Nonprofit Advancement Fund
The Montgomery County Community Foundation plays a leadership role in supporting the development of a healthy, coordinated nonprofit sector in the county through the Nonprofit Advancement Fund for Montgomery County. Its objectives are to:
w Strengthen nonprofits through board development, leadership training, and other innovative capacity building activities, thereby enhancing nonprofits’ ability to address county needs and opportunities; and
dialogue among nonprofits, local government and the private sector/private philanthropy focused on linking the efforts of all the sectors to achieve a better quality of life for the county’s residents.
FY09 Grant Cycle
Through the Small Emerging Nonprofit Initiative (SENI), the Nonprofit Advancement Fund will provide capacity-building grants to 6-8 small emerging nonprofits over 3 years, with a particular focus on organizations working in Montgomery County's diverse, immigrant, and/or multicultural communities.
Grant amounts are expected to range from $15,000-$25,000 per year.
Eligibility
While there is no hard and fast definition of a “small emerging nonprofit”, the committee is likely to consider some combination of budget size, number of years in business, and staff to volunteer ratio. To be eligible for consideration, an applicant organization must meet the following basic criteria:
w A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization serving residents of Montgomery County which has a demonstrated relationship and/or track record of reaching and serving racial and ethnic communities.
w Priority will be given to organizations with an annual operating budget between $50,000 and $500,000. Applications from groups that fall slightly below or above this range may still be considered.
collaboratively with other organizations, including the ability to participate and contribute positively in a peer learning group.
w Successful applicants must demonstrate: Ø that the organization is at a critical juncture in its long-term development in terms of financial stability, organizational management structure, governance and/or mission; Ø a clear sense of organizational needs, and a grasp on the kind of change the organization is seeking to achieve through participation in SENI; and Ø a readiness to commit the time to the project, and to benefit, learn and change through their participation.
Application Process
The Small Emerging Nonprofit Initiative (SENI) application has 2 parts: w An organizational self-assessment, and w An application form
Applications are due October 17, 2008. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Please note that applications must be submitted in two forms:
(1) Please email complete proposals, including self-assessment, all attachments and budget information to mccfstaff@cfncr.org by October 17th at 5:00 pm.
(2) Please mail one hard copy of your entire application packet, including self-assessment, all attachments and budget information to MCCF at the address below. Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before October 17th. Montgomery County Community Foundation 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 202 Silver Spring, MD 20910
All applicants will be notified of the Nonprofit Advancement Fund’s Small Emerging Nonprofit Initiative grant decisions by December 2008. Year-1 grant awards are expected to commence in April 2009, once capacity-building work plans are finalized.
Information Session
Interested organizations are invited to attend the following information session, which will include an introduction to capacity-building, in-depth information on the application process and grants program, and assistance in completing the self-assessment. Please RSVP to mccfstaff@cfncr.org by September 23rd.
Date: September 25, 2008 1st Floor meeting room
|
A Regional Affiliate of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region
