The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is a nationwide effort to sustain and create jobs and transform our economy to compete in the 21st century. The Federal Government recognizes the important work carried out by nonprofit organizations to address the needs of those suffering economic hardships. Under this program, the Government will partner with lead organizations working in distressed communities to sustain and build the capacity of each project's selected local grassroots organizations to better serve individuals in need. Lead organizations awarded funds under this announcement will serve their selected local nonprofit organizations in order to increase those project partners' sustainability and improve their effectiveness. Helping meet the social service needs of individuals, workers, and their families will not only encourage a stronger, healthier workforce but will build vital, enduring communities. Nonprofit organizations need capacity building assistance now to continue to serve those in need in their communities. Through the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) Nonprofit Capacity Building program, ACF will award funds to experienced lead organizations to provide nonprofit organizations capacity building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance to participating nonprofit organizations, which serve as the partners in their projects. Lead organizations will collaborate with their selected grassroots organizations in distressed communities offering capacity building activities in five critical areas: 1) organizational development, 2) program development, 3) collaboration and community engagement, 4) leadership development, and 5) evaluation of effectiveness. Capacity building activities are designed to increase an project partners' sustainability and effectiveness, enhance their ability to provide social services, and create collaborations to better serve those most in need. Funding cannot be used to enhance or expand the capacity of lead organizations beyond what is necessary to accomplish the purpose of the project. The focus of the SCF Nonprofit Capacity Building program is to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits. For example, nonprofits receiving competitive financial assistance from their lead organization could use the funds to purchase computers or set up a computer lab to provide free, online information on State and Federal benefits for low- and moderate-income individuals. Funds could be used to perform a local workforce assessment or other research designed to connect workers to employers. Funds could also be used for developing a resource directory to help increase access to the benefits (e.g., ARRA benefits) for which individuals and families are eligible. An organization receiving financial assistance from a lead organization under this announcement could establish a one-stop center where individuals can obtain free, customized benefits information, tax information, information on ARRA, and/or apply for benefits and file tax returns. Provide a list of organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution. Provide written and signed agreements between grantees and subgrantees, or subcontractors, or other cooperating entities. These agreements must detail the scope of work to be performed, work schedules, remuneration, and other terms and conditions that structure or define the relationship. An application will be evaluated on the extent to which the specific needs and service availability of the targeted service area are documented and linked to the broad economic recovery focus of this announcement. Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which documentation is provided demonstrating that the proposed project will be implemented in a distressed community and engages organizations that serve low-income populations and that are working to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to State and Federal benefits and tax credits. An application will be evaluated on the extent to which it describes thoroughly how the applicant will provide appropriate one-on-one technical assistance to project partners receiving competitive financial assistance. An application will be evaluated on whether the proposed plan and approach meets the requirement that a minimum of 50 percent of the training and technical assistance provided by lead organizations must be in the form of direct and individualized technical assistance to address the identified priority needs of the participating project partners (i.e., "one-on-one" assistance to the organization's leadership, key staff and/or board). An application will be evaluated to the extent that it specifies who will provide the training and technical assistance, specifically whether it will be the responsibility of the funded organization, consultant(s) or contractor(s), or a combination. An application will be evaluated on the extent to which the applicant's plan for identifying and selecting financial assistance recipients through a competitive process is complete and reasonable and includes the following: 1) provides a timeline for at least two separate, complete financial assistance cycles to be offered during the 2-year period; 2) describes the outreach or marketing strategy; 3) provides logical estimates for the types and number of organizations expected to apply for and receive funding; 4) describes the independent review/scoring process of financial assistance applications; and 5) identifies and justifies capacity building needs for which competitive financial assistance may be used that conform with the requirements in this announcement.

For more information contact Francis Onukwue, President, Hi-Tech Charities at: 314-389-5737 ext 111.