Impact Alamance has invested $75,000 to a new initiative aimed at strengthening the work of local non-profits. Five Alamance County nonprofits were awarded funding as part of the new program designed to increase the capacity of community agencies. Alamance Citizens for Education, Allied Churches of Alamance County, Alamance Dispute Settlement & Youth Services, Ebenezer United Church of Christ Outreach Program, and The Women’s Resource Center are the program’s first recipients. Impact Alamance’s Healthy Community strategy focuses on improving the capacity of local nonprofits and educators to enhance and further the work the provide for our community. The strategy was developed based on feedback from local nonprofits, which identified capacity building as a top need. Agencies were chosen from applications received during an open process. Under the initiative, Impact Alamance funds experts in the field of non-profit operations to work with the awarded agencies to identify strengths and opportunities. The first step is a full assessment of the organization which covers six areas of a nonprofit’s infrastructure including: mission, vision and strategy; governance and leadership; resource development; strategic relationships; internal operations and management; and program delivery and impact. The five agencies awarded have successfully completed their assessments and have chosen to move forward with the second step of the program, which provides additional funding for a detailed strategic plan to address needs identified in the assessment. The goal of the capacity building initiative is to increase effectiveness and sustainability of local agencies. “In order for an agency to effectively carry out its mission, the organization itself must be strong,” says Impact Alamance President, Tracey Grayzer. “These investments give nonprofits an opportunity to reenergize, learn what they’re doing well and what opportunities they have to improve- along with a plan to set them on a course to best serve our community,” she adds. Susan Watson, Director of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) was one of the first agencies to receive capacity building assistance. “We are delighted with the work of the consultants on our assessment and our Board of Directors is very excited to start our strategic planning process. WRC has a long history in Alamance County and we need this focus on capacity building to improve our services to women and their families.” Impact Alamance will offer this assistance to five agencies annually. The next opportunity to apply for the capacity building program will be early 2016. For more information call the foundation at 221-0011 or visit its website at www.impactalamance.com.
