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The Center for Nonprofit Resources is committed to ensuring that nonprofit organizations in our region have the information and resources required to operate in an efficient and effective manner through quality training, technical assistance and capacity building grant opportunities.

Capacity building grants are intended to strengthen a nonprofit's ability to fulfill its mission and build long-term organization sustainability by promoting capable leaders, sound management and strong governance. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Organizational assessment, evaluation of overall effectiveness and strategic planning
• Board and/or staff development such as training, workshops, conferences and leadership development
• Fund development planning such as revenue diversification and major donor campaigns
• Succession planning
• External communications strategies
• Technology improvements such as computer and software upgrades, Internet advocacy or new equipment
• Financial management systems such as audits and development of financial procedures
• Program evaluation and measurement systems
• Human resource policies and procedures.

Funds cannot be used to pay for fundraising or solicitation, direct services or augmenting or supplanting direct service delivery funds, medical/health-related activities or items or construction and purchase of real property.

Grant Application Process
The Center considers grant requests one time annually. The deadline date for receipt of proposals in the Center office is June 6, 2008. Applications must be received in the Center for Nonprofit Resources office by 5:00 p.m. (or postmarked) by the due date.

An online application must have an electronic time stamp identifying that the application has been submitted by the due date. Any supplemental documents that cannot be attached to an online application must be postmarked by the due date.  All materials should be mailed to:

Center for Nonprofit Resources
Attention: Megan Meyer
300 Madison Avenue, Suite 1300
Toledo, Ohio 43604

All grant applications are carefully reviewed by the Center’s professional staff.  Applicant organizations are notified, in writing, of approval/denial of funding requests within 6 weeks after the application deadline. Project expenses incurred by an applicant organization prior to notification cannot be paid by the Center.

All grant recipients must use the Online Documentation Support System.

Contents Of A Proposal
The written proposal should be in narrative form and limited to five or six typewritten pages. Please do not bind the proposal (other than stapling one corner).

The following information must be included in all proposals:

1)  Purpose and Need - State the goals and objectives of the project. Identify the problems or needs which will be addressed.

2)  Implementation - Summarize the plans and timeframe for implementation of this project. Identify the individual(s) who will be responsible for overseeing the program and briefly describe their qualifications.

3)  Evaluation - State the criteria and procedure that will be used to evaluate the success of the proposed program. Relate this evaluation to the stated goals and objectives.

4)  Budget Information - Provide a one-page project budget, which includes the following information: projected income and expenses; all sources of program funding (both solicited and received); and the period (beginning and ending dates) for which funds are being requested.

Attachments
The following attachments must be included with all proposals:

1)  Brief summary of the grant request which includes: one or two paragraphs summarizing the proposed project; the name, address and telephone number of the requesting organization; the person to contact regarding the proposal; and the dollar amount requested. This summary may be in the form of a cover letter.

2)  The names and affiliations of the applicant organization's Board of Trustees.

3)  Brief background/history of the requesting organization, including: When and how the organization was established; its mission/purpose; accomplishments to date; and a listing of all current programs and services.

4)  The organization's most recent audit. If audited financial statements are not available, the unaudited income and expense statement and balance sheet must be provided.

5)  The organization's current operating budget.

6)  Copy of the applicant's tax exemption letter from the Internal Revenue Service.

Eligibility:

• Small Faith Based Organizations and Community Based Organizations that are located in or service Lucas, Wood, Ottawa or Fulton Counties and have budgets of less than $1 million annually.
• Priority will be given to organizations whose budgets are less than $500,000 annually and additional priority will be given to organizations who have never received direct federal funding.
• Organizations must demonstrate a relationship to the priorities of at risk youth or families transitioning from welfare to work.