Deadline: 15-Jan-21
The Ausherman Family Foundation is seeking applications for its 2020 Capacity Building Grants program to assist nonprofits in achieving new levels of effectiveness.
The purpose is to strengthen the leadership and management of Frederick County’s nonprofit organizations by helping them build systems and find resources such as consultants to facilitate the organization’s progress in achieving the goals.
Categories
Grants may be awarded for:
- Planning Activities:
- E.g., organizational assessments, strategic planning, fundraising assessment and development, program evaluations, communications/marketing, or business planning.
- Board & Leadership Development:
- May include activities such as leadership training, defining the role of the board, strengthening governance, assistance with executive transition, succession, and search process.
- Strategic Relationships:
- Providing technical assistance/consultant support to help two or more organizations work through collaboration and strategic restructuring; positioning for merger or affiliation, or business planning for social enterprise.
- Internal Operations:
- Improvements to financial management, internal controls, and chart of accounts, human resource or volunteer management; or facility planning.
- Technology Improvements:
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- IT capacity through upgrades to hardware and software, networking, websites, and staff training to optimize the use of technology.
Funding Information
- Requests can range from $2,500 to $25,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
- Physically located in Frederick County, Maryland.
- Healthy operating budget and ability/willingness to expand based on the outcome of the grant.
- Strong board and executive leadership.
- Clearly defined mission.
- The commitment of time and resources to build capacity.
Review Process
- Grant seekers will receive an email confirmation when the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and supporting documents are received. Ausherman Family Foundation Staff may request additional information.
- The request will be presented to the Grants Committee Trustees.
- The request may then be presented to the full Board of Trustees. The board may deny the request or plan for a site visit if deemed necessary.
- Ausherman Family Foundation Staff will contact the organization to advise if a full application is needed prior to the site visit.
- Once the site visit is complete, the request will be presented to the full Board of Trustees for the funding decision.
- Grant seekers will be contacted and informed of the Trustees’ decision.
- If the request is approved, the grantee will review and sign a Grant Covenant/Agreement which can be accessed online via their online portal.
How to Apply
- Applications for all grant requests to the Ausherman Family Foundation must be made via their online portal. Requests received via email, phone, or snail mail will not be reviewed.
- Note: A letter of support from the Board Chair must be included in the Letter of Inquiry (LOI).
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/38dvsUN