Technical Assistance
Providing
Technical Assistance Overview | Summary
Developing a Comprehensive Plan
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You will want to look at who you intend to serve, what they need
and what resources are currently available. These types of assessment
are called audience analysis, needs assessment and resource assessment.
The audience analysis is an examination of how many and what kinds of organizations are within your geographic scope. Who are they? What size are they? How long have they been in existence? What services do they provide? You can save time by gathering contact information at this stage, too.
You should complete a needs assessment as early in the planning process as possible. Some intermediaries in the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) completed needs assessments prior to writing their grant proposal. You will know some of the needs based on observation and past experience. But don’t just rely on your intuition. Ask nonprofit leaders what they feel they need.
As a CCF intermediary, be sure to ask detailed questions about the following key areas emphasized in the 2003 program announcement:
- Strategic planning;
- Financial management;
- Board development;
- Fund-raising;
- Outcome measurement.4
A needs assessment doesn’t have to be expensive. Eliminate postage by using email to supply a list of potential topics or need areas as well as asking open-ended questions in a survey. Some online research providers also allow you to implement simple surveys at little or no charge. See the Appendix under Resources for a list of providers. You can also hold a series of informal focus groups of nonprofit leaders and explore possibilities for capacity-building efforts together with them.
Conduct a resource assessment to determine what you can readily provide. Ask:
- In what areas are you currently capable of providing TA?
- Who do you have in your T/TA resource pool?
- Who else provides training for FBCOs? Where do leaders of FBCOs turn for help now?
- Who are potential partner organizations for delivering T/TA?
Avoid duplicating what another organization already delivers. Does somebody else already provide specific training or TA in a satisfactory way? Are there any organizations you can partner with, such as training firms, universities or other nonprofits with special expertise? You will also want to look at what else is available from other government agencies. In the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF), intermediaries are specifically directed to avoid duplicating services whenever possible.
Under the President’s Faith-based and Community Initiative program, Federal agencies have begun to provide technical assistance and training services to faith-based and community organizations and address barriers to their participation in Federally sponsored programs. Successful applicants under this announcement must coordinate and not duplicate services.5
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Providing
Technical Assistance Overview |
Summary