Hartford Region Nonprofits Can Apply for Support from Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund
/Back in 2021, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Hispanic Federation formed an alliance to provide capacity-building support to Black, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latino, and other People of Color (BIPOC) community-based organizations (CBOs) throughout Hartford County, including all 29 cities and towns.
Together they developed the initiative to generate new levels of support for the organizations in the Greater Hartford Area. As a result, the Hartford Foundation allocated $1 million to establish the first ever Connecticut Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund.
The first Connecticut fund of its kind, CCNSF was developed to build the capacity of the nonprofits in the Hartford Region in Connecticut in recognition of the fact that organizations led by people of the community are best equipped to meet the needs of the community. CCNSF is also intended to promote learning among CBO leaders.
Now, the organizations are seeking applications for a second round of funding.
Thanks to the continued support from the Hartford Foundation, BIPOC organizations can be part of the 2022-2023 Request or Applications, recently announced. The application deadline is August 19, 2022. The CCNSF capacity-building program aims to help organizations identify and address their most pressing organizational needs. Organizations may apply for funding in one of seven areas:
Information management systems design and development
Financial management and planning
Evaluation and outcomes system development
Leadership development
New program planning and development
Strategy and organizational development
Collaboration and strategic alliances
Proposals will be reviewed, and awards will be determined by an allocation panel comprised of committee members. Awarded organizations will be required to participate in a minimum of three technical assistance seminars on the subject of organizational development and may be visited by staff for project monitoring, to showcase progress, and for delivery of additional technical assistance.
Grant award recipients will be announced this Fall, on September 29. Projects are to begin on October 1, with progress reports due in March 2023 and a final report on services delivered and funds expended to be completed in April.
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 to $2 million. All awarded funds must be expended, and all services must be completed by March 31, 2023.
The evaluation criteria includes:
· Needs statement that 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.
· 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.
Award decisions will be made by an allocation panel, organized by the Hispanic Federation. The panel will be comprised of an independent and transparent body of at least five voting members with expertise in philanthropy and capacity-building. All decisions are final and based solely on the discretion of the said panel. Due to the limited nature of funding, an award is not guaranteed to all applicants.
Additional application-related information can be seen here.
