Opportunity for Community and Faith-based Organizations in Los Angeles County

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

INTRODUCTION – World Vision is proud to be one of the 14 organizations in the U.S. selected in 2006 to offer sub-award grants and technical assistance opportunities to community and faith-based organizations (CB/FBO) in Pomona and parts of South Los Angeles through the Compassion Capital Demonstration Fund Program. However, technical assistance and training is available to organizations throughout Los Angeles County.

PURPOSE – The Tools for Transforming Communities program was designed to build capacity in Pomona and South Los Angeles neighborhoods (see listing of eligible zip codes below) and community and faith-based organizations with:

• Technical assistance workshops to community and faith-based organizations; and
• Competitive grant opportunities to community and faith-based organizations.

AWARD AMOUNTS – The Tools for Transforming Communities sub-award fund for FY 2006-2007 is approximately $300,000. Awards will range from approximately $10,000 to $15,000 each, the amount not to exceed 20% of your organization’s annual budget.

APPLICATION PROCESS – Organizations interested in participating in this program, need to contact Martin Garcia before January 9 to receive additional information about the process to participate in the program. More information will be provided by the first week of January 2006.

CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information, please contact:
[Contact me using the comments section for the contact information]

Eligibility: Sub-awards available for CB/FBOs serving communities located in zip codes 91766 and 91768 (Pomona) and 90008, 90043, 90047, and 90062 (South Los Angeles). For more information regarding organizations outside of these zip codes, please contact me.

DISCLAIMER: This project is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration of Children & Families. Total cost of this project is $937,540.00. Federal funds awarded for this project total $750,000 (80% of the total project). Non-government funding for this project is $187,540.00 (20%).

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor, regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Capacity Partnership Project comes to an end

The two-years that I worked for MEDA’s capacity building work, funded by the Compassion Capital Fund, and what we later called the Capacity Partnership Project, were filled with joy. I hope that we keep in touch.

My colleagues at MEDA were wonderful to work with and those client agencies in the field made all that traveling worth the effort of getting on another commercial aircraft for yet another long flight.

We were hoping that our project would have been funded for another 17-months and our feedback from DHHS on our application was very positive. We are told that because of geographic consideration, other intermediaries were funded instead. My contract with MEDA ended on Friday, October 14, 2005. But, this doesn’t have to be the end of our work together.

I would be delighted to hear from you if you’d like to consider contracting directly with me, or with MEDA, to continue your capacity building work. I know that many of the projects we had started with the 40 plus organizations are well worth continuing. If you are one of our CPP partners you know the value of planning and moving forward in any of the organizational development and capacity building areas. We can negotiate reasonable rates for your organization.

These are the areas in which I am particularly interested in serving your organizations:

• Policy Governance® training, policy writing, implementation, technical assistance
• Organizational Assessment and capacity development planning
• Planning: strategic, business, resource development
• Training, adult learning strategies
• Program development, microenterprise, community economic development, workforce development
• Program outcomes and impact evaluation

You may think of other areas we may work together. And, if you are aware of other organizations in need of these services, please contact me by leaving a comment by clicking the “comment” link below.

You may also see my consulting web site: capacitypartnership.com.

Software for financial management

I have often been asked questions about financial managment software that is appropriate for various sizes and complexity nonprofit organizations. I have also had conversations with folks with a lot more experience in that field includind bookkeepers and auditors. Auditors are most likely to point out the limitations of the various software packages--both simple and complex. It usually goes back to QuickBooks from Intuit. I have used QuickBooks Pro 2005 for Mac in various version over many years with much success both for nonprofit organization bookkeeping and for my own business bookkeeping. There is also a QuickBooks Premier Non-Profit Edition 2005 that I was slow to learn the value of, but some of our clients and consultants are quite convinced. I know buinsesses that range size from $10,000 to $10 million who are satisfied with QuickBooks.

There seem to be plenty of other resources around Quickbooks including CPA firms and bookkeepers and third party publications--search QuickBooks in Amazon or Google.



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KCCD to host major community event in Los Angeles

Welcome back! This is a big deal from one of our client organizations in Los Angeles.

