Great organizations aren't born—they are made, carefully and thoughtfully, through methods such as strategic planning, organizational assessments and board and staff development.
Foundations large and small are now practicing this philosophy. They believe that strong, sustainable organizations are well-positioned to achieve their missions and strengthen their communities.
Grants for this type of work have many names: organizational development, capacity building, professional development, strategy, management improvement, organizational effectiveness—but generally all share in common a goal of improving the management of the organization so it can better serve its community.
Organizational development grants take many forms. They may focus on identifying and strengthening new leaders, especially those from minority and youth communities. But most often they are available to organizations small and large, from fledgling to proven, which are seeking to improve their ability to achieve their mission.
A leader in this field, the Packard Foundation’s organizational effectiveness grants are made to current and recent Packard Foundation grantees to undertake projects that transform their organization in a sustained and meaningful way. These grants support a variety of projects, ranging from strategic planning and board development to fund development assessments and executive transitions.
Community foundations such as the Rhode Island Foundation, the St. Paul Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and many others provide grants for technical assistance and consultation for traditional management issues, as well as cultural diversity issues, evaluation, and collaboration.
These foundations are supporting efforts to update long-term strategic plans, create comprehensive development plans, develop formal evaluation systems, and improve facilities. They are also investing in collaborations in which organizations and groups with similar missions and constituencies come together to share resources and create efficient ways to better serve their clients.
Because these types of grants are not “warm and fuzzy,” and are difficult to evaluate, it can sometimes be difficult to raise funds from an organization’s overall donor base for this vital work. However, providing capacity-building grants can be a hallmark of a forward-thinking foundation and the results of these grants, over the long term, will be stronger communities and great organizations.
HOME | ABOUT | SERVICES | CLIENTS | RESOURCES | WORKROOM |
Copyright © 2005 Ekstrom & Associates
