Training/Technical Assistance RFP information

1. Training/Technical Assistance RFP information

2. What is the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF)? • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) • Administration for Children & Families (ACF) • Designed to build organizational capacity by providing training/ technical assistance (T/TA) and financial assistance to nonprofit organizations • Black Hills region (Butte, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade and Pennington counties), including Pine Ridge Reservation (Jackson and Shannon counties)

3. What is the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF)? • 2-year program • 15-20 organizations selected each year • Competitive application process • Organizations selected to receive T/TA may choose to apply for financial assistance (subawards) to continue and enhance the capacity building begun with the T/TA • Subaward funds may be used for capacity building only, not be used for direct service

4. What is “capacity building?” The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has defined capacity building for faith-based and community organizations as “ … increasing their effectiveness, enhancing their ability to provide social services, expanding their organizations, diversifying their funding sources and creating collaborations to better serve those in need.”

5. SCF is designed to build nonprofit capacity in five specific areas:

6. Leadership development: to increase the capacity of executive directors, program directors, program coordinators and supervisory staff to provide effective and collaborative leadership in meeting the needs of clients facing economic hardships. • Training may include • Effective Leadership; • Succession Planning; • Building Blocks of Supervision I and II; • Crucial Conversations; and • Volunteer Recruitment and Training 1

7. Organizational development: to increase organizational capacity to implement effective and efficient management of facilities, finance, information technology, human resources and other organizational systems. • Training may include • Strategic Planning; • The Human Side of Organizations; • Human Resources: Policies and Procedures; • A Legal Perspective On Human Resource Management; • Keeping Your Organization On Track; • Nonprofit Finances; • Policies and Procedures Writing and Implementation; and • Grant Seeking, Writing , and Management 2

8. Program development: to increase organizational capacity to more effectively deliver services to meet the needs of clients facing economic hardships. • Training may include • Curriculum Development; • Achieving Program Outcomes Through Innovation; • Proposal Writing; and • Program Development: The Logic Model 3

9. Community engagement: to increase organizational capacity to assess community needs and assets so they may improve social services programs and activities that will effectively meet economic recovery needs through partnerships and collaborative networking. • Training may include • Community Collaborative Networking; • Lakota Perspectives: Communities Empowering Each Other Through Dialogue; • Implementing a Community Assessment; and • Analyzing and Implementing Results of Community Assessment 4

10. Evaluation of effectiveness: to increase organizational capacity to assess whether it is effectively meeting goals and objectives and for continuous improvement of programs and services. • Training may include • Using Evaluation for Program Improvement and • Logic Modeling 5

11. What forms will training/technical assistance take?

12. Training will be offered in formats such as group-based adult education and skill-building activities, classroom training, webinars, and web-based networking tools (organizations’ websites, Yahoo! or Google Groups, etc.).

13. Technical assistance will be individually tailored to eachorganization’s capacity building needs to be identified through an organizational needs assessment. This one-on-one technical assistance will be made available to each organization’s leadership, key staff, board members, and volunteers–either as follow-up to a training workshop or independently–as needed and requested by each organization.

14. Eligibility

15. Must be nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) not necessary) located in the Black Hills region (Butte, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade and Pennington counties), including Pine Ridge Reservation (Jackson and Shannon counties) • Must have at least one substantial secular social service program that will benefit from CFFD’s assistance.

16. Working to address broad economic recovery issues present in your community, i.e., helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs and gain greater access to state and federal benefits and tax credits • Eligible applicants must demonstrate that they have at least one program or project that directly addresses issues associated with economic recovery

17. In existence minimum two years • At least one paid staff • Priority will be given to organizations that: • historically have not received federal funds • have annual operating budgets <$500,000 • can document they work with agencies responsible for administering ACF’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

18. Application process • Fill out Strengthening Communities Fund Application for Training/Technical Assistance • Applications must be postmarked no later than February 26, 2010—or hand-delivered by 4 p.m. that day • Impartial review panel recruited from the private and public sectors will review and score each application • Training/technical assistance recipient organizations announced on March 8 • Organizations not selected will have an opportunity to review their applications with CFFD staff so they may improve their skills

19. The second component of SCF: financial assistance Organizations selected to receive T/TA may choose to apply for financial assistance (subawards) of up to $50,000, with the anticipated average size being $20,000. Continued financial assistance is contingent on participation in T/TA and satisfactory completion of monthly reporting requirements. 

