2010 Nonprofit Scholarships
Q&A with Lita Pardi, Senior Program Officer
The Community Foundation recently announced the 2010 slate of classes for our Nonprofit Scholarship program. Nonprofit organizations that have received grants from any of the Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking programs within the last six years (2004-2009) and new (2010) grantees may take advantage of this opportunity.
How did The Community Foundation develop the 2010 schedule of classes?
The ten classes align with the Foundation’s four priorities under Nonprofit Effectiveness: strategic planning & business analysis, board development, fund development planning and advocacy. In developing the schedule, we also listened to the needs of nonprofits. Right now, staff members have to perform jobs they may not be adequately prepared for. Many are in need of training that organizations simply can’t afford at this time. Additionally, our grantmaking work has allowed us to learn about specific organizational needs of nonprofits. So classes have been chosen to meet some of these specific areas.
What is new about this year’s classes?
This year, we are offering a set of classes specifically for smaller nonprofits in outlying counties in our 23-county region. We heard from our Local Funds and Regional Impact team that specific training could help these organizations compete for funding from The Community Foundation’s competitive grantmaking programs, as well as other funding opportunities they may find.
The Policy Advocacy course is a new one, which will allow us to test the waters in this particular area. It’s a new area for many organizations, including The Community Foundation. Additionally, we’re excited to offer a class on strategic planning to both the larger and smaller nonprofits. This is an area we heavily emphasize in all our grantmaking programs. We strongly encourage nonprofits that need to develop or update their plans to register for this class.
What is the process for registering for classes?
Nonprofits should visit our Learning Events & Opportunities page to download the class schedule. The schedule includes links to register for each class. It’s important to note that registration will open four to six weeks prior to the class. Nonprofits should identify their classes of interest and return to the website to register as the date approaches. Space is allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, so nonprofits are encouraged to sign up as soon as registration opens.
Is the Foundation still offering scholarships for opportunities identified by nonprofits?
Yes. As part of our goal of strengthening the region’s nonprofits, we continue to offer support for courses, seminar series and conferences that are identified by nonprofits. Priority will be given to applicants seeking funding for courses and conferences that focus on our four priority areas. Foundation staff reviews all applications on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month throughout the year.
Additionally, nonprofit organizations should consider applying for management consulting through our Nonprofit Toolbox program. Organizations selected to receive a Nonprofit Toolbox award, a non-cash grant, will work with a consultant to construct a package of organizational assistance to address a key area such as strategic planning, board development or fund development.
Is there anything additional nonprofits should know?
Nonprofits should visit our Nonprofit Effectiveness page for a complete list of opportunities we provide. Each program has certain guidelines, eligibility and processes. Our commitment to supporting nonprofits in our region goes beyond financial grants. We hope nonprofits will take advantage of these opportunities.