National Service Agency Announces Funding to Help Nonprofits Improve Performance
Washington, DC – The Corporation for National and Community Service announced its Nonprofit Capacity Building Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) today, a new program designed to increase the capacity of small nonprofits to expand their impact in communities facing resource hardships.
“Nonprofits across the country are strapped,” said Patrick Corvington, the Corporation's CEO.“Too many are grappling to meet increased local demands with drastic declines in resources.These funds will provide nonprofits in some of our most challenged neighborhoods the tools to better deliver sustained results.”
The Nonprofit Capacity Building Program, authorized under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, will provide $1 million to increase the capacity of a small number of intermediary grantees to work with small and midsize nonprofits to develop and implement performance management systems.The intermediaries will provide nonprofits with organizational development assistance to establish procedures for measuring progress and leveraging staff and volunteers toward outcomes that transform communities. This will enable nonprofits to better communicate the value of their services and generate additional funding opportunities.
The Corporation convened a national meeting in November and held several follow-up teleconference calls with dozens of nonprofits, intermediary organizations and foundations in the nonprofit capacity building sector on the design of the NOFA. The agency also engaged nonprofit leaders on ways the sector, with its limited resources, can benefit from the Corporation's expanded role in strategically supporting nonprofit capacity building.
On April 19, the Corporation will hold a technical assistance call to answer questions for potential applicants about the NOFA at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Call-in information is toll-free #800-857-3059 and the passcode is NCB.
The letter of Intent to Apply for the NOFA is due on April 27, and the deadline for applications is May 18 by 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Certification of matching funds to determine eligibility is due at the time of application. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of September 2010. Click here to read the entire NOFA.