2012 ToolBox Grant Cycle

What is capacity building?

“Capacity building is about strengthening

management systems and governance in

organizations.”Making Good Operations Better

Susan Chandler

What is capacity building?

“Internal actions that improve nonprofit

effectiveness”Investing in Capacity Building

Barbara Blumenthal, published by The Foundation Center

What is capacity building?Some examples:

• Technology or process improvements• Fundraising systems• Information systems leading to better decisions• Board or staff development/training • Financial system improvements• Mergers and other restructuring options• Managing growth in client demands for services

Why Results Training?• The survey asked donors “what could unleash

your philanthropy at a whole new level?” Nearly half of the donors said that they had more money to give but held back. Many of them said that was largely because they had not received enough information about how past donations had been spent.

Cygnus research - Chronicle of Philanthropy March 2012

Why Results Training?

“A critical difference between high and low performance in non-profit organizations is the degree to which they manage by information more than by habit and opinion. It is not the amount of data that is critical but how people actively use information to improve programs and increase results. “

Why Results Training?

ToolBox grants funding priority in 2012 will be to fund and encourage programs and techniques which measure, evaluate and communicate an agency's impact.

Who qualifies for ToolBox Grants?

Health & Human Services

Operating budget between $1 million and $5 million.  

If part of a national organization, local agency must file its own

Form 990 separate from its parent organization.

Who qualifies for ToolBox Grants?

Arts & Culture

Option I: Operating budget between $250,000 and $5 million.  

If part of a national organization, local agency must file its own

Form 990 separate from its parent organization.

Who qualifies for ToolBox Grants?

Arts & Culture

Option II: Program budgets between $250,000

and $5 million within a larger arts & culture organization

Why choose these ranges?The nonprofit management literature considers total expenses as a commonly accepted measure of nonprofits’ size classifications and these ranges were often cited.

Modifications from last year’s grant cycle were made for arts & culture organizations to better fit organizations in our community.

How much are ToolBox Grants Awards?

Grants up to $15,000

For grants over $15,000, consider challenge grants, gifts

from past board members and other sources of fundraising

from donors close to your cause.

How are ToolBox Grants awarded?

Two stages: Letters of Intent and Full Proposal

Letters of Intent given to the Grant Committee.

Committee determines which organization will be requested to submit proposals.

Proposals given to Committee.

Committee determines which organizations are awarded grants and how much is given.

What is needed for a Letter of Intent?

Please see our website for full

details•Letter of Intent with Coversheet

•Signed Checklist

•Latest Audit

•Page 1 of Form 990

•Agency Photo & Project Description Email

Your Letter of Intent

• Briefly describe your organization and mission

• Clearly answer which of the three Results Domains will your grant address?1. decreased costs for same clients2. increase numbers of clients served3. increased impact for your clients served.

Your Letter of Intent, cont’d

• Amount requested and total cost of project• If costs exceed amount requested, explain

where other funds will come from

• What are you going to achieve and the extent to which your organization can achieve it?

What is needed for a Letter of Intent?

• Successful letters include thoughtful and strategic projects that:– Tell the committee what will be

different in one of more of the results domains after you have used the grant.

– Discusses how you will help donors understand the impact of their gifts.

What is needed for a Letter of Intent?

Please don’t forget!

11 copies of the Letter with Coversheet, 3 hole punched

Only 1 copy of audit and 990 page

Why a Letter of Intent?1. Helps us deal with unexpected2. Saves time for you3. Presents your ideas to donor advisors

ToolBox Grant Catalog– an in-house publication for donor advisors which showcases your good ideas for improving your capacity to carry out your mission.

Letter accepted, now what?We will write you and ask you to provide us with a more detailed (but short) proposal.

After they are screened for completeness by staff, proposals are distributed to the Grant Committee.

What is needed for a Proposal?

• Proposal Cover Sheet

• Cover Letter

• Proposal Narrative

• Project Bid Sheets

• List of Board of Directors

• List of Salaried Staff Members

What is a Proposal Narrative?

Proposal Narrative (2-4 pages)

• Brief history• Capacity issue and description of proposed

project and how it will address the issue• Your organization’s ability to ensure that

project will get accomplished • Timetable• Evaluation plan

How can we improve our chances?

Demonstrate your agency's willingness and capacity to tackle the project you’re proposing.

Recognize and demonstrate readiness and an understanding of the steps involved.

Explain how the problem impacts your services or your expenses and how the solution can lessen or solve the problem.

How can we improve our chances?

If applicable, tell us how your proposal will increase revenues (fundraising, income earned, etc.).

Be concise.

Get your numbers in order so that they make sense to an outsider.

Demonstrate that your agency is willing to contribute to the project (board gifts, allocation of future revenue, etc.).

Important DatesJune 22 Nonprofits submit Letter of Intent

Mid July Foundation requests full Proposal (or notifies agency that it will not be further

considered.)

August 17 Nonprofits Submit Full Proposal

Early September Foundation gives grant notifications

Question & Answer Session