Effective Capacity Building is best accomplished when a range of partners interested in effective nonprofit management work together to provide a wide variety of services and support. The Waco Foundation provides a specific set of services described here, but there are other community partners that work together to provide the full range of needed services. These partners meet quarterly to discuss the needs of nonprofits throughout McLennan County and plan programming centrally. The group’s members represent academic, healthcare and nonprofit sectors.
We provide assistance to nonprofit coalitions and individual nonprofit organizations implementing high impact projects. Our Capacity Building Program awards mini-grants up to $2,500 to nonprofits seeking guidance or expertise in the following areas such as organizational assessments, board training and strategic planning, but there is a wide range of topics that can be served with a capacity building grant. Grants support 90% of total costs, which are typically paid to consultants or as fees for participation in training or events.
Learn more about recently awarded mini-grants.
Since 2001, the Waco Foundation has provided direction to nonprofit agencies that require specific, high intensity grantwriting assistance. Priority is given to large-scale projects that provide joint funding for coalitions or collaborations of nonprofit organizations. Most individual organizations seeking a grant will be referred to the resources at the Waco Library and to training opportunities. Every two years, the Waco Library, in partnership with the Waco Foundation, hosts the most reputable grantwriting training in the nation, the week-long training for The Grantsmanship Center. In addition, free workshops in grantwriting and fundraising are offered monthly at the library. Occasionally, the Foundation will support a grantwriting consultant when an agency has a developed, competitive project and is seeking a significant grant from a government agency or another foundation with a complex application. The Foundation supports the cost of a grantwriting consultant with experience in the particular area of funding (such as education, HUD, etc.) and only for consultants which have a proven record of acquiring grant funding.
Additionally, the Waco Foundation will provide review and feedback for any nonprofit organization that has developed a project or grant proposal. Nonprofits seeking review and comment may submit a completed draft proposal to Nicole Wynter, or may call 254-754-3404 to schedule an appointment to review the components of the project and determine feasibility of obtaining grant funding.
Regularly, the Waco Foundation supports the cost of bringing in nationally-recognized speakers for Capacity Building Continuing Education classes through McLennan Community College for nonprofit boards and staffs. Most of the trainings will require a small fee and some scholarships are available.
The local nonprofit community is facing deep cuts as a result of changes in state and local funding, as well as potential changes in charitable tax law. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that our local nonprofit boards are equipped with strong, capable and well trained board members to deal with the tough challenges that they will face in the future.
On March 22, 2012 renowned speaker and author Penelope Burk will be in Waco to share some of the most important innovations in modern day fundraising. In 2000, Penelope introduced the not-for-profit industry to the concept of Donor-Centered Fundraising®, transforming the way the sector communicates with donors and bringing fundraising in line with donors’ needs. Today, Penelope’s groundbreaking research continues to gain international recognition for challenging long-standing but ineffective fundraising practices and showcasing evidence-based methods that raise more money.
DID YOU KNOW THAT PENELOPE...
- has over 30 years of experience in not-for-profit management and consulting
- is the author two best-selling books
- has authored more than fifty articles, plays and seminars
To learn more about Penelope, Donor Centered Fundraising and the Research group behind the effort, visit http://www.cygresearch.com/pb/
Learn about upcoming events.
Collaborating with the Waco-McLennan County Library enables the Waco Foundation to present free workshops to nonprofits as well as to maintain the Nonprofit Resources Collection and the Foundation Center grants databases. Examples of previous workshop topics include: Grantseeking Basics, Proposal Writing Basics, and Introduction to Fundraising Planning.
Learn more about upcoming free workshops.
Leaders’ Circle is a year-long program that serves as a resource-sharing opportunity for nonprofit executive directors in the community. Specifically, Waco Foundation facilitates Leaders’ Circle for Advanced Executives. Leader’s Circles are assembled when a sufficient number of directors express interest in forming one. A trained facilitator convenes the group and supports meetings.
Maintaining a centralized website specifically for nonprofit use. The website identifies upcoming training events, nonprofit fundraisers, job openings, and other nonprofit management related resources. It also provides updated event information for the Nonprofit Network and Association of Fundraising Professionals.