Where can I find a training program that will teach me how to run a charity?

Q: I’m in Cincinnati and looking for training that will help me learn about running a charitable foundation, covering such topics as the criteria other grant makers use when granting money to individuals. Any advice?

A: Since you are looking to become a grant maker, your most direct source for information would probably be the Ohio Grantmakers Forum. It offers workshops in communications, finance and investments, grant making, governance, management, and public policy. The Foundation Center’s field office in Cleveland is oriented toward grant seekers rather than grant makers, but also provides extensive information on its Web site as well as classroom training that may be helpful.

Cynthia Bailie, director of the Foundation Center’s Cleveland office, also recommends that you visit the Council on Foundations Web site, where you’ll find many print and online resources on grant-making basics and best practices. She also encourages you to contact her with any questions you may have.

“The trickiest part of this particular question is the idea of making grants to individuals as opposed to nonprofit organizations,” Ms. Bailie says. “The onus is on the grant maker to ensure funds are expended properly.”

Furthermore, she notes, the Internal Revenue Service “needs to sign off on the procedure used to make grants to individuals, to ensure it’s objective and nondiscriminatory, and that there’s a procedure in place for supervising the grant.” More information on federal guidelines can be found at the IRS Web site.