Of Northwest Arkansas
Small Nonprofits Achieving Capacity Together
Cohort Application
Overview
“Capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a nonprofit. When capacity building is successful, it strengthens a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission over time, thereby enhancing its ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities.”[1]
Recognizing the significant role nonprofits play in contributing to the overall quality of life in Northwest Arkansas, several organizations with the support of the Walmart Foundation have teamed up to create a program, called Achieving Capacity Together or ACT, that supports small nonprofits seeking to accelerate the development of their capacity to serve the community.
Program Benefits
Through ACT, nonprofit organizations will have the opportunity to strengthen capabilities to create a more robust and relevant organization in an environment of continual change. Working with peers, they will learn new tools that can be applied to the opportunities and challenges in the workplace, and they will build mutually beneficial relationships with other nonprofit leaders.
Selection Process
ACT is available to small and medium-sized nonprofits, defined as organizations at or under $1 million in operating income excluding in-kind donations and extraordinary income, and/or with fewer than six Full-Time-Equivalent employees. Up to 15 organizations will be selected to participate through a competitive application process.
Program Structure
The program consists of nine monthly sessions each lasting between four to six hours, depending upon the month’s topic. Each session will be comprised of lecture, exercises and peer learning opportunities. Expected session topics include:
Session / Topic / Attendees / MonthPre-work
- Organizational Assessment using OCAT
1 / Cohort Kick Off, Level Set, Life Cycle Assessment, Matrix Map / Nonprofit Staff
Board Concurrent Session / October
2 / Mission Vision, Values, Strategy Environmental Assessment / Nonprofit Staff
Board Concurrent Session / November
3 / Program Design and Evaluation / Nonprofit Staff / December
4 / Marketing and Development
- Communications
- Storytelling
- Fundraising
Board Concurrent Session / January
5 / Financial Management, Cash Flow Management / Nonprofit Staff
Board Concurrent Session / February
6 / Managing People and Infrastructure
- Staff
- Volunteers
- Technology
7 / Enterprise Management and Leadership – Part 1
- Enterprise Risk
Board Concurrent Session / April
8 / Enterprise Management and Leadership – Part 2.
- Leadership
- Managing Change
- Succession Planning
Board Concurrent Session / May
Project Presentations/Graduation/
Celebration / Nonprofit Staff
Board (not required) / June
In addition to monthly sessions, participants will break out into smaller teams to work on a project of their own choosing.
To enhance the experience and ensure concepts introduced are being applied, each organization will have 25 hours of one-one-coaching with a capacity building coach for the duration of the program. Coaches will be assigned in the second session.
Organizational Commitment
Each organization selected for participation must agree to the following:
- Consistent, executive-level participation throughout the program, only one absence is allowed
- Two staff participants at each session consisting of the Executive Director and one subject matter expert based upon the agenda for the session
- At least one board member participating at the board member concurrent sessions
- Participation in team cohort sessions
- Confidentiality of all sessions
- Board commitment to staff and board time invested in the program affirmed by signature on this application
Please submit your application by July 28,2017 via email .
For questions regarding the ACT NWA Cohort program, please email
Application
Name of Organization
Name, Title and Email Address of Main Contact
Organization Address
Organization Phone
Current Annual Budget
List Separately Number of Full Time Employees, Part Time Employees and Volunteers
Is your organization currently operating under a strategic plan? ☐ Yes☐ No
If Yes, timeframe for plan, e.g., 2015 – 2018.
Potential Participants
Please note that one participant must be the Executive Director or organizational equivalent.
Participant 1 – Name and Title
Participant 2 – Name and Title
Participant 3 – Name and Title
Participant 4 – Name and Title
Board Participant
Board Participant
Organizational Information
- What is your organization’s mission?
- What is your organization’s core service area, i.e., education, advocacy, human services, hunger relief, arts & culture, etc.?
- What service does your organization provide and what specific populations does your organization primarily serve?
- Briefly describe the primary areas of your organization’s goals related to capacity building, e.g. strategic plan, annual plan, program growth, financial planning, etc.
- Why do you believe this is the right time for your organization to participate in an ACT cohort?
- The ACT cohort is a peer learning cohort. Please briefly indicate how you believe you would contribute to a peer learning environment?
- What would you and your organization like to gain by participating?
Commitment
Because your organization’s success in the program is contingent upon the level of participation, it is critical that board and staff are committed to full participation. Please attach a brief letter from your board affirming their full support of staff participation and their willingness to engage in the cohort.
Your signature below further affirms that you understand and will honor the requirements for participation.
Organization Signature NameTitle
Board SignatureNameTitle
Please submit your application by July 28,2017 via email .
For questions regarding the ACT NWA Cohort program, please email
United Way of Northwest Arkansas, Center for Collaborative Care, The Jones Trust, Soderquist Leadership, University of Arkansas, Arkansas Nonprofit Alliance, Fayetteville Public Library
[1] Council on Nonprofits