20. Subawards may be used for: • Printed materials, curriculum materials, toolkits • Staff training/volunteer training • Hiring a consultant • Site visit to another organization • Software or other technology training • Software/hardware/equipment purchase • Training/planning retreat or workshop • Attending regional, state or national conferences/ workshops (travel, lodging, per diem expenses) $ $ $ $ $ $ $

21. The money may not be used for: • Religious activities, including religious instruction, worship or proselytization • Direct fundraising activities • Providing direct services to clients • Construction/remodeling projects • Medical/health-related activities • Real estate/property purchase • Hiring staff X X X X X X X $ $ $ $ $ $ $

22. The SCF nonprofit capacity building program lasts one year. In year two, the process will start all over again, with another 15-20 organizations selected to participate.

23. Strengthening Communities Fund is about helping youhelp others more efficiently and effectively!

24. Application:General Questions

25. 11. Is your organization a nonprofit? (Your organization must be a nonprofit to be eligible.) • a reference to your organization’s listing in the IRS’s most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code • a copy of a currently valid IRS tax-exemption certificate • a statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that your organization has nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals • a certified copy of your organization’s certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit status • any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a state or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate

26. Application:Organizational Information (45 points)

27. 1. **Describe your organization’s programs and/or services related to economic recovery issues.** (Your organization must have at least one program and/or service related to economic recovery issues to be eligible.)

28. Application:Purpose of T/TA (50 points)

29. S.M.A.R.T. Objectives • Specific – What exactly are we going to do, with, or for whom? The program states a specific outcome, or a preciseobjective to be accomplished. The outcome is stated in numbers, percentages, frequency, reach, etc. The objective is clearly defined. • Measurable – Is it measurable AND can WE measure it? This means that the objective can be measured and the measurement source is identified. All activities should be measurable at some level. • Achievable – Can we get it done in the proposed timeframe? The objective or expectation of what will be accomplished must be realistic given the program conditions, time period, resources allocated, etc. • Relevant – Will this objective lead to the desired results? This means that the outcome or results of the program directly supports the outcomes of the overall goal. • Time-framed – When will we accomplish this objective? This means stating clearly when the objective will be achieved.

30. 4.Explain how you will accomplish these objectives. In the table below, please list your objectives, the activities you will implement to accomplish the objective (there may be more than one activity), the timeframe for implementing the activity, who is responsible, and who will benefit.

31. Application:Bonus (18 points)

32. 1. Does your organization work with the agency (or agencies) responsible for administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program? In what capacity do you work with this agency? (10 points if applicant can document they work with the agency responsible for administering TANF)Please circle: YES NO*If YES, provide documentation of this association.2. Total annual organizational budget for the past two years: (5 points if organization’s annual budget is less than $500,000)$_______________ $_______________3. Has your organization ever received federal funds? (3 points if organization has never received federal funds) Please circle: YES NO *If YES, what was the source, when and how much was received?

33. Application:Attachments and Other Supporting Documents (5 points)

34. Organization’s total budget for past two years. • Organization’s most recent audited financial statement (if available) or Form 990. If neither one of these is available, provide the organization’s income and expense report for previous year. • Certification form signed by the organization’s executive stating that s/he has read and agreed to comply with the standards outlined in the document entitled Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government. • Current board members list with names, titles, and employment affiliations.

35. Letters of support from organizational partners or clients (three maximum). • A letter from your board president or other board officer stating board approval to submit application. • Letter or signed statement from your executive director or board president confirming your organization has not received federal funds in the past (if applicable). • Documentation of work with the agency (or agencies) responsible for administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, illustrating the capacity in which your organization works with this agency (if applicable).

36. Formatting your application • Use 12-point Times New Roman font • Double-space your narratives • 1” margins all around • maximum application length 25 pages (not including attachments) Applications not adhering to these criteria will not be reviewed.

37. Application submission • Mail or hand-deliver original plus three copies to: Dr. Helen Usera, President/CEO Chiesman Foundation For Democracy 1641 Deadwood Ave. Rapid City, SD 57702 Tel 605-341-4311 Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. • Postmarked by February 26, 2010, or hand-delivered to Chiesman Foundation by 4:00 p.m. that day