These grants are for organizations that wish to strengthen their ability to lead, adapt, manage and effectively operate their organizations. Funding in this category will support projects that improve the organization’s effectiveness in any of these areas. See below for a partial list of projects that have been funded by The Foundation through this grant stream.
Grants range from $3,000 - $40,000
Application Process
Applications that meet the basic eligibility requirements are asked to complete TPF’s Project Proposal. You will then upload the completed application and supporting documents to the Organizational Effectiveness Drop Box as indicated at the end of the application form.
Applications cannot be considered until the following supplemental documents have also been submitted electronically:
· 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
· List of Board of Directors
· Three years of audits (if your organization does not have audits, we will accept your IRS 990)
· Current PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations Certificate
All applications delivered successfully will receive an automatic response. If you do not receive an automatic response, please call the Philanthropic Services Department to ensure that your materials are received.
Applicants can anticipate an initial response to their Project Proposal submission within two weeks. If selected to move on to the next stage, a Program Officer will schedule a site visit with the Executive Director, a member of the board, and any staff responsible for major aspects of the project. The Program Officer will also ask the organization to develop a work plan and budget for the proposed project. If the project request includes time with a consultant, The Philadelphia Foundation requires that the organization review bids from at least three different consultants. Prior to the site visit, the organization will be asked to submit the completed work plan and budget forms as well as a scope of services from the consultant with whom they would choose to work if funded.
CCAT Assessment Tool
Organizations applying for Organization Effectiveness may elect to take the Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT) as part of the process. Taking the CCAT is not a requirement.
The CCAT:
· Reviews core capacity components (Adaptive, Leadership, Management, and Technical/ Operational).
· Is taken online by all senior staff and at least two board members.
· Involves 146 multiple-choice survey questions.
· Takes approximately 30-45 minutes.
· Produces a report that provides a snapshot of organization strengths and challenges.
The CCAT report can be used as a:
· Starting point for discussions.
· Suggested checklist for changes.
· Way to track organizational growth and development.
· Method for involving board members in discussing organizational capacities.
To elect to take the CCAT, simply check the box under the appropriate section of the Project Proposal form. For more information on the CCAT, visit www.tccccat.com.
Organizational Effectiveness Projects – What is funded?
The following is a partial list of projects funded by The Foundation to strengthen organizations:
· Strategic Planning
· Board development: recruitment & training
· Attending Leadership Development programs
· Training and development of next tier leadership
· Executive transition, planning
· Executive coaching
· Feasibility Studies
· Board succession planning
· Needs Assessment
· Resource Development
· Financial Management
· Business analysis and planning skills
· Fundraising skills development
Organizational Effectiveness grants DO NOT support:
· Program-specific requests
· Full funding of staff positions
· Umbrella funding projects for the sole purpose of re-granting
· Contributions to endowments or capital campaigns
· Fundraising Campaigns
· Deficit or debt financing
Important Considerations
· Up to 35% of the total grant request can be allocated for staff time spent on the project.
· The Foundation can only support one organizational effectiveness project at a time.
· Interim or permanent executive leadership should be in place for at least three months before The Foundation will consider supporting an organizational effectiveness grant. There are exceptions for organizational effectiveness requests that specifically support executive transitions.
· If the project request includes working with a consultant or outside vendor, TPF requires the organization to obtain at least three bids/scopes of service prior to choosing the consultant. Exceptions are made for certain types of technology upgrades.
· In reviewing requests for organizational effectiveness support, The Foundation also seeks confirmation that organization-wide planning projects have included organization-side stakeholders. It is an expectation that the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) and senior level staff are active participants in the discussion of the project, including review and selection of a consultant, the timeline, roles and responsibilities and the rationale behind why the project is priority.
Organization: / County(s) Served:Date: / Date Incorporated:
Executive Director: / Tax ID #:
Address: / City, State, ZIP:
Phone No. / Website URL:
Email address:
Fiscal Sponsor (if applicable) / Fiscal Sponsor's Tax ID #:
FS Address: / City, State, ZIP:
FS Phone No. / FS Website URL:
FS Fax No. / FS Email address:
YES / NO
Have you completed the Eligibility Wizard on The Philadelphia Foundation's website? Click in the appropriate box to the right.
If you are determined to be eligible to apply, you may use TCC Group's Core Capacity Assessment Tool free of charge to help prioritize your organization's capacity building needs. The results of the CCAT can be used to revise this project proposal.
Would you like to take the CCAT as part of the Organizational Effectiveness process? / YES / NO
Capacity-Building Project
Short Description
Total Estimated Project Cost: / $
Request Amount: / $
Organizational Budget* / REVENUE / EXPENSE / Surplus/(Deficit)
Current year
Previous year
2 years prior
3 years prior
*Refer to organization’s audited financials or completed 990 in reflecting revenue and expense in previous years. Current year’s figures can be based on budget forecast.
BOARD of DIRECTORS: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your Board, where appropriate.
Women % LGBTI % Immigrants% Differently Abled %
Caucasian %
Black or African American%
Latino or Hispanic %
Asian or Asian American % / Native American %
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl. %
Other: ______%
SENIOR MANAGEMENT: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your senior management, where appropriate.
Women % LGBTI % Immigrants% Differently Abled %
Caucasian %
Black or African American%
Latino or Hispanic %
Asian or Asian American % / Native American %
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl. %
Other: ______%
POPULATIONS SERVED: Check any that apply and indicate what percentage of your client population, where appropriate.
Terminal Illness %
Incarcerated
Immigrants %
Blind/Visually Impaired%
Mental Illness %
History of Domestic Violence % / Substance Abuse%
Women %
LGBTI %
Differently abled%
Orphaned Children (Have lost one or more parents.) %
Infants (0-3) %
Children (3-12) %
Teenage Youth (13-19) % /
Elderly %
Adults %
Caucasian %
Black or African American%
Latino or Hispanic %
Asian or Asian American % / Native American %
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl. %
Other: ______%
What is the total number of unduplicated individuals served or represented by your organization's programs and services in the past year?
LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS SERVED
What percentage of the constituency you serve or represent could be classified as low-income?
%
What is the methodology used to determine the figure quoted above?
Mission of organization:
Overview of organization's history, programs and activities:
Describe how your organization evaluates the success of its programs, include how data is collected and how often. If you evaluate your program, describe how the organization uses that evaluation to identify strengths and weaknesses in the program.
For any organization that strives to be both innovative and enduring, the learning processes for staff
should be marked by targeted discussions and activities that allow the organization to grow its knowledge base and adapt to the unpredictable. The four foundational criteria, also known as the "building blocks" of a learning organization are communication and openness; structured inquiry and feedback; adequate time for reflection; and mutual respect inspired by learning-oriented leadership.Please explain how your organization incorporates tools, exercises, or specific types of social interaction into organizational learning processes, qualifying it as a Learning Organization.
What are the organizational effectiveness issues to be addressed in this project? Please describe the project and indicate the circumstances that make this particular project a priority.
Provide a short description of your project. What tasks do you expect to accomplish?
Who will lead the work?
What processes or activities are crucial to the completion of this project?
How will this project advance or deliver on your organizational mission?
How will this project contribute to your organizations sustainability or growth? How will it advance the effectiveness of your organization?
Does your organization require a PA Child Abuse History Clearance for all employees or volunteers working directly with children?
YES / NO
Please upload the Project Proposal and supplemental documents to the Organizational Effectiveness Drop Box
For questions please call us at 215-563-6417