Application
Guidelines
Background
The Nonprofit Management Fund, established in 1994 through a collaboration
of three foundations, has grown to become a strong and diverse partnership
with support from several other foundations, corporations and United
Ways. The Fund was created to increase resources and provide funding
for nonprofit organizations to improve their management capability
so that they may be more effective and efficient in serving the
community, as well as their clients, program participants, or audience.
These guidelines should be used for preparing the application to
avoid unnecessary delays in review or a decline due to inadequate
documentation.
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Types
of Projects Funded
There are three major categories of projects: Management Assistance,
Organizational Alternatives, and Diagnostic Clinics.
The application form provides general categories for Management
Assistance; a detailed listing of categories and topics within each
area is available here. Organizational
Alternatives is a category for applicants that are considering a
major organizational change. Examples of this category would be
consideration of a contractual partnership, merger, change in tax
status, creation of a subsidiary corporation, or major service
redirection. Awards for a Diagnostic
Clinic, using the Capacity Checklist, are to assess the
management and governance capacity of the nonprofit organization.
Projects are expected to be time limited, with estimated starting
and ending dates. Grants are restricted to the activities described
in the application. The Fund is most interested in short-term, specific
projects that will have a longer-term impact on the organization.
Potential applicants may contact the Fund Advisor, Patricia Wyzbinski,
at (414) 271-4869 to discuss their project.
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Application
Materials
Proposals must provide the requested information and include all
required attachments. A complete proposal should include the background
data required; narrative addressing questions posed on the application,
not exceeding two pages in length; and, the additional materials
noted on the application. The form itself does not have to be
used; however, all of the requested information must be provided.
The form can be downloaded from the Fund's web site, click here.
Elaborate packaging is neither requested nor desired. If the Fund
needs additional information, it will be requested. No handwritten
applications will be accepted.
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Application
Timetable
Applications from eligible nonprofit organizations in Milwaukee,
Ozaukee or Washington counties may be submitted at any time,
and will be considered in one of the six grantmaking meetings throughout
the year: February, April, June, August, October and December. Completed
proposal packets should be mailed or delivered to:
Nonprofit
Management Fund
2212 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Waukesha
County Deadlines
- Noon:
Monday, 1 March 2010
- Noon:
Monday, 16 August 2010
Submit
completed proposal packets by mailing or delivering them to:
Nonprofit
Management Fund of Waukesha County
2212 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
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Review
and Evaluation Process
The Fund Advisors will review each application and may contact the
applicant for clarification and/or additional material. A sub-committee
of representatives from the contributing partners and the Fund Advisor
will recommend action on each application. (To view the Proposal
Review Criteria, click here).
The
Fund will not provide support for more than one project per organization
at a time. Organizations whose requests are declined may apply again
within the same year, with advance consultation from the
Fund Advisor. Upon completion, all funded organizations must submit
an evaluation of their projects. The general purpose of the evaluation
is to assess outcomes of the assistance. The Fund provides a format
for final reports, available here.
Submitting an evaluation report is an eligibility requirement for
future consideration.
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Engaging
a Consultant
All applicants requesting funding for a consultant are strongly
encouraged to solicit at least three bids from possible consultants
prior to selecting the one identified in the application
to the Fund. Organizations submitting proposals with fewer bids
should carefully construct a case as to why competitive bidding
was not pursued. A written agreement from the consultant detailing
the services to be performed, along with the fee schedule, should
be attached to the application. The consultant's workplan should
describe activities to be undertaken and expected outcomes. Applications
will not be funded without such material being submitted prior to
a recommendation by the Committee.
The Fund sponsors will decline an application listing a current
Board Director as the consultant, or one where a Director resigns
from the Board to become a contractor or a consultant for the applicant
organization. As a matter of policy, the Fund does not recommend
or endorse any particular technical assistance provider.
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