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Our Bottom Line is a Better

Community.

Strengthening Communities Fund

Nonprofit Capacity Building Program
Information Session
Presented by Jennifer Lockwood, SCF Program Manager
Susan Weinrich, VP Organizational & Community Development
New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc.
305 7th Avenue, 11th Floor
NY, NY 10001
1-800-515-5012 x. 152
917-522-8304, jlockwood@nycon.org
www.nycon.org

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 The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Strengthening Communities Fund

The focus of this program is to build the capacity of nonprofit
organizations, whether secular or faith based, to address the broad
economic recovery issues present in their communities, including 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, including ARRA benefits.

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 The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Strengthening Communities Fund

Nonprofit Capacity Building Program: The SCF Nonprofit
Capacity Building program will make one-time awards up to $1
million to experienced lead organizations to provide nonprofit
organizations -- or project partners -- with capacity building training,
technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance.

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 NYCON
SCF Program Overview
Nonprofit Capacity Building Training
For the next 2 years, 80 Program Participants will have access to:
• Scholarships providing over 4,000 hours of training offered by NYCON,
the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, and the Women’s Center
for Education and Career Advancement;
• Access to an Online Learning Center complete with videos, resources,
publications, tools and an online peer network;
• Post training consultation to help integrate the information learned into
the nonprofit’s operations;
• Be eligible to apply for participation in an intensive Skills Builders Basic
Fundraising for Small Nonprofits session, provided by the Nonprofit
Coordinating Committee of New York.
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 SCF Program
Overview continued…
Capacity Building Technical and Financial Assistance
30 of the 80 Program Participants can become Project Partners, who through a
competitive application process, may be awarded:
• A financial grant of up to $24,000 to support capacity building efforts;
• An organizational assessment and work plan specific to each organization;
• Approximately 50 hours of technical assistance (including the assessment);
• A technical assistance and training plan that includes a multidisciplinary
team of NYCON staff and Training Partners to provide needed assistance.

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 SCF Program
Eligibility
Community and Faith-based Organizations working to address broad economic recovery issues that are located
in/serving the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn & Bronx

• Organizations working with agencies responsible for administering the

TANF program;
• Organizations whose annual budgets do not exceed $1,000,000 (priority
to orgs with budgets under $500,000);
• Organizations implementing programs that address the broad economic
recovery issues present in their communities;
• Nonprofits specifically located in, or serving, the Bronx, Brooklyn and
Manhattan are eligible to apply.

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 Programs and Services
Working to Address the
Economic Recovery
Criteria for Eligible Programs & Services
The purpose of this program is to build the capacity
of community and faith-based nonprofits involved in
broad economic recovery efforts, specifically those
that provide job training (job readiness/skills
development), assist low-income individuals secure
and retain employment, obtain better quality jobs
and increase access to Federal and State benefits
(including ARRA benefits) and tax credits.

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 Application Review &
Questions
Component # 1

Training and Education. NYCON will provide access to and

scholarships for free training, access to an online learning
community, and consulting support to 80 community and
faith-based organizations. These organizations will be
known as “Program Participants.” NYCON is collaborating
with three Nonprofit Training Partners including the Women’s
Center for Education and Career Advancement, the Support
Center for Nonprofit Management and the Nonprofit
Coordinating Committee of New York.

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 Questions?

Component # 1: Program Participants

Review of specific application questions

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 Application Review &
Questions
Component # 2

Funding and Technical Assistance. Program Participants will be

able to compete to receive a grant ranging from $10,000 to
$24,000 and receive 50 hours of free technical assistance. Both
the funding awards and technical assistance are designed to build
organizational capacity. Approximately 30 community and faith-
based organizations will be awarded financial and technical
assistance and these organizations will be known as “Project
Partners.”

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 Questions?

Component # 2: Project Partners

Review of specific application questions

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 Financial Assistance
Sub-Awards:
Allowable Expenses
Examples of eligible uses of financial assistance include:

• The purchase of technology or related consulting services such as

computer hardware and software, phone systems, networking an office,
office equipment; and website development;
• Activities that increase accessibility for clients such as printing, translation,
or development of resource materials or marketing materials;
• Client research such as focus groups or surveys to determine market
interest and need in new programs and models;

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 Financial Assistance
Sub-Awards: Allowable
Expenses continued…
Examples of eligible uses of financial assistance include:

• Professional development training programs for staff;

• Moving and relocation costs when tied to broader organizational
development strategies such as being located to client base, being
wheelchair accessible, etc.;
• Offset the costs of staff time dedicated to capacity building efforts
such as training, research, program and curriculum development.

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 Sub-Awards:
Disallowable Expenses

Distinction: Capacity Building vs. Direct Services

Eligible use of financial assistance will focus on capacity
building and will not support direct services, medical
services, direct fundraising activities, religious activities,
construction activities, or the purchase of real property.

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 Outcome Measurement

Federal Guidance on Outcome Measurement expected March 1st

Capacity building outcome measures may include:

• Completed activities of Project Partners
• Participation in new or existing collaborative efforts
• Measures for Better Serving Those in Need
– New scope of services, territory, new populations served
– Increased success rates
– Number of additional persons served

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 Application Review &
Award Process
1st Round Applications Due March 15, 2010
2nd Round Application Winter 2010 (due date TBD)

• Application process is completely open and competitive for

eligible community and faith-based organizations
• Applications will be reviewed and scored by an independent
“Application Review Team”
• 2-3 week timeframe for reviews and scoring verification
• Program Participant and Project Partner award notifications
expected in April 2010

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 SCF Training Partners
On-line Resources
New York Council of Nonprofits: www.nycon.org
Program Participants & Project Partners will receive e-mail invitations to the On-line Resource Center (NING website) upon award notification

Support Center for Nonprofit Management: http://www.supportctr.org/

Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC):

http://www.npccny.org/

Women’s Center for Education & Career Advancement:

http://www.wceca.org/

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 Federal Resources &
Information
US Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children &
Families, Office of Community Services:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/scf/

HHS/ACF Information on Equal Treatment Regulations:

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/equal_treatmentregulations.html

Office of Management & Budget: Cost Principles for

Nonprofits:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/rewrite/circulars/a122/a122_2004.html

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 Wrap-Up

Questions?

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