am i eligible to apply?
To be eligible for funding, your organization must meet the following requirements:
Have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and a history of at least two years as an incorporated nonprofit, including faith-based institutions.
Be current in registration with the Charities Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General.
Be a New York City-based, direct social service organization that serves primarily (75%+) New York City residents (i.e., not an association or a re-granting or referral service).
Have experience serving and currently serve communities where 51% or more of the population are people of color.
Have demonstrated record of outreach to communities of color for recruitment of the executive director or CEO and members of the board of directors.
Have an operating budget of at least $150,000. Organizations with budgets OVER $3.5 million will NOT be eligible.
Have demonstrated commitment to equal employment opportunities.
Have demonstrated commitment and capacity to deliver culturally competent services.
If your organization utilizes fiscal sponsors/conduits, you are not eligible to apply.
Is My Project Eligible?
The purpose of the CCNSF capacity-building program is to help organizations identify and address their most pressing organizational needs. Organizations can apply for funding in one of our seven areas, but MAY NOT apply for a project under an area that they previously were funded for through the CCNSF. The seven eligible areas are:
1.
Management information systems design and development:
This includes securing and/or designing software, and building related staff skills necessary for managing work more effectively (e.g., tracking client demographic data, service utilization, and progress toward outcomes).
2.
Financial management and planning:
This includes assessment, planning, and development of financial systems, as well as staff skill-building to improve reporting systems and enable organizations to identify the most cost-effective services.
3.
Evaluation and outcomes system development:
This includes efforts to implement systems to keep information related to client needs, referral sources, and services provided; implement systems to measure and/or service recipient satisfaction and/or service recipient outcomes; develop programmatic success measures; and develop evaluation capacity.
4.
Leadership development:
This includes leadership succession planning; creation and implementation of volunteer management/recruitment plan; management/leadership training for staff; training for board of directors; and creation of board policies.
5.
New program planning and development:
This includes conducting a needs assessment of community needs and assets, planning of new programs through research on effective practices, and staff development in support of the new initiatives.
6.
Strategy and organizational development:
This includes efforts to create a staff performance review process; a strategic or operational/annual plan; a communications or marketing plan; and a fundraising or donor development plan.
7.
Collaboration and strategic alliances:
This includes efforts to establish partnership agreements, create action plans to collaborate with other agencies, and develop a plan for organizational mergers.
What is the Evaluation Criteria?
The strongest applications will be those that meet all or most of the following criteria:
● The project is focused, well defined, and clearly aligns with one of the project areas stated above. Organizations MAY NOT apply for a project under an area that they previously were funded for through CCNSF.
● The needs statement is compelling, relates to organizational effectiveness and fulfillment of mission, and addresses, when relevant, how increased capacity will enhance organization’s ability to offer services in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
● The organization demonstrates linguistic and cultural capacity; a track record of providing culturally competent and language accessible services; an understanding of cultural and linguistic needs of population served; demonstrated and successful record of outreach to communities of color for recruitment of the executive director or CEO and members of the board of directors; and a record of involving the community in the planning, implementation, or promotion of programs.
● The staff and consultants leading the project must show the necessary qualifications and experience needed to implement the project successfully. The project includes a plan to sustain the newly-developed capacity after the award period ends.
● The project identifies a clear and realistically achievable timeline (projects MUST be completed by June 30, 2024), as well as outcomes and indicators of success, and how outcomes will be sustained.
● The proposed plan identifies a reasonable process for measuring progress towards benchmarks and overall success of project.
● The project’s budget is clear and relates to the program design.
● The project’s budget costs are reasonable, and revenue is sufficient to accomplish goals of the project.
How Are Funds Awarded?
Three allocations panels carry the award decisions, each organized by one of the CCNSF.
Each panel will be an independent and transparent body comprised of at least five voting members with expertise in philanthropy and capacity-building, as well as at least two non-voting representatives from each of the other CCNSF partners.
CCNSF will make awards of up to $35,000 for organizations with organizational budgets between $150,000 to $500,000 and awards of up to $45,000 for organizations with budgets that are $500,001 and above.
Use this Budget Form as a guide to use for your online submission.
LIST OF CONSULTANTS
PLEASE NOTE: The Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund Partners do not endorse any of the consultants named in this list. It is a resource to assist in your search of a consultant that can provide you with the expertise you seek.