Capacity Building & SV2

 

STRENGTH grants have supported a wide range of capacity-building activities as evidenced by the agencies’ anticipated outcomes:

  • Fundraising Strategies – Create a database to track donors; Develop an annual fundraising plan; Identify new donors; Increase level of support from existing donors; Increase Board participation in fundraising efforts; Implement a capital campaign feasibility study
  • Marketing Strategies - Develop a marketing or media and communications plan; Develop marketing materials; Establish or strengthen relationships with appropriate institutions; Develop volunteer recruitment and retention strategies; Host community events
  • Strategic Planning Strategies – Develop a strategic plan; Collaborate with or transition programs to appropriate institutions; Develop an evaluation plan; Engage an Advisory Board; Increase time Executive Director spends on strategic issues while decreasing time he/she spends on operational issues
  • Staff/Leadership Development Strategies – Hire staff; Expand professional network; Clarify Board’s role; Diversify Board
  • Financial Systems Strategies – Implement new or upgraded accounting software; Undertake an audit; Make financial statements clear and understandable to stakeholders

Historically, reported outcomes have aligned with the activities articulated in the anticipated outcomes. Examples of actual outcomes include:

  • Critical issues of strategic plan were identified and discussions started
  • Began meeting with potential collaborative partners
  • Identified new donors
  • Developed donor tracking systems and procedures
  • Created new committees to help expand donor base and advance fundraising efforts
  • Located and secured new facilities
  • Developed Intranet for more effective internal communication systems
  • Implemented marketing strategies to recruit culturally diverse volunteers
  • Hired new staff
  • Identified and contracted with consultant to assist with selection of new accounting software and to review current financial systems

Also looking historically, SV2 grants have led to organizational growth for grantees. In addition to the outcomes above, other quantitative measures provide some insight into the increased capacity of these organizations during the grant term:

  • The organizational budgets of grantees increased by 40%.
  • The number of clients served increased by 26%.
  • The number of staff increased by 27%.
  • The number of individual donors increased by 162%.
  • The number of volunteers increased by 13%.
  • 67% of the grantees increased or will increase the size of their facilities.