TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Transcription

1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Congratulations on receiving a grant from The Denver Foundation. As a member of our grantee family, you are now eligible to request a Technical Assistance (TA) grant. This letter provides background information, guidelines, the process for applying, and other things to consider before you choose to apply for a TA grant. WHAT IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE? Technical Assistance is developmental support that enables you to do your work more effectively. Common examples of technical assistance activities include: Attending a workshop or training session on topics such as inclusiveness, resident-centered practices, marketing, volunteer management, financial management, or fundraising. Hiring a facilitator for a staff or board retreat. Working with a consultant to develop a strategic plan or fundraising plan for your organization or community. All of these technical assistance activities build new skills and provide information that will help your organization change and improve. They should include the active involvement of staff, constituents, and board members. Not all forms of TA are eligible for funding from The Denver Foundation. For example, we would not provide a TA grant for printing a new brochure designed to increase awareness of an organization. But, we would consider a TA grant for staff, constituents, and board members to work with a consultant to develop an organizational marketing plan. The first is passive: You pay someone to do something for you. The second is active: You pay someone to do something with you and, in the process, acquire new knowledge and skills. COMMON PROJECTS TA projects typically focus in these areas: Strategic Planning and Operational Planning Policy and Advocacy Work Fund Development Evaluation Tool Development Governance and Board Development Resident Engagement and Community Organizing Technology and Information Management Inclusiveness and Racial Equity Conference or training registration. (TA grants may not be used to cover the travel or lodging expenses of attending a conference.) US AT TA@DENVERFOUNDATION.ORG OR CALL AND ASK TO SPEAK TO A TA GRANTS MANAGER

2 GENERAL GUIDELINES No Due Dates: TA requests are considered on an ongoing basis. Grant Range: $500 to $6,000 Although The Denver Foundation funds grant requests up to $6,000, we ask that nonprofits only request the maximum amount if it is the true cost of the project. Grant requests that clearly align with a detailed project budget are more likely to be fully funded. Quick Turn-Around: A decision will be made on your request within six weeks of the date the request letter is received at the Foundation. Plan Ahead: TA grants will not be made for activities that will begin or be completed before the grant is awarded. Please be sure to allow for up to six-weeks for review window when planning and scheduling your project. GRANT ELIGIBILITY 1 The organization has received a grant within the last five calendar years from The Denver Foundation via the Community Grants Program, Strengthening Neighborhoods, a Donor-Advised Fund, a Field of Interest Fund, Mile High Connects, or Social Venture Partners. 2 The technical assistance grant work is aligned with The Denver Foundation s four Community Impact Objective Areas: Basic Human Needs, Economic Opportunity, Education, and Leadership & Equity. 3 The grant work will take place to serve the seven-county Metro Denver region, which includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. 4 The organization is aligned with our core values of Racial Equity and Community Leadership. 5 For organizations with operating revenues of more than $500,000 (based on most recently completed fiscal year end statements), 20 percent of the proposed project budget must be contributed by the organization. For example, if a project has a budget of $3,000, the organization must contribute $600 toward expenses. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

3 PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS An organization that has previously received a TA grant may apply for additional support. An organization cannot receive more than two TA grants within the span of one year. The organization must: Complete the project funded by the previous TA grant and submit a satisfactory final report. Apply for support in a different area than the previous TA grant. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR TA GRANTS The Denver Foundation wants to learn how your TA grant helped to improve and change your organization. All grantees are required to submit a final report describing the outcome or result of the TA. Information about reporting requirements for TA grants will be in your grant award letter. These reports should be submitted to TA@denverfoundation.org within six months of completion of your technical assistance project. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER You may use an individual consultant, nonprofit organization, or for-profit firm of your choice as your TA provider. A TA grant may not be used to pay a board member or any party whose direct affiliation with your organization could be construed as a conflict of interest. While you may have highly competent professional resources on your board of directors, The Denver Foundation would expect these resources to be provided as in-kind donations. TA GRANT EXAMPLES Example 1: You know your organization could benefit from growth in several areas, and you are not sure where to start. In this instance you may apply for an assessment grant of up to $2,000. Assessments help to define the top priority areas for organizational strengthening and the TA activities likely to be most helpful. Assessments can also create a sense of buy-in from staff, board, and volunteers through interviews, document reviews, and analysis of previous strategies. Example 2: You have a general sense that your organization needs help in a specific area. You would like to apply for an assessment of $2,000 to fully understand the issue, and a apply for a project grant of up to $4,000 to implement the proposed activities. Example 3: You may know your organization s priority area for growth and an assessment is not needed to better define and/or direct the growth activities. In this instance you may apply for a technical assistance grant without an assessment. In each of the above examples, a successful request will include a clear focus, a clear scope of work, and indicate a clear fit between the organization and the potential consultant. It answers the question, What can we really accomplish? CONTACT US To arrange a time to talk with us during office hours, please call and ask to speak with a Technical Assistance grants manager. We can connect you with the right person on our staff. To connect via , please send a message to TA@denverfoundation.org. US AT TA@DENVERFOUNDATION.ORG OR CALL AND ASK TO SPEAK TO A TA GRANTS MANAGER

