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Capacity building program
MAP Case Study
How MAP works
MAP application
MAP consultant bios
MAP consultant bios
U.S. funding guidelines
 
Quote: The FACT MAP program, under the guidance of Emily Goldfarb, has assembled a crack-shot team of organizational development consultants that 'get it'. Emily and Carol Cantwell have provided us with the tools and facilitated us through a process that has allowed us to reflect on our organizational culture and values, tie this to our overall mission, and create tangible mechanisms from structural development to financial planning and systems that can concretely sustain our organization for the long-term and move us to the next level of development and impact. More powerful and pertinent tools we cannot imagine. We'd encourage all who can to take advantage! Thanks a million! Signed, Gihan Perera, Executive Director, Miami Workers Center		    
capacity building program
FACT believes that there are periods in every organizationŐs lifecycle when it needs to focus on its internal operations, to ensure that its organizational structure, administrative systems, and program strategies are fully integrated and working together to advance the organizationŐs mission and vision. FACTŐs Capacity Building Program provides funding and other resources to grantees that have identified areas that need strengthening.

FACT respects the integrity of its relationship with its grantees, and between its grantees and consultants and technical assistance providers. The Capacity Building Program allows grantees to determine their own needs, goals, and methods of achieving them, and use any or all of the resources below in the same year. With rare exceptions, consultants and technical assistance providers do not share information with FACT about their work with FACT grantees (read more about our confidentiality policy below).

The program has four elements:

  1. General support grants to technical assistance providers (more)

    FACT provides general operating funds to nonprofit organizations that provide technical assistance to its community organizing and collaboration grantees. These grants are typically in the range of $30,000 to $50,000 per year. Once we include an organization in our program, FACT tends to fund it for several years. Technical assistance providers that stop working with FACT grantees no longer meet the basic criteria for FACT funding.

  2. Discretionary grants for capacity-building needs

    FACT encourages grantees with capacity-building needs of limited scope and duration that are not met by other parts of the program to apply for quick turn-around discretionary funds for capacity building that will help the organization operate more effectively. This includes (but is not limited to) branding and identity development, fundraising assistance, staff development or training, strategic communications planning, and technology planning. For more information, read our discretionary grants criteria. Requests of up to $5,000 are reviewed throughout the year. (more)

  3. Management Assistance Program (MAP)

    MAP matches grantee requests for help with management issues to a small pool of outside consultants, overseen by a lead consultant who reports to FACT but is not a staff member, in order to provide confidentiality regarding the work between consultants and grantees. (more) MAP grants support coaching for executive directors and mentoring for secondary leaders, establishing basic financial systems and financial literacy among staff, help with human resources, succession planning, strategic planning and evaluation, and board development, and governance issues (i.e., the respective roles and responsibilities of board and staff, and how decision-making flows between them). The value of the consultant time available to each group ranges from $500 to $38,000 per project over an 18 month period. For more information, read the MAP application process. (more) See downloads for MAP consultant bios and a flowchart of how the MAP process works.

  4. Organizational Development

    FACT awards two three-year grants of $30,000 per year ($90,000 total) every three years to grantees that we think are ready to improve their internal capacity, increase their overall effectiveness, think strategically about their growth priorities, and ensure that their programs, strategies, and vision are aligned and integrated. The process, guided by the consultant of the organization's choice, begins with a comprehensive assessment of needs, which then serves as the basis for a set of organizational development priorities and a three-year workplan. Participation in this process is by invitation only.


Guiding Principles of FACT's Capacity Building Program

Chart column one, header: FACT will: 1.) engender trust between the foundation and its grantees, contractors, and consultants working with grantees 2.) Make clear that other support is not contingent upon participation in the Capacity Building program 3.) Manage the program in the most efficient and responsive manner possible 4.) clarify expectations among all parties regarding both process and outcomes 5.) endure clear communication and appropriate coordination between FACT, grantees, and TA Providers or consultants 6.) provide consultants and tecnical assistance appropriate to the culture (including language) of the organization 7.) evaluate and modify the program based on feedback from grantee, consultants, TA providers, FACT staff, and other stake holders. Chart column two, header: Consultants and providers will: 1.) disseminate skills throughout the organization to the greatest extent possible 2.) work with grantees over the long term; one-time trainings are not sufficient for skills and knowledge to be left behind 3.) provide coaching, technical assistance, and training that empowers staff and/or members to find solutions that are the best fit for their organization 4.) avoid one-size-fits-all solutions, and tailor tools and processes to the specific needs and culture of the organization 5.) be aware of the human pace of change, and allow time for the process to happen 6.) be careful not to overwhelm grantees with too many concultants or activities at once 7.) maximize coordination of services with other capacity-building endeavors the group engages in

For more information on the Capacity Building Program, contact Laura Livoti at (415) 288-1305.

  
   
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