Profit Management Education - Lists graduate programs in nonprofit management. Includes: noncredit, continuing ed, masters, PhD, and online courses.
- Customer Relationship Management Software Reviews - Free reviews of customer relationship software to help Nonprofits manage donor lists and to execute, track, and analyze fundraising campaigns, outreach programs, and marketing initiatives.
Staff Development Resources:
Supporting your staff with professional development helps build a better organization and better members of your team.
Technical & Social Media Assistance Resources:
- Nonprofit Tech For Good - Nonprofit Tech For Good is a blog created and managed by Heather Mansfield, author of Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits.
- Google for Nonprofits - Nonprofits must apply for services. Google offers free or discounted version of Google Apps; free Adwords advertising; premium branding and increased uploads on YouTube; free licensing for Google Earth, SketchUp, and Maps API for qualified nonprofits.
- TechSoup.org - a technology product philanthropy program that truly serves nonprofits, libraries, and foundations across the country, and around the world.
Foundations
- Council on Foundations - Links member foundations & corporations' web sites. Grantseekers should use the Foundation Center's web site.
- Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) - This organization of grantmakers believes that smarter grantmaking results in stronger nonprofits and promotes strategies and practices that contribute to grantee success.
- National Center for Family Philanthropy - Focuses on issues important to families engaged in philanthropy.