4 APPLY FOR A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT The Denver Foundation is now accepting applications for the Technical Assistance program online. You will need to register online to submit an application. Registration takes approximately 24 hours to process in our system, therefore we recommend completing the process as early as possible. Information about the online application process is available at: denverfoundation.org/nonprofits/apply-for-a-grant You will be asked to address the following questions and information requests as part of your TA grant request: Please provide a brief overview of your organization and programs. You are welcome use your responses to the Current Programs questions on the Colorado Common Grant Application or a similar grant application question. Why is your organization ready to take this step in Capacity Building? What specific challenge do you want to address? What is the desired outcome? What type of technical assistance do you need? With which organization or consultant will you be working? Please provide a timeline for the proposed project that includes the project activities, the expenses associated with each step, and anticipated dates. Please attach a budget showing how the specific amount you are requesting will be used. Please remember, for organizations with operating revenues over $500,000, 20 percent of the proposed project budget must be contributed by the organization. Please include supporting documentation such as a description of workshop or the contract and/or scope of services developed with the consultant. Please briefly answer the following Core Values questions. If you have recently applied to the Community Grants Program, you are welcome to copy and paste your Core Values Questions response into the TA application. Please see the following two pages for more information about The Denver Foundation s Core Values. 1. How does your nonprofit engage community members and constituents in planning, programming, and making decisions? 2. What challenges, if any, have you encountered in engaging community members and constituents? What are you doing to overcome them? 3. How does your nonprofit advance racial equity? 4. What challenges, if any, have you encountered to advancing racial equity? What are you doing to overcome them? How long has your executive director been in place? How many members do you have on your board? Do any staff members serve in a voting role on the board? Are any staff members related to a board member? Please attach a copy of your organization s full budget for the current fiscal year and your most recent profit and loss statement and balance sheet. To request technology accommodations, please call and ask to speak to a Technical Assistance grants manager or TA@denverfoundation.org. We will be happy to work to accommodate your organization.

5 The Denver Foundation s Nonprofit Internship Program (NPIP) CORE VALUES: COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & RACIAL EQUITY The Denver Foundation supports nonprofits that advance our Core Values of community member engagement and racial equity. We believe nonprofits have greater impact in the community if they make community member engagement and racial equity a core part of their programs, policies, and overall approach. COMMUNITY MEMBER AND CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT Community member engagement is the inclusion of people of color and those who live in low-income communities in making decisions. Constituent engagement is the inclusion of recipients of services in making decisions. We believe that nonprofits are more effective if they engage community members and constituents in planning, programming, and leadership. We support nonprofits that: Ask for input from community members and constituents. Understand the assets that community members and constituents bring to the work. Respond to the self-described needs of community members and constituents. Include community members and constituents as members of the board and staff, and as volunteers and donors. CONTINUUM OF COMMUNITY MEMBER LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP LEADERSHIP Nonprofit develops the capacity to engage community members and constituents beyond providing services. Relationships are focused on the nonprofit learning and understanding the needs and assets of the community. Engaging community members and constituents is the standard practice of the nonprofit. Relationships are dynamic. Programs and goals promote and support community member and constituent leadership.

6 RACIAL EQUITY DEFINITIONS The following definitions are terms used within the Community Grants Program s core values framework: Diversity is the who of a nonprofit. A diverse nonprofit involves people of different races, ethnicities, and experiences. Diverse people are involved as members of the board and staff, and as volunteers and donors. Diversity is often the starting place for racial equity work. Inclusion is the how of a nonprofit. Inclusion is how (or whether or not) people of color can participate fully in making decisions. Inclusive nonprofits embrace the assets, needs, and perspectives of people of color into everything they do. Racial equity is the why of diversity and inclusion. Racial equity is when advantage and disadvantage are not determined by race. Barriers to access are removed and everyone can participate and reach their full potential. We believe that diverse and inclusive nonprofits achieve more equitable outcomes. Racial equity is the intended outcome of diversity and inclusion practices. CONTINUUM OF RACIAL EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION RACIAL EQUITY People of color are involved as members of the board and staff, and as volunteers and donors. People of color can fully participate in planning and making decisions. Differences in assets, needs, and perspectives are valued. Advantage and disadvantage are not determined by race. Barriers to access are removed and everyone can participate and reach their full potential. CORE VALUES QUESTIONS These core values are at the heart of the Community Grantmaking Program. Please respond to the four questions below. Every nonprofit s starting place, progress, and challenges are unique. Please be candid in sharing your nonprofit s internal and external experiences. It will help us to understand how you are thinking and evolving, and what practices you are putting into place. We want to learn more about your approach to community member engagement and racial equity. Your responses should not exceed two pages. If you have questions about these questions or our approach, please contact the Foundation. 1. How does your nonprofit engage community members and constituents in planning, programming, and making decisions? 2. What challenges, if any, have you encountered in engaging community members and constituents? What are you doing to overcome them? 3. How does your nonprofit advance racial equity? 4. What challenges, if any, have you encountered to advancing racial equity? What are you doing to overcome them? US AT TA@DENVERFOUNDATION.ORG OR CALL AND ASK TO SPEAK TO A TA GRANTS MANAGER