A New Way to Support CBOs - Part 1
Introduction
Community-based organizations (CBOs) serve communities by solving problems of societal concern. If not for the assistance of CBOs, governments would need to fill service gaps or ignore these problems—so it is only prudent for local governments to support CBO activity.
However, the types of grant challenges faced by a government are tenfold for a local nonprofit. On average, it takes the typical CBO significantly more time to research, apply, and administrate a grant, which results in lower award returns. As such, CBOs look to local government for financial support.
Despite the best of intentions, this model of financial support is flawed. In addition to the obvious impacts on local government operating budgets, the system produces a serious lack of accountability and results. Yet, because of local governments’ obligation to communities, localities can neither afford to fund nor politically eliminate this traditional subsidy.
Trend Toward Service Support
A new trend in the industry marks a shift in how governments support their local CBOs. Specifically, support is moving from 100% financial subsidies to a model that provides services to help CBOs meet their obligations to the community.
What types of services? Examples include:
- Professional development/training
- Shared productivity tools such as eCivis® Grants Network: Research
- Collaborative workshops promoting cooperative funding opportunities
A True Solution
By providing government resources as services that help CBOs improve their grant performance, government also creates a more effective service provider and partner for the community. In locations where this has been pioneered, the results have always been win-win. The resulting collaboration allows each entity to increase its respective grant capacity in partnership.
Next Steps
This is the first of five in this educational series. We hope this message will assist you in making proactive decisions for your organization.
Your affiliation with eCivis puts you on the fast track to setting up a similar program for your agency. If you would like to learn how other governments are easily and affordably implementing service support programs for CBOs, please contact us.
About eCivis:
Headquartered in Pasadena, Calif., eCivis is the leader in improving city and county grant performance nationwide. Through the highest quality research, training, and web-based systems, eCivis has helped over 500 local governments improve their grants performance.
If you are interested in improving your grants performance, implement these solutions where needed and you will notice a dramatic difference.