Korean Churches for Community Development



Invites you to
KCCD 4th NATIONAL LIGHTING THE COMMUNITY CONFERENCE
Building Blocks for Success: Investing in our Youth, Strengthening our Communities, & Securing Funding for our Future
Dates: October 20th- 22nd, 2005
Location: LA Korean United Methodist Church
7400 Osage Avenue Los Angeles, 90045
Among the expected dignitaries:

• Rev. Andy Bales, President & CEO, Union Rescue Mission
• Michael Balaoing, Vice President, Entertainment Industry Foundation
• Elise Buik, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Los Angeles
• Jim Carr, Senior Vice President, Fannie Mae Foundation
• Sam Chan, Ph.D., Los Angeles Department of Mental Health
• Dr. Judy Chen, UCLA Medical Center
• David DeLuz, Chief CommunityLiaison, California Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
• and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• John Hill, Chief of Staff, Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke
• Mary Chung Hiyashi, Commissioner, California Commission on Mental Health
• Hyepin Im, President and CEO, KCCD
• Sam Joo, Prevention Director, Asian American Drug Abuse Program
• Sukhee Kang, Councilman, City of Irvine
• Jin Kim, Executive Director, KCCD
• Deborah Kidd-Chapman, Marketing and Outreach Manager, Maximus Access to Recovery
• Henry Lozano, President's Advisory Commission on Durg Free Communities
• Wil Marshall, Area Director, Economic Development Administration
• Maggie Mireles, LA County Worksource Investment Board
• Rev. Frank Stokes, Executive Director, Force of Hope Economic Development Corporation
• Wayne Sugita, Chief Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Healthy Services
• Maurice Suh, Deputy Mayor, Home Land Security and Public Safety
• Julie Sun, Manager, Strategic Initiatives of Freddie Mac
• Mark Ridley Thomas, Assemblymember, California
• Rev. DarEll Weist, President and CEO, 1010 Corporation
• Rev. Mark Whitlock, Executive Director, COR AME Church
• Steven Wing, Director of Government Relations, CVS/pharmacy

For more information and to attend yourself, click this link.

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1010 Development Event in Los Angeles

Welcome back! Here is an interesting event by one our our organizational clients using their geogrphical neighbors to maximize the impact of a fundraising event.


The pleasure of your company is requested at

A Very Special Exhibition

“Dressing A Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars”

An exclusive exhibition featuring over 100 costumes from all six films in the Star Wars saga, celebrating the art of Costume Designer, Trisha Biggar.

Sunday, October 23, 2005, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Benefiting: Children’s Learning Center, South Park Neighborhood Center,
Los Angeles Urban Foundation, 1010 Development Corporation,
Villa Flores, and Hope Village

At The FIDM Museum & Galleries
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/ FIDM
919 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90015

See RSVP or Call: Greta Silva 213-749-0212 ext.24, email: gretasilva -at- sbcglobal.net
Refreshments & Parking: FUMCLA Church parking lot
(SE Corner of Olympic & Flower)

Photographs but No Flashes or Tripods


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A quote for today

Welcome back!

"People cannot discover new lands
until they have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

--Andre Gide

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East LA Community Corporation's new website

Welcome back!

East Los Angeles Community Corporation has launched a new website that reflects their community's culture and helps brand their organization. This is part of what a CCF subaward grant has paid for to help ELACC increase capacity. It is not yet fully functional, but check it out and see what you think.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Welcome back!

What a wonderful sight this morning in Chicago when I pulled up to the new address for Ruth's Austin Childcare Providers Network



A new location for for the network and its trainings and Ruth's own childcare business: Channing's.



New training room for childcare providers learning business skills so that their child care businesses will earn a living for the family.



Computers suitable for the kids in childcare were donated.



An artist donated a lovely mural for a classroom.



Isn't it clear why Ruth, who founded Austin Childcare Providers Network 4 years ago, looks so happy?

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Big Picture: What a Web Site Does

Welcome back! This is from Seth Goodin's Blog:

Big Picture #1:
A Web site must do at least one of two things, but probably both:
• Turn a stranger into a friend, and a friend into a customer.
• Talk in a tone of voice that persuades people to believe the story you’re telling.
Big Picture #2:
A Web site can cause only four things to happen in the moments after someone sees it:
• She clicks and goes somewhere else you want her to go.
• She clicks and gives you permission to follow up by email or phone.
• She clicks and buys something.
• She tells a friend, either by clicking or by blogging or phoning or talking.
That’s it.

This guy is worth reading from time to time if you want to think about strategies to market your organization or business.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa Day of Service October 8

Welcome back! This from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's south Los Angeles Field Office:

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa will host the first Day of Service to our Youth on October 8, 2005 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The day is meant to celebrate the mayor's 100th day in office by bring together people from all over the city at area LAUSD schools to help beautify the campuses and surrounding areas.

