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$170K in Grants Awarded to Eight Local Nonprofit Organizations in Inaugural Capacity Building Program
New Program Aims to Strengthen Internal, Operational Capacities of Organizations
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI) announced today the eight recipients of its inaugural Capacity Building Grants Program, who were awarded more than $170,000 in funding to strengthen the internal and operational capacities of their nonprofit organizations.
After asking local nonprofit leaders about the greatest needs their organizations face, many reported that finding funding opportunities to improve organizational capacity and effectiveness was one of their most difficult challenges. To address those unmet needs, CFSI’s Board of Directors designated a portion of the Community Impact Fund to create the new program, which is dedicated to supporting organizations as they continue to provide the essential services they are uniquely positioned to offer throughout our communities.
The eight inaugural recipients, and their awarded amounts, include:
New Hope Services, Inc. ($23,177)
Intended Usage: New Hope Services will purchase a broad range of new and upgraded technology to enable a major transformation of services provided to the community. The goal is to meet the growing demand beyond routine special education, expanding to serve high school youth and young adults.
BAYA Corporation ($14,000)
Intended Usage: Beautiful As You Are (BAYA) will hire a strategic planning consultant to work with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors, as well as attend two national conferences focusing on fundraising and social emotional learning.
Volunteers of America Mid-States, Inc. ($25,000)
Intended Usage: Volunteers of America Mid-States will replace outdated technology for frontline staff and direct support professionals in VOA Community, a program that serves those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will also cover staff membership to a variety of support and training courses.
Personal Counseling Services, Inc. ($14,500)
Intended Usage: Volunteers of America Mid-States will replace outdated technology for frontline staff and direct support professionals in VOA Community, a program that serves those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will also cover staff membership to a variety of support and training courses.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana ($14,000)
Intended Usage: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana will launch the first strategic marketing and communications campaign in the agency’s 55-year history. The It Takes Two campaign will recruit more volunteer mentors for Southern Indiana young people.
Hope Southern Indiana, Inc. ($19,629)
Intended Usage: Hope Southern Indiana will purchase computers / laptops for 12 employees, upgrade WiFi capabilities, and improve software systems – including a VPN – to better share data with surrounding agencies.
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana ($25,000)
Intended Usage: Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana will modernize infrastructure, including moving to a cloud-based solution. The move will allow JA to be more efficient, providing a better experience for thousands of local students.
Hispanic Connection of Southern Indiana ($23,710)
Intended Usage: Hispanic Connection of Southern Indiana will establish a leadership succession plan, as well as upgrade technology for training and case management related to immigration and naturalization.
“Capacity Building Grants are unique in that they don’t focus on the outward-facing, mission-based work that is typical of a nonprofit, but rather the inner workings of the organization. It recognizes the need for effective management and provides funding to support systems and operations,” said Linda Speed, CFSI President and CEO. “After learning about the challenge to obtain funding for these types of efforts, we’re grateful that our Board of Directors took it upon themselves to support our area’s nonprofit leaders with this grant program. We know how important these grants are for the sustainability of its recipients, and we’re excited to play a role in helping these local organizations find continued success.”
From April 1 until June 30, local nonprofits had the opportunity to apply for the inaugural Capacity Building grant cycle on CFSI’s website. Eligible projects could strengthen an organization’s governance, leadership, technology, infrastructure, and more. Grant requests between $5,000 and $25,000 were accepted.
Moving forward, Capacity Building applications will be accepted year-round, and nonprofit organizations can apply whenever it best suits their needs.
For more information on the Capacity Building Grants Program, including a full report on the inaugural recipients, please visit our website: www.CFSouthernIndiana.com.