Today, September 1, 2005 at from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Fremont H.S., 7676 S. San Pedro Street, we will host our second South LA Area Plng Cmte Meeting. I would appreciate your attendance and participation in the planning committee. Your expertise is greatly appreciated.

Look for further information here.

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Hurricane Disaster Response

Welcome back!

Hurricane Katrina is the most devastating storm to hit the United States ever. Several organizations are on the ground or will be soon to assist in the disaster relief after the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina.

The earliest responders are usually the largest organizations with the most capacity to be on the ground. After than, those with special niche capacity will take up the re-development efforts in partnership with business. Local government and the Red Cross will be the first to respond and are there now.

Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS), the Southern Baptist Convention and Christian Reformed World Relief will have volunteers on site later this week. Each of these organizations are asking for donations to help support their work. They normally offer opportunities for volunteers to respond. You can check their web-sites for information about volunteer training, recruitment and opportunities for folks with various skill sets.

There will be many other organizations responding, these were those with obvious announcements on their websites late this afternoon.

Your ideas matter here--feel free to comment.

Retrospective Evaluation

Welcome back!

MEDA has just received notice from Branch Associates letting us know that we have been selected as one of 9 of the first group of CCF intermediaries to participate in a retrospective evaluation of this funding program. The evaluation will primarily involve Branch Associates gathering information from 20 of the organizations we have worked with during the three years. We are fortunate to be included in this evaluation and I am excited to have our grantee organizations participate.

If your were one of the client organizations for this project over the last 3 years you have about 50% chance of being contacted for this information since we have served about 40 organizations.

[Information provided by Rachel Hess, Director, Community Economic Development]

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Harambee in NW Pasadena hosts training event

Welcome! You belong here.



Noel Castellanos, CCDA Institute Director, (pictured right) gave a one day session for volunteers and staff of Harmbee and other groups.



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What is a Conflict of Interest?

Welcome back!

I was recently asked about the issue of conflicts of interest for board members of a nonprofit organization.

A conflict of interest may occur when . . .

A board member performs professional services for an organization, or proposes that a relative or friend be considered for a staff position. Such transactions are perfectly acceptable if they benefit the organization and if the board made the decisions in an objective and informed manner.

Such conflict of interest can be well managed by the organization if the are prepared and are aware of the situation in advance. [click the quotation to read the whole article on the National Resource Center website.]

I would be happy to provide you with a sample of a conflict of interest policy from a board policy manual. Let me know if that will be of service to your organization.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Technology Information for Nonprofits

Welcome back!

An important resource for information about technology can be found at www.techsoup.org. Thanks to Richard Wood at Miami Beach CDC for reminding me of this resource.

A company that produces and sells donor management software that I have used before is Campagne Associates. The donor management software is called GiftMaker. They provided excellent customer service with a contract and operated on both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

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The Women's Fund of Miami-Dade: 2006 Application Now Available

Women's Fund of Miami-Dade awards grants once a year to non-profit organizations that serve women and girls in Miami-Dade County. Grants are awarded each January for work being done during the calendar year. The application for 2006 funding is now available online, by mail, or by fax. Grant applications are due on September 7, 2005.

http://www.womensfundmiami.org/apply.html

What's Important? What's Urgent?

Welcome back! Hurry!

Seth Godin has an article today about the important distinction between important decisions and tasks and urgent ones. He gives some easy advice on how to tell the difference between the two and how to act upon the right ones in the right order.

The easiest way to deal with change and with all the anxieties that go with it is not to deal with it at all. The easiest thing to do is to allow the urgency of the situation to force us to make the decisions (or take the actions) that we'd rather not take. Why? Because then we don't have to take responsibility for what happens. The situation is at fault, not us. The beauty of the asymptotic curve is that at every step along the way, running ever faster for the plane is totally justified. The closer we get, the more we've invested ourselves. The more we invest in making our flight, the easier it is to justify running like a lunatic to make it.

You can read his whole piece here.

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Eight Componentents of Christian Community Development

Welcome back! Here is some valuable information from friend, colleague and CCF client Rudy Carrasco:

Noel Castellanos from CCDA will at Harambee on Friday, August 26, teaching an all-day class in the basics of Christian Community Development. I invited him because I have a number of new staff who are not aware of the philosophy of CCDA.

I invite you to send any staff or volunteers who you believe would benefit from this class. The time is 9am to 4pm. The cost is $50 per person. Location is Harambee. More information is here